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Turning South: Christian Scholars in an Age of World Christianity
Journey toward Justice: Personal Encounters in the Global South
One of today's leading Christian scholars reflects on what he has learned about justice from the global South.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2013
11 people are currently reading
273 people want to read
About the author
Nicholas Wolterstorff
83 books110 followersWolterstorff is the Noah Porter Professor Emeritus of Philosophical Theology, and Fellow of Berkeley College at Yale University. A prolific writer with wide-ranging philosophical and theological interests, he has written books on metaphysics, aesthetics, political philosophy, epistemology and theology and philosophy of religion.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 6, 2014
This is a book that sparkles with clear thinking and a personal narrative that helped inform and shape that thinking. Wolterstorff continues in this book to elaborate thinking outlined in Justice: Rights and Wrongs. In short chapters he shares both his own ideas about justice and the personal encounters with victims of injustice in South Africa, Palestine, and the Honduras. And he contends that it was the personal encounters with those whose dignity was impaired and whose inherent rights were denied that informed his theory of justice centering around human dignity and inherent rights.
He distinguishes his approach from one of the leaders in the field, John Rawls. I've not read Rawls and so I don't feel I can adequately assess the distinctions between the two. Wolterstorff focuses on the idea of inherent rights as opposed to right order as central in his concept of justice. This arose, as I've noted from his experiences, particularly in South Africa, of seeing justice defined as right order and yet denying basic liberties to blacks that he would consider inherent rights. His theory also develops an understanding of justice in terms of 'primary' and 'reactive' justice (the latter being justice that responds to criminal acts against a person while the former dealing with structural injustices that impair personal liberties). He argues against those who claim that an "inherent rights" approach can be abused by those claiming extravagant rights beyond what he envisions. He contends that abuse does not support doing away with an inherent rights concept but rather calls for its proper use.
Along the way, he engages some of the biblical theology surrounding justice, particularly what he sees as a mistranslation of the New Testament dik stem words in many contexts as righteous or righteousness instead of just or justice. He also argues against the blind submission to authority that many read into Romans 13, arguing that this is to be understood not as rulers who are divinely appointed who must be submitted to no matter what (except where submission involves direct disobedience to God) but rather that rulers are appointed to exercise justice and the power of the sword against perpetrators of injustice, which warrants advocacy when the state fails to live up to its God-appointed role.
Wolterstorff's philosophical work has included work in the area of aesthetics and here he considers the role of artistic expression in justice movements. In a chapter on "Justice and Beauty" he argues for the intrinsic worth of art and that shalom, the kind of peace in which humans flourish, knits together the disparate elements of pursuing justice, scholarship, and beauty in the world.
My sense is that this book represents both a distillation, and, in some ways, an elaboration of his academic works on justice. It left me wanting more and served as a good introduction to his thinking about this important subject.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Goodreads "First Reads" program.
He distinguishes his approach from one of the leaders in the field, John Rawls. I've not read Rawls and so I don't feel I can adequately assess the distinctions between the two. Wolterstorff focuses on the idea of inherent rights as opposed to right order as central in his concept of justice. This arose, as I've noted from his experiences, particularly in South Africa, of seeing justice defined as right order and yet denying basic liberties to blacks that he would consider inherent rights. His theory also develops an understanding of justice in terms of 'primary' and 'reactive' justice (the latter being justice that responds to criminal acts against a person while the former dealing with structural injustices that impair personal liberties). He argues against those who claim that an "inherent rights" approach can be abused by those claiming extravagant rights beyond what he envisions. He contends that abuse does not support doing away with an inherent rights concept but rather calls for its proper use.
Along the way, he engages some of the biblical theology surrounding justice, particularly what he sees as a mistranslation of the New Testament dik stem words in many contexts as righteous or righteousness instead of just or justice. He also argues against the blind submission to authority that many read into Romans 13, arguing that this is to be understood not as rulers who are divinely appointed who must be submitted to no matter what (except where submission involves direct disobedience to God) but rather that rulers are appointed to exercise justice and the power of the sword against perpetrators of injustice, which warrants advocacy when the state fails to live up to its God-appointed role.
Wolterstorff's philosophical work has included work in the area of aesthetics and here he considers the role of artistic expression in justice movements. In a chapter on "Justice and Beauty" he argues for the intrinsic worth of art and that shalom, the kind of peace in which humans flourish, knits together the disparate elements of pursuing justice, scholarship, and beauty in the world.
My sense is that this book represents both a distillation, and, in some ways, an elaboration of his academic works on justice. It left me wanting more and served as a good introduction to his thinking about this important subject.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Goodreads "First Reads" program.
November 13, 2013
This was my first first-hand encounter with Wolterstorff’s work. I have seen him quoted in many books but was glad to finally read him for myself. While this book is part of Baker’s academic branch, it is a good mixture of memoir meets academy. Wolterstorff doesn’t shy away from addressing the philosophy of justice–dealing with such concepts as: reactive and primary rights (and justice), permission-rights and claim rights, inherent rights concepts and right order concepts, etc. I found his chapter on human rights (chapter 20), where he explained the difference between “human rights with the rights that human beings have,” quite fascinating. But while he explores the underlying philosophy of justice, the book is deeply rooted, throughout story, in his own experience of witnessing injustice amongst South Africans, Hondurans, and Palestinians, making the book both challenging (personally and intellectually) yet accessible.
