Nonviolence vs. Death
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In his exegetical analysis of John 11, the story of Lazarus, Fr. John Dear leads the reader through a journey of non-violent confrontation - confrontation between the forces of violence and death that permeate our society and the forces of nonviolence and resurrection.  His analysis is both surprising and shocking.  He takes a pivotal story and makes it universally relevant to all who struggle against the forces that lead us to death and destruction.  Dear calls us to follow Jesus' commands to role back the stone, come forth, and unwrap. This theology is both liberating and demanding.  It changes the way that I read this passage in John and the way that I understand and relate to Jesus.  Hopefully it will do the same for you.
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This book, like&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Being-Mortal-Medicine-and-What-Matters-in-the-End/dp/B00JCW0BCY/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End</a>, distills what is important. It is ironic that we need to look closely at mortality to understand what it means to be alive. This book shows how getting close to death, either as a medical professional or as a patient, can strip away nonsense--vanity, narcissism, grasping, selfishness. This is a book full wisdom and spiritual wonder.

In a world that avoids wisdom and seems to increase material grasping, hatred, war, terrorism, destruction of the planet, gross poverty and inequality, the trend toward wisdom, especially looking closely at dying, empathy, kindness and love, is crucial to realizing ourselves as human beings and ultimately our survival as a species. Medicine and wisdom seem to be merging for many practioniers and medical consumer. This trend and this book provide reason for hope in a world of material and spiritual suffering.

Theresa Brown is a wonderful writer, and makes wisdom concrete: her details and characterizations bring us right into the scenes, and into the specifics of realizing wisdom--kindness and compassion.  We need these stories to become wise.
4902044
Here is a controversial (for its time) portrayal of farmers fate in the South. Racist and raw portrayal of life for thousands of poor and ignorant farmers. Life without a safety net, the current political climate is conducive of moving in that direction. Death was seen as escape from something worse, existence!
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A detailed foray into the world of personally justifiable homicides, it puts the reader in the shoes of those whom, through their cultural or belief systems, have killed another.

The material is confronting, and challenges the reader to question their own morality on the subject of murder when removed from their own indoctrination.  Well written and presented, Edwards has neatly divided the book into chapters covering some of the various justifications that, according to common westernised thinking, are disorderly and messy.

Well worth the read.
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Life or death.  We all fight for something.  Mankind in general is defiantly worth fighting for against all odds.
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A surprisingly compelling read, Changing the Way We Die: Compassionate End-of-Life Care and the Hospice Movement by journalists Fran Smith and Sheila Himmel, is a compassionate expose on the hospice movement from its germination to its present incarnation. Each of the authors went through the loss of a parent in a very different way, and through that catalyst, the idea to write this book was born. Their desire was to make a case for hospice in a world where people seem to be afraid to broach the subject of death, much less face it as an inevitable part of the cycle of life.

The book takes you on a journey through death; the before, during, and after, using real people and their stories of loss to illustrate the choices we will inevitably have to make at the end of a loved one's life. The authors argue that the health care industry does not deal with death well, if at all. Well-meaning, if misguided, medical professionals focus exclusively on quantity of life and completely neglect quality. This comes at the expense of both the patients and the patients' family and friends. If death were openly acknowledged and talked about, especially in the United States, more people would embrace the inevitable and seek help. The authors believe more people would gratefully turn to hospice care, a comprehensive end-of-life solution for dying people and their loved ones.

Changing the Way We Die has the courage to ask the tough questions about dying, and it was the authors' intent that the book would help people begin to have the unthinkable conversations with their loved ones: how do you want your end-of-life to be? How do you want to die? Through asking these questions, more compassionate and informed choices can be made about end-of-life care. Avoiding these questions, not having the conversation with our loved ones, does not keep death at bay. It only makes the time when death is near-at-hand more stressful and chaotic for both the person with the illness and the loved ones who are caught unprepared and thrown into life or death decisions with no guidance.

