Review: American Covenant

American Covenant (Princeton University Press, 2017) is Philip Gorski's attempt to trace the dynamics of civil religion in America. The United States has a deep religious mythology woven into its history. Over the past few hundred years, there has been a tension between what Gorski sees as religious nationalism and radical secularism. On the one hand, some desire to turn America into God's instrument for administering divine justice. On the other hand, some see America as a place free from public spiritual influence. The long-standing conflict between these two, Gorski asserts, threatens the original vision of the country's founders, who sought to bring both religious ethics and republican politics together.

Gorski embarks on a journey through the history of American religion, from the ethical vision of the Puritans to the republican vision of the American Revolution and Civil War to the complicated religious back-and-forth from World War II to the present. Through it all, Gorski stresses the urgency for recapturing the founders' desire for "prophetic republicanism," an ideal nation that he sees corrupted through the war between the sacred church and secular culture.

This book dares to set forth a path that transcends the church-and-state question. With eloquence, careful research, and noticeable passion, Gorski shows how the story of the American experiment can continue in an increasingly polarized world. His writing is clear and his argument easy to follow. This is an interesting read for Christians and non-Christians alike, from historians to theologians to armchair thinkers.

(My thanks is given to PUP for providing a complimentary review copy in exchange for an honest review.)

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Product Review: LL Bean Extra-Large Rolling Adventure Duffle

Overview When adventure strikes, the right bag makes all the difference. Too often, however, luggage bags are either large, ponderous suitcases or small, flimsy duffle bags. I have traveled to Central and South America multiple times with terribly large suitcases. It added extra complication to my trip—especially lugging the bag up the steps! This is the problem which LL Bean seeks to rectify in the LL Bean Extra-Large Rolling Adventure Duffle. With a 137-liter capacity, this duffel is able to hold the items of the biggest pack-rat while being easy to transport. It features a telescoping handle, smooth-gliding wheels, and cinch straps. Specifications Capacity: Approx. 8,350 cu. in., 137 L. Weight: 9 lb. 3 oz. Dimensions: 17"H x 34"W x 15"D. Highlights This bag is sturdy. Not only is it capable of holding many items, but it is incredibly durable. It has a reinforced nylon bottom and a thick plastic frame so that the bag does not sag or become weak.

Review: Pastoral and Spiritual Care in a Digital Age

The advancements of technology and social media are changing what it means to be human, yet religious studies rarely tend to intersect with technological and neurological sciences. In Pastoral and Spiritual Care in a Digital Age: The Future is Now (Lexington Books, 2018), Kirk A. Bingaman ventures into how technology informs spiritual care. Himself a professor of pastoral care, Bingaman claims that humans are becoming techno sapiens. Rather than retreating from technology, Bingaman sees the unavoidable development of technology as part of God's ongoing work of "doing a new thing." Consequently, he sees positive means for artificial intelligence that can be embraced in pastoral care. For Bingaman, pastoral and spiritual care in a digital age requires preserving humanity through contemplative spiritual practices, preventing technology from overtaking human identity. Bingaman's book is important for many reasons. First, he asserts that technological change is unav

Review: The Four Pages of the Sermon, Revised and Updated

Paul Scott Wilson's celebrated preaching text, The Four Pages of the Sermon (Abingdon, 2018) is now available in a revised and updated edition, with additions that reflect advancements in homiletical scholarship and cultural dynamics. First published in 1999, Wilson challenged the New Homiletic movement to emphasize God's gracious activity within the text and to let it saturate the entirety of the sermon—not to use the Gospel as a tantalizing treat at the end of a well-crafted plot. Today, this text stands as one of the most respected and accessible works for preachers at all stages in their ministry. Wilson argues that there are four main moves, or "pages," in a sermon: the problem in the text, the problem in the world, the grace in the text, and the grace in the world. Like Eugene Lowry's "homiletical plot," Wilson's sermon upsets the listener by exposing a human need and then moves toward resolution through the power of the Gospel. These page

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