Customer Reviews

Who Speaks for God?

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
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This book was very interesting to me, as it was a nice break from the media representation of all religion as being part of the conservative moment. Wallis takes the Religious Right to task for their lack of religion, especially their non-concern for the poor. His ending segment from the Call for Renewal about how "religion as a political cheerleader is inevitably false as a religion" sums up the whole book - we must remain true to our religious ideals and not become ideologues. Unfortunately, the Christian Coalition is strictly political and not religious and true voices for religious politics, like those of Wallis and most other religious folks, get lost in the media stereotype of religion.

I found this book had a lot to offer. Wallis starts with the assumption that the Religious Right (or the Christian Coalition, take your pick) doesn't really represent the opinions of most Christians, nor does it really represent the teachings of the guy that the whole shebang is named after, Jesus. He also maintains the Left, with its emphasis on certain issues, doesn't really offer a whole lot for Christians of moral conviction. I can't really argue with his analysis. He goes on to deal with what America, and the world, really needs: compassion, community, and civility. He then details how these are currently lacking, how these concepts tie in to Christianity, and how these concepts can help improve things in general.

My two nit-picking complaints are that, one, he doesn't do much to detail how to achieve the desired states of compassion, community and civility, and, two, he doesn't do much to explain that this message is for more than just Christians. His message is one of inclusivity, and throughout the book, he does mention people of other faiths, but this book seems mostly written for Christians. I think it's important to realize that there are a number of people of other faiths, and a number of people of no particular faith, who would agree with what he says we need.

Overall a pretty good book, encouraging and inspiring. Makes me want to go out and do good works.

The book, "Who talks for God" I started reading
assuming it was a book for Christians to come together
on some of the issues... and it didn't seem to be that
book.

Since a very good friend had recommended it - I figured
the problem must be my expectation of what the book was
about.

- So I tried to read it again assuming it was to liberal
Christians to reconcile some of the politics of the left
with their faith and that didn't work either.

Then I thought maybe it's addressed to agnostics/atheists
on the far left to explain how Christians could be on the
same side on social issues. (Wallis doesn't appear to even
know any conservatives). Then I tried searching for what
other people had found in it on the web - thinking that
could bring some clarity to the what it is, what it means.

I found that a lot of other people thought highly of it -
It's won some awards! But except for the promo blurbs,
there doesn't seem to be anything written about it - If
someone has found any gold here, please write a reply!