OFF THE SHELF BELIEF Edited by Francis S. Collins HarperOne Reviewed by David O’Hara Nearly a millennium ago, St. Anselm of Canterbury wrote his famous Proslogion, in which he argued that God’s existence is self-evident. Anselm’s book has met with mixed reviews in the intervening centuries, but the reviewers often miss something important because they think Anselm was trying to reason his way into faith. I think it’s the other way around: He already had faith (after all, he begins the book with a prayer), and now he was trying to help his head catch up with his heart. His book is an example of fides quaerens intellectum — faith seeking understanding. Francis Collins’ new book, Belief: Readings on the Reason for Faith, is an example of why that distinction matters so much. Collins has compiled 32 short readings from great writers across the ages, all of which give reasons for belief. This book is not so much a tool to talk you into believing as a nutritious and
enjoyable read for those who either already believe or are seriously contemplating belief. It may seem strange to have Collins make this compilation, since he’s a scientist, not a philosopher or theologian, and Collins humbly acknowledges this peculiarity. Readers who are looking for philosophical or theological rigor should probably look for it elsewhere. This is definitely not a textbook, nor is it a book that tries to take into consideration all the possible arguments against God’s existence. That may sound like harsh criticism, but I think that Collins’ book is nevertheless quite good, taken in the right way. Like Anselm’s Proslogion, Collins’ Belief arises out of his own attempt to help his powerful mind catch up to the faith that has been growing in his heart. Collins gets full marks for his selections and organization, because the result is a book that is easy to read but still intellectually stimulating. It includes a selection from Anselm, and also the passage from Augustine that Anselm was almost certainly modifying when he wrote Proslogion. In addition to ancient and medieval writers, he includes some fine passages from contemporary theologians like Keith Ward and N.T.Wright, and some well-chosen chapters from a number of non-Christians as well, including Plato, Elie Weisel, and the Dalai Lama. I was especially pleased to see that Collins included some women’s voices in the book, including a terrific passage from Madeleine L’Engle. Collins identifies three aims in writing this book: to strengthen evangelical minds; to be entertaining and helpful for all sorts of thoughtful people; and to “engage” the “New Atheists.” As they say, “Two outa three ain’t bad.” From my perspective Belief will do the first two very well, but I’m not so sure about the third — for a number of reasons, but mostly because I don’t think PRISM 2010
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many of the “New Atheists” are listening to arguments. What a book like this can do well is help those who are already listening to listen better. Like Anselm’s Proslogion, this book will be misunderstood if it is taken to be a sledgehammer that can crumble atheism, but it will be well received by all who are looking to become better, more faithful thinkers in the company of those who, like Anselm of Canterbury, have trod that road before them. Q David O’Hara (ohara@augie.edu) is a Jane and Charles Zaloudek Research Fellow and the director of the Philosophy Program at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S. Dak.
WHY JESUS CROSSED THE ROAD By Bruce Main SaltRiver Reviewed by Mae Elise Cannon When I first read the subtitle — Learning to Follow the Unconventional Travel Itinerary of a First-Century Carpenter and His Ragtag Group of Friends as They Hop Fences, Cross Borders, and Generally Go Where Most People Don’t — I suspected this book was going to be a Christian version of Chicken Soup for the Soul. But with its numerous tales of unidealized personal encounters with the urban poor, Why Jesus Crossed the Road turned out to be more like a hot beef stew — a nourishing reminder of God’s desire for his children to take risks, step out of our comfort zones, and engage in the world around us. To do this, Main taps into the wisdom and resources of such diverse thinkers as existential philosopher Albert Camus,theologians NicholasWolterstorff and Miroslav Volf, and psychologist M. Scott Peck — all while rooting his ideas in meaningful relationships and real-life
cursorily addresses critical issues that should be included in any conversation of this kind: For example, while he briefly affirms women in ministry, he fails to give high priority to road-crossing in regard to gender. Despite these shortcomings, Main’s direct style penetrates the heart of the reader with solid reminders of central biblical truths. The greatest gift of Main’s work is his inspiration to all of us to love differently as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Q
interactions. Main reminds readers that interconnection with people outside of one’s own contextual framework is crucial to providing perspective and shaping one’s view of the world. Main uses the road-crossing metaphor to ask questions about where Jesus leads and what barriers and borders he wants us to overcome, outlining several fundamental truths along the way: Jesus crossed the road in order to “let his actions speak louder than his words,” to throw out “the preconceived notions of what a blessed life looked like,” to “empower a powerless outcast,” and “to save those who were lost.” Jesus crossed economic, racial, cultural, and spiritual boundaries to connect with others, to offer a safe haven for people in need, and to demonstrate the new kingdom he was ushering in. Overall, Why Jesus Crossed the Road both encourages and provokes the reader to consider what it means to act out Jesus’ gospel call to respond to the “least of these.” However, at times Main makes theological generalizations that lack substance. He encourages readers to “do what we can do at the moment while not getting paralyzed by the larger issues”— a point which, while well taken, might be more effective if he gave the reader more specific and practical ways to move toward “crossing the road” in specific instances. In addition, he only
Mae Elise Cannon is the author of Social Justice Handbook: Small Steps for a Better World (IVP, 2009). She is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church and is working on her PhD at University of California, Davis, writing about the historical involvement of American Protestant Christians in Israel and Palestine.
