Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White: Thoughts on Religion, Morality, and Politics

by Adam Hamilton

Everyone agrees that America is polarized, with ever-hardening positions held by people less and less willing to listen to one another. No one agrees on what to do about it. One solution that hasn’t yet been tried, says Adam Hamilton, is for thinking persons of faith to model for the rest of the country a richer, more thoughtful conversation on the political, moral, and religious issues that divide us. Hamilton rejects the easy assumptions and sloppy analysis of black and white thinking, seeking instead the truth that resides on all sides of the issues, and offering a faithful and compassionate way forward. He writes, "I don't expect you to agree with everything I've written. I expect that in the future even I won't agree with everything I've written here. The point is not to get you to agree with me, but to encourage you to think about what you believe. In the end I will be inviting those of you who find this book resonates with what you feel is true, to join the movement to pursue a middle way between the left and the right - to make your voices heard - and to model for our nation and for the church, how we can listen, learn, see truth as multi-sided, and love those with whom we disagree." Read more about this title


Adam Hamilton's Seeing Gray Blog Now available!
Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White - DVD
843504001902
A five-session video resource featuring Adam Hamilton teaching these concepts on DVD for group or individual study. Includes leader's guide as well as bonus video.

Click below to view a preview of each video session.

Where Faith and Politics Meet
Christ Christians and the Culture Wars
How should we live, The Ethics of Jesus
Spiritual Maturity and Seeing Gray
What Would Jesus Say to America?

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Christian, Christianity, Politics, Theology, Spirituality

242 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Rev. Adam Hamilton is the founding pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. He grew up in the Kansas City area. He earned a B.A. degree in Pastoral Ministry from Oral Roberts University and a Master of Divinity Degree from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.

The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection has grown from four people in 1990 to more than 16,000 adult members with an average weekly worship attendance of more than 8,600 in 2011. The church was listed as the most influential mainline church in America in a 2005 survey of American pastors.

Adam has been married 30 years to LaVon. They have two grown daughters.

Reviews

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could make everyone who is a Christian read this book, that would be a good start. Adam Hamilton thinks it is time for us to look at the places where we might agree rather than worry about the places where we don't.

I have been concerned for some time about the divide that seems to be part of the Christian faith. We seem to have forgotten the message that Jesus brought to us. Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.' We often do not love each other, let alone those who do not believe as we do.

I hope that Hamilton's message that we should listen to one another and really consider all points of view becomes something that we all pay attention to.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was one chosen for a small group study by my Sunday school class. We not only enjoyed reading it but the discussions we full-bodied after each chapter. This was a group like for our class.

[Michael Vincent · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciate his thoughtfulness and heart throughout, though the weakness of his foundation begins with his views on Scripture and inerrancy (Chapter 8/notes). This leads to a willingness to compromise on certain issues that are straightforward in Scripture. He shares the critical nature of this issue at the top of page 179. This is the slippery slope which has led to the downfall of mainline denominations. This is a helpful book for evangelicals to read to understand more the thoughts of centrists, how they understand Scripture and the world. I believe he was generally fair in his presenting both sides of arguments, but I disagreed with his outcome on some (not all). Some chapters he did a good job wrestling with Scripture, others he seemed to discount Biblical teaching and stick only to culture and modern views. That was disappointing.

[Kay Denham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't begin to express how much this book helped me to think about issues that have troubled me for years. Thoughtfully written in terms an average person can grasp, with pertinent, true to life examples. This book was like a cool drink of water on a hot summer day! I will read more by this author.

[Shawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Introduction

This is an essay-like proposal for a middle way between liberalism and conservatism, which the author labels as “the radical center”. While I think there is much merit for the author’s position, I’m less optimistic that humanity can ever aspire to this radical center position. This is because a prerequisite for such a position is a willingness to study and to be self-informed about prevailing issues, which much of humanity is unable or unwilling to do.

The U.S. Education Department cites that 14% of U.S adults are illiterate. Over half of prisoners in state and federal systems are illiterate. CNN reports that 7,000 American High school students drop out every day. And even for those who can read, entrenched poverty often keeps them focused on being fed, watered, and housed; with little time to worry about whether they are liberal, conservative, or moderate.

