[1] Esteemed readers of the Journal of Lutheran Ethics, it is my pleasure and privilege to introduce myself as the new Book Editor. I have been teaching ethics at Bethune Cookman University for over 18 years and have been actively involved in the work of this church. I hope to continue the legacy of quality set forth by my predecessor Nancy Arnison. I welcome submissions and can be reached at the link on this page.
[2] In this volume we shall examine two recent works of theology and economy that relate not only to the themes of economic disparities but also to the problems of polarization and the corrosion of the civic square in our society.
[3] Mark E Mark Ellingsen’s review of John Coates, The Problem of 12: When a Few Financial Institutions Control Everything, addresses the challenges created by unaccountable financial institutions. Not unlike many sectors of our economy, a small number of index funds and private equity firms exert an unprecedented and outsized influence not only on society but also on the politics of this country. Ellingsen’s intent is to raise awareness and build interdisciplinary bridges to address the problem.
[4] The second review, by Thomas Johnston, addresses how the culture wars have led us to a state of polarization and hyper-partisan politics. According to Johnston this created a dialogical impasse, fostered by uncertainty and doubt. Luke Bretherton’s book, Christ and the Common Life: The Case for Democracy, offers a constructive proposal for discussions of faith and politics in this challenging political environment.
[5] The last review discusses Karen Bloomquist’s most recent reflections on theology, social challenges, and communal transformative solutions. Moving Beyond: Toward Transformative Theologizing is a thoughtful non-technical examination of Bloomquist’s personal academic and faith journal, as well as an exploration of a life-affirming approach to the vicissitudes of our contemporary world.