Religious Studies Review

rsr_1555 264..310

VOLUME 37

NUMBER 4

DECEMBER 2011

insights and problems from past great philosophers, from Locke and Berkeley to Kant and Wards own teacher, G. Ryle. Although there is little theology or religious studies in this short but compelling work, the implications of the volume are of great theological and religious signicance. Ward demonstrates that secular naturalism is not the only game in town. This book will be of interest to undergraduates and more advanced scholars in both philosophy of mind and philosophy of religion. Charles Taliaferro St. Olaf College

THE REMAINS OF BEING: HERMENEUTIC ONTOLOGY AFTER METAPHYSICS. By Santiago Zabala. New
York: Columbia University Press, 2009. Pp. xx + 178. $45.00. Zabala pursues a historical and constructive interpretation of the situation of the question of Being since Heidegger. This book is not only a study of Heidegger and selected post-Heideggerian thinkers but also an attempt to work out how the question of Being is generated now, in any and all ages (of Western thought at least), because of Heideggers destruction of the metaphysics of being-as-presence. The vague motif of the remains of Being thematizes the attempt: What remains of Being once Being is no more? What are the remains of Being? An introduction poses the problem, then the rst chapter justies its signicance through a wide-ranging exposition of Heideggers destruction of metaphysics. Chapter two offers intense sketches of what remains of Being according to six philosophers: R. Schrmann (traits of being), J. Derrida (traces), J.-L. Nancy (co-presences), H.-G. Gadamer (conversation), E. Tugendhat (sentences), and G. Vattimo (events). In the nal chapter, Zabala stakes the claim that the philosophy of an ontology of remains must be hermeneutical, for in interpretation one seeks what is yet left out, left over, and brings it to Being as an event of understanding. This is a book for specialists: Zabala assumes the denitiveness of Heideggers achievement, and the book is steeped in Heideggerian and post- Heideggerian jargon. Chapter two will stimulate readers familiar with the thinkers discussed, but may bafe others; the argument is proposed but hardly exposed for analysis. For its likely audience though, the book offers illuminating characterizations and suggestions. Andrew B. Irvine Maryville College

Spirit-Christology, overview more recent scholarly and academic articulations of Spirit-Christology by Pentecostal theologians in dialogue with other Spirit-christological proposals, and draw upon Latino/a christologies of liberation and recent NT scholarship on the socioeconomic dimensions of historical Jesus research to further suggest the congruence between Hispanic liberation and Spirit-christological theologies. But that leaves only the last chapter, about twenty pages, to get at the topics that the books title announces. Each of the four short sections in this nal chapteron the US Hispanic Pentecostal context, on Hispanic Pentecostal christological method, on Hispanic Pentecostal spirituality as illuminated through its hymnody and popular corito tradition, and the sketch of a Hispanic Pentecostal Spirit-Christologycould, and should, have been expanded into a full chapter. Had Alfaro had done that, then a critical Hispanic Pentecostal dialogue might have ensued with the mainstream of Spirit-christological ideas, resulting in a deeper crossfertilization of the encounter between the West and the heretofore marginalized voices and perspectives that this volume seeks to heed. In that sense then, one hopes that the promise announced in this volume will come into fruition as this young Fuller Theological Seminary Ph.D. (this volume being a revision of his doctoral dissertation) continues to engage the theological conversation. Amos Yong Regent University School of Divinity

GRASSROOTS UNITY IN THE CHARISMATIC RENEWAL. By Connie Ho Yan Au. Eugene, OR: Wipf &
Stock, 2011. Pp. xv + 281. $33.00. This is an extended case study of the Fountain Trust, a British organization that from 1964 to 1979 sought to facilitate charismatic renewal as a springboard for thinking and theologizing about the interface between charismatic renewal and ecumenism. Although based in the UK, the Trust sought, particularly through its ve international conferences during the 1970s, to mediate renewal in the churches. The ecumenical nature of the Trustdominated primarily by Anglicans, but involving Roman Catholics, Orthodox, and, especially during the latter years of its existence, also Pentecostals and Evangelicalsleads to Aus thesis: the Trust was a grassroots example of the complementarity between institution and charisma, and between the christological nature of the ecumenical church and the pneumatological means of ecumenical unity. A tangential thesis suggested in the course of study is that the charismatic renewal can be viewed as converging with two other ecumenical streamsthe World Council of Churches and the Second Vatican Councilwith the former being complemented by charismatic renewal (being a later arrival) and the latter complementing charismatic renewal (in a sense precipitating the renewal in Catholic circles). Yet, the primary value of this volume consists in the detailed history (including key personalities, major developments, and the conferences) and astute theological analyses of the Trust as

Theology
DIVINO COMPAERO: TOWARD A HISPANIC PENTECOSTAL CHRISTOLOGY. By Sammy Alfaro. Eugene,
OR: Pickwick Publications, 2010. Pp. xii + 164. $20.00. This book should have been twice as long. The rst three chaptersabout 125 pagesargue that early Pentecostals operated intuitively with various versions of

264

Religious Studies Review

rsr_1555 265..311

VOLUME 37

NUMBER 4

DECEMBER 2011

an ecumenical movement. This rst book suggests that we will be hearing much more from the author, currently director of the Pentecostal Research Center of the Synergy Institute of Leadership in Hong Kong, in the coming years. Amos Yong Regent University School of Divinity

NATURAL LAW: A LUTHERAN REAPPRAISAL. Edited by Robert C. Baker and Roland Cap Ehlke. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2011. Pp. 302. Paper, $24.99; e-book, $9.99. This book offers a well-constructed tour of the philosophical and theological concept of natural law from a specic perspectivethe Lutheran tradition. The text contains fteen articles from contributors that range from academic theologians to laypersons. It has a solid foundation in the history of the concept of natural law, and brings it forward through various theological and philosophical issues inside the Lutheran tradition, ending with a section typically referred to as applied ethics, where questions such as the ordination of women and possible MuslimChristian connections are argued. It is dominated by a particular form of Lutheranism (the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod), but that should not be a surprise, as it is published by Concordia. This contributes to the primary weakness of the text; readers should be aware that there is signicant disagreement among Lutherans inside this debate, whereas one side dominates this text. It is a well-organized text that seems to be aimed at the classroom. It is recommended for anyone with a solid background in philosophy or theology, and it would make an excellent classroom text at the college or seminary level. Eric B. Berg MacMurray College PEACE BE WITH YOU: CHRISTS BENEDICTION AMID VIOLENT EMPIRES. By Sharon L. Baker and
Michael Hardin. Telford, PA: Cascadia Publishing House, 2010. Pp. 299. $23.95. Acknowledging the exhortation implied in Jesuss proclamation, my peace I give to you, but not as the world gives (Jn. 14:27), editors Baker and Hardin bring together various essayists to address shared concern for cultural accommodation of the American church to the ways of empire. Although intended readers include Christians from diverse confessional communities, the majority of contributors share an Anabaptist perspective. Thus, contributor J. Sauder speaks not of the perils of Christendom but Mennodom; he, like other contributors, calls upon the church to produce an alternative kingdom. The essayists address enduring questions on a wide range of sociopolitical subjects from preemptive war, Christian relationship to government (a response to Yoder on Romans 13), just policing, and white supremacy to ecclesial issues such as voluntary baptism, church conict, and shunning. This nal topic proves very fascinating due to the apparent disjunction between the claims of historic peace churches and the shunning/

