Journal of the American Academy of Religion
"Religion and the Death Penalty: A Call for Reckoning is a welcome
chorus of voices informed by religious faith on one of the most
important questions of our time." The Christian Century
"Offers much to extend and challenge thinking about capital
punishment. . . I brought away . . . the humbling realization that
Christians hardly have the last word in terms of complex moral
reasoning." Thomas C. Berg
"The deepest issues about the morality of capital punishment are
religious in nature, and anyone seeking to understand the debate
should consult this book. It contains a wide-ranging set of
reflections from a remarkable group of contributors -- leading
theologians of America's three major faiths, prosecutors and
defense attorneys, governors on both sides of the debate, and a
Supreme Court justice." Richard Cizik
"Every evangelical in America should read this extraordinary and
compelling contribution to the death penalty debate. I recommend
this book without reservation. It challenged my own thinking in
ways that nothing else has in years." Bill Delahunt
"Searching for the truth is a fallible process. The criminal
justice system relies on human beings as judges, jurors, police
officers, eyewitnesses, defense attorneys, and prosecutors -- and
all are liable to making mistakes. As a prosecutor for over twenty
years, I have long pondered these issues and believe that our
society must continue pursuing all efforts to minimize the
possibility of error. The thoughtful and provoking essays in this
book challenge us to reflect on the death penalty and to consider
how we, as citizens, form our ideas of justice; they bring new
insight into arguments that span a broad range of views, regardless
of profession, politics, or faith. Collectively, these
distinguished voices suggest that the debate over capital
punishment reflects a broader societal demand to restore public
confidence in the integrity of the American justice system as a
whole." Peter J. Gomes
"Informed public discussion of America's obsession with the death
penalty is urgently needed, and particularly so among people of
religious conviction. This collection goes a very long way toward
meeting this need. We cannot afford to be without this resource in
this critical conversation." Robin W. Lovin
"Few issues engage both moral reflection and political choice as
directly as the death penalty.Religion and the Death Penalty speaks
clearly to both areas in the context of American religious
diversity. At a time when the implementation of the death penalty
is under intense scrutiny and public attitudes are rapidly
changing, these essays focus the moral, legal, and religious
questions in the words of people who are familiar with the hard
choices." James J. Megivern
"Religion and the Death Penalty: A Call for Reckoning is a truly
unusual book that more than lives up to its title. Its seventeen
essays present a fuller spectrum of ideas and positions on religion
and the death penalty than can be found anywhere else today. Its
special value is that it turns the spotlight on so many of the
central issues and lets articulate protagonists and antagonists
calmly lay out their arguments at length. For anyone seriously
struggling with the religious implications of the complex problems
involved with capital punishment, this book presents a unique
intellectual challenge. Incompatible positions are argued
back-to-back, forcing honest readers to sharpen their own reasons
for accepting or rejecting basic points. Wherever one comes out
personally, working through the content of this book is bound to
leave one with a more nuanced and a better-informed appreciation of
what the debate is all about and why it is so important. If this
volume were made required reading for all who addressed the issue
publicly, the level of discourse would be much elevated. This is
indeed 'a call for reckoning' well worth answering. Both the
contributors and the publisher are to be commended for promoting a
deeper discussion of the intersection of religion and the death
penalty, freeing the debate from many of its irrelevancies, and
thus bringing more sharply into focus the real issues. It could
hardly arrive at a more timely moment in the national
conversation." Viginia E. Sloan
"In my many years of experience fighting the injustices of the
death penalty, I have worked closely with people who support
capital punishment and with those who oppose it. This book
thoroughly captures the complexity of this contentious and
emotional issue. Its fascinating and compelling essays move the
conversation beyond the usual political rhetoric. Through their
religious dimension, these essays pose urgent questions that policy
experts, legislators, and citizens alike must grapple with. This is
essential reading for anyone who cares about justice in our
society."
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