"Faith in Society" by Anthony Bradley. A Review

 

It wasn’t the book I expected. I was thinking it was going to be historical retellings of events in Christian history. Instead, I was surprised with “Faith in Society: 13 Profiles of Christians Adding Value to Modern Society” being a book for High School and College students as they consider their future vocations. Anthony Bradley, professor of religious studies and Director of the Center for the Study of Human Flourishing at the King’s College in New York City, has pulled together thirteen short essays that challenge the notion that Christians can primarily do “Kingdom work” only in secular institutions and contexts, and show how they can actually make important inroads into our world by working in Christian contexts. The overall point of the book is to help teenage and college Christians think through how they can employ their faith and their degrees, and bring both together into the contexts of business, technology, politics, literature, and more. This is quite a useful manuscript, a short 64-page softback, for young adults as they ponder their future and directions.

 

Bradley takes the time to give short, well written, examples of how Christians have joined with other Christians to employ their skills and faith in various vocational settings. The material leans toward Christian-owned business and agencies, such as Praxis Labs, or Humble Beast Records, or explicitly Christian organizations such as Magic Lantern Pictures, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, International Justice Mission, or the Acton Institute.

 

At the end of each short chapter, the author has a “Majors That Get You Here” section. For example, under the topic of “Religion and Technology” he has identified majors and minors. Religious studies with minors in innovations, or technology, or design, along with computer-specific studies. Or under journalism he lists religious studies as a major with minors in journalism, communications, political science, English, or international relations. When I got to these sections I had to chuckle because Bradley, a professor of religious studies, is promoting the value of his field in all areas of emphasis. It was quite a good move on his part.

 

The book presents these thirteen profiles, not as an exhaustive list but as a sample. With a bit of thought and reflection, a young scholar can begin to see that the sky’s the limit! Bradley wants young adults to see that “college majors don’t equal jobs and colleges are not merely job training centers.” Rather, he is pushing for them to stretch themselves and “see new things about God’s world” through their various studies, both majors and minors, and to trust that “God will place you where you’re needed” (41). I highly recommend the work for parents and young adults.

 

My thanks to Wipf and Stock for sending me an electronic version of the book. I requested a physical copy, but because I don’t have 1,000 followers on my blog they declined. Nevertheless, they happily sent a .pdf version and made no demands. Thus, this review is freely made and freely given.

For Black History Month 2023 I read three books by black authors. You can see my reviews of the others at: Michael Fortner "Black Silent Majority" and Wilfred Reilly "Hate Crime Hoax."