Further, many who are literate choose to read only for entertainment or for work-related reasons, thus lacking sufficient foundation to ever understand what this author means by “radical center”. Other people, quite simply, just lead unreflective lives. Still others are so brainwashed by political propaganda that they refuse to read anything other than what confirms their already entrenched, far right, or far left, leanings.

The existence of so many uninformed people largely broadens the spectrum of liberal-conservative divergence. For whatever reason, Hamilton refrains from addressing these problems of illiteracy, despondency, and political propaganda, all of which exacerbate the problems of political and religious divergence.

Progressive Revelation

Of particular interest to me was the author’s review of the stages of faith that religious people experience, as referenced in a book by Dr. James Fowler entitled Stages of Faith. These stages are: (1) Intuitive Projective Faith, wherein faith is shaped by ones parents and ones imagination, sort of like a fairy tale, (2) Mythical Literal Faith, in which all the elements of faith are taken literally, (3) Synthetic Conventional Faith, in which one simply conforms with the expectations and beliefs of particular groups, (4) Individual Reflective Faith, which involves the individual considering pressing questions and de-mythologizing, realizing that some beliefs are more symbolic than literal. (5) Conjunctive Faith, where one comes to accept paradox and to become more open to and tolerant of the views of others. And (6) Universalizing Faith, which is characterized by selflessness, love, and suffering on behalf of others.

These stages of faith are of particular interest within the theme of this book because they underscore the fact that people are simultaneously experiencing different stages of progressive revelation at different points in their lives; and that we must be sensitive to this. I myself have progressed from a conservative stance in my youth to a much more liberal position in middle age. Accepting progressive revelation implies a contextual understanding of what God wants from us, varying among people due to their particular circumstances, culture, educational level, or affluence.

My sense is that progressive revelation denies the sort of strict legalism often touted by staunch conservatives. Conservatives who base their religious experience primarily on obedience to law, to static regulations, to literal interpretations of scripture, and to the karma-like consequences related in the Old Testament, often view as digression the practice of more liberal Christians, who relish in a more flexible, conscience-driven, religious experience, built around the love and forgiveness of the New Testament.

Following God vs. Following Rules

But relinquishing the old law covenant is progression, not digression. Just as a child may early in life have strict rules that are relaxed as it matures, so the new covenant invites us to listen directly to God, through our conscience, and graduate beyond the elementary state of simple rule following, into discerning God’s will within particular contexts. God desires independent spirits that choose to follow him willingly, not robots brain washed with a recipe for behavior. In Romans 12:1-2 we are encouraged: “to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, so that we may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect”.

Christ came so that we might have freedom and not be slaves to legalism any longer. Christ demonstrated this for us by: (1) seeking direction from God through constant prayer, (2) bearing faith in God for the accomplishment of good, (3) standing firm against the untruth of evil, (4) disengaging from all forms of violence, and (5) being willing to suffer death before violating Godly directives.

It is important to recognize that being led by the Spirit of God does not mean being subdued (possessed) by the Spirit. It means learning to comprehend the directives of God through the Spirit and following them willingly because you want to follow them. This is the crux of the matter: you either believe enough to perceive the directives of the Spirit or you don’t. If you do, it is the most magnificent thing to which you can willingly tune yourself. If you don’t, then your doubt is preventing your discernment and your doubt can only be diminished by self reflection, study, ministry, and other spiritual experiences.

In short, you must first seek. We can seek by being awake (consciously realizing our experiences), reading widely, praying, constantly seeking to learn, and constantly listening for the leading of the Holy Spirit. The intellect is one of the gifts God has given us in order to disciple us.

The Humanity of the Bible vs. The Divinity of the Bible

We must not be afraid to recognize that the Bible was written by human beings; Godly inspired yes, but nonetheless by different human beings, writing in different contexts and from different perspectives. The author compares the Bible to the Eucharist, as something done by humans with the help of God and used by God, despite its imperfections. Just because some may stumble, blunder, smack, or slobber during the Eucharist, or just because the wine and bread really doesn't turn into blood and skin, doesn’t mean that God isn’t using the Eucharist to move us.

