The War on Terrorism and the Terror of God

By Lee Griffith

Book Overview

This is a print on demand book and is therefore non- returnable.

Uniquely relevant to a world shaken by recent acts of terror, this provocative analysis of our culture of violence calls people of faith back to the way of peace that has always been the proper Christian response to aggression.

With the newspaper in one hand and the Bible in the other, Lee Griffith takes a frank look at the historical events and modern forces contributing to terrorism. This is not a book about small guerrilla bands of terrorists or about so-called "Islamic terrorists" -- it is a cogent, open-eyed analysis of a worldwide epidemic of violence.

In a discussion that will no doubt prove controversial, Griffith argues that terrorism and counterterrorism are identical phenomena when viewed at the spiritual level. To oppose terrorism with violence acknowledges the terrorist assumption that meaningful change is possible only through suffering and fear. Likewise, terrorism and counterterrorism both employ similar God language to justify horrendous acts of violence. This is true not only of "rogue states" but also of Western leaders who use religious language on the eve of battle.

In response to today's culture of terror, Griffith points the way to a theology of peace. He first looks at specific recent events that have contributed to terrorism. Next, he mines the history of the church to see how the tradition has responded to violence in the past. Finally, he probes the biblical texts for meaningful answers. The result is a stirring message for our day: rather than serving as an incitement to violence, the biblical concept of "the terror of God" stands as a renunciation of all violence -- and of death itself.

Calling for a radical faith for radical times, The war on Terrorism and the Terror of God is sure to generate discussion from every quarter.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802828604
• ISBN13: 9780802828606
• Release Date: June 2004
• Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
• Length: 399 Pages
• Weight: 1.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

The War on Terrorism

The book is an excellent resource concerning terrorism, which has been the concern today. It focuses on the ethics of terrorism and uses a scriptural foundation to validate reasoning. I am almost finished with this book. I am using this book as a part of our readings in a class on the Ethics and Theology of Violence in seminary.

A serious work with thoughts about not becoming 'the enemy'

Even Griffith's most adamant detractors must concede that he makes a substantial and strong case for his point of view, from the perspective of theology, history, and deeply considered ethics. He does have a definite point of view, and it is not one that is deferential towards the powers-that-be, here or elsewhere. He points out the sad state of moral equivalence between terrorist and counter-terrorist that is our present paradigm

A Very Important Perspective

Lee Griffith presents a logical perspective that seems to have been ignored in the hysteria that has followed the events of September 11, 2001. (Interestingly Griffith wrote his book before those events.) Griffith points out that our response to terrorism has basically been to terrorize the terrorists, which forces the terrorists to just increase thier commitment to violence. Griffith also presents an important Christian prespective that we miss far too often. We have divided the world into good and evil realms and have concluded that it is up to the realm of good to defeat the evil realm. However, Jesus never divided the world into good and evil, he saw the entire world as good, but fallen and in need of redemption.

A Great Book, A Profound Book

This is the finest, most eloquent book on our current situation that I 've read, and I've read quite a few since the fall. Terrorism never works, whether it's state terrorism or non state. Legitimate grievances canot be addressed or avenged by violence. The author makes the case that there is no biblical justification for terrorism and absolutely none for violent response to terrorism. His reading of the Bible is spot on.Finally someone has the courage to oppose these awful wars, including the American terrorism, and tell the truth. Violence and murder are immoral and never work, even in retaliation for violence.Read this book. Pass it on.