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30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Doonesbury's "Reverend Sloan" dusts the Religious Right, September 6, 2000
This review is from: The Heart Is a Little to the Left: Essays on Public Morality (Hardcover)
William Sloan Coffin is a tower of religious rationalism (as far as that can be taken without a contradiction in terms). This book is a collection of five of his recent talks to colleges, and two of his recent sermons. Through these talks on important political topics like nuclear weapons, the impoverished, and homophobia, WSC exposes the want for morality in our government's current operational agenda. His insights are sharp and often humorous, but it is WSC's broad vision and wisdom that will make this an important addition to your library.
Christians would do well to model themselves after this trailblazer. The world would be a better place if more people would shed what WSC terms the "childish" understanding of religion, that myopic view of the world often espoused by America's Religious Right, that a personal relationship with God and strong personal morality for the purposes of ascending to a better place after death is the centerpiece of Christian ideal.
Atheists should also take note of WSC's thinking, because his well-read and logically analytical mind resides in a religious niche that has resolved the vast majority of the atheist's objections to religion. If you aren't aware of the more rational permutations of religious thought, your atheist position has not been fully considered.
All of us, regardless of belief, owe a debt to WSC for his activism. This book represents his valiant continued attempts to jostle those majority of Americans (in particular the academic culture) who, despite good intentions, too often tolerate the intolerable.
My only disappointment with this book is it's brief nature (80 pages) and frequent repetition. This speaks (no pun intended) to the original intent of the material (public speeches), and certainly doesn't detract from the quality of the material. I suppose this could also reassure you if you want to avoid any heavy-lifting.
If you are considering purchasing this book from this location, please review the following page first:
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18 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Reading Bill Coffin is enhanced in Hearing him Preach, June 15, 2004
This review is from: The Heart Is a Little to the Left: Essays on Public Morality (Hardcover)
When I recently chose to go into the life of one who greatly influenced me in the 1980's I chose "The Heart is a Little Left of Center" because it's filled by Coffin's big & best themes! In his years while at Riverside he stayed busy with Conferences like Montreat Music & Worship Week! Not only did he admire my wife's soprano voice but I could sit next to him in the bass section of Elaine Brown's fabulous choir. He was at home with great choral traditions...Always intensely in-tune with both the text & music. I quickly saw first-hand how his preaching each day in Worship was an exact replay of his momenteous living! Those themes woven into this later book are "Authority of the Bible, Homophobia, Fundamentalism, Meaning of Life & Death, and Civility!" As he goes thru his severe heart problems in Calif. with his Family, I can bet he's still an inspiring, giving, and caring Person! Still quoting Bishop Tutu, ML King, Rabbi Abraham Heschel: "some are guilty but all are responsible." Thoreau as well as, Abba Eban: "God is not mocked!" Likely unknowingly that he was also quoting Robert Shaw, in Atlanta, who called him Bill Coffin! I will always be able to hear his resonant, deeply rich bass voice both preaching and singing in the Choir. This should be required reading in all seminaries! Retired Chap Fred W Hood
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9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Doonesbury's "Reverend Sloan" dusts the Religious Right, September 6, 2000
This review is from: The Heart Is a Little to the Left: Essays on Public Morality (Hardcover)
William Sloan Coffin is a tower of religious rationalism (as far as that can be taken without a contradiction in terms). This book is a collection of five of his recent talks to colleges, and two of his recent sermons. Through these talks on important political topics like nuclear weapons, the impoverished, and homophobia, WSC exposes the want for morality in our government's current operational agenda. His insights are sharp and often humorous, but it is WSC's broad vision and wisdom that will make this an important addition to your library. Christian's would do well to model themselves after this trailblazer. The world would be a better place if more people would shed what WSC terms the "childish" understanding of religion, that myopic view of the world often espoused by America's Religious Right, that a personal relationship with God and strong personal morality for the purposes of ascending to a better place after death is the centerpiece of Christian ideal. Atheists should also take note of WSC's thinking, because his well-read and logically analytical mind resides in a religious niche that has resolved the vast majority of the atheist's objections to religion. If you aren't aware of the more rational permutations of religious thought, you're atheist position has not been fully considered. All of us, regardless of belief, owe a debt to WSC for his activism. This book represents his valiant continued attempts to jostle those majority of Americans (in particular the academic culture) who, despite good intentions, too often tolerate the intolerable. My only disappointment with this book is it's brief nature (80 pages) and frequent repetition. This speaks (no pun intended) to the original intent of the material (public speeches), and certainly doesn't detract from the quality of the material. I suppose this could also reassure you if you want to avoid any heavy-lifting. If you are considering purchasing this book from this location, please review the following page first: http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/amazon.html
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