shaming of those who commit visible sins. This work is commendable for its satisfying movement beyond the standard theological critique of Constantinian narratives toward practical and prophetic/countercultural means to advance peacemaking, both individually and collectively. Far from a compilation of easy answers, contributors implore the church to discern for every generation its relationship to its surrounding culture. Scholars and graduate students interested in empire criticism, pacism, restorative justice, and peacemaking should nd this a helpful resource (DVD also available). The contributors include well-known names like B. McLaren, C. Carter, R. Hughes, and R. Haltemann Finger, as well as rising scholars on these matters. Martin William Mittelstadt Evangel University

PARTICIPATION: EPISTEMOLOGY AND MISSION THEOLOGY. By Peter J. Bellini. The Ashbury Theological
Seminary Series in World Christian Revitalization Movements in Pietist/Wesleyan Studies, 2. Lexington, KY: Emeth Press, 2010. Pp. 196. $40.00. Bellinis book is reminiscent of D. J. Boschs magisterial Transforming Mission (Orbis, 1992) in that both take the inuence of philosophy on theology and culture seriously. Bellinis book is a worthy successor to Bosch, moving the conversation into postmodern territory. Bellini sees late modernity as having experienced an epistemological crisis disconnecting us from God and the possibility of transcendence (chapter one). He blames this condition on the deationary ontologies of modernity and postmodernity, which produced inated epistemologies severed from ontology and God (chapter two). To redress this imbalance, Bellini turns to Radical Orthodoxy and its ontology of participation, which envisions the created order as suspended from the transcendent (chapter three). Chapter four builds upon Radical Orthodoxys concept of participation in God by appropriating a more specically christological articulation of participation, as found in St. Maximus the Confessor. Chapter ve expands upon certain soteriological and missiological themes by appealing to Wesleys theology of grace. In his nal chapter, Bellini focuses on the implications of his work for missiology proper. The payoff is rich. Bellini envisions a missio Trinitatis in which creations participation in God supplies us with a universal witness that incorporates and prophetically harmonizes the logoi of culture, of the local and global church, and of the Spirits activity in cosmic soteria. Bellini has made all the right moves here. Although dense, his book is quite readable, with generous notes. I highly recommend it for upper-level missiology courses. Skip Horton-Parker Regent University

WORDS OF LIFE: NEW THEOLOGICAL TURNS IN FRENCH PHENOMENOLOGY. Edited by Bruce Ellis
Benson and Norman Wirzba. New York: Fordham University Press, 2010. Pp. vii + 316. $24.00.

265

Religious Studies Review

rsr_1555 266..312

VOLUME 37

NUMBER 4

DECEMBER 2011

Something of a companion to D. Janicauds Phenomenology and the Theological Turn (2001), Words of Life is a collection of essays on theological turns in French phenomenology that were presented at a conference at Samford University in 2006. The essays propose various novel explorations of religious motifs in dialogue with the work of leading French phenomenologists J.-L. Marion, M. Henry, and J.-L. Chrtien. Other foundational phenomenologists such Husserl, Heidegger, Levinas, and Derrida still nd mention. Some of the essays attend to experiences such as suffering, humility, and pride, while others explore theological concepts such as faith, grace, and truth. Benson offers a rather helpful introduction for the educated beginner that briey overviews the concept and history of phenomenology as well as situates the essays in the volume within contemporary debates in French phenomenology. Although these essays move the dialogue of a phenomenology of religion forward, some anticipate the theological turn turning even more theological. Given the importance of theological reection on spiritual practices, one anticipates the insight gleaned from phenomenological readings of practices such as lectio divina, preaching a sermon, walking the stations of the cross, or fasting. With the exception of Benson, Marion, and a few others, the theological turn has given limited attention to practices. Still, this volume is necessary reading for anyone interested in current themes in French phenomenology and developments of key phenomenologists, as well as the burgeoning study of phenomenology of religion. Kyle David Bennett Azusa Pacic University

GLOBAL PENTECOSTAL AND CHARISMATIC HEALING. Edited by Candy Gunther Brown. Oxford:
Oxford University Press, 2011. Pp. xxi + 397; plates. Cloth, $99.00; paper, $29.95. Ostensibly, Pentecostalism is a new reformation struggling with identity. This volume argues healing is more important than speaking in tongues, is subsumed in the atonement, and may be considered the fullness of the Pentecostal experience. Healing, but not necessarily curing, is a form of immediate salvation. If death can be postponed, the motivation for eternal salvation becomes less urgent. Consequently, the value of the human body is afrmed. In this study, the seventeen authors make clear, through interdisciplinary approaches and compelling research, that religion must serve existential needs. Material salvation takes precedent to the extent that eschatology is rendered moribund. Traditional Christian categories are reimagined. For example, the Eucharist becomes a miracle meal in which healing is anticipated. The book raises a number of fundamental questions, including the causality between sin and sickness, healing as reward for obedience, the extent divine healing presents an alternative God of the gaps principle, and wellness as the new prosperity doctrine. The book is not concerned if legs really lengthen or tumors shrink. Authors neither treat their topic uncritically nor sidestep difculties and veriable failures. The argument that Pentecostal communities can shape wider cultural worlds seems questionable. The aim of religion, theoretically, is to bring the possibility of divine mystery and human reality closer together. The hope of healing is the glue combining the two. The text demonstrates unequivocally that CharismaticPentecostalism proves feeling is believing. The book is foundational without antecedent or peer, possessing broad appeal for students and scholars of religion. Thomas A. Fudge Portland, Oregon

