Hell's Abyss, Heaven's Grace: War and Christian Spirituality

By Lawrence Hart

"War, before it is ever manifested in physical, observable violence, and peace, before it is ever felt as harmony or seen in acts of kindness, are the inner realities of the human heart and mind. They are states of consciousness, conditions of the soul. . . . War is 'hell's abyss, ' and peace is 'heaven's grace.' Moment by moment we choose which we will live into; indeed, which we will become."
-from the Introduction

In a stirring call to nonviolent resistance, Episcopal priest Larry Hart confronts the compromises Christians around the world have made with their nations' uses of violence. Comparing Just War theory with the United States' national history of war and exploitation, Hart voices the need for personal and social transformation to live in keeping with the Gospel. At the center of his argument, Hart lifts up the images of Christian leaders around the world who have chosen nonviolence to resist oppression, showing the real historical possibilities for peace when we bear truth, courage, and faith as our only weapons.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1561012416
• ISBN13: 9781561012411
• Release Date: February 2006
• Publisher: Cowley Publications
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.4" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A prophetic wake-up call for peace

Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (7/06) In "Hell's Abyss, Heavens Gate" Lawrence Hart focuses on the theme of war and Christian spirituality. His purpose is to show that when faced with a choice, there is only one for the Christian, the way of peace. He goes on to examine the holy or just war within the context of American history. He uses the current war in Iraq as a case study. He then explores the conscience of a Christian pacifist. Hart discloses the workings behind the scenes that have influenced our involvement in Iraq. He forcefully questions the motives of U. S. business interests and their impact on the political decisions made during the Korean Conflict, the war in Viet Nam, and now the action in Iraq. Hart draws heavily from other writers using their works to reinforce his conclusions. He has credited their works and has provided extensive notes for each chapter. I personally appreciated Hart's broad base of sources as a resource list for future reading. During my high school years I was too young to be drafted but as I turned 18 and registered for the draft, I listened to friends who talked about becoming "conscientious objectors". I thought I would be doing the patriotic thing by serving my country in the service. In the year 1951 about to be drafted during the Korean conflict, I selfishly, was looking out for my own safety. Rather than waiting for the imminent draft call and the risk of being sent to the front lines in the army infantry, I joined the Navy. I was never assigned combat duty while in the Navy. I don't think I ever considered what I would do if confronted with killing an enemy. I am now faced with a new sense of compassion that calls for a life of reconciliation, justice, and peace. Hart reminds the reader of the instruction in the Catechism from the Book of Common Prayer that reads: "The mission of the church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ." The unifying theme of Hart's writing calls for "...a conscience that compels...the Christian to do their best to love as God loves, to champion the cause of the poor and vulnerable, to pursue peace, to overcome evil with good, to insist on integrity and truth, and to vigorously oppose injustice and violence." Hart sums up his concerns in a clarion prophetic wake up call to the American people. "Unacknowledged avarice, arrogance, and aggression will lead to the inevitable decline and fall of the American Empire as it has with all others before it." This is a moving call to examine nonviolent resistance and should be read by Christian leaders, educators, and opinion makers. It is a book destined to leave an impact on the readers of this generation and generations to come.

A strident call to the power of nonviolent resistance, rather than war, to change the world

Written by an Episcopal priest, Hell's Abyss Heaven's Grace: War and Christian Spirituality is a strident call to the power of nonviolent resistance, rather than war, to change the world. Scrutinizing "Just War" theory as well as America's tainted history of war, conquest, international theft and exploitation, Hell's Abyss Heaven's Grace calls upon the need Christians have to live in accordance with the Gospel. Looking to images of Christian leaders around the world who apply nonviolence methods to resist, Hell's Abyss Heaven's Grace embraces the weapons of truth, courage and faith as paramount virtues in keeping with God's law. Highly recommended.