Christian Reconstruction: R. J. Rushdoony and American Religious Conservatism

by R.J. Rushdoony     (Get the Book)
McVicar (religion, Florida State Univ.) provides an extensively researched and critical yet balanced history of the Christian Reconstruction movement and its founder, R.J. Rushdoony (1916–2001). The author relies on a multitude of resources, including Rushdoony's personal papers and correspondence, to demonstrate that the movement and its creator aspired to a powerful "restructuring" of individual lives and also of American society and politics as a whole through their variety of controversial "Christian" leadership, based in part upon Old Testament law. McVicar doesn't shy away from discussing some of the moral contradictions—mean-spiritedness and even cruelty, personal opportunism disguised as piety—of Rushdoony and his associates. Despite the movement's decline starting in the 1990s and beyond, McVicar finds many of its racist, patriarchal, antistate, and educational tenets (such as homeschooling) flourishing in newer movements (e.g., the Tea Party) and in much popular public opinion—especially about what constitutes good and bad religion. VERDICT Specialists in religion, politics, sociology, history, and cultural analysis, as well as the general public, can find rich reflection herein no matter their personal, political, or religious persuasions. --Library Journal

The Road Home: A Contemporary Exploration of the Buddhist Path

by Ethan Nichtern      (Get the Book)
Nichtern (founder, Interdependence Workshop; A Declaration of Interdependence) writes that "Buddhist teachings are only meaningful if they positively inform the way we live our lives." With this in mind, the author makes ancient Buddhist teachings and texts approachable, contemporary, and relevant. Using an informal and engaging style, Nichtern applies the metaphor of a commuter to describe the way people often feel when trying to become more present in their daily lives or feel at home in their minds: as though they are always trying to get to a different place. The content is grounded in meditation practice, although this book will not serve as a how-to guide to meditation. Rather, Nichtern presents the bigger picture as to why such techniques are important to cultivating meaningful and compassionate relationships with self, others, and society in our fast-paced and hyperconnected world. The author provides a helpful list of suggested readings for more in-depth exploration into Buddhism and meditation practice. VERDICT Valuable for readers looking for an introduction to Buddhist teachings as they relate to meditation practice or for those searching for ways to live their lives in the here and now.  --Kirkus

UnOffendable

by Brant Hansen    (Get the Book)
Hansen is a radio host and also works with CURE International and is active as a blogger and Twitter user. So, while neither an academic nor a traditional minister, he is the very model of a modern Christian: full of a missionary's zeal and conversant with social media. Hansen's message is true to his approach. His mode is remarkably inoffensive, and the lesson he offers is that it is better for Christians to discard their personal (or societal) propensity to take offense or indulge in righteous anger. He asserts that being "unoffendable" is the meaning of service, of humility, of "dying to the self," as the faith instructs. His method is light, accessible, and occasionally touched with suitably humble instances of humor, usually at his own expense. Unoffendability, to the author, is key to the conclusion of a certain sort of pain and the answer to discovering "the joy of gratitude." VERDICT A slight but charming handbook for the contemporary Christian that will also find its audience among pastors.

Encounters With Jesus: Unexpected Answers to Life's Biggest Questions

by Timothy Keller

Famed pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York, hugely best-selling Keller argues that Jesus didn't give easy answers to our most basic questions, e.g., What's my purpose? What does it mean to live successfully? Here he evokes ten crucial encounters in the New Testament to show how Jesus wanted us to ponder these concerns. --Library Journal