BECAUSE OF CHRIST: MEMOIRS OF A LUTHERAN THEOLOGIAN. By Carl E. Braaten. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm.
B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2010. Pp. 223. $18.00. Braatens theological and professional autobiography is a joy to read. He takes the reader on a journey through his life and Lutheranism as he knew it from 1930 to 2008. Each chapter is devoted to a period of his life, beginning with his time in Madagascar as the son of a missionary, stopping at Luther Seminary, moving on to the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, and then into his retirement today, with several stops along the way for a total of twelve chapters. He is able to quickly outline the central theological issues that dominated each period of his life, and he is not shy about letting the reader know exactly where he stood on each issue, the implications of his positions, and why he felt he was right. If there is a weakness, it is the fact that these critical issues are dealt with very quickly. The most memorable quote does a ne job of capturing the text. Professor Braaten writes of himself: evangelical without being Protestant, catholic without being Roman, and orthodox without being eastern. This text is recommended for anyone who has an interest in the history of Lutheranism, but it is not in-depth enough for classroom use. Eric Berg MacMurray College

GOD AND THE ART OF HAPPINESS. By Ellen T. Charry. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2010. Pp. vii + 312. $35.00. God and the Art of Happiness is a constructive proposal for a Christian doctrine of happiness. The rst section of the book surveys the theological conversation about happiness and its trajectory through the Christian tradition, with particular attention to how it construed happiness either in a future eschatological framework or without any theological reference to Gods commands. The second section seeks to reopen this conversation by redressing these omissions and proposing the practical function this doctrine can have for Christian living, arguing that a biblical vision of happiness (asherism, from asher: Hebrew for happy) is the enjoyment and ourishing derived from an obedient pattern of living in accordance with Gods commands. Salvation is a healing and enlightening by Christ to live within this pattern here and now. Charry concludes by emphasizing that learning to live in this pattern is an art that
266

Religious Studies Review

rsr_1555 267..313

VOLUME 37

NUMBER 4

DECEMBER 2011

requires the formation and equipping of the church through its practices. She explores how these practices heal the suffering caused by the sins of others, but one would have liked for her to explore how sin affects the practice of these practices and the realization of happiness here and now. To what extent does a doctrine of sin challenge the practical task of a doctrine of happiness? This aside, Charrys book is a rewarding read that helpfully elucidates a Christian notion of ourishing that is both creational and eschatological. This should be of interest to theologians, Christian philosophers, and educated pastors. Kyle David Bennett Azusa Pacic University

THE HEART OF THE GOSPEL: THE THEOLOGY BEHIND THE MASTER PLAN OF EVANGELISM. By
Robert E. Coleman. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2011. Pp. vii + 298. $19.99. With evangelism and its necessity being hotly contested in Christian circles, Colemans book acts as clarion call to the whole church to take up the mantle that Jesus gave: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations (Matt 28:19, NASB). Weaving through liberal and conservative friction points while simultaneously taking the reader on a cosmic journey of the Father reconciling a beautiful yet estranged world to himself through Christ in the power of the Spirit, Coleman seeks to remind his readers that because Jesus lives, there is no person beyond the reach of Gods graceno life too wasted for him to save, no sin too great for him to cleanse, no burden too heavy for him to bear. After dening a cosmic soteriology, Coleman moves to articulate an individual soteriology that is rooted in the Wesleyan/Arminean tradition. Starting with the Holy Spirit preveniently counteracting total depravity, he shows how the Spirit leads the individual to justifying, sanctifying, and ultimately glorifying grace. Inside this soteriology, Coleman states that the primary responsibility of the church (a community of individual believers) is to evangelism. Winning people to Christ should be so fused into the congregational life that if the organization functions at all, evangelism is inevitable. Evangelism (both social and spiritual) should ow naturally from a life that has personally yielded to the calling of the cosmic Gospel. Coleman writes an academic, yet accessible text that reminds Christians of their highest calling. I highly recommend this book for academic and congregational use. Joshua Toepper Asbury Theological Seminary

THE TRUTH, THE WAY, THE LIFE: CHRISTIAN COMMENTARY ON THE THREE HOLY MANTRAS RI VAISNAVA HINDUS. By Francis X. OF THE S
Clooney, S. J. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2008. Pp. ix + 203. Paper, $56.00. Following P. Hadot (Philosophy as a Way of Life: Spiritual Exercises from Socrates to Foucault) and P. J. Grifths (Religious Reading: The Place of Reading in the Practice of Religion), Clooney expands the limits of academic discourse by conceiving the reading and writing of commentary as not simply an exercise of erudition but a spiritual exercise aimed at deepening the commitment of those involved in the practice. In contrast to Grifths (who prioritizes reading within ones own tradition), Clooneys volume is an experiment in comparative religious reading, offering a Christian theological commentary on Vednta Des ikas r S mad Rahasyatrayasra, an exposition of three founda r tional mantras of the Indian S vaisnava tradition. With Des ika, Clooney interprets the Tiru Mantra as supplying a religious ontology in which the devotional gures Nryana r and S are of central and irreplaceable importance (the truth); the Dvaya Mantra as providing the proper response to that ontology by advocating an act of unconditional surrender to the divine known as taking refuge (the way); loka as offering a template for the and the Carama S attitudes/actions of those subsequently living out that refuge (the life). Each section concludes with Clooney recapitulating the truths of the mantras in terms accessible to Christians, providing a bricolage of the original mantra and a similar verse from the Christian tradition with which it might interact, potentially provoking insights novel to each tradition. Written to be read alongside his 2008 Beyond r Compare: St. Francis de Sales and S Vednta Des ika on Loving Surrender to God, Clooneys major thematic concern is devotional in nature, centering on the action and consequences of taking refuge. Clooneys bhakti, at times, appears understated but is unmistakably present, making the work useful for church scripture study or individual devotion, in addition to being a signicant contribution within the academic eld of comparative theology. P. J. Johnston University of Iowa

THE TRINITY: A GUIDE FOR THE PERPLEXED. By Paul M. Collins. London and New York: T & T Clark, 2008. Pp. ix + 194. $24.95. This installment in T & T Clarks Guides for the Perplexed series follows upon the authors earlier Oxford monograph (2001) on the same doctrine. The series aims to produce clear, concise, and accessible volumes, but because Collins assumes in his readers a working knowledge of the doctrine and scholarly discourse concerning it, his impressive exposition of the traditional and contemporary debates make this volume more suitable for graduate students and seriously advanced undergraduates. Indeed, Collinss unique competency in this doctrinal domain is evident on every page, as the reader is treated to an unceasing review of literature traditional and contemporary, philosophical and theological, Western and Eastern, all the while stressing the methodological decisions implied and explicit in the various paradigms addressed. The Introduction persuasively calls for an apophatic approach to the topic that renders theological speech about the Trinity more interpretive and relational than ontological. Successive chapters treat the Apostolic and Patristic ages, the role of mystery, the
267

