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The collection is mostly primary sources, carefully selected, but there are several critical essays as well, and these show the same thoughtfulness on the part of the editor in their inclusion. Brueggemann, Wink, and Hays are all on hand as scriptural interpreters, though some Biblical texts are included with no extrapolation required.
The editor is also careful to include a diversity of voices. Women and marginalized groups are well-represented when possible, but Long never seems to resort to tokenism in his selections; every author presented provides a true contribution to the collection. This diversity extends to the theological-political spectrum, with unexpected writings on nonviolence from theologically conservative authors such as Charles Spurgeon and Dwight L. Moody.
In addition, the editor keeps the collection interesting by choosing from a variety of genres and topics within the spectrum of peace and nonviolence. There are poems from Sojourner Truth and Tracy Wenger Sadd, an essay on nonviolent parenting from Mennonite writer Valerie Weaver-Zercher, and excerpts from much longer works such as like a three-page section of Glen Stassen and Duane Friesen’s Just Peacemaking. Some of the works are quite obscure, and some well-known (e.g. Romero’s final Sunday sermon, the Schleitheim Confession), but Long’s selections are all up-to-date; the representative Yoder essay is from his posthumous The War of the Lamb, officially published in 2009, and all of the translated works are excellent modern translations. Anybody who has read the stilted translations of the mid-20th century will appreciate the care of selection exhibited here.
Overall, the selections are extremely well-chosen. Although this book will be an excellent resource in academic settings, the thing that stands out most about this collection is the unity of voices exhibited. From the relatively dry and technical writings of Robert Johnansen to the chilling excerpts from Takashi Nagai’s haunting The Bells of Nagasaki, Michael G. Long has done a great work in putting together a collection of writings that implore the church and world to renounce violence and follow the peaceful example of Jesus.
C. Christopher Smith is the founding editor of The Englewood Review of Books. He is also author of a number of books, including most recently How the Body of Christ Talks: Recovering the Practice of Conversation in the Church (Brazos Press, 2019). Connect with him online at: C-Christopher-Smith.com
 Reading for the Common Good From ERB Editor Christopher Smith "This book will inspire, motivate and challenge anyone who cares a whit about the written word, the world of ideas, the shape of our communities and the life of the church." -Karen Swallow Prior Enter your email below to sign up for our weekly newsletter & download your FREE copy of this ebook! |
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