Radical friendship : the politics of communal discernment / Ryan Andrew Newson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Newson, Ryan Andrew.

Contributor:

George R. Fink Memorial Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Christianity and politics--Baptists.

Christianity and politics.

Christianity and politics--United States.

United States.

Church and the world.

Physical Description:

xxiii, 216 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Minneapolis, MN : Fortress Press, 2017.

Summary:

In a society that is increasingly marked by apathy, division, and moral incompetence, how might Christians set about working with others in ways that begin to address those challenges that seem to overwhelm our capacity to respond? In Radical Friendship, Ryan Andrew Newson argues that the often -neglected practice of communal discernment provides a path to faithful political engagement that is worthy of reconsideration, especially given its ability to create authentic friendships both within and beyond the church. Such friendships, Newson maintains, are capable of fostering competence in practices that can counteract social and political forces antithetical to communal and personal formation. Uniquely, Newson explores the contours of communal discernment as a practice that is especially relevant to Christians seeking radical democratic alternatives to the predominance of political liberalism and neoliberalism. Communal discernment is shown to be capable of generating conscientious participation in grassroots politics; additionally, this practice enables Christians to enjoy reciprocal, discerning relationships with people who hold convictions completely different from their own. Indeed, communal discernment turns out to be capable of preparing Christians to recognize and celebrate analogues to the practice in the world at large. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 Incompetence, Liberalism, and Democracy 1

2 Outline of the Promise of a Practice 41

3 Power, Discernment, and the Politics of Binding and Loosing 81

4 Practical Matters 119

5 Radical Friendship 161.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the George R. Fink Memorial Fund.

ISBN:

1506420311

9781506420318

OCLC:

966568626