Religious Studies Review

rsr_1555 268..314

VOLUME 37

NUMBER 4

DECEMBER 2011

reception of revelation, and ecumenism. The nal chapter purports to address the doctrines implications for the other, but, as the author acknowledges, never moves past the ecumenical Other to ponder the more challenging and untidy implications of the postmodern voices Collins enlists. Here, some illumination of the intercultural, interfaith, and political theological possibilities would be in order to supplement the brief comments on hospitality gleaned from Derrida and Habermas. Still, the review of literature alone makes this book a key reference point for any serious study of the doctrine. John N. Sheveland Gonzaga University

GOD OF SALVATION: SOTERIOLOGY IN THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE. Edited by Ivor J. Davidson and

Murray A. Rae. Burlington, VT: Ashgate, 2011. Pp. vii + 175. $39.95. Featuring essays from a variety of theologians, this text inquires into the connection between soteriology and the Trinitarian character of God. Confessional in focus, its central structure describes God as creator, sustainer, and redeemer through Christ and the Spirit, a divine nature that illuminates a meaning of salvation that transcends the disparate ideas of sociopolitical liberation or existential experience that frame many contemporary soteriological understandings. Grounded in Gods nature as both judging and graceful, salvation is the justication and sanctication of all of creation that opens up the possibility for fellowship with God as creations true end, lived out in personal reformation and the witness of the church. The essays work in a largely systematic thematic by intertwining soteriological claims with ideas about creation, providence, Christology, theological anthropology, ecclesiology, missiology, and eschatology, all of which are interrelated within Gods Trinitarian nature. This theological perspective also suggests the texts greatest limitation as the primacy of the focus on Gods nature means that practical and ethical concerns about living out the reality of salvation in Christ and the Spirit remain as secondary concerns. Yet, the text would be especially useful to graduate students, especially in the Reformed and Roman Catholic traditions, as its ultimate value is in placing soteriology within a systematic theological framework, a perspective that it does well. Peder Jothen St. Olaf College

book for his fellow evangelicals. Critically deploying iz S. Z eks ideological theory as an analytical lens, he masterfully exposes how three contemporary evangelical doctrinesthe inerrant Bible, the decision for Christ, and the Christian nationhave lost their foundational theological signicance and devolved into shibboleths that mask the epistemological arrogance (which props up evangelical exclusiveness), lifestyle duplicity (often exhibiting hypocrisy), and socioeconomicpolitical dispassion (content with the suburban status quo) that characterizes much of the evangelical church (or is at least perceived by outsiders as such). Although his goals are to renew evangelical faithfulness in ways that are appropriate to the political challenges of the present age, his constructive vision may be too eclectically derivedfor example, critical appropriation of emerging and missional church movements alongside Barth, von Balthasar, Vanhoozer, N. T. Wright, Milbank, Willard, de Lubac, and Yoder, among othersto hold together coherently for some evangelicals. Nevertheless, the ideological and psychosocial analysis of evangelical beliefs and practices here is substantive, illuminating the emptiness at the core of evangelical Christianity in ways that invite fresh reconsideration of the nature and mission of the church. Outsiders to the evangelical tradition may revel at some of the exposs conducted here, but insiders will realize how the various case studies are designed to prompt evangelical reengagement with the public square in an incarnationally and pentecostally relevant manner. Amos Yong Regent University School of Divinity

THE LORD IS THE SPIRIT: THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE DIVINE ATTRIBUTES. By Andrew K. Gabriel.
Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2011. Pp. ix + 237. $27.00. Gabriel has written a Pentecostal academic engagement of the doctrine of God from the perspective of pneumatology. He begins his work with a description of classical theism, using Aquinas, arguably the zenith of Western theologys articulation of the classical view of God, as his primary source. While addressing the full list of classical attributes of God, Gabriel focuses on impassibility, immutability, and omnipotence. He goes on to describe contemporary responses to the classical view, including those posed by process theology, evangelical theology (featuring open theism), and the modern revival of Trinitarian theology. Gabriel argues that, to do justice to the biblical picture of God, the divine attributes must be discussed from the perspective of the doctrine of the Trinity, and most specically, the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. He goes on to argue for a revision of divine impassibility in light of the passion of the Spirit, divine immutability in view of the presence of the Holy Spirit, and omnipotence with regard to the power of the Spirit. Although Gabriels Pentecostal heritage and perspective is featured prominently, he expertly engages a wide range of ecumenical sources and emphasizes how our

THE END OF EVANGELICALISM? DISCERNING A NEW FAITHFULNESS FOR MISSION: TOWARDS AN EVANGELICAL POLITICAL THEOLOGY. By
David E. Fitch. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2011. Pp. xxvii + 226. $28.00. Fitch, the B. R. Lindner Professor of Evangelical Theology at Northern Seminary and pastor of Life on the Vine Christian Community in Chicago, has written a provocative

268

Religious Studies Review

rsr_1555 269..315

VOLUME 37

NUMBER 4

DECEMBER 2011

doctrine of God should not be divorced from our experience of God. The book is a well-crafted and much-needed foray into the contemporary discussion about the doctrine of God by a Pentecostal scholar. Matthew K. Thompson Southwestern College

THE OTHER JESUS: REJECTING A RELIGION OF FEAR FOR THE GOD OF LOVE. By Greg Garrett.
Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2011. Pp. x + 126. $17.00. Garretts The Other Jesus presents Christian theology as being in need of an awakening from its traditional pessimistic presentation. The text critiques fundamentalist sectors and mainline denomination practices that emulate biblical hermeneutical oversimplication while evading perplexing doctrinal challenges derived by waves of emerging societal changes produced by the postmodern world. Three of Garretts claims include recognition of the difculty in biblical interpretation, problems with absolute creedal truths in an increasingly pluralistic context, and institutionalized collective guilt of defamation of Gods character. While avoiding both the extremes of relativism and a revisionist approach to classical statements such as the Nicene Creed, the author relates his personal childhood church experiences as discontented because they omitted the most fundamental question that only religion can answer: what is the purpose or meaning of life as we know it? The texts general message is that the body of Christ has tarnished Jesuss and Christianitys reputation due to its extended practice of overt practical and dogmatic polarization. The Other Jesus functions as a lament, addressing the broad issue of presenting the God of love when signicant proportions of Christians vilify those who disagree with them. Garrett also expresses personal concern regarding a demographic projection of a generational mass exodus from the faith. Michael D. Royster Prairie View A&M University

Kuyper Prize Lecture, Reections on Pluralism, and the rst ever English summary translation (by R. de Vries) of Kuypers chapter on The Enigma of Islam (1907). The editorial at the beginning announces that future volumes will feature articles that fall within the scope of the Centers work that pass peer review, and so The Kuyper Center Review should be read at tting into a middle genre, between that of an open-ended journal on the one side and that of a more coherent book collection of essays on the other side. This inaugural issue sets a high standard, with plenty of food for thought not only for Kuyperians or scholars working on the abovementioned themes in the Reformed tradition, but also for all interested researchers seeking to engage these matters related to the common good. Amos Yong Regent University School of Divinity

