Increasing Multicultural Understanding; Third Edition provides the necessary tools to foster positive and productive relationships among culturally diverse populations. Authors Don C. Locke and Deryl F. Bailey encourage readers to explore their own cultural background and identity; and in the process; begin to better understand others. A best-seller in the first and second editions; this revised and expanded third edition continues to present its classic framework for critical observation with at least 10 elements; including: the history of oppression; religious practices; family structure; degree of acculturation; poverty; language and the arts; racism and prejudice; sociopolitical factors; child-rearing practices; and values and attitudes.
#384145 in Books 2009-12-21Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.08 x .65 x 6.08l; .88 #File Name: 1405199695268 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A Refreshing new voice in Christian Theological EthicsBy JBRBretherton's book weaves together previously published essays and new material into a whole. After the introduction and first chapter on issues regarding church-state-welfare partnership; Bretheron examines a different aspect of human community: local; national; and global. What is so refreshing about this work is the way that Bretherton combines theology; social theory; sociology; and case studies into a powerful work of Christian theological ethics While there is a bid of unevenness between chapters (especially the move from chapter 1 to the rest of the book); the chapter on aslyum seekers and the Church's call to hallow bare life is worth the price of the book. Bretheron's book is an important one and I look forward to more contributions from this younger scholar.0 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Supposed to be an important book on the subject; but not an enjoyable read.By sororitysisThis was required reading for a Religion and Politics class in seminary. It was a hard row to hoe. And I've plowed through Augustine; Aquinas; Moltmann and others. I found the writing verbose and get ready for run on sentences. If you've got the option; skip it.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. A Wonderful Synthesis of Leading Theo-Political ThoughtBy Johnny WalkerSure enough; Luke Bretherton's Christianity and Contemporary Politics has much to offer Christians seeking proper answers to questions of political policy; however; the primary significance of this book lies not in its response to particular political challenges - even pressing ones - but rather in its way of framing and exercising a faithful and robust Christian theopolitical vision.Thus; the introduction; in which he draws up his theopolitical approach; in many ways serves as the crux of the work. All that follows - his discussion of Church-state relations; community organizing; asylum; and fair trade - functions as an outworking of the vision cast in the opening pages.The brilliance of Bretherton's account is his compelling synthesis of a host of fruitful; though often divergent; strands of contemporary political theology. He is an able and appreciative interpreter of Hauerwas; Yoder; and Cavanaugh; while also offering charitable engagements with Radical Orthodoxy (mainly John Milbank) and Oliver O'Donovan. Additionally; Hannah Arendt; Alasdair MacIntyre; and Dietrich Bonhoeffer play key roles in his account.The backbone of his theological politics; though; perhaps rest most fully in St. Augustine and his Two Cities schema; being that it plays a determinative; governing role throughout the whole of the work. Thus; Bretherton joins the ever-increasing ranks of political Augustinians.Of course; the history of Augustine's reception proves that that might not mean much (consider that Neibhur; Jean-Bethke Elshtain; Milbank; and Cavanaugh all lay claim to Augustine's authority). So we might ask which Augustine Bretherton has been reading. It seems to be the Augustine of Eric Gregory's Politics and the Order of Love; and perhaps Cavanaugh's Migrations of the Holy. In other words; the right Augustine - if I'm permitted to make such a bombastic claim!There is much that is laudable in Bretherton's volume; though; I consider one of his most timely and important contributions to be his warning about our constructed narratives of modernity; for no doubt; they have played crucial roles in much of late-modern ecclesial political thinking. He writes; in a consciously Augustinian mode; that "we are neither falling from a golden age nor are we locked inot a historically deterministic process of inevitable change in one direction;" as such; "faithful political witness must reject overly deterministic declension or ascension narratives about the nature of political life" (p. 10). I think this is exactly right; and; in fact; that's why I so commend Ephraim Radner's A Brutal Unity; for it represents just the kind of chastened account of modernity that Bretherton advocates.Due to his resisting these simple accounts; Bretherton is able to be both a forceful critic of liberalism (as the main product of modernity) and a cautious; though; grateful recipient of its gifts.There is so much to be said about this volume. It has a thickness and density that demands multiple readings. Bretherton has really done a great service to the Church in helping her think through what it means to live faithfully in the in-between of Christ two comings; as resident aliens awaiting the restoration of all things. And that is a crucial point. This a book for the Church. It is a churchly; theological politics - with all the particularlity that that implies.Bretherton's Christianity and Contemporary Politics certainly lays claim to be one of the best books in recent years for those seeking to tread the tricky path of late-modern politics.NOTE: This book was provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
