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Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding Writings by Various Christians
Review: I took this book with me on a spiritual retreat hoping for fresh perspectives, inspiring insights and good, to great, writing. I was not disappointed. The book delivered essays that I would not have otherwise read. Many essays gave me pensive perspectives and prompted me to consider worlds that hithertofore did not exist. Some of the selections are provocative; they shun being "politically correct" (Read Gilbert Meilaender's essay: After Sept. 11th.). John Wilson's, the editor, selections are broad and cover subjects that probably would have escaped your attention (Paul Elie's 'The Last Catholic Writer in America' for example). The title of this book pressed me to ask two provocative questions: "What constitutes 'BEST' , and what constitutes 'CHRISTIAN'?. Editors strive, one would think, for clarity among multiplicity. However, John Wilson says nothing about his criteria for selecting the 'Best' 'Christian' essays. He chooses, and the reader is to accept, in a "fundamentalist" way (without questioning) his discernment. I wanted to know how Wilson determines what is 'best'? The very word, 'best', by itself, implies a critical comparative judgement. Did Wilson, in his selections, hold these writers to the stellar scale of such 'Christian' writers as: Origin, Augustine, Luther, Bunyan, Kierkegarrd, Schweitzer, Bart, C.S. Lewis, Tolkien or Brueggemann (to name just a few)? Nothing is said. Then there is the significance of the heavy laden word 'Christian'. I consider myself one (though others would contest this assertion). The word 'Christian' has substantial implications. To most in North America, 'Christian' implies, at the very least, a moral and spiritual value system. However, every 'Christian' tradition has a different take on this. Which tradition does Wilson tap for his guiding standards? Maybe Greek Orthodox? Catholic? Primitive Baptist? Pentecostal? Presbyterian? Lutheran? Episcopalian? Congregational? Unitarian Universalist? Or the Metropolitan Church? Nothing is said. Also you read the various essays with no specific destination in focus. Normally, "Christian" writing exists to cause one to reflect, or consider, moral or spiritual issues. Most "Christian" writing has an agenda and often presses the question, "How shall we live" as 'Christian'? In this book, with its diverse subjects, you finish the book as you would a good bowl of vegetable soup, satisfied but without a sense of any distinct flavor. Maybe a more accurate title for this book, maybe: 'Outstanding Writings by Various Christians 2002' I strongly recommend the twenty two essays in this for those who want a devotional that will take them outside of their norm. 4.5 stars
Rating:
Summary: A mixed bag, as expected
Review: It's difficult to review an anthology-type book like this because the quality (or, more precisely, the usefulness) of the articles vary greatly. The great majority of the essays included, although interesting, cannot be considered life-changing. But one essay, in my opinion, is worth the price of the book. "Jesus the Logician" by Dallas Willard could change (and enhance) the way one looks at the central figure of Christianity. Expounding on a theme introduced in his brilliant book "The Divine Conspiracy", namely, that Jesus is the most intelligent person who ever lived, Willard explores Jesus' use of rigorous logic, especially when answering the queries of his opponents. Indeed, a logical analysis of Jesus' sayings can be the key to their proper interpretation. To me, this article stands head and shoulders above the others. Other worthwhile essays by other authors include "Wise Teachers, Sound Teaching", "Surprised by Death" and "The Market as God". Other entries, of which "The Recovery of Moral Agency?" is a good example, seem dry and difficult. Everyone will have their favorites in this collection, and normally such a mixed bag would earn this book three stars. But the Dallas Willard article gives this anthology a boost to the next level.
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