One of the books shining features, in my opinion, was his exploration of how people can use “benevolence…as an instrument of oppression.” This seems to be not only an interesting subject, but a timely one as well.
Wolterstorff’s writing on what scripture (both first and second testament), and the Church Father’s have to say about Justice is well written and informative. Perhaps his most controversial chapter–theologically, at least–is chapter 28 on forgiveness.
I appreciated his ability to bring together not only memoir, philosophy, and justice, but to also cohesively incorporate liturgy and the arts as well. I would be interested seeing him dig a little deeper into prayer, song, and worship as a part of “Christian hope for the righting of injustice.” Perhaps he has elsewhere.
Woltertorff believes that to actively engaged in justice we need to first be awakened, than an emotional response, and finally to be activated to do something. This book attempts to awaken the reader. It succeeds. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to explore the topic of justice and be awakened to it’s immediate need in the world.
*I received an advanced copy of this book from netgalley
One of the books shining features, in my opinion, was his exploration of how people can use “benevolence…as an instrument of oppression.” This seems to be not only an interesting subject, but a timely one as well.
Wolterstorff’s writing on what scripture (both first and second testament), and the Church Father’s have to say about Justice is well written and informative. Perhaps his most controversial chapter–theologically, at least–is chapter 28 on forgiveness.
I appreciated his ability to bring together not only memoir, philosophy, and justice, but to also cohesively incorporate liturgy and the arts as well. I would be interested seeing him dig a little deeper into prayer, song, and worship as a part of “Christian hope for the righting of injustice.” Perhaps he has elsewhere.
Woltertorff believes that to actively engaged in justice we need to first be awakened, than an emotional response, and finally to be activated to do something. This book attempts to awaken the reader. It succeeds. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to explore the topic of justice and be awakened to it’s immediate need in the world.
*I received an advanced copy of this book from netgalley
November 4, 2025
This slaps. That’s all
August 2, 2020
A personal introduction to justice by a world class philosopher. Rather than mere theoretics, Wolterstorff grounds his reflections on justice in his personal encounters in S. Africa and Palestine.
Part 3 itself is a wonderful introduction to a biblical and Christian understanding of justice.
Part 3 itself is a wonderful introduction to a biblical and Christian understanding of justice.
January 13, 2015
I’ve learned a lot from the philosopher Nicholas Wolterstorff. From him I was given new language to think and speak about the relationship between liturgy and justice. I was so floored by his classic When Justice and Peace Embrace that I reviewed it in not one, not two, but three installments. And I love that even as a long-time Ivy League professor now in his 70s, he continues to take an active interest in what his theories of justice actually mean in practice. This commitment become evident to me when he spent time in Honduras with the Association for a More Just Society two years ago.
His newest book is Journey Toward Justice: Personal Encounters in the Global South, the first in the Turning South series being published by Baker Academic (I reviewed the second book in the series here). The series features a handful of top-notch Christian scholars from various fields whose academic and personal interests have shifted to the Global South.
Journey Toward Justice is a worthwhile book, but not in the way I expected. I had assumed, for one reason or another, that the book would have a lot to do with “personal encounters.” I expected to read about how Wolterstorff’s experiences in South Africa, Palestine, and Honduras—and the people he met there—had shaped his understanding of justice.
Instead, I found myself reading a book that would more accurately be considered a helpful introduction to the arguments he has made in more depth elsewhere—including his view that we must attempt to see justice from the vantage point of the wronged. But the “personal encounters” I was so looking forward to—encounters with those who could change how we see the world—unfortunately amounted to anecdotes and not much more. This was doubly ironic and disappointing, given what Wolterstorff writes near the end of the book:
"To generalize from my own experience: one of the most effective ways for those involved in social justice movements to energize support for their cause is to present to the public the faces and the voices of the wronged."
It’s a great point, certainly, but one not implemented particularly well in this book. Dashed expectations aside, the book was still packed with profound insights, including some that certainly emerged outside the ivory tower. One chapter, for instance, begins with an account of a brief visit to a mission compound in rural Kenya, a place littered with buildings Wolterstorff describes as “some of the most shabby and squalid structures I have ever seen.” In his view, these buildings communicated loud and clear that “aesthetic decency doesn’t count when you’re in the business of saving souls; ugliness is okay.” Indeed, there is value in a certain kind of beauty: “not complicated elaborate beauty, but simple beauty, aesthetically decent surroundings.” On his return flight home, he became troubled:
"I began to worry that my life was falling irreparably into fragments. I loved philosophy. I loved the arts. I had designed the house in which we lived; my wife and I had been collecting graphic art prints; I loved music. Through various experiences I had come to care deeply about liturgy. Now justice was on my agenda. These loves were pulling me in different directions, tearing me apart. Did they cohere in some way of which I was unaware? Or did I have to put up with living a fragmented existence?"