THEM, US & ME: HOW THE OLD TESTAMENT SPEAKS TO PEOPLE TODAY. By Jacqueline Grey.
Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2008. Pp. 248; illustrations. $27.00. Grey approaches the OT thematically and employs a three-part hermeneutic, considering a texts meaning for the original audience (Them), for the New Testament community (Us), and for the individual contemporary reader (Me). The books purpose is to facilitate effective reading by providing some simple keys to understand the bible and apply it to your daily life. In Part I, Grey describes her hermeneutical method, and in Part II, she applies that method to a series of biblical themes within the divisions Creation to Abraham, Exodus to the Law, the Land, Prophets and Kings, Psalms and Wisdom, and Exile and Return. For Grey, the biblical writers offer theological testimony rather than history, and so she does not address historical-critical questions. She focuses instead on the hermeneutical task of joining three testimonies, those of Them, Us, and Me, in interpreting biblical passages and themes. For Grey, reading should result in a transformational encounter with the text leading to application in the readers life. She, therefore, accepts highly subjective readings (Me) as the price for relevance and applicability, but limits that subjectivity by keeping original meaning (Them) and later Christian interpretations (Us) in view. Them, Us & Me offers an excellent basic overview of the OT, suitable for general college courses or the informed layperson. This book could also serve as a noncritical introduction or supplemental text for undergraduate courses in biblical studies disciplines. Scott A. Ellington Emmanuel College

THE KUYPER CENTER REVIEW, VOL. 1: POLITICS, RELIGION, AND SPHERE SOVEREIGNTY. Edited by
Gordon Graham. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2010. Pp. x + 150. $24.00. This rst volume of The Kuyper Center Review includes some papers from the 2008 Kuyper Conference on Sphere Sovereignty and Civil Society hosted by the Abraham Kuyper Center for Public Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary. Featured are well-known Kuyper scholars addressing important and interesting topics like Christian social pluralism (J. Chaplin), Kuypers political theories (J. Bratt), Neo-Calvinism and contemporary political philosophy (Graham), political friendship (M. DeMoor), covenant theology and its relevance for thinking about secular society (J. Halsey Wood, Jr.), the welfare state (G. Harinck), same-sex marriage (J. J. S. Foster), and tolerance and the virtues (J. Bowlin). The volume is bookended by O. ODonovans 2008

SUBVERSIVE FIRE: THE UNTOLD STORY OF PENTECOST. By Albert Hernndez. The Asbury Theological
Seminary Series in World Christian Revitalization Movements in Medieval and Reformation Studies, 1. Lexington, KY: Emeth Press, 2010. Pp. xv + 304. $44.00.

269

Religious Studies Review

rsr_1555 270..316

VOLUME 37

NUMBER 4

DECEMBER 2011

The central thesis of this provocative work is that the Lukan narrative of Pentecost offered a kind of literary/ prophetic trope that ignited the imagination of medieval and early modern Christians in a way that liberated them to subvert dominant ecclesiastical and theological structures. A secondary line of argumentation attempts to ground historically the claim of a pneumatological decit in Western Christianity. Beginning with the convergence of the Pentecost cycle in liturgical calendars and pre-Christian spring fertility festivals in the early Middle Ages, Hernndez unearths pneumatological sensibilities in Joachim of Fiore and his medieval interpreters, Protestant and Catholic reformers such as Thomas Mntzer and Teresa of Avila, and Western esotericism, with its potent mix of ancient alchemy, magic, and utopian visions of the future. Through their simultaneously questioning the claims of religious enthusiasm and championing of alternative ways of knowing, late seventeenth- and eighteenth-century thinkers such as John Locke weakened this pneumatological trajectory within Western Christianity to such an extent that only an anemic pneumatology remained. As attractive and provocative as Hernndez claims are, his arguments falter amid efforts to cast too wide a net. The second chapter detours into claims of a syncretized blend of Nature as the Divine Feminine and pneumatology; later chapters incorporate more generic pneumatological metaphors; and the theme of subversive re at times seems forced, as in Joachim of Fiore, whom Innocent III supported and who was only condemned posthumously. Yet, Hernndez has opened the door to a new historiography of Western pneumatology. Dale M. Coulter Regent University

Because Hick writes clearly and succinctly, one could use this book in undergraduate university courses in religious studies, or one could pull chapters for discussion of belief in Christianity or broad ethical issues for adult religious education. Mary Ann Stenger University of Louisville

THE SOUL OF HIP HOP: RIMS, TIMBS AND A CULTURAL THEOLOGY. By Daniel White Hodge. Downers
Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2010. Pp. 250. $12.00. This intriguing and well-researched book expands the understanding of hip-hop culture, theological studies, and the bridges that bind them together. Hodge sheds light upon the prophetic mantle of Jesus as a marginalized messiah in conjunction with the plight of urban youth in America, and argues that a hip-hop theology is not only soulful at its core but substantive in its constitution. Hodge uses three sessions to explore hip-hop theology from the perspectives of history, theory, and mission. In both learned approximation and practiced participation, Hodge reveals how the church has impacted the music, method, and (mis)management of hip-hop culture, and why there has been so much misunderstanding on several levels. He analyzes rhetorical substance and style through comparison of sacred scripture with hiphop lyricism. He continues highlighting the prophetic nature of Jesus in collaboration with the putatively prophetic elements in the work of Tupac, DMX, Dead Prez, Eminem, and others, while teasing out elements of race, class, and hegemonic inequities that give rise to musical expressions like the blues, soul music, and hip-hop. Hodge concludes with recommendations about how we can incorporate hiphop studies and contemporary theological nuances into our classrooms and pulpits. In an age where the blending of the church with the world we live in is indisputable, this is a necessary contribution to the halls of academia and the libraries of our various ministries. Every student looking to study culture, theology, and hip-hop ought to have a copy. Earle J. Fisher Rhodes College

WHO OR WHAT IS GOD? AND OTHER INVESTIGATIONS. By John Hick. New York: Seabury Books, 2009.
Pp. xv + 197. $30.00. Hicks book brings together lectures, reports, and previously published articles around issues connected to the search for truth in relation to ultimate reality in the worlds religions and ethical issues of justice and peace. The chapters use philosophical and theological approaches that Hick has addressed more fully in other book-length works, but this collection could serve ably as an introduction to Hicks understandings of religious belief in relation to religious pluralism, and to his emphasis on benevolence and justice (the Golden Rule) in human relationships. Those more familiar with Hicks writings will gain some insights into his mature thinking, especially in the chapters on mystical experience, reincarnation, incarnation, atonement, resurrection, apartheid in South Africa, the signicance of Gandhi, and a carefully argued critique of the interpretations of necessary being (logical versus ontological or factual necessity) in several philosophers treatment of the ontological argument. Hicks broad yet deep scholarship and life experiences inform these essays, but so also does his sharp, logical analytical approach.

