Our Sunday School class chose this book to discuss over the summer, and I led discussions. I found the discussion guide and videos from the Yale Center for Faith & Culture helpful. We discussed the topic of religion in the public square shortly after the 2024 US election, which made moderating conversation challenging. Christian nationalism is ascendant today, a phenomenon only alluded to in Volf’s book. In his era, Muslim nationalism was the main threat, but in the following 15 years, Christian nationalism has dominated the news in America. I’d like to hear a follow-up from Volf about this book’s theses in light of this recent phenomenon. It has been present in American politics for some time, but its dominance is fairly new. Leading discussion among different opinions about Christian nationalists was indeed difficult.
Readers should be aware of Volf’s background in the Balkan peninsula, former Yugoslavia. He witnessed religious nationalism go amuck by killing others in a genocide. Surely, this is an abuse of monotheistic religion! Coming from a philosophy background, Volf seeks to reason out how monotheistic religions can disagree without following the totalitarian pattern. He also seeks to understand how democracy – the will of the people – can coexist with religions claiming the exclusive understanding of God. His arguments are sound, but the popular will in America hasn’t adopted his perspective, sadly.
This book is a good treatment of a difficult issue. As he suggests early on, readers should prepare to be uncomfortable. Will American Christians be willing to accept not getting their way all the time? That’s a question we deal with in 2024, and I’m not sure how it will resolve. I hope Volf’s insights get a better hearing, but it’s hard to be confident in the triumph of philosophy against today’s raw, oppressive power. I’m grateful to have undergone a deep dive in this topic despite all the discomforts it unearthed.
A Public Faith: How Followers of Christ Should Serve the Common Good
By Miroslav Volf
Copyright (c) 2011
Brazos Press
ISBN13 9781587432989
Page Count: 174
Genre: Christianity, Philosophy
www.amazon.com