MysteriousFaith

June 2004 Bookshelf

A wonderfully written fictional account of a Greek family of immigrants, more geo-political writings on Israel, China and North Korea as well as several books touching on normative pluralism and salvation outside of Christianity.

June 2004 Bookshelf

In the Beginning: A New Interpretation of Genesis by Karen Armstrong

This book is the work of a non-Christian (she describes herself as an “ardent monotheist”) who none-the-less offers a powerful and inspiring view of Genesis. While some may struggle with her conclusions, Karen Armstrong has the courage in her other writing to be honest about her spiritual journey. As a result of this honesty, she can explore the Bible in a way some Christians who are wedded to a particular systemized theology can not. I value her opinion and perspective - especially her thoughts on the evolution of man’s concept in God as shown by how God’s involvement in mankind changes during the development of the Genesis story.

The Party’s Over: Oil, War and the Fate of Industrial Societies by Richard Heinberg

Oil is a finite commodity. To understand the number of processes and materials that rely on oil for their continuation is to be genuinely concerned over the future of a world where oil is available on an increasingly limited basis. This book would not be on my list of recommended readings on it as it mixes too much that is anecdotal with more policy oriented discussions. In the course of the book, the author comments on how he is not by nature a pessimist but his research has led him to be pessimistic as to the state of the world by 2050. This statement is difficult to fully believe as he repeatedly sets aside any piece of good news (particularly in the topic covering the development of alternative) in the interests, it seems to me, of a pre-assumed negative perspective. Oil is a limited gift to the world - have we used it well? What does the future bode with a world of increasingly scarce natural resources? This is not the book upon which such contemplation can be soundly based.

Beyond Culture Wars: Is America a Mission Field or a Battlefield? by Michael S. Horton

A meaningful insight into the motivation, mixed motives and genuine misunderstanding on the part of American Christians who view government as the means by which they should engage society and change hearts. I must confess that I wished Horton would have been heavier handed in his analysis of what is at the root of American fundamentalism; such says much about my own dogmatism and dislike for fellow brothers and sisters in faith. I believe Horton himself struggled to weave together his religious views and his idea on how society is to be engaged as the last half of the book seems out of place with the first half - almost discontinuous as to his original line of reasoning.

North Korea: Through the Looking Glass by Kongdan Oh and Ralph C. Hassis

Published by the Brookings Institution, this book is a somewhat dry analysis of the North Korean political, social and military institutions. I was interested to learn more about the North Korean concept of “juche.” This word is the fall-back position when North Koreans are asked to explain their ideological calculus. Its best translation is a form of nationalism - pride over being North Korean. What is interesting is that this word - central to the explanation of North Korean political teaching - is poorly understood by their own government and people. A more appropriate metaphor to the confusion and poverty of ideas within the culture can not be found than the ambiguity of the meaning of the word they have chosen to represent their ideas.

The Gifts of the Jews: How a Tribe of Desert Nomads Changed the Way Everyone Thinks and Feels by Thomas Cahill

Another part of Cahill’s Hinges of History set, this is a modern-day and eminently readable history on the Jews, specifically their impact on how we think. Given the traditional emphasis on how Greek thinking impacted Western society and culture, Cahill’s book is a needed insight into the culture that produced the Bible. A limited quotation and thoughts provoked from this book are contained in my essay Infallible and Inerrant.

The Coming Generational Storm: What You Need to Know about America’s Economic Future by Laurence J. Kotlikoff and Scott Burns

A very deeply troubling book about the implications to America’s economic future due to under funded entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare. The nutshell? To meet the obligations of these programs, we need to enact a corporate and individual tax increase of between 60-69% … today! This will not happen, nor will meaningful reform of either system. Are politicians to blame? Partly. But we as Americans also bear some of this blame as we have allowed our politicians to buy our votes with promises made on the backs of our collective futures.

Who Can Be Saved? Reassessing Salvation in Christ and World Religions by Terrance L. Tiessen

This 500-page book makes an effort to analyze whether or not salvation can take place outside of Christianity. I found the discourse unconvincing. It seemed to me that Tiessen wanted to seriously investigate the troubling questions generated when Christianity says salvation can not occur apart from knowing Christ personally. I believe Tiessen wants to do this to answer questions about how un-reached people can know Christ (if they do not and hell is the consequence, how does this fit his view of a just God?), and how babies or mentally deficient people can go to heaven. I found his analysis, while very thorough, unwilling to take these claims far enough. It seems to me that Tiessen is attempting to walk a line between normative pluralism and exclusivism; he does neither with conviction, leaving me unconvinced as to his final conclusion. I think the writings and reasoning of Clark Pinnock are a much better insight into these questions.

Nixon off the Record: His Candid Commentary on People and Politics by Monica Crowley

Most of the recent books I have read about Nixon leave me chilled. To think that someone as self-involved and narcissistic could get to the office of President is something I do not like to contemplate. Crowley spent several of Nixon’s last years with him as his assistant. The portrait she paints is of a man lost inside himself; still haunted by his own sin, mistakes and inadequacies. By the account of this book, it appears that Nixon never had that moment of catharsis where he recognized how his past had shaped him and then moved to fill his life with what mattered to him - instead choosing to believe that grandiose ambitions would satisfy his deepest inner longings. The end result was a sad man, unable to see his own ability to change himself in lieu of how he wanted others to change to comply with his needs. Such a lesson should be reflected on by us all.