"We don't have a choice about whether we're going to die but sometimes we have a choice about whether that's going to be easier or harder." It is now more important than ever, with all of the medical advances that prolong people's lives, to ask these questions. How far will you go to save a loved one's life? Your own life? What's more important to you, quality of life or quantity of time? This book would prove especially helpful to anyone with older parents, but it would also benefit anyone, young or old, who has the courage to face the inevitable. We are all going to die, yes, but we get to choose how peaceful or painful it is going to be.

Find this review and more at New Consciousness Review.
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This is a well-written and convincing examination of the use of force and violence in human affairs throughout history. The good news is that it will convince you that such violence is on the decline. Indeed, Payne may persuade you that we are on a path to cure a long-festering sore oh humanity, at least as far as force is an institutionalized and/or an organized means to accomplish our desired ends. I can't add much to what the other five-star reviewers have said of this book except to endorse their compliments. If you are a pacifist, anarchist, voluntaryist, libertarian or just someone looking forward to a better world, you will want to read this book, for it is first and foremost hopeful.
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Os Guinness has done us all a great service in writing The Case for Civility: And Why Our Future Depends on It. Always an articulate and sane voice, Guinness attempts to bring reason to the conversations / arguments that rage in America and beyond today. He notes, "Unquestionably, religion can be divisive, violent and evil. But also, unquestionably, secularism can be oppressive, murderous, and evil, too." He addresses issues like: What role does faith play in the public square? What role should it not play? Is secularism the answer? Moving beyond simplistic versions of the "new tolerance" where every view point is seen as "equally valid," Guinness helps us think about disagreements and how to disagree; yet in a way that affords dignity and respect--A truly important and timely work.

<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Welcome-to-College-A-Christ-Follower-s-Guide-for-the-Journey/dp/0825433541/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Welcome to College: A Christ-Follower's Guide for the Journey</a>
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The title of this book really suits the material inside. I appreciated that Evans' approach towards peace was not one of complacency or passivity. Seeking peace in the world is a commitment to oneself to continually do away with the internal conflicts, insecurities, and fears that come out in our day to day lives. I found myself reflecting on current events and the times as I was reading this, and wondering how much of the pain and suffering caused in the world was really just the result of one person, or a very small group of people. It takes one person to set a fire that burns down hundreds of homes. The concept of nonviolence was something that I was familiar with; in many ways this book is simply a combination of the author's personal experiences and the narrative of nonviolence. The book really excels in motivating the reader to take pragmatic steps towards nonviolence in their own lives, at least I found it to be the case as I read. The foreword was a sort of bonus commentary from the grandson of Mahatma Ghandi, who sets the tone for the book by establishing that without effort and personal growth, mankind is naturally violent and chaotic. Since the teachings of Ghandi recur throughout the book, I found this forward helpful, and all in all I think that this would serve as an excellent foundational read for people seeking to confront the harsh and grim world as it is represented on the news. It is a good reminder that the world doesn't have to be this way, and that each person has a role to play in making peace.
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The fact of death and suffering is often used as an argument against the existence of God and against Christianity in particular. Many professing believers leave the faith they once professed after encountering the death of a family member or perhaps because of their own personal suffering. Pastors are often left without answers that satisfy the suffering party. Yet, Scripture does provide answers to the question of suffering and death and it is here that we must go to understand what place suffering and death have in our lives. R.C. Sproul examines Scripture to shed light on these questions in Surprised by Suffering.

The book is divided into two parts. The first examines suffering in the Christian life and the second part examines eschatology, particularly individual eschatology with such topics covered as the intermediate state and the eternal state. In dealing with the question of suffering, Sproul examines Scripture and establishes that God is in control of our suffering and that rather than telling those who are suffering that God is not involved in their pain, rather we should tell them that God has a purpose for their suffering. God is fully in control of the events of their lives and has a purpose for each of the events that take place in life. Sproul also discusses how suffering is a vocation that all Christians are called to (1 Pet. 4:12-19). Christians who suggest that suffering does not have a place in the Christian life are found to be in contradiction to the Scriptures. Indeed, the Apostles saw it as a privilege to suffer for the sake of Christ. "For it has been granted to you for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake" (Phil. 1:29).