Similarly, the author says that we must not be afraid of the Bible’s humanity. The author encourages us to stand before scripture, not under it in mindless assent, and not above it in arrogance, but before it, to see and hear how it speaks to us and nourishes our soul. There are many passages in the Bible that defeat literalism, the recitation of which I need not go into here.

Knowing God vs. Imagining God

We refrain from sin because we love God, what God is, what we strive toward, what we want to be, what we recognize as most worthy of praise. We have to understand what God is. Our perception of God is most important. When we are able to think of God in the way God has chosen to be manifest to us, it makes all the difference in our lives.

God has chosen to be manifest to us as forgiving, honest, loving, compassionate, truthful, peaceful , generous, kind, good, faithful, gentle, patient, wise, etc. Grasp and harbor those concepts so that you may have God in your experiences. Praise and uplift that which you can recognize already in your heart as indicative of God, as being characteristics most worthy of praise, of emulating, of worshipping, and of sustaining in the universe. Pursue God in this way and He will progressively become more and more tangible for you.

Conversely, those who conjure up mythical perceptions of a wrathful Zeus-like God inclined to all the emotions of a frail human, bind themselves into legalism. Why not think of God in the way God chooses to be manifest to us instead of the way we choose to imagine Him? Unless God has actually appeared to you in the fiery embodiment of a mythical being, why not accept how he has appeared to you: as the call to compassion in your conscience, as the loving beauty emulating from those willingly helping others, as the mysterious power unleashed in nonviolent protests against evil, as the elation in being honest even when it works to your disadvantage, and, most importantly, as personification in Christ? Why not?

Christian Conservatism

The author seeks to define for us the extremes of conservatism and liberalism. The author defines conservative fundamentalists as: (1) believing the Bible to be inerrant and believing every word of the Bible was placed in the minds of the biblical authors by God’s Spirit, (2) believing in the virgin birth, (3) believing in the atonement, (4) believing in the bodily resurrection of Jesus, and (5) believing in the literal reality of Jesus’ miracles. The author writes as follows about Conservative Christians:

“Conservative Christians emphasize Jesus as personal Savior and Lord. He is the one who expressed God’s love to us individually, who came to seek and to save lost people, who’s very name means savior and who came to die for the sins of the world. He offered his life that we might be forgiven and made right with God. They tend to focus on Jesus’ teaching that we must be born again. For conservatives, Jesus’ death on the cross was God’s act to atone for the sins of the world. Jesus calls us to follow him in a life of personal holiness. For conservative Christians, being a Christian starts with having a personal relationship with Jesus. Conservatives think that Jesus came to save us from hell.” –Adam Hamilton

Christian Liberalism

In contrast, the author defines liberal modernists as: (1) embracing and pursuing the social gospel and visions of social transformation, (2) viewing traditional claims of authorship in the Bible with skepticism, and questioning certain theological formulations drawn from the scriptures, (3) focusing on the Bible’s humanity at the expense of its divinity, (4) recognizing that inerrancy of the Bible is not explicitly taught in scriptures, (5) perceiving Jesus as a revolutionary, seeking to upend the social order & usher in the reign of God. The author’s own words are best in expressing his view of Christian liberalism:

“Liberal Christians tend to focus on Jesus as a revolutionary, seeking to upend the social order, to lead people to justice and radical obedience to the will of God, and to usher in the reign of God. They cite the words of Jesus’ first sermon, as recorded in Luke 4:18, where Jesus quotes Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free.” They focus on his foot-washing, where Jesus demonstrates the role of radical servant-hood. They highlight Jesus’ call to love not only our neighbor but also our enemies. They see in the parable of the Good Samaritan, Christ’s call to compassion and the breaking down of societal structures of racism and classism. They note that Jesus sought the outcasts and the underside of society. He invited women into his ministry, including those who were despised by society and used by men. He is the model of a prophet of social justice. He calls us to lay aside our sins of apathy toward those in need, our materialism, our bigotry, and to work for a world that looks more like the kingdom of God. Racism, injustice, poverty, war – these are sins that tend to receive a bit more attention than others from liberals.” –Adam Hamilton

