Summary: Practicing the Politics of Jesus holds potential to be the definitive study of how John Howard Yoder’s intellectual journey and social ethics came to intertwine. Through treatment of Yoder’s thought that is insightful and sophisticated yet surprisingly accessible given the profundity of the issues being analyzed, Zimmerman lays out the relevance of the politics of Jesus for people committed to the power of God’s transforming love. As foreword writer John Paul Lederach mentions, the book reads almost like a novel—because Zimmerman has managed skillfully to reveal how Yoder’s personal and church-related narratives helped shape his theology. Comment: “I first met Yoder when he came to see us in the early years of the Sojourners community. He helped us take our life seriously as an agency for transformation in society and a political sign to the world. This book is a compelling study of the origin, development, and practical application of Yoder’s teaching.” —Jim Wallis, Author, God’s Politics; President, Sojourners/Call to Renewal “This book is a treasure. It would be worth having for no other reason than its being a well-told tale of an unusually complex life story. Beyond that, it provides at least a partial answer to the most heartbreaking response to Yoder’s call to pacifism: ‘Yes, we want to follow Jesus, but it’s just not practical.’” —Nancey Murphy, Author (with George F. R. Ellis), On the Moral Nature of the Universe: Theology, Cosmology, and Ethics “Zimmerman makes significant contributions to Yoder studies, including the use archival material to provide insight into the development of Yoder’s thought and his relationship to mentors and peers. This fine book will be indispensible for future interpreters of Yoder’s theology and ethics.” —Craig A. Carter, Author, The Politics of the Cross: The Theology and Social Ethics of John Howard Yoder “Zimmerman challenges us all to be worthy heirs of Yoder’s legacy as ecumenists and as peacemakers.” —Ann K. Riggs, Associate General Secretary for Faith and Order, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA “Pairing a peerless exposition of the intellectual roots of the ‘politics of Jesus’ with discerning analysis of Yoder's constructive theology and the peacebuilding that flows from it, Zimmernan has made a contribution that extends beyond Mennonite scholarship to the history of American theological ethics as well as peace studies.” —William A. Barbieri, Associate Fellow, Theology and Religious Studies, Catholic University of America Market: Scholars; college, seminary, and graduate students; church leaders; anyone interested in a unique analysis of not only the thought of John Howard Yoder but also of how Yoder’s perspectives came to be formed. Shelving: Theology; Social ethics; Peacemaking, pacifism, nonviolence; Philosophy; Anabaptist-Mennonite thought; John Howard Yoder. BISAC: Religion, Social Sciences. RTM: 690 Religion/Ethics, 750 Sociology The Author: Earl Zimmerman is Assistant Professor of Bible and Religion at Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and a member of the pastoral team at Shalom Mennonite Congregation. He is co-editor of Telling Our Stories: Personal Accounts of Engagement with Scripture (Cascadia, 2006). Publisher: Cascadia
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