Philosophy & Religion
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by Matt Chandler (Get the Book)
Defining marital love as the mingling of souls, Chandler (The Explicit Gospel) proceeds to chart a course through the narrative poetry of the Song of Solomon. Using the Old Testament's "book of love" as guide, Chandler leads couples (and singles looking for love) along the path of "a gospel-centered marriage," through the stages of attraction, dating, courtship, engagement, marriage-all the way to sitting on the back porch with the grandkids around. The book's advice is unapologetically counter to prevailing notions of love, dating, and marriage, firmly entrenched in a complementarian and neo-Calvinist view of sexuality. Chandler's vision of God's design will leave many people wondering if they can aspire to such heavenly standards in earthly relationships. Still, he is gentle with his rebuke, giving relevant, humorous, and eminently practical advice. Conservative Christians will find Chandler's words on continuously kindling the fires of love hopeful and helpful. Others may also glean some advice from a guy who sounds like he is there in the trenches with you. --Publisher's weekly
by Jennifer Michael Hecht (Get the Book)
Hecht (New School Univ., NYC) offers an interesting, well-crafted history of Western philosophical thought on suicide. Unlike most other books on the topic, this one defends two longstanding (but often forgotten) arguments against suicide: that we owe it "to society at large," and "to our future selves" to "stay." The persuasive force of these arguments is bolstered by limiting the context to "despair suicide," but not necessarily to "end-of- life management." Thus, most of the contemporary biomedical debate over physician-assisted suicide is avoided. Critics will point out that both arguments assume that the collective and individual benefits of "staying" necessarily outweigh the future costs. Hence, many critics would argue that suicide is inexorably contextual and not amenable to "one-size-fits-all" arguments. This book is recommended for a general audience, especially those who may be vulnerable to despair suicide. For a more rigorous book that covers the deep philosophical issues associated with suicide, see Michael Cholbi's Suicide: The Philosophical Dimensions (CH, Mar'12, 49-3784). --Choice
by Michael Shermer (Get the Book)
Despite the Twin Towers terrorist attacks and the Rwandan genocide, Shermer discerns moral progress in the last quarter century. Evidence of that progress inheres in statistics limning a global decline of lethal violence and a global proliferation of the rights of women, ethnic minorities, homosexuals, and increasingly even animals. Shermer attributes this progress to the triumph of scientific reasoning and the retreat of religious dogma. To be sure, Shermer is more willing than some New Atheists to recognize that faith can foster volunteerism and generosity. But he still regards piety as a retrograde social influence, incapable of leading the way into an enlightened future. That future, he assures readers, is already unfolding as secular thinkers promulgate a rational morality premised on the principle of interchangeable perspectives, granting special privileges to none but affording equal protection to all. What Shermer calls his protopian theorizing will persuade few who draw their moral precepts from scripture, tradition, or group loyalty. But at a time of widespread cultural ferment, such theorizing will spark keen interest. --Booklist
by Hubert Wolf (Get the Book)
As if the current controversies brewing in the Roman Catholic Church aren't enough, a church historian reaches back in time, unearthing a religious scandal of epic proportions. When German princess Katharina Von Hohenzollern joined the convent of Sant'Ambrogio in Rome in the mid-nineteenth century, she became privy to the convent's salacious secrets, including heresy, sexual abuse, and bizarre lesbian initiation rituals. Eventually perceived as a threat by other convent members, especially Maria Luisa, the convent's beautiful but deranged mistress of novices, she became a target for murder. After surviving several poisoning attempts, she made her escape with the assistance of her cousin, the bishop of Edessa and a confidant of Pope Pius IX. In this meticulously researched account, Wolf unravels the case, the ecclesiastical inquiry, and the aftermath of this disgraceful episode. Religion, sex, and politics reader interest should be high. --Booklist