After defining for us the liberal and conservative stances, several controversial topics are then addressed in the book, a few of which I will explore below:

Evolution

The author spends a great deal of time addressing the phenomenon of evolution, which has always to me been most cogently explained as “the finger of God”. But what the author doesn’t mention is that evolution is not limited to just the blood and guts of physical beings, but applies also to our thought processes: religion, philosophy, sociology, and the sciences in general. Awaiting us are untold marvels of discovery that will yet unfold, bringing impacts far greater than the information age, the industrial revolution, the advent of writing, or even agriculture. The fact is that we are clearly in a constant state of flux, growing, changing, aging, and altering. This is not a theory; it is an observable fact. If we must evolve, let us evolve toward Godliness. Let us evolve with a target. How about the target of emulating Jesus?

Why focus so much on death?

Mainstream Christianity is so fixated on the death of Christ. Why can’t we focus on the life of Christ? Why must the focus always be upon death? After all, wasn’t it the “life” of Christ that was given for us? If Christ is now at the right hand of God, isn’t he better off? Why must mainstream Christianity focus on the death of Christ at the risk de-emphasizing Christ as a blazing example of how to live? Is it because such Christians are lured to Christianity only by the promise of resurrection?

Know plainly that, unless you love Christ for what Christ is, unless you love the embodiment of God, with sincere desire to have it manifest within yourself, you do not know Christ. Your resurrection occurs while you are yet alive, as you begin living in your spiritual life. Many Christians struggle with this, accepting inherent sinfulness as an excuse, and refraining from beginning to ascend spiritually. Instead they cling to their money, their society, their possessions, and arrogantly refuse to begin their resurrection into the spiritual life, in the here and now. They prefer to delay the whole spiritual resurrection thing until after this life of materialism is over. They think they will wait and bother with the resurrection after they die. For now, they have the world.

But why so easily dismiss the concept of simple continuity? If they can so easily ignore kingdom-life now, what makes them think they will so easily enjoy it after death? What makes them think that the same hellish allurement’s that so possess them now won’t similarly captivate them in the hereafter? In this life, we either build our spiritual self or we feed our addictions to things designed to distract us. We must surpass these distractions. We must focus on experiencing the resurrected life right now and not on death.

Many spiritual neophytes envision “being saved” as some sort of life raft that God is going to throw down to them to lift them from one form of existence into another. Such neophytes are often let down when this fails to happen after their public profession and, if they persist in the faith, their religion is reduced to simply awaiting resurrection upon their death. A more effective salvation experience comes when the spiritual aspirant comes to Christ as a result of love, wanting communion with others who embrace that love, and understanding they are embarking into a spiritual journey to sustain, grow, and forever pursue that love. When this occurs, it is indeed an amazing resurrection to witness, as the soul comes to the forefront of the individual’s persona, allowing us to observe that inner light, which we can love so much. Bringing that light to the forefront is the resurrection. It occurs now. It is not something that you wait for. You must be resurrected before you die. Awaken from death right now. Start your kingdom experience now. Let your soul emerge into dominance, to the forefront of your self, ascending in front of your mere physical self.

Hell

The author asks: “Is our only motive for sharing Christ that we believe the loving God we offer will eternally torment the souls of people in hell if they don’t accept our offer of salvation”? Is that loving? Isn’t that really blackmail or coercion? There’s something deeply wrong and cultic about sharing the gospel because we believe God will eternally torment all who do not accept it instead of because we believe it to be the truth and the hope of the world. The gospel isn’t just about heaven, it’s about right now, right here on earth. Right now the gospel can bring us to unconditional love, mercy, forgiveness, new life, and communion with God.

The author illuminates several problems with the mainstream Christian concept of hell: (1) perpetual torture is totally inconsistent with the idea of a loving and merciful God, (2) it is difficult to imagine a place where a loving grandfather, mother, or best friend might be tortured forever because they simply didn’t understand the gospel, (3) discipline is usually redemptive and imposed in hopes of rehabilitation. Eternal banishment into hell is essentially giving up on a person, not rehabilitating them! Why would God create something just so he can torture it? And (4) eternal punishment is very disproportionate punishment for a mere lifetime of eighty or ninety years.

