In light of the controversy around the Israeli-Gaza War, and the current student protests on universities against it, this book is a timely read for those troubled by War and want to consider what should be a Christian's response to it from a biblical perspective. Eric Patterson, Ph.D. is Executive Vice President of the Religious Freedom Institute in Washington D.C. He is also the scholar-at-large and the former dean of the Robertson School of Government at Regent University. His research and teaching focus on religion and politics, ethics and international affairs, and just-war theory in the context of contemporary conflict. Patterson previously taught at Georgetown University and has extensive government experience, including service as a White House Fellow and special assistant to the director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, two stints in the State Department’s Bureau of Political and Military Affairs, and ongoing service as an officer and commander in the Air National Guard. Patterson has spoken to many government audiences such as the French Department of Defense, U.S. Military Academy (West Point), the U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis), the Armed Forces Chaplains Center, National Defense University, the Pentagon, the Naval Postgraduate School, the Foreign Service Institute, and other government venues. He is the author or editor of fourteen books, including Just War and Christian Traditions (with J. Daryl Charles, forthcoming 2020), Ending Wars Well: Just War Thinking and Post-Conflict, and Ethics Beyond War’s End (Georgetown University Press, 2012.) He has also edited two volumes on Christian realism and has been published in numerous journals including Survival, International Studies Perspectives, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, International Politics, Journal of Diplomacy and International Affairs, and Journal of Political Science, among others. The book provides a survey of the issues surrounding the topic of War, the theological development in response to these issues over nearly two thousand years and the practice of Just War thinking in including its application in the Crusades, American War of Independence, civil disobedience in Nazi Germany, USA in the 60s, Jihad in Afghanistan and the Middle East, the ELN in Colombia. For many Christians they will feel conflicted over scriptures such as to love one's enemies and to turn the other cheek, against a commonsense requirement for self-defense. Patterson resolves this elegantly through his explanation of Romans 12 and 13. Based on Romans 13 one can see that Israel must protect its vulnerable, punish wrongdoing and deter further wrongdoing. This book also covers the need to show restraint in the conduct of war and the thinking behind this is well laid out. In particular, the particular factors that a commander in the field must take into account define whether international law is breached. Clearly, it is impossible for an external observer to decide guilt or innocence without a detailed investigation of those specific factors and circumstances. All in all the book is effective as an introduction to the subject, and gives the reader a good platform to consider contemporary conflicts such as the current Israeli-Gaza War and is highly recommended.

A thought provoking read. Piper seeks to rationalise the Coronavirus Pandemic with respect to the idea of God's sovereignty; i.e. that God is in charge of everything, and that nothing happens unless God allows it. I suspect what a reader will think of this book will depend on how much the reader holds to this idea. Some people think that once God created the Universe, he left it to its own devices. Others believe that God For example, continues to intervene in human affairs, with or without breaking the laws of physics. Those looking for something that deals specifically about how to reconcile the biblical aspects of the pandemic and the science of the pandemic will need to think deeply as it isn't explicitly addressed but can be inferred from a philosophical viewpoint. Many who don't believe in collective responsibility but only individual responsibility will find Piper's treatment of sovereignty troubling. For example, how can the "innocent" be punished for the sins of others? Piper's arguments can be applied to all suffering. Definitely worth reading for those who are wondering how to put the current pandemic into perspective. It may raise more questions for the reader than answers but it will certainly help develop one's thinking.