CONFRONTING CONFUCIAN UNDERSTANDINGS OF THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE OF SALVATION: A SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE BASIC PROBLEMS IN THE CONFUCIANCHRISTIAN DIALOGUE. By Paulos Huang. Studies in
Systematic Theology, 3. Leiden: Brill, 2009. Pp. xii + 319. $169.00. This professor of Sinology and Theology at the Institute of Sino-Christian Studies, Hong Kong, has provided a thorough analysis of Confucian responses to central Christian doctrines related to the nature of God, human nature (theological anthropology), and the means of salvation (Christology and soteriology). These are central to the Christian selfunderstanding, and Huangs assessment thus highlights the

270

Religious Studies Review

rsr_1555 271..317

VOLUME 37

NUMBER 4

DECEMBER 2011

degree to which Confucian sensibilities are compatible with or opposed to fundamental Christian commitments. What is most important about the accomplishment in this volume, however, is the sensitivity with which Huang unfolds the range of Confucian responses over the last ve hundred years. What emerges is a kaleidoscope of Confucian reactions and initiatives, some rejecting but others accepting, revising, or attempting to assimilate Christianity in Chinese guise variously. The author successfully shows that cultural nationalist Confucians, Neo-Confucians, and modern Confucians are by and large more open to Christianity when guided by ancient Confucian traditions (based on the Five Classics), and generally more opposed when shaped by later Confucian traditions (like the Four Books, which represent a blend of Confucian, Buddhist, and Daoist sensibilities and concerns). The concluding chapter reects on the possibilities and challenges persisting for the Christian encounter with Chinese mind in the twenty-rst century in light of this checkered history of Confucian responses to the Christian message. It appears that Brills copy editors have minimized the incongruencies of English as Huangs second language; but make no mistake, this book announces Huang as an important voice for Christian theology in the third millennium. Amos Yong Regent University School of Divinity

redemption and its ontological connection of redemption to creation can serve to stimulate methodological discussion in contemporary political theology. Kyle David Bennett Azusa Pacic University

THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF CHURCH PLANTING: A GUIDE FOR STARTING ANY KIND OF CHURCH. By
Aubrey Malphurs. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2011. Pp. + 269. $16.99. At a time when the growth of a majority of American churches has either plateaued or declined, this insightful book on the preparation and process for church planting proposes that the secret to a vibrant Christianity is a pregnant church. Perceiving church growth to consist of a series of stages culminating in reproduction, Malphurs emphasizes the importance of preparation for church planting and maintains that the goal for every church is to reproduce. To illustrate the process, he borrows R. Warrens baseball diamond illustration and identies the critical steps as the identication of core values, mission, vision, and strategy. Going further, he uses the home plate to stress the importance of strategy, and recognizes community outreach, disciple making, team building, setting, and nances as key elements. Rather than a systematic approach to church planting, this book offers an approach that takes seriously the contribution of context and its relationship to strategy. The result is an explosion of ecclesiastical diversity where different kinds of churches are planted for the purpose of evangelizing different kinds of people. Admittedly, the preparation and process for church planting suggested in this book are saturated with risk, but one is reminded that no generation is born without pain and travail. This book stands to contribute greatly to church growth scholarship as it represents a much-needed demystication of planting churches and offers a more foundational look at the motivation and method behind church planting. Andrew McFarland Asbury Theological Seminary

THE POLITICS OF REDEMPTION: THE SOCIAL LOGIC OF SALVATION. By Adam Kotsko. London and
New York: T & T Clark International, 2010. Pp. v + 216. Cloth, $120.00; paper, $34.95. Based on his Chicago Theological Seminary dissertation, Kotskos book is a constructive study on historical and contemporary theories of atonement with the aim of reecting on and proposing a social-relational ontology that makes sense of Christs work. It is an attempt to reformulate the atonement afresh in dialogue with theologies of liberation and European philosophy. The rst few chapters outline the course of study, present the challenges to classical theories of atonement by contemporary theologies of liberation, and emphasize the need to critically engage the tradition. The subsequent four chapters engage the tradition, with chapters devoted to Irenaeus, Gregory of Nyssa, Anselm, and Abelard. Kotsko claims that there is a social-relational ontology, or logic to seeing the human person in relation to all of creation, to the theory of each of these gures. Yet, as atonement theories develop from the patristic to the medieval period, they trend toward individualism. Kotsko devotes the last chapter to providing an initial sketch of a social-relational view of the atonement and the politics of redemption it affords. A key shortcoming of the book is its lack of discussion of how the eschatological coming of Christ factors into the atonement and the possibility of overcoming social and political issues. This aside, Kotskos thesis is important not least for its critique of individualism and desensitized acceptance of violence. His politics of

IN THE SHADOW OF THE INCARNATION: ESSAYS ON JESUS CHRIST IN THE EARLY CHURCH IN HONOR OF BRIAN E. DALEY, S.J. Edited by Peter W.
Martens. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 2008. Pp. xii + 290. $48.00. This volume contains thirteen excellent studies on the Christological and Trinitarian views of theologians from the second to the seventh centuries. It begins with J. Binghams study of apocalyptic themes and Christology in the secondcentury Letter to the Churches of Lyons and Viennes. Two are devoted to Hilary of Poitiers: M. McCarthy explores his Christological and eschatological interpretation of the Psalms, and C. Beckwith argues against the charge of Docetism imputed to him. Three papers study fourth-century Greek theologians: K. Anatolios uncovers Athanasius

271

Religious Studies Review

rsr_1555 272..318

VOLUME 37

NUMBER 4

DECEMBER 2011

functional Christology in a critique of Rahners ontological view of classical Christology; C. Beeley argues that Gregory of Nazianzus Christology is more unitive than commonly thought; and K. Spoerl notes the Christological and Trinitarian afnities of Eustathius of Antioch and Marcellus of Ancyra, suggesting they are precursors to Apollinarius. Four studies deal with Augustine: B. Studer compares him and Origen on the theme of loving Christ; R. Williams explores his understanding of the persona of Christ; L. Ayres examines the Christology of his Letter 137; and D. Maxwell recounts the reception of his Christology during the sixth-century Theopaschite controversy. In the nal three essays, J. OKeefe shows how Cyril of Alexandrias Christology was driven by hope in Christs deliverance of humanity from corruption, J. McGuckin provides a rereading of the Chalcedonian Denition as an expression of the soteriological mystery in doxological form, and A. Louth examines Maximus the Confessor on the transguration of Christ. These essays make signicant contributions to patristics and should not be missed. Mark DelCogliano University of St. Thomas