Look here: Jesus says those who are going to hell are those who call their neighbor a fool (Matthew 5:22), those who lust after women in their hearts (Matthew 5:27-30); hypocritical religious leaders (Matthew 23:1-36), those who are not good stewards of what God has given them (Matthew 25:14-30), religious people who refuse to help those in need (Matthew 25:31-46), etc. etc. etc. Are you feeling hot yet?

CONTINUED IN COMMENTS SECTON BELOW

[JacLynn Zohfeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking

Being myself a United Methodist church member and currently on the path to becoming a Certified Lay Speaker, I find Adam Hamilton's views both familiar and challenging.
The United Methodists are fully vested in the promotion of women in congregational leadership roles, including filling the pulpit as pastors. It was this idea that first drew me to the denomination.
Overall, I found myself agreeing with much of Pastor Hamilton's views regarding the subjects he brought forth. However, some of what I read challenged what I believe to be truth in my understanding of Scripture, especially the Gospels and the rest of the New Testament. I continue to be at odds with the United Methodist Book of Discipline regarding same sex relationships, the recognition and celebration of those persons' unions, and the prohibition of ordination of clergy whose lives are openly gay or lesbian. (that last bit smacks to me of "don't ask; don't tell")
I was encouraged by some portions including, regarding non-Christians who lived in service and faith being welcomed and rewarded by a merciful God who would not deny them a place in Paradise. Take that Fundamentalists! Even without a personal relationships with Christ, Jews, Hindus, etc. can find a place that God has prepared for us all.
The book was well written and obviously thought through and prayerfully considered. No Bible pounding here. Just an eloquent yet readable, thought provoking consideration of issues that faithful people face and take to God in prayer.

[Kim Hill Markland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I lean left politically, but I don’t belong to a political party and have no plans to do so in the future. I’ve seen so many of my friends get so wrapped up in being a member of one party or the other that they lose the ability to (or maybe the will to) have their own opinions. It’s that sports team mentality that I hate so much. Over the past several years I’ve struggled with how my fellow Christians can so staunchly support the Republican Party. Some of them have even gone so far as to say all Democrats are evil. I see social media posts of leaders in the church I grew up in that are just hate filled. I have questioned why I believe differently than they do. And I know that they would say I am not a true Christian. So, I was so happy when I found Adam Hamilton’s book. I’ve read other books by Hamilton and really liked them. This one is the best yet. He discusses religion, morality, and politics. And he does so in a way that is non-confrontational. There is a gray area! As Christians we do not have to be so rigid. And God allows us to question things. I highly recommend this book to anyone. Some of the examples are a bit out of date and I think he missed the mark on his predictions of how the evangelical conservative movement would fare. The book was first published 12 years ago. A lot has happened since then. But the underlying principles are still very relevant today. It is definitely worth reading.

[Joe Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, Hamilton does a pretty good job of examining conservative thinking and progressive thinking on a range of topics, encouraging the reader presumably to respect the differences and maybe find a way to stand in the middle. I read the book with a men's study group. It is well suited to that, including a list of study questions by chapter.

Part 1 focuses on the nature of the dialectic with titles like "Are You Liberal or Conservative?" and "Being Pentecostal without Losing Your Mind."

Part 2 takes up theological problems ranging from conflicts with science to the problem of evil.

Part 3 goes to work on political, ethical, and cultural issues.

I rated it a 4-star rather than 3-star mainly because I do think he has done a good job of explaining opposing schools of thought. Overall, however, I would prefer to read the work of authors he would probably consider to be a bit far left-leaning. In other words, while I do admire his workman effort to be fair I reckon he is a bit traditional for my taste.

[Patricia Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me think. I liked much of what Hamilton wrote about in his book but found areas where I couldn't agree with his thinking. I guess that is what a good book does...makes one think. Even when I couldn't agree with the author, I did appreciate the opportunity to examine by own opinions on the topics. I have become so cynical about politics that I can hardly watch the news anymore, so thinking through some of the issue the author raises help me develop a bit of tolerance that is so badly needed in our world. I would recommend the book to any who want to examine their faith in light of current events.

