Here are a few new book releases from this week that are worth checking out:
(Where possible, we have also tried to include a review/interview related to each of the new book releases …)
See a book here that you’d like to review for us?
Contact us, and we’ll talk about the possibility of a review.
Bullies and Saints: An Honest Look at the Good and Evil of Christian History
John Dickson
(Zondervan)
Is religion a pernicious force in the world? Does it poison everything? Would we be better off without religion in general and Christianity in particular? Many skeptics certainly think so.
John Dickson has spent much of the last ten years reflecting on these difficult questions and on why so many doubters see Christianity as a major cause of harm not blessing. The skeptics, he concludes, are right: even a cursory look at the history of Christians reveals dark things therein–violence, bigotry, genocide, war, inquisition, oppression, imperialism, racism, corruption, greed, power, abuse. For centuries and even today, Christians have been among the worst bullies you could ever imagine.
But these skeptics are only partly right: this is not what Christianity was meant to be. When Christians do evil they are out of tune with the teachings of their Lord. Jesus gave the world a beautiful melody–of love, grace, charity, humility, non-violence, equality, human dignity–to which, tragically, his followers have more often than not been tone-deaf. Denying the evils of church history does not do. John Dickson gives an honest account of the mixed history of Christianity, the evil and the good. He concedes the Christians’ complicity for centuries of bullying but also shows the myriad ways the beautiful melody of Christ has enriched our world and the lives of countless individuals. This book asks contemporary skeptics of religion to listen again to the melody of Jesus, despite the discord produced by too many Christians through history and today. It also leads contemporary believers into sober reflection on and repentance for their own participation in the tragic inconsistencies of Christendom and seeks to inspire them to live in tune with Christ.
<<<<< PREV. BOOK |
BACK TO TOP >>>>>
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! |
![Janice Nimura - The Doctors Blackwell [NPR Interview]](https://englewoodreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Doctors-Blackwell.jpeg "Janice Nimura - The Doctors Blackwell [NPR Interview]")
![Suzanne Simard - Finding the Mother Tree [ NPR Interview ]](https://englewoodreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Finding-the-Mother-Tree-1-130x130.jpeg "Suzanne Simard - Finding the Mother Tree [ NPR Interview ]")