GREEN, AMERICAN STYLE By Anna M. Clark Baker Books Reviewed by Jim Jewell This week I’ve been working outside with my robust but slowing 81-yearold father-in-law, Ernie Payton, trimming weeds, cutting down dead trees, and protecting new ash from the deer. Lt. Colonel Payton, a retired Salvation Army pastor, has owned a four-acre property up the hill and south of Ithaca, N.Y., since 1947, first as a summer vacation spot for the family and then as a full-time home in retirement. During those years he’s built a simple house on the property while providing pastoral care, raising a family, and providing solace for the faithful and soup, soap, and salvation for the indigent. Ernie is a Christian environmentalist, although as a strongly conservative churchgoer and Fox News fan he would never call himself that nor enjoy the title. PRISM 2010
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He’s an environmentalist not because of his words but because of what he’s done. He has honored God as the Creator, nurtured the land, taken a personal interest in every plant on his property, maintained thriving bird feeders, lived the simple life of a Depression-era kid, taught his three children to live simply and graciously, recycled everything possible, saved energy in old-fashioned ways such as turning out lights and moderating use of heating and cooling, shared and traded tools with neighbors, and kept the Sabbath restful and holy. There is much more he could do to protect his land and his health, things he doesn’t know about but that he might be motivated to do if he could find the time and energy. I was reading a new book on “becoming earth-friendly,” Green, American Style, in the crevices of evening time after our work on the land, wondering if there was anything there for guys like Ernie or the many other family members and friends who, though politically conservative, are faithful Christians inclined toward daily habits that produce healthy lives, stronger families, and better communities. Although released by Baker Books, a Christian publisher, Green, American Style is not a Christian book per se, and it adds little to foundational discussions on the Bible’s teaching on creation care, on environmental elements of Christian faith and ethics, or even to the strategies for Christian advancement of sound environmental policies. Author Anna M. Clark has been going through a five-year metamorphosis from nominal Christian to one who studies the Scriptures, from “left to the center and in some cases to the right” in her politics, from childlessness to motherhood, and from a typical American consumer to a green zealot. Clark is an honest and likable figure, without the pretentions of some longtime believers or professional environmentalists, which makes her thoughts and recommendations unclut-
tered and, at times, wonderfully naïve. The core of the book is a list of 85 sound steps that are both environmentally and, in many cases, financially beneficial, divided into six topics: food, car, toxin-free, building, games, and work. They are worthwhile and sometimes surprising suggestions that will be familiar to longtime environmentalists but new information for many of my friends. In the first 100 pages, Clark tries to lay the groundwork for the recommendations by describing the rationale for all things green and by establishing her own multiple motivations — from faith to guilt to health to profit. It traces the author’s nascent green journey, which may provide footholds for others behind her but also some ideological sinkholes left and right. Conservatives may find offense in stark statements such as “The poor are poor because the rich are rich” or by the use of Brian McLaren as a spiritual guide. Progressives may find more areas of concern, such as Clark’s praise of Walmart’s green efforts, the emphasis on “ecocapitalism” as a rationale for action, and “green as a path to new prosperity.” But when she stumbles into territory that is untenable to some, she does so with such innocence that it is unlikely to rile the troops. The time-pressed should go straight to Part Two: 85 Ways to Save the Planet (and Money!), which can be a terrific go-to guide for anyone new to the green journey.This is not to suggest that these lists are weak or easy ideas to green-wash your lives. There is some tough stuff here, but the majority of the suggestions could be implemented by most of us in a matter of months. It is a guide to green action for the rest of us, for the huddled masses of the nation’s cul-desacs. Here are some great examples:
of animals, and do our part to reduce environmental impact.
There are seven criteria to help determine a product’s green potential: clean energy, energy-efficient, water-conscious, recyclable, fair to workers, certified by a third party, necessary.
Eggs from hens raised on pasture contain one-third less cholesterol, one-fourth less saturated fat, two-thirds more vitamin E, two times more omega fatty acids, three Toxin-Free Living —The environmental times more vitamin E, and seven times movement began as an effort to protect more beta carotene. people’s health (Rachel Carson challenging chemical contamination in 1962), If Americans reduced their meat con- but has unfortunately been portrayed sumption by just 10 percent, enough — sometimes rightly so — as more congrain would be saved to feed 60 million cerned about hugging trees than hugpeople. ging people. A Christian understanding of creation care aligns with the foundCars and Things —We all need to buy ing concerns of the movement in things, and like many of us the author emphasizing first our concern for peoenjoys buying nice things. “I was glad,” ple, created in the image of God. The she writes, “that I could channel the facts on environmental hazards, particuimpulse into purchases that make a posi- larly on the unborn and on our chiltive impact.” dren, are truly alarming. The key to being a greener driver is to evaluate the most environmentally sensitive options in your price range in terms of other concerns (which for the author means driving her paid-off SUV now and buying something greener when it’s necessary to replace it).
