Many Christians, Jews and Moslems may have been seduced by the whore of BabylonApril 3, 2008 0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I read this book twice as a facilitator of Just Faith a seminar meant to deepen spirituality and faith in Jesus. I agree with much of what other 5 star reviewers have mentioned but these reviews have left a big piece of the puzzle missing which I would like to address in this review. Wink's genius in this book is in pointing out the Babylonian creation story as the archetype behind the myth of redemptive violence. In it he explains the rise of male domination and just as importantly gives us a clear image of what so many people of faith put their nearly blind faith into. It is not Jesus, God, Yahweh, Allah or Mohammed but Marduk a god from the ancient Babylonian creation story. This Marduk is the god that so many people around the globe truly worship in the form of redemptive violence which Wink portrays as myth. We have created endless ritual on our TVs, movies, books, politics, etc. to worship and indoctrinate everyone on the face of the earth into worshipping this God most of us have not heard of. This is hugely important for all of us as we struggle to redeem our world and the "Powers That Be". This may be the most empowering book people of faith can read. IF the work of a Christian is about conversion - turning from darkness to light - this is the book to get you going in the right direction. It is also a fairly easy read but read it more than once. The second time stuck much better than the first.
Powerful, majestic good senseJanuary 11, 2008 1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Wink's argument is passionate, reasonable, and convincing. Non-violent resistance has always been the Christian response to injustice, and now that force of courageous compassion is re-shaping the world. Wink's accounts of the great democratic revolutions of the 1980s and 90s give inspiring tribute to a growing movement for partnership, which is sweeping away the old "powers that be". He shows how Jesus' dream for the world is practical, doable, and just good sense. "God's domination-free order", he feels confident, will prevail.
--author of "Different Visions of Love"
Not the Dominant PerspectiveJanuary 1, 2008 From Constantine forward the majority view in Christendom has been one of domination. In "The Powers That Be" Walter Wink exposes the lie of redemptive violence as it pervades our society, and reveals the "third way" of Jesus (neither fight nor flight). Although clearly not a theological conservative, Mr. Wink deals respectfully with the scriptural text in elaborating his research and ideas. Thus, while a reader may question this or that point, overall he or she will find that this book resounding rings true. Worth more than a single read, "The Powers That Be" serves as a starting point for deeper study and further action.
The powers that beSeptember 10, 2007 0 out of 3 found this review helpful
We purchased this book for our daughter for college and we were very pleased with this purchase.
Non-Violence at it's bestJuly 11, 2007 0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book is amazing. If you haven't read it . . . you need to soon. Although have patience sorting through the first 2 chapters as it takes time to build Wink's case for a creative 3rd way of non-violence. The book is rather short and focuses on Walter Wink's thoughts on "the powers that be" in our world. And how we are to creatively oppose them through non-violent means. It was like a drink of fresh water after watching, reading, hearing, and seeing what Washington deems to be the best possible solution to violence . . . namely more violence. Wink put into words so much of what I've been thinking over the past few months. And gave me hope that while it is truly a difficult and apparently non-realistic way to engage in conflict . . . it is in fact way easier and extremely realistic when seen from the perspective of the crucified Christ.