THE OXFORD HANDBOOK OF EVANGELICAL THEOLOGY. Edited by Gerald R. McDermott. Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 2010. Pp. xvii + 524. $150.00. Sufce it to say in a short note that this volume easily assumes pride of place as the starting point for those interested in the state-of-the-question regarding evangelical theology. The thirty-three chapters by thirty-three authors, mostly recognized names in evangelical theology, cover the gamut of prolegomenal and traditional theological loci (including various soteriologically, ecclesiologically, and missiologically-related topics like the relationship between Israel and the church, spiritual practices, spiritual gifts, and theology of religions), and include a whole section of essays on theological approaches to contemporary life. To be sure, there is some unevenness in a collection like this, but only a very small number of chapters are weak and do not stand out in terms of providing astute historical perspective, showing awareness of the diversity of evangelical views, and engaging with scriptural material. A few authors boldly undertake constructive theological reection, pushing the boundaries of traditional evangelical thinking in the process. There is also a diversity of methodological, disciplinary, and confessional approaches represented among the authors and chapters, which provides some indication of the exibility that exists within the contemporary evangelical theological landscape. For instance, the chapter on politics is decidedly theological in its orientation, while the chapter on economics is more engaged with debates in this eld of inquiry, which suggests that there might also be space in evangelical theology for a more focused political-scientic approach to politics as well as a more sustained theological consideration of economics as well. Kudos to the editor for this major achievement! Amos Yong Regent University School of Divinity

THE REPUBLIC OF GRACE: AUGUSTINIAN THOUGHTS FOR DARK TIMES. By Charles Mathewes.
Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2010. Pp. 278. $20.00. Trying to recover a richly Augustinian vernacular as a resource that can offer crucial insights for contemporary Christian faith and public life, this book is an encouragement and challenge to Christians to see and act in the world in these dark times after 9/11 with the theological virtues of hope, faith, and love. Mathewess goal is not only to help Christians see the world differently, but also to help them live more faithfully in it. The two go hand in hand. The rst part of the book explores how the Christian might live with these virtues, enabling them to see the world and its challenges differently, thereby helping them nd hope in public life, and using their gifts and resources for the common good. Hope, faith, and love are needed in the face of terrorism, nationalism, and consumer capitalism. The second part of the book discusses how Christians might appear strange and appealing to others when they see the world in this way and act accordingly. The more programmatic aspect of the book, this part explores how love, faith, and hope can guide political responsibility, commitment, and engagement. Like his other works, this book will be of use to anyone interested in Christianity and public life. Mathewes is adept at not only articulating a nuanced political theology, but also doing so with the insight of an informed political philosophy. His emphasis on the need to reect on the reality of our condition is one worth continual reection in contemporary political theology. Kyle David Bennett Azusa Pacic University

IN ADAMS FALL: A MEDITATION ON THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE OF ORIGINAL SIN. By Ian A. McFarland. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010. Pp. xiii + 238. Cloth, $119.95; e-book, $99.99. This latest book by a noted specialist in theological anthropology seeks to rehabilitate an Augustinian doctrine of original sin for contemporary ecclesial and secular audiences for whom the doctrine appears implausible, pessimistic, and suggestive of political quietism. McFarlands assessment of the doctrines credibility decit and its positive pastoral relevance for Christians is instructive. Written from an ecumenical Reformed perspective heavily indebted to Augustine and arguably Barth, the books strength lies in its sophisticated argument in favor of Augustines enduring relevance to ecclesial life generally and the doctrine of original sin specically, especially the illuminating discourse on willing which paints a surprisingly complex view of the will in concrete acts of sin. To some readers, this strength could represent a limitation in scope and source materials, however, since the presentation of Augustine tends to be

272

Religious Studies Review

rsr_1555 273..319

VOLUME 37

NUMBER 4

DECEMBER 2011

more apologetic than constructive and more occupied with sin than a correlative theology of grace, which becomes necessary for a coherent and properly ordered theology of sin to emerge. The technicality of the book recommends it to a graduate level setting. A companion volume might consider addressing two lacunae in the rst. An appeal to interreligious sources could help contemporary Christians to think with the doctrine and overcome its credibility decit, as would a thematic shift from conceptual to contextual analysis, since political and contextual theologies may demonstrate the doctrines descriptive force and pastoral relevance in concrete human histories more convincingly than conceptual discourses alone. John N. Sheveland Gonzaga University

THEOLOGY, ETHICS AND TRANSCENDENCE IN SPORTS. Edited by Jim Parry, Mark S. Nesti and Nick J.
Watson. Routledge Research in Sport, Culture, and Society, 4. New York and London: Routledge, 2011. Pp. xi + 244. $125.00. This collection of eleven papers rst presented at the Inaugural International Conference on Sport and Spirituality conference sponsored by the Centre for the Study of Spirituality and Sport at York St. John University in the UK (August 2007) comprises one of the rst forays at the intersection of theology and sport as interdisciplinary elds of inquiry. Editor Watsons helpful introduction situates the broader scholarly context for an appreciation of what the volume achieves both for theologians and for sport researchers, scholars, and students. Three partstitled Theological Ethics in Sport, Psychological and Spiritual Dimensions of Sport, and Transcendence in Movement, Play, and Sportstructure the volume, with the four chapters in part I and the three in part II engaging predominantly with Christian theological themes amidst a wide range of topics. The nal four chapters of the third part include wider philosophical and cultural considerations as well as reections on sport in dialogue with Eastern traditions of thought. The cumulative effect of these pages suggests, for theologians and scholars of religion, the promise of what might be called a sport hermeneutic with which to reengage various scriptural and theological traditions, and contributes, for those working in the eld of sport, to the emergence of a post-positivist paradigm that seeks to transcend materialistic and naturalistic presuppositions in the analysis of sport. Amos Yong Regent University School of Divinity

forcefully at a glance how important and wide-ranging this volume is, not only for those interested in Chinese Christian theological trajectories but also for scholars and students of contextual theologies, the EastWest encounter, Christian theology in a pluralistic world, and a host of other important discussions on the contemporary theological landscape. As it is, the nineteen chapters in the book are organized into three broad categories/parts: Christianity in relation to Chinese religious traditions, Christianity in the context of modern China, and challenges to the contemporary Chinese Christian Church. Most of the chapters were originally presented by Chinese university scholars and theologians of the Protestant Church of China (there is some minimal mention of developments in the Chinese Catholic church) at Christianity and Chinese Culture: A Sino-Nordic Conference on Chinese Contextual Theology, held in August 2003, and many of them are followed by one or two responsesso that there is a total of thirty-three contributors to the volumewhich were also given at the conference. This volume, thus, documents how far Chinese Christian theology has come since the Cultural Revolution, and charts the various possibilities that are being opened up with regard to how this encounter has the potential also to impact the global Christian theological enterprise. Amos Yong Regent University School of Divinity