Avoid using pesticides: To prevent pest problems without using harsh chemicals, remove food sources from countertops. Block holes in caulk. Use welcome mats. Use plastic products wisely. Chem-icals in plastics have been linked to cancers, birth defects, poor nervous systems, and hormone disruptions in babies. Get rid of plastics that show wear and tear. Do not microwave foods in plastic containers. Better Homes —Clark and her husband built one of the first platinum LEEDcertified homes in Texas, but she recognizes that not everyone can take the step. She offers many ideas for remodeling or simpler steps for greater energy efficiency. Install programmable thermostats, a very quick return on investment. Plug appliances into surge strips and minimize ‘vampire’ energy loss by flipping these switches at night. Microwave ovens, computers, TVs, and other digital appliances suck power even when turned
Food — I’m particularly attracted to the suggestions on better eating that will benefit our health and the health of our families, contribute to better treatment PRISM 2010
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off or in sleep or standby mode. Idle power from such appliances equal, on the average, about one month’s bill per year. Better Places — Many of us dream of finding simpler and more walkable, agrarian, community-oriented places to live. This is both nostalgic and forwardlooking, and there are solutions being proposed and developed in urban, suburban, and rural settings. Our world has a great need for more resources and teaching on the broad ideological appeal, spiritual richness, and profound beauty of lives fully connected to God, to other people, and to the natural world. Green, American Style addresses this need, offering solid green footholds for all of us — even for unrecognized but truly green-at-heart saints like my father-in-law. Q Jim Jewell is co-founder of Flourish, which seeks to revive Christian care for people and the landscapes on which they depend. He also heads Rooftop, a communications and consulting firm serving organizations and causes, many in the Christian environmental movement.
ABUSING SCRIPTURE By Manfred Brauch IVP Academic Reviewed by Kiara Jorgenson If the gospel story is truly one of good news, why is it increasingly falling upon deaf ears? In response to this question many evangelicals point to the influence of science and technology, noting connections to naturalism. Others blame relativism and religious pluralism, the resulting wake of postmodernism. Manfred Brauch attributes much of the diminishing Christian voice to the Christian community itself, which he argues has “frequently told the story badly, lived it brokenly, and distorted it terribly.” This
to understand key biblical terms. Building upon these areas of abuse, Brauch concludes with an examination of the abuse of context, looking specifically at controversies such as the gospel of personal salvation versus the social gospel, views on women’s leadership in the church, and just-war theory. The book also prescribes points of prevention and intervention. Both prove to be more theoretical than practical and fail to help the lay-level reader seek corrective and healing measures in today’s church.The astute pastor or teacher should easily identify the long-term benefits of conviction serves as the guiding force employing Brauch’s methods in academic behind Abusing Scripture:The Consequences environments, but most will need to of Misreading the Bible, an introductory look elsewhere for guidance on how to academic text that creatively outlines reinstate the church’s credibility and viafoundational hermeneutical methods by bility within society at large. highlighting perpetual perversions of This weakness aside, Abusing Scripture biblical texts. not only has its rightful place in the The book’s emotive title is an appro- arena of biblical studies scholarship but priate one, as abuse of any kind, ranging also serves to reform the face of hermefrom patterns within families to struc- neutics. Here the task of biblical intertures within governments, cannot be pretation is anything but dull. Lessons rectified without recognition and inter- on historical context, literary genre, and vention. With an aim to first recognize etymology are embedded in controvercommon abuses of Scripture, Brauch sets sial conversations, thereby encouraging forth five areas of study. First, he address- the reader to see and measure the great es the abuse of the whole gospel, arguing stakes of faithful and holistic Bible study. that a Christian’s relationship to others It is for this reason that Abusing Scripture and the environment is inseparable from promises to be a worthwhile challenge one’s relationship with God. Secondly, for any reader. Q Brauch debunks the selective manner in which many Christians read the Bible. Kiara Jorgenson is on the faculty at Valor Rather than reading one’s own agenda Christian High School and an affiliate prointo a text (eisegesis), he challenges the fessor of biblical studies at Colorado Christian reader to discover a fresh perspective University. She teaches a variety of theology, from the text (exegesis). philosophy, and biblical studies classes in the His third area examines the abuse of Denver area. biblical balance. Struck by the ensuing division from difficult subjects such as gender, war, and money, Brauch reminds the reader to study Scripture from a Do you find our reviews helpful? canonical and panoramic perspective. What kind of books would you Fourth, Brauch illustrates the difference like to see on these pages? between encoding and decoding mesSend your feedback to kristyn@ sages and cautions the reader to employ esa-online.org. historical and cultural tools when trying PRISM 2010
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