[1] In this edition we include two singular book reviews that deal with a constructive proposal for Christian Ethics and social engagement, and a guidepost for examining the church’s place and role in the world.
[2] Jason Mahn’s review of Angela Carpenter’s Grace and Social Ethics: Gift as the Foundation of Our Life Together, offers a constructive proposal for the reorientation of Christian Ethics around the themes of grace and forgiveness as tools for engaging pressing social concerns. Utilizing insights from evolutionary anthropology and contemporary psychology, Carpenter constructs a grace-filled, autonomous anthropology capable of addressing the exigencies of demanding contemporary social issues.
[3] Benjamin Nickodemus’ review of Chad Lakies’ How the Light Shines Through, addresses a means to guide Christianity as it navigates its place in the world. Through a careful engagement with tangible data from sociological and academic resources—rather than generalizations and clichés—Lakies charges Christianity with ceasing trying to “take back” power and instead to build social trust by being a “winsome witness.” Finally, the book provides practical advice for what constitutes being a witness in today’s world, particularly as it emphasizes the Lutheran practices of Confession and Forgiveness as well as the doctrine of vocation.
Happy Reading!
William Rodríguez is Assistant Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona Beach, Florida. He serves as Book Review Editor for the Journal of Lutheran Ethics.