Advance Comment
The Sound of Sheer Silence and the Killing State
The Death Penalty and the Bible

"This is an important work. Lind’s analysis of Old Testament texts seriously undermines notions of a prevailing theology of violence in the Old Testament. Focusing on the idea of covenant, he demonstrates an alternative reading of Old Testament law and prophecy from which emerges, as part of a core theology, a message of relationship, forgiveness and reconciliation."
—Wilma Ann Bailey, Associate Professor of Hebrew and Aramaic Scripture, Christian Theological Seminary

"In his vigorous attack on the killing state, Millard Lind moves away from rationalistic arguments against capital punishment, however useful they may be, toward a radically biblical approach that does not look for single texts but identifies a large movement of covenant law that sets forgiveness and love of neighbor over against all statist claims on human life. This may be the only ‘weapon’ that Christians have. Lind suggests it is the one that matters.
—Patrick D. Miller, Professor of Old Testament Theology, Princeton Theological Seminary

"Millard Lind takes on this challenge, but in an unusual way. He identifies key biblical themes, tracking them through both newer and older testaments, not shying away from difficult texts, weaving themes together into a whole cloth. Lind has been exploring biblical themes of justice and injustice, war and peace, for many years. As he suggests in his preface, this book is the culmination of a life of scholarly work, and an alternative to his memoirs. Knowing something about his life journey, I am sure his memoirs would have been interesting. This, however, may be a more significant contribution to one of the most pressing issues of our era."
—Howard Zehr, Professor of Sociology and Restorative Justice; Co-Director, Conflict Transformation Program, Eastern Mennonite University, in the Foreword

Sound of Sheer Silence orders:

• Cascadia Publishing House Online Order Form
• Cascadia, Herald Press, and other order options
• Online shopping basket card orders through Sound of Sheer Silence page, MennoLink Online Bookstore