Book Reviews

Book Reviews are listed beginning with the most recent issue.

Click on the book review title to view the full text.

You can also browse journal issues by topic (“categories”) or author by using the top menu.

Book Review: Divinations: Theopolitics in an Age of Terror by Daniel M. Bell Jr.

[1] The postmodern situation has brought with it a revival of theological discourses and categories. Not only has postmodernity deconstructed the Enlightenment conception of a value-neutral, naked public square but it has also led multiple philosophers to engage with St. Paul and other theological resources to address various socio-cultural and economic challenges. Daniel M. Bell […]

Book Review: Notebooks by Schubert M. Ogden

[1] Throughout his long and productive career Schubert M. Ogden, who died in 2019 at the age of 91, distinguished himself as one of American Protestantism’s finest theologians.  This book is his final publication.  It consists of a relatively small selection of entries from his personal notebooks that were written over decades, in which he […]

Book Review: Caribbean Lutherans: The History of the Church in Puerto Rico by Jose David Rodríguez

[1] I remember an encounter with a professor in graduate school regarding my membership in the ELCA. “A Puerto Rican Lutheran,” he said. “You must be the only one in the state of Florida.” Nervously, but visibly shaken, I just nodded, gave a crooked smile, and hurried away. Over the years, I lament not saying […]

Book Review: Sharing the Wisdom of Time by Pope Francis

[1] In Sharing the Wisdom of Time, Pope Francis presents a compelling narrative that underscores the ethical duty of elders to share their life experiences with younger generations, and the respect younger generations owe them. The book is a collection of stories about elderly role models from across the world, interviewed by young interviewers, for […]

Ethics Spotlight Episode 3: Summer Book Review Teaser 2025

  In anticipation of this year’s Summer Book Review Issue, join JLE Editor Jennifer Hockenbery, JLE Book Review Editor William Rodriguez, and JLE Advisory Council member Matthew Best as they discuss book recommendations.

The Village

The “It takes a village to raise a child” mentality Is not a belief That should be brushed away It should guide us in how we interact With the youth Everyday   Educating our children Should be a goal That we all share The world is constantly shifting So our children Must be prepared Graduating […]

Book Review: The Digital Public Square: Christian Ethics in a Technological Society, edited by Jason Thacker

[1] Digital technologies have become a transformative force in nearly every aspect of contemporary life, reshaping how we communicate, work, learn, and even perceive ourselves and the world in which we live. From smartphones and social media to artificial intelligence and virtual reality, these innovations have and will continue to alter our social interactions, economic […]

Book Review: Our Biggest Fight: Reclaiming Liberty, Humanity, and Dignity in in the Digital Age by Frank McCourt, Jr. with Michael Casey

[1] Famed entrepreneur, real estate developer, and former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers Frank McCourt along with acclaimed journalist Michael Casey have written a book which aims to find a way for us to untangle a distorted digital ethos from a current messy reality. Most of us have heard and lamented the internet’s contribution […]

JLE Resources for Raising Healthy Children

[1] Raising healthy children is not only a familial concern. This concern also has communal and societal implications and reflects the kind of values we hold true. It is not an exaggeration to emphasize that local communities, and society at large, also assume a significant role in raising healthy children.  We cannot say we value […]

Book Review Introduction: Strong Babies! The Ethics of Raising Healthy Children

[1] The ethics of raising healthy children is a challenging topic of discussion. Normally, most people think of ethics as a normative activity, limited to atomistical individuals acting according to societal norms. Ethics is reduced to inculcating children with moral values that would allow them to navigate right and wrong. Nevertheless, there is a neglected […]