The Third sword : on the political role of prophets / James Bernard Murphy, Dartmouth College.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Murphy, James Bernard, 1958- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Prophets--Biography.

Prophets.

Prophets--Political aspects.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (vii, 198 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, United Kingdom ; New York, NY, USA : Cambridge University Press, 2024.

Summary:

Prophets are wild cards in the game of politics, James Bernard Murphy writes in this startling new book. They risk their lives by calling out the abuses of political and religious leaders, forcing us to confront evils we would prefer to ignore. By setting moral limits on political leaders, prophets chasten our political pretensions and remind us there are values that transcend politics. They wield a third sword-distinct from the familiar swords of state and church power-their sword is the word of God. The Third Sword offers a new take on political history, illustrating a theory of prophetic politics through tales of political crises, interspersed with direct dialogue between the prophets and their persecutors. With chapters on Socrates, Jesus, Joan of Arc, Thomas More, and Martin Luther King, Murphy brings these prophets to life with storytelling that blends biography, history, and political theory.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 28 Nov 2023).

Other Format:

Print version:

ISBN:

9781009372244 (ebook)

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.