Wolterstorff eventually realized the common denominator in these varied loves, commitments, and interests was shalom—that beautiful Hebrew word that is used in the Old Testament to signify flourishing in all aspects and all dimensions of life. “Beauty, liturgy, justice, the sort of understanding that philosophy can yield—these are fundamentally united in that each is a dimension of shalom,” he writes.
It’s insights like these that keep me coming back for more, and it’s why I consider Journey Toward Justice so worthwhile. If you’re looking for a global memoir of this philosopher’s experiences among the wronged, you’ll find yourself a bit disappointed. But if it’s an accessible introduction to Wolterstorff’s thinking on justice you’re after—with the occasional hat tip to the Global South—you’re in for a real treat.
- See more at: http://timhoiland.com/2014/07/journey...
His newest book is Journey Toward Justice: Personal Encounters in the Global South, the first in the Turning South series being published by Baker Academic (I reviewed the second book in the series here). The series features a handful of top-notch Christian scholars from various fields whose academic and personal interests have shifted to the Global South.
Journey Toward Justice is a worthwhile book, but not in the way I expected. I had assumed, for one reason or another, that the book would have a lot to do with “personal encounters.” I expected to read about how Wolterstorff’s experiences in South Africa, Palestine, and Honduras—and the people he met there—had shaped his understanding of justice.
Instead, I found myself reading a book that would more accurately be considered a helpful introduction to the arguments he has made in more depth elsewhere—including his view that we must attempt to see justice from the vantage point of the wronged. But the “personal encounters” I was so looking forward to—encounters with those who could change how we see the world—unfortunately amounted to anecdotes and not much more. This was doubly ironic and disappointing, given what Wolterstorff writes near the end of the book:
"To generalize from my own experience: one of the most effective ways for those involved in social justice movements to energize support for their cause is to present to the public the faces and the voices of the wronged."
It’s a great point, certainly, but one not implemented particularly well in this book. Dashed expectations aside, the book was still packed with profound insights, including some that certainly emerged outside the ivory tower. One chapter, for instance, begins with an account of a brief visit to a mission compound in rural Kenya, a place littered with buildings Wolterstorff describes as “some of the most shabby and squalid structures I have ever seen.” In his view, these buildings communicated loud and clear that “aesthetic decency doesn’t count when you’re in the business of saving souls; ugliness is okay.” Indeed, there is value in a certain kind of beauty: “not complicated elaborate beauty, but simple beauty, aesthetically decent surroundings.” On his return flight home, he became troubled:
"I began to worry that my life was falling irreparably into fragments. I loved philosophy. I loved the arts. I had designed the house in which we lived; my wife and I had been collecting graphic art prints; I loved music. Through various experiences I had come to care deeply about liturgy. Now justice was on my agenda. These loves were pulling me in different directions, tearing me apart. Did they cohere in some way of which I was unaware? Or did I have to put up with living a fragmented existence?"
Wolterstorff eventually realized the common denominator in these varied loves, commitments, and interests was shalom—that beautiful Hebrew word that is used in the Old Testament to signify flourishing in all aspects and all dimensions of life. “Beauty, liturgy, justice, the sort of understanding that philosophy can yield—these are fundamentally united in that each is a dimension of shalom,” he writes.
It’s insights like these that keep me coming back for more, and it’s why I consider Journey Toward Justice so worthwhile. If you’re looking for a global memoir of this philosopher’s experiences among the wronged, you’ll find yourself a bit disappointed. But if it’s an accessible introduction to Wolterstorff’s thinking on justice you’re after—with the occasional hat tip to the Global South—you’re in for a real treat.
- See more at: http://timhoiland.com/2014/07/journey...
April 19, 2014
I've read Wolterstorff's two scholarly books on justice, and I wish I had read this instead. He goes through most of his theory in a less pedantic way (tho it still does get fairly pedantic---he is a professional philosopher, after all, can't help it). And he adds some biographical information about how he encountered cries of injustice in the developing world and became highly involved in justice concerns.
June 23, 2015
Wolterstorff sets forth a compelling case for justice, our responsibility for righting injustice, and how it is rooted in inherent rights as humans who are loved by God. This book incorporates material from his other works (cf. Justice: Rights and Wrongs), summarizing the conclusions from those works in more accessible language and coupled with illustrative stories of South Africa, Palestine, and Honduras.
January 29, 2014
Journey toward Justice is a tough, but fantastic book! I feel as though I am chewing on beef jerky through some of the realities of Christianity (and our view of Christianity) around the world. I highly recommend this book if you are interested in reading and pondering stories about the Global South.
November 9, 2013
it was a good book but not a book i couldn't put down ....all and all a good one to read before bed
February 6, 2015
Great book. My review at the Journal of Global Christianity - http://trainingleadersinternational.o...
March 24, 2015
Personal reflection from a philosopher - better than expected. accessible, may assign in future.
January 7, 2018
This seems to ignore a lot of the previous philosophy and theology.
It appears to be provoked by personal experience with people who have experienced injustice.
It appears to be provoked by personal experience with people who have experienced injustice.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews