Peace Be With You: Monastic Wisdom for a Terror-Filled World, by David Carlson

I had the pleasure of reviewing a book which seeks a response to the events of 9/11 in the cloistered halls of American monasteries, rather than the influential halls of politics.  David Carlson, a professor in Religious Studies at Franklin College, journeyed to find a deeply religious answer to 9/11 that could transcend politics, international relations, rhetoric of terror—an answer that could instead be deeply Christian.  His interest in Christian monasticism led him to ask two foundational questions for his research: “First, how did monks, nuns, and retreatants respond when first learning of 9/11?  And second, how have they continued to respond to our world of violence and terror, given their spiritual resources and training?” (p. 7).

I will admit that the monastic life has always held some fascination for me, even coming from a Calvinistic Reformed tradition.  There is something to the idea of retreating from the world, deeply imbibing and ingesting the Word, and thereby relating to the world again on a totally different and secure footing.  The contemplative life truly appeals to me.

What I noticed in this book, though, was that the monastic life is not as different in its responses to 9/11 as the ‘secular’ world is.  What struck me on a positive note was how much discussion of forgiveness there was—a truly Christian and Christ-filled response (Carlson even discusses the Amish school shooting and the amazing response of forgiveness and love offered to the perpetrator’s family).  What struck me on a negative note was how even some of those who ought to be more deeply Christian (as one might expect monks and nuns to be) too easily give up on the truth of the gospel in favour of a kind of inter-religious ecumenicity where Islam and Christianity are simply different paths to the same summit.  Even those who retreat from the world still find the world inside.

However, I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable book as it forced me to respond to the issues raised, and think deeply about my own response, not only to something like 9/11, but to all the violence and pain in the world around me.  Carlson succeeded in making me think deeply on these things, and so drink deeply from the unique gospel we have in Christ in order to not only find my own response to terror and violence, but also to other Christian’s response as well.

As a Canadian, this book may not have had the impact on me it might have on an American, but reading the journey of Carlson and the thoughts it provoked has given me a renewed perspective on the world around me.

Another New Book (and a few more).

Thanks to the Redeemer Bookstore sale, I came home earlier this week with a few new books. Two of which are the first and second volumes of a series of short stories based on issues of life and faith. I am reading the first volume now. The series is called Not Safe, But Good: Short Stories Where Faith And Life Collide and is edited by Bret Lott.

I have read the first two stories, and I am very impressed. They are indeed stories of faith, but not the inspirational, shmarmy kind. In these two stories I have read of a 12 year old boy struggling to find his identity while living in the shadow of a very popular and gregarious father who runs a Christian summer camp, and of a semi-retired father who was not the greatest husband and father, but who seeks to become better. We are shown his thoughts as he drives to take his daughter and her children back home as her marriage is dissolving (but there are many complications). So far this latter has been my favourite.

The people in these stories are definitely not heroes of faith, nor do they experience dramatic conversions. They are quite simply real people attempting to live out their faith in whatever situations they find themselves in.

So far, I highly recommend this volume. I will post more as I continue reading...

I also got, for the sake of completeness, Dorothy Sayers' The Mind of the Maker, and a book about the Christian vision in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, and a book of English usage of words and phrases. All-in-all a good day.

EDIT: Sherri told me I should tell from where the title of these books comes. It is a quote from the Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe specifically. Lucy is talking to Mr. Tumnus (I think) about Aslan, and he says, "He is not safe, but he is good." (or something like that.) I find it to be a good view of God and our relationship with him: not safe, but good.

A Book Review.

I have submitted this to Clarion, but for those who want it earlier, here is a book review:

Bruce A. Ware, Big Truths for Young Hearts: Teaching and Learning the Greatness of God. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2009.

Urged by his two daughters, to whom this book is dedicated, Professor Bruce Ware (of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) has put into book form the theology lessons he taught his daughters when they were young. Each lesson is 2 or 3 pages long, includes a couple of questions for discussion and consideration and a relevant Biblical passage for memorization.

The book is separated into ten chapters, each chapter focusing on a doctrine, with each chapter divided into smaller lessons which teach the details of the doctrine. For example, the first chapter is “God’s Word and God’s Own Life as God,” and is separated into six lessons: ‘God has made himself known,’ ‘God talks—the Bible is God’s true and lasting word,’ ‘God is God apart from us,’ God is God with us,’ ‘Some truths about God’s richness that make him God,’ and ‘Some truths about God’s kindness that make him God.’

While this is a book aimed at children (I would say mid elementary school and older), I found it useful myself as well. The lessons are explained clearly and in simple language using relevant imagery or examples that are readily understood. This is the beauty (and difficulty) in writing for children, the simplicity of language. This also benefits older readers, since many theological works use terms and language accessible to those who have studied at least a little. In my reading some issues became clearer in my mind for being explained in such simple language and clear terms.

One of the great benefits of this book is that though its audience is young hearts, Ware does not gloss over or skip the difficult issues. The problem of evil is given two lessons in this book (‘God controls all the bad things in the world’ and ‘Pain and suffering in the world God controls’), and their perspective is biblical, thorough and useful. He even enters into the discussion of whether or not it was possible for Christ to have sinned in the face of his temptations. Using plenty of Biblical references (each of which are given some lines of explanation—not just listed), Ware grounds his lesson in Scripture, and so provides a clear Biblical clarification of these issues.

There are a couple of lessons in this book which may not be so useful to a Reformed audience. One area, although debated among Reformed scholars, is the status of the modern Israelites, the Jews. Ware sees the Old Testament promises of God to the nation of Israel as still in effect. In the lesson ‘The promise-keeping God and the salvation of Israel,’ Ware teaches that the people of Israel will one day be saved, but whether this is through Jesus Christ or based on the OT promises is not made clear.

One area in which there is little or no debate among Reformed Christians is that of baptism. Ware, as a Baptist Christian, argues for credobaptism (believer’s baptism) in the lesson ‘Baptism: picturing Jesus’ death and resurrection.’ Based on the New Testament texts which describe baptism, Ware argues that baptism comes after belief and is a sign of that person partaking in the death and resurrection of Christ. Thus for Ware baptism is a sign of faith, and not a sign and seal of the covenant. He acknowledges, however, that there is another understanding of baptism (paedobaptism), and asks that as Christians we be gracious to one another in our differences, for there is much, even in the doctrine of baptism, on which we agree.

Altogether, I would highly recommend this book for families seeking to learn together or for students seeking to study these things themselves, even as evening devotions or a family activity on a long road trip. Even for those of us who have studied these things this book can be put to good use, so that we may more effectively communicate the theological doctrines. The language Ware uses is clear and simple, the lessons are deep and thorough, and the final result is commendable—even if some further clarification may have to be made on some issues.