The second section deals with the question of death. Sproul surveys various non-Christian understandings of death and life after death. He deals with the moral imperative and the need for judgment. Specifically, he survey's Kant's moral argument for the existence of God which states that a moral code requires justice and punishments for disobedience. Since in this life, justice is not always properly dealt, then it is necessary that there be a lawgiver after death who administrates justice. He examines the Gospels and Jesus' teaching concerning the afterlife and the promise Jesus made to those who believe in Him. He examines 1 Corinthians 15 and summarizes Paul's argument for the resurrection noting that the truth of the Gospel hinges on the resurrection of Jesus and the resurrection of all those who have trusted in Christ.

Sproul also summarizes what takes place following death and the soul in the intermediate state followed by the resurrection. Basic eschatological matters are dealt with carefully and clearly establishing Scripturally the Christian hope. As always, Sproul's writing is incredibly clear yet solid on theological matters that are often hard to explain. Sproul has such a gift of communication that he is able to summarize deep concepts in a way that is easy to comprehend. Ultimately, Sproul concludes that our hope and comfort in suffering in death is found only in the Gospel of Jesus Christ who has the keys of death and hades, and who lives forevermore giving that same promise to all who believe in Him (Rev. 1:17-18).

Thank you to Reformation Trust for providing me with a review copy!
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I have been interested in near death experiences since the 80's.  Nothing has given me more peace and confidence.  I believe love and a personal relationship with God are the keys to living a good life.  I was brought up and educated in the religion of my birth family but I never enjoyed true peace until I started reading about NDR's experiences.
4750747
I thought that Spirit Lives was an interesting book that examines those aspects of reality which are beyond the senses. It has been said that man does not live by bread alone. We all seek answers to questions about ultimate reality -- does a person's soul live on after his death? Traditional
religion has offered answers -- the hereafter for those who have lived an ethical life. Of course there is little agreement about universal principles
of morality --  Kant's categorical imperatives -- other than we should not kill or steal or harm others. On the other hand, John Lennon invoked a
 world where there's no heaven, no hell, no religion, & no countries -- mankind sharing the earth in peace & harmony. Nevertheless, I liked this
optimistic book and profoundly hope that something wonderful awaits us when we leave this vale of tears  we call life.
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No death is the same and Dr. Nuland explains this well.  An excellent book. Would recommend for anyone dealing with a loved one that is dying and for those that are faced with a terminal disease.
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This is Shane Claiborne's best book.

This book is framed by the real lives and deaths of victims of murder and execution. It's a book I have already recommended to people inside and outside of explicitly pacifist faith traditions, and I can imagine Bible Belt evangelical types resonating with.

By paying particular attention to the stories of forgiveness and redemption hiding behind stories of murder and execution (including that of our Savior), he persuasively shows the death penalty to be something that Christians simply cannot participate in. He writes with compassion about both the victims of violence and those who commit the violence (and then those who inflict the violence as punishment) which makes a whole lot of sense coming from a religion whose founder forgave as he was executed.

The best parts of the book were the individual stories of people who had found healing from the crimes they had committed and crimes committed against them, showing that there is indeed a possibility for a kind of justice that doesn't require more killing.
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Here's the bulk of my review of Choosing Death from my blog. The original review can be found here (remove the space before .com):
uglybass.wordpress .com/2011/12/08/choosing-death-the-improbable-history-of-death-metal-and-grindcore/

Two nights ago, Choosing Death: The Improbable History of Death Metal and Grindcore, by Albert Mudrian came in. I really enjoyed the book. Years ago, when I read Lords of Chaos, I was really impressed by the writing. The authors, Moynihan and Soderlind, are both journalists and did a great job. Its a very objective and detailed work. It took me a little while to read though, because as much as the subject matter interests me, I'm not the biggest fan of black metal.

