Restoring Faith: America's Religious Leaders Answer Terror with Hope (Paperback)

~ Forrest Church (Editor) "The Reverend Bob Hill, senior minister of Church of Christ, Kansas City, Missouri, was on sabbatical at the time of the terrorist attack..." (more)
Key Phrases: World Trade Center, New York City, Pearl Harbor (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This compilation of sermons and talks by religious leaders around the country following the events of September 11 provides an extraordinary look at a less visible aftermath of the tragedy. Major faiths are represented here, from a congregational church in Connecticut to a mosque in Harlem (Church, who edited this collection, is a minister at New York City's All Souls Unitarian Church); the connection between the various sermons is heartening. Predictably, the most poignant words are from people who had some intimate connection to the events those living in Manhattan or Washington, D.C., those who knew a passenger, etc. Their responses, too, are not surprising: disbelief, rage and then attempts to find an explanation. The immediacy (many of these comments were recorded within days and weeks of September 11) makes them even more moving. The spontaneity, the laughter and clapping of the congregations, the pauses and tears are genuine and strangely comforting. Simultaneous release with the Walker paperback.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Product Description

During the week following the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, Americans gathered in unprecedented numbers to seek comfort and guidance from their religious leaders. Regardless of creed, the same questions echoed from the pews. Where can we find God amidst the rubble? How can we answer hate with greater love? Is there hope for peace or are the trumpets of Armageddon less distant than before? These were the questions ministers, priests, imams and rabbis had to address from their pulpits. Even as they spoke, the soul map of our nation was being recharted. The preachers' daunting task was to bring hope and direction to a people newly lost. Each of these sermons, by some of America's greatest preachers, is a testament of hope. Collectively, they rise to the spiritual challenge of our time.

All profits from the sale of this book are being contributed to charities benefiting the victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Contributors:
Daniel W. Murphy
Alvin Jackson
Frank T. Griswold
Harold S. Kushner
Arthur Caliandro
Mohammad Gemeaha
Richard Land
C. Welton Gaddy
R. Scott Colglazier
Joanna Adams
Talib 'Abdur-Rashid
Forrest Church
William J. McLennan
Stephen Bauman
Brenda Husson
Harvey Cox
Paul Gonyea
Robert Lee Hill
John R. Claypool
Jon Gunnemann
Peter Rubinstein
Jon M. Walton
John M. Buchanan

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Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Walker & Company (November 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802776329
• ISBN-13: 978-0802776327
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #448,626 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hope in the face of despair, May 15, 2002

By	Gregory Potts (Oklahoma City, OK United States) - See all my reviews

I just read this book more than six months after the terrorist attacks. However, like most Americans I am still struggling with the emotional, intellectual, moral and spiritual challenges presented by those horrific events. These sermons are almost without exception intelligent, honest, sensitive and thought-provoking. There are common themes running throughout the book, but each also offers something unique. The book is predominated by Christian sermons, but also offers Jewish, Muslim and Unitarian-Universalist perspectives.

The only sermon I really didn't care for was the one from the Southern Baptist preacher, who basically said we should trust our government to repond appropriately to the attacks since it is "divinely sanctioned." Bizarre.