James Davison Hunter

A humbly written but incredible book that all Christians should read. He discusses with great background data that make his arguments incredibly persuasive. He manages to praise and criticize all parts of the political spectrum without feeling biased one way or the other.

Ultimately his main point is that attempting to change culture from the top down--from a position of power, is not an effective way. Has never really been an effective way. Then he lays out how it has been done in the past and, at a high level, how it can be done today.

He has no trouble with Christians being involved in politics, they just need to understand that's not the best way to change the world.

Highly Highly Recommended.… (mer)

I have a habit of trying to finish almost any book that I start reading, especially, books that are favorably reviewed. This habit, more or less, forced me to slog through this very tedious tome.

It's not that I didn't, by and large, agree with the premise of the book, it's just that I think the author is riding a hobby horse and couldn't get off. My best summation would be "DUH"! The author is saying many very important, but obvious things, over and over and over and over again. Did I mention "shalom" and "faithful presence" because the author uses these catch words over and over and over and over again, apparently thinking that these key words, and saying them often, will be saying anything more powerful than what has been said by Christians for the last two thousand years.

Micah 6:8 says "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD requires of you, but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" This Old Testament reading pretty much sums up the entire book and I suggest, instead of spending time reading this repetitive book, that you find some tangible way, in your own community, of living this out.… (mer)