PENTECOSTALISM AND GLOBALIZATION: THE IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON PENTECOSTAL THEOLOGY AND MINISTRY. Edited by Steven M.
Studebaker. McMaster Theological Studies Series, 2. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2010. Pp. xiv + 243. $28.00. The ten chapters of this volume comprise papers presented at the Pentecostal Forum at McMaster Divinity College in October 2008 and at the J. Philip Hogan Lectureship of the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in 2009-10 by Indian Pentecostal theologian Ivan Satyavrata (three chapters in Part III). Editor Studebakers introductory chapter combines with the chapters in Part I by renowned Pentecostal historian, A. Anderson, and by sociologist, M.Wilkinson, to provide informative sociohistorical analyses of the phenomenon of globalization as it has interfaced, and will continue to interface, with the global renewal movement. Two chapters in Part II, by Studebaker and Randall Holm, focus on the theological implications of globalization trends, particularly as they have impacted and will continue to shape Pentecostal reection on the doctrines of baptism in the Spirit and tongues as initial evidence of the Spirits inlling. The chapters on Pentecostal ministry (B. Klaus) and mission (Satyavrata) in Part III of the volume seem to operate in a fairly classical Pentecostal mode when compared with the theological revisioning called for in the second part, but they do capture the preeminent Pentecostal emphasis on mission and evangelism. The concluding assessment by David Reed engages, especially the Pentecostal Forum

CHRISTIANITY AND CHINESE CULTURE. Edited by Miikka Ruokanen and Paulos Huang. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2010. Pp. xx + 384. $40.00. The investment of a few more hours into creating an index for this volume would no doubt have registered more
273

Religious Studies Review

rsr_1555 274..320

VOLUME 37

NUMBER 4

DECEMBER 2011

presentations and charts, important trajectories for the ongoing conversations. Overall, the volume functions well as an introduction to the topics announced in the books title, although for deeper and more sustained analyses, scholars will, understandably, have to look beyond this collection of essays. Amos Yong Regent University School of Divinity

DUALITIES: A THEOLOGY OF DIFFERENCE. By Michelle Voss Roberts. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010. Pp. 204 + xiii. Paper, $35.00. Voss Roberts offers both a close comparative reading of the thirteenth-century Christian beguine Mechthild of aiva visionary LallMagdeburg and the fourteenth-century S of Kashmir and, out of this reading, a constructive es war argument for the theological metaphors of duality and uidity in addressing the nature of God, the status of the natural world and the physical body, and the place of hierarchy in social relations. The work succeeds on several levels. As a work of historical retrieval, it effectively demonstrates how premodern voicesparticularly those of women and other outsiders withincan interrogate and destabilize modern, rigid binaries of East and West, self and God, and even dualism and nondualism. As a work in the contemporary discipline of comparative theology, it also well illustrates the usefulness of somatic metaphors, rooted in fundamental, shared experiences of physical embodiment, to structure comparative inquiry and to establish the relevance of such inquiry to social issues such as gender and race inequities and the ecological crisis. If in places Voss Robertss constructive focus risks instrumentalizing the , this is signicontributions of Mechthild and Lalles war cantly mitigated by the impressive nuance of individual treatments and the coherence of the work as a whole. Written in an accessible style with references to debates outside the eld of comparative theology, Dualities should be of interest not only to scholars but also to graduate and advanced undergraduate students of Christian theology, comparative religion, gender studies, and modern process thought. Reid B. Locklin University of Toronto THE ETHICS OF EVANGELISM: A PHILOSOPHICAL DEFENSE OF PROSELYTIZING AND PERSUASION. By Elmer John Thiessen. Downers Grove, IL:
InterVarsity Press, 2011. Pp. xii + 285. $24.00. Evangelical Christians take for granted that they should persuade the unchurched to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Usually, not much thought is given to the ethics of evangelism; the mere proclamation of the duty of evangelism as a sort of categorical imperative is considered an adequate statement of ethics. Theissen hopes to change all this in his new lucid book, which offers a set of fteen criteria to distinguish between ethical and

unethical proselytizing. Theissen not only provides a philosophical-ethical framework for evangelism, but also offers an adequate defense of proselytizing. He argues that there is absolute truth from the perspective of a religion and that its members must be allowed to state it. Proselytizing goes to the heart of what it means to have a modern, democratic, pluralistic society, where people are allowed to come to the public square with their versions of moral truth and share such as long as they do so without coercion, and with respect for the inherent dignity of all others in society and for their right not to adopt the proselytizers viewpoints. Theissen has handled a radioactive subject well, presenting it in an apparently harmless manner. He is respectful of liberal antiproselytizing views (although, of course, many liberals will argue that he offends one of the tenets of liberalism/pluralism with his claim of absolute truth), yet critical of some evangelical methods of getting converts, all without abandoning cogent philosophical reasoning. Nimi Wariboko Andover Newton Theological School

CAPITALISM AS RELIGION? A STUDY OF PAUL TILLICHS INTERPRETATION OF MODERNITY. By

Francis Ching-Wah Yip. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2010. Pp. xvi + 215. $22.95. Yip analyzes Tillichs critique of capitalism as part of a larger critique of modernity, with both seen as turning people into commodities, estranged from God as well as from their essential selves and from all living beings. Still, the quasi-religious, holy quality of capitalism draws people to it, in spite of its demonic and destructive qualities, and thus requires a theological response for both Tillich and Yip. Building on but moving beyond Tillich, Yip incorporates Moltmanns emphasis on the social and economic injustices enacted by capitalism, including effects on Third-World non-Europeans, and uses Durkheims theory of religion to present capitalism as a system of beliefs (in competition, the sacred market, the limitless possibilities of economic growth, and the commitment to private property) and practices (marketing, selling, and shopping). Yip presents capitalism as a global civil religion and the religious substance of modernity that people use to explain and to answer everyday problems. Although Tillichs hope for the future rests on the possibility of the revelatory breaking in of the New Being in Jesus as the Christ, Yip calls on individuals and churches to use their social imagination to transform themselves and current social-economic structures. This book not only contributes to Tillich scholarship, with appreciation and suggested correctives, but also provides a broad basis for further theological critiques of capitalism. It will be especially valuable in seminary and graduate courses on theology and economics. Mary Ann Stenger University of Louisville

274