[Daniel Dolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The adult Sunday school class that I am a part of used this book for our fall/winter study. The book was written in 2006 and in some parts it was a reaction to the 2003 decision to go to war in Iraq and the divisiveness that caused in American society. Well it suffices to say those divisions have only deepened, on so many levels, since 2006.
The study seemed perfectly suited to all the craziness off 2020. Hamilton helped me and my classmates find common ground in the gray areas of our world that is so often depicted as only black or white ends of the poles. I highly recommend this book to anyone trying to sort through the many hot button issues in our nation and world.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s like Adam Hamilton knows me. He knows I don’t identify with conservative or liberal theology and that I have so many questions and am comfortable with not knowing the answers. I didn’t agree with him on everything, but I did on most things. I wish more people were willing to put their hardline positions aside and be more humble, humble enough to admit that maybe they don’t have all the answers. Maybe one day that will happen, and we can open up real dialogue again and start loving each other instead of judging each other as spiritually and morally lacking.

[Leoma Gilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hamilton does an amazing job of making one think. We read this as a group, one chapter per week. Each week was another challenge to see "the other" side of issues. The point of the book seems to be that if you can understand how the other side sees something, even though I may not agree with it, I will have a better appreciation of why the person I'm talking with feels the way they do, and hopefully we can come to some common ground. This book is SO NEEDED in these days. We must come together.

[Jeff Harper · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book seemed to be what happens when conservative evangelical pastor thinks he is really middle

... Of road. But it may be I'm a far more liberal Christian than I know. It is good on presentation of alternative views. I just didn't love it. But it was worth the time for our group.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciate Adam Hamilton's ability to see both sides of an argument and also that he understands that not everything really is only black or white. If only more people could try to view the world that way!

[Carmen Shea Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Regardless of where you see yourself on the religious or political spectrum, I think you will find this book very informative and insightful. I feel like it should be required reading for all Christians and everyone who simply wants to be a better, more understanding person.

[Darci · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated the move to center from the edges of black/white, right/left, conservitive/liberal. Adam Hamilton gave voice to how I hope I behave in the world and let me know it is okay to be not 100% one way or the other. Being balanced is healthy!

[Shirley Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

moving from black and white into gray

I have long said none of us has this thing right. So, I guess I and in the gray area . . . The radical center. Good explanation of all sides of the issues for Christian’s today.

[Vicki Bivens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rather than polarize against each other when opinions vary on how to apply scripture in our lives, we should realize that the answers likely lie in the gray areas between extremes and spend our bridging the gaps.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good effort at starting a dialog between opposing viewpoints on issues. One may not agree with how the viewpoints are presented or the suggested resolution/discussion points yet here is someone trying to get people to talk to each other. I enjoy reading Hamilton's books.

[Holly Barras · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book should be a must read for those who have experienced religious trauma or anyone that has found themselves searching for Christ while struggling with political beliefs and human rights.

[Chris Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, but not one of Hamilton's best. For my money, Making Sense of the Bible is his masterpiece, and covers many of the same topics at greater depth.

[Mary Ellin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should read this book. Especially those who persist in picking political fights on Facebook. Adam Hamilton makes sense. We should all listen to him.

[Joe Cox · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible exegetics. Excellent eisegetics.

[Christine Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sunday night Bible study. Look at morality in the church. Good discussion. Skimmed some portions.

[Jonell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adam Hamilton provides some very well researched and thought provoking points. It gave me so much to think and pray about. I highly recommend it.

[Peg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this author. This book is a series of essays on various issues in the world of religion, morality and politics. Helps the reader clarify what we feel about these hot topics, and why.

[Brenda C Craft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Challenging

Very thought provoking,.It made me look at my beliefs and consider the why of them.I think this book is a good read for anyone wanting to delve into their beliefs.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Some chapters were amazing and the concepts inside will make me think for years to come. Some chapters I either didn’t get or didn’t agree. Glad I read it.

[Wayne Heym · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book effectively motivates, describes, and advocates the radical center.

[Danielle Sturgeon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read that sparked discussion in book club. Appreciated that while we believe things are worse than ever...we have always been divided.