Christian Faith, Justice, And A Politics Of Mercy: The Benevolent Community - Tapa dura

Gilman's argument is impressive in both its breadth and detail. * Journal of Church and State * Clear, careful, and balanced. I know of no other book which so well integrates theories of justice with a treatment of mercy, compassion, and benevolence as actually necessary to achieve justice. It is a very fresh take on the topic. -- John A. Coleman S.J., University of San Francisco This book powerfully advocates for the reestablishment of benevolence in both private and public life. "Mercy trumps justice," and only mercy as benevolence can redeem either our heart or our society from prior injustices. Insightful and innovative. -- Ted Peters, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary This is an impressive, erudite, yet easily understood argument that the idea of mercy as benevolence has been privatized in American political thinking and subordinated to the idea of justice in much Christian ethical reasoning-with unfortunate consequences for our public wellbeing. It prompts a greatly needed discussion for generations to come. -- Edward LeRoy Long Jr., Drew University Simply put, Gilman's wide-ranging, highly lucid account of "merciful benevolence" is a must read! By disclosing the interpretive range and power of one of the most underappreciated ethical categories in our time, it makes an original contribution to the field of Christian Ethics. Perhaps more significantly, it re-frames wider discourse about how we ought to treat one another. -- Jack A. Hill, Texas Christian University

This book assumes that the most profound moral conflict today is between two virtues-justice and mercy-and argues that these two virtues are organically linked through the common experience of compassion. In an unjust world, justice cannot establish itself but requires projects of merciful benevolence to subvert injustice and to establish justice fully, not only as liberal procedural justice but also as egalitarian economic justice.