Robert McAfee Brown (d. 2001) was a renowned Presbyterian theologian, teacher, and social activist. This is his memoir, the story of a modest man who lived life according to his conscience and his faith, and who was a model for responsible social activism within and outside the church.
Studying such literary figures as Frederick Buechner, Albert Camus, George Dennison, Ursula Le Guin, C. S. Lewis, Alan Paton, Ignazio Silone, Alice Walker, Elie Wiesel, and Charles Williams, Robert McAfee Brown illustrates "the liberating power of fiction" by enabling the reader to enter their worlds. Brown asserts that although there is no faith that offers ironclad guarantees against future struggles, the wisdom of these authors can help us toward praising and rejoicing.
Argues that there should not be a separation between spiritual and temporal concerns, looks at liberation theology, and discusses spirituality and sexuality
Brown explains and illuminates liberation theology for North American readers who may have no previous knowledge of this recent dynamic Christian movement. Growing out of the experience of oppressed people in Latin America, liberation theology lends a transforming power to both the study of the Bible and the Christian duty to work for justice for all God's people.
Renowned theologian Robert McAfee Brown believes that Christianity cannot be fenced off or separated from the world, but is always in relation to something else. Here he puts his belief to the test, writing on Christianity and a multitude of topics: puzzles, earthquakes, worship, martyrdom, beauty, sex, God, politics, joy, anti-Semitism, and the environment.
In this series of messages based on scripture, the author demonstrates the vital applications of the Bible for our times, dealing first with the greater words of faith such as love, grace, and reconciliation. It then sheds light on various events in Jesus' life and beyond. A third group of messages shows the Bible addressing social issues such as sexuality and violence.
Looks at issues where religious beliefs and government policy may disagree, including the Sanctuary movement, and in Grenada, Nicaragua, and Nazi-occupied Poland
Explains why the Bible is still important, discusses the story of Jesus' life, an looks at Biblical teachings as they relate to the problems of modern life
Upon presenting the 1986 Nobel Prize for Peace to Elie Wiesel, Egil Aarvick, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Prize Committee, hailed him as "a messenger to mankind--not with a message of hate and revenge but with one of brotherhood and atonement." Elie Wiesel: Messenger to All Humanity, first published in 1983, echoes this theme and still affirms that message, a call to both Christians and Jews to face the tragedy of the Holocaust and begin again.
I do not think there are any issues on the theological and human scene more important than the ones liberation theologians are raising," says Robert McAfee Brown. In this book Brown explores how we can respond to liberation theology without condescension, arrogance, or co-optation. He surveys in detail the kind of challenges to North American Christians issued by South American theologians. He then calls upon the church to work to make itself what it ought to be and to take sides politically in support of human rights.
Here is a definitive introduction to liberation theology through the life and work of its most significant proponent, Gustavo Gutierrez. Robert McAfee Brown draws extensively on Gutierrez's own writings (some never published in English) and on personal conversations with him. Brown clearly and compellingly presents the basics of liberation theology and the differences between North American and Latin American theologies. The form of Gustavo Gutierrez is that of a drama. Brown's initial "program notes" introduce and situate the "author," the "actors," the "critics." He sets the stage with a history of church and state in Latin America and introduces its definitive figures, themes, and milestones. A collective biography of Gutierrez's spiritual predecessors is followed by a biography of Gutierrez himself, which takes critical account of his works. Then we are ready, dramatically and theologically, to move to the first act: that of commitment to the poor. The second act, in two scenes, explores first liberation theology's method of critical reflection on praxis and also its content: nothing less than the Word of God. Brown delves next into the controversies and criticisms Gutierrez faces, especially the challenges from authorities in Rome. Finally, in act three, readers discover that in this particular drama, they too are "on stage" and must take part by reflecting on what this drama really means for them.
This book, which includes a new preface by the author, offers an engrossing portrayal of the early years of the Christian movement from the perspective of the Romans. "A fascinating . . . account of early Christian thought. . . . Readable and exciting."--Robert McAfee Brown, New York Times Book Review "Should fascinate any reader with an interest in the history of human thought."--Phoebe-Lou Adams, Atlantic Monthly "The pioneering study in English of Roman impressions of Christians during the first four centuries A.D."--E. Glenn Hinson, Christian Century "This gracefully written study . . . draws upon well-known sources--both pagan and Christian--to provide the general reader with an illuminating account . . . [of how] Christianity appeared to the Romans before it became the established religion of the empire."--Merle Rubin, Christian Science Monitor
In the 1950s, one of the churches I was serving held a picnic at an Oregon state park. For a brief time, I found myself in conversation with another group in the same park. On learning that I was a pastor, one person in that group said, "Oh, you poor man!" As the conversation went on, it became evident that the remark was not based on a perception of my economic condition, but on some previous experience of a church's demands on a pastor's time. I did not share such a negative view of a pastor's life then, nor have I done so since. Serving as a pastor of a parish is not always easy, but it is a fulfilling learning experience, learning with, and from, parishioners. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to see God at work in the lives of individuals, marriages, families: To see how the Holy Spirit led a man who "wanted nothing to do with things Christian" become an elder and a leader in evangelistic outreach; to watch young people who were given opportunity to serve in the local church decide to go to seminary and become pastors themselves; and to receiving, during a worship service, a phone call from a dear lady, calling from her hospital bed to say she was praying for the church gathered. Central in the Bible is the message of the love of God in Jesus Christ. I am writing in the hope and prayer that this life-changing, redeeming love of Christ may occupy the center, not the periphery, of our lives and be the main motivator of all we think and do.
Thank you for visiting our website. Would you like to provide feedback on how we could improve your experience?
This site does not use any third party cookies with one exception — it uses cookies from Google to deliver its services and to analyze traffic.Learn More.