Unvanquished: A US-UN Saga by Boutros Boutros Ghali

This book is a troubling insight into the way the US uses the UN. What is missed by most Americans is that the US uses the UN and its resolutions only when it serves its purposes; missing the greater point that to most of the undeveloped world, the UN represents a real geo-political arbiter of truth and justice. While a bit overly-thorough, this book will paint a much different picture of the UN than most Americans get from their talk show hosts or television news program.

The Spirit of Early Christian Thought: Seeking the Face of God by Robert Louis Wilken

A beautiful book I could not recommend any more highly! For those who do not wish to work through the writings of the apostolic fathers, Wilken’s book is a wonderful compilation of the issues the Church fathers struggled with. This book is a worthy addition to any Christian’s library.

The Greco-Roman World of the New Testament Era: Exploring the Background of Early Christianity by James S. Jeffers

This book is less dry than Will Durant’s Caesar and Christ but less prosaic than the writings of Thomas Cahill. It is factual without being overly dry. Having personally read Durant and Cahill, Jeffers contribution is a meaningful synthesis between two very different ways of discussing history. It is a worthy read as to the setting of the day. I would have enjoyed something at the end of each chapter emphasizing how the topic in question should impact our New Testament hermeneutic.

Fateful Triangle: The United States, Israel and the Palestinians (updated edition) by Noam Chomsky

This book is not an easy read. Some chapters go quickly; however, the book is intended to make a scholastic point, not be easily approachable. The reader should be aware that this is an incredibly dense book at some points. But the book should be seen for what it is and will become - the historical standard (which mandates the thoroughness and footnoting seen in the book) for the dissenting view on Israel’s involvement in Lebanon, the Golan Heights and the Gaza Strip. Most of the content goes back to the mid 1960’s to mid 1970’s. As such, some may choose to overlook Chomsky’s conclusions with the belief that they represent a past way of conduct on the part of a scared Israeli government. To see Chomsky draw conclusions in the mid 70’s that are being seen increasingly in today’s Israeli policy of collective punishment should make us all pay more attention to what Chomsky is arguing.

Hungry Ghosts: Mao’s Secret Famine by Jasper Becker

In the Chinese famine of 1958-1962 it is estimated that 30 million people died. Some historians and statisticians believe the number is much greater - up to 80 million people. During this time, rural populations were decimated. The part of the book dealing with cannibalism is terrifying to read. Becker’s treatment of the issue is always historical, but has the right blend of personal stories introduced.

The Sources of Modern Atheism: One Hundred Years of Debate over God by Marcel Neusch

Neusch’s book is a compact introduction into the thoughts and writings of atheist thinkers over the last one hundred years. Neusch offers a well written compilation of those atheists who critically impacted philosophy within this period of time.

Why Religion Matters: The Fate of the Human Spirit in an Age of Disbelief by Huston Smith

While very well written, I found this book had difficulties in making a well reasoned proposition as to the question its title asks. Smith paints a very powerful picture of mankind devoid of religion; however, he seems to pull up short in analyzing the implications of this. Smith is another “ardent monotheist” which perhaps is indicative of a greater unwillingness to be dogmatic in his writing. All of this having been said, his writing is thought provoking - leaving behind the gift of unanswered questions in my own mind.

Many Mansions: A Christian’s Encounter with Other Faiths by Harvey Cox

I really enjoyed this book partly because it was so well written, but more importantly because Harvey Cox has the courage to engage other faiths at both an intellectual and a personal level. He is no evangelist, rather a person who is genuinely interested in the spiritual stories of every culture. Most evangelicals will be troubled by Cox’s willingness to abide with other religions; however, I found his writing strangely calming and insightful. I am too familiar with the dogmatic claims put forward by those who can ceaselessly debate the truth claims of any religion versus Christianity. It is refreshing to see a Christian personalize that debate by actually engaging in meaningful inter-faith dialogue.

The Fall of Berlin 1945 by Antony Beevor

A powerful, detailed but well flowing book on the fall of Berlin as World War II came to a conclusion. The book is the right blend between detail and personal stories. I learned much about the rape German women underwent as Russia invaded Germany. Historians estimate that up to 100,000 German women were raped by Russian men. Beevor explores the trauma these women underwent post-WWII; something I have not seen explored in all my reading on WWII.

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

This book was beautifully written. It is the story of a Greek immigrant family initially rooted in America by a husband and wife fleeing the Turkish destruction of Greece. The story is told by a hermaphrodite - a necessary part of the story. The book has components that rise to the standard of Shakespearean tragedy, yet the book is at the same time inspiring and devoid of politics and platitudes. It is right that Christians should more often seek out personal experiences and literature generated from lives they understand little of.

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• July 5, 2004

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