Choosing Death, however went by much quicker for me. Its nearly as well-written as Lords of Chaos, and for me, it was much more readable (evidenced by my having read through it in one day). The subject matter is also near and dear to my heart, and reading it was like reliving history. I learned a lot of things about what was going on in the background with many of the pivotal bands and labels at the time as well, which I really like.

A lot of the book focuses on interviews and background information from Napalm Death, Morbid Angel, Earache Records and many bands who were related in some way to the rising scenes in England and Florida. Major players like Chuck Shuldiner (Death), Glen Benton (Deicide), John Tardy (Obituary), Justin Broadrick (Godflesh), John Peel from BBC Radio and producers like Scott Burns are also featured. Of course, there are tons of interviews and historical snippets from other sources like Relapse Records, Roadrunner Records (who grabbed Sepultura & Fear Factory when Earache initially turned them down - I never knew this happened), members of Carcass, Cannibal Corpse, Brutal Truth, Extreme Noise Terror, Bolt Thrower, Entombed, Immolation, Vader and more.

Background information from the bands also highlights bands like Seige, Discharge and Slayer, who were influential on much of the early grindcore movement. Its interesting to see how England and the United States influenced each other back and forth, especially with regard to the impact that Napalm Death (particularly Mick Harris' drumming) had on Morbid Angel and that Mantas (proto-Death) had on a lot of European bands. Sweden is also looked at, but not quite as deeply as England and the US. It was interesting to see just how small the Swedish death and grind scenes really were at first, and how it grew into the whole Gothenburg sound that I personally take for granted today. I also never realized just how much tape trading shaped the sounds that became prevalent in these scenes. I've collected both tapes and CDs (demos and stuff that I have people bring back when they go abroad) but although I was aware of it, I hadn't considered the potential that tape trading could have on not just fans, but musicians themselves.

I have one or two small issues with the book, but its not enough to detract from its excellence as a historic snapshot of the genres during the 1980s-1990s. There are some small details that I think are incorrect, but they're not specifically band- or music-related. For example, the Necronomicon is not a satanic work. The idea of it was birthed by HP Lovecraft (one of my favorite authors when I was younger) and it was later written by "Simon". Its not a real occult book. But that's really inconsequential to the overall work. It only stands out to me because I enjoy Lovecraft's work.

I'd actually love to see Mudrian write a follow-up to the book, as it ends at 2004. There have been changes to the bands that were featured since then and there have been changes in the scenes themselves (like the rise of deathcore and its relationship to death and grind, and wifey's hot-button - the role of women in these scenes).
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A Portrait of Pacifists is as relative today as when Andre' and Magda lived it. Their finding and living the Truth is pertintent to where we find the World today. This is a MUST read for anyone interested or involved in the Occupy Movement. Page 239..."The key to defining violence is knowing the end it seeks is the death of another". " "Whenever one's free will is bent in subjection, the process of violence is set into motion...

This is as current today as it is ever was.
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For scholar-activists concerned with systemic connections between animal, environmental and human oppression, Nature Ethics provides a lens through which to examine other philosophies, theologies and political and environmental theories.  Exploring the connection that Kheel makes between human violence and socially constructed masculine identity is like donning a pair of 3-D glasses that exposes previously unseen dualisms in even the most esteemed perspectives on animal rights, Gandhian nonviolence, environmental protection and ecological holism.

The ecofeminist invitation to develop empathethic relationships with individual beings validates the experiences with animal suffering that move many toward activism in the first place. Kheel's refusal to rely solely on the "conceptual force" of rational arguments make her final call to a conscious ethos of contexualized care toward nature and individual other-than-human animals hard to resist.  If you have ever been frustrated by rational or spiritual systems that don't seem to wed theory with praxis, Nature Ethics may illuminate why.