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| The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical | 
 enlarge | Author: Shane Claiborne
Publisher: Zondervan
Category: Book
List Price: $14.99
Buy New: $8.00
You Save: $6.99 (47%)
New (37) Used (21) Collectible (1) from $6.15
Avg. Customer Rating:  141 reviews
Sales Rank: 1609
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 368
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5 x 0.9
ISBN: 0310266300
Dewey Decimal Number: 277.3083092
EAN: 9780310266303
Publication Date: February 1, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Critique from the Left December 5, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Unlike many of the people who are trashing this book because they are conservatives who are irate about or befuddled by Shane's left-leaning theology, my problems come from the left. In fact the conservative reviews have all been quite absurd; Shane does not despise the rich and can't mention enough times that he knows and works with wealthy people. They also seem to forget the stern rebukes Jesus sometimes had for those in his company, and that the one time he himself actually resorted to violence was to drive the money changers out of the temple (I always loved the history channel documentaries where they depict an angry Jesus flipping over tables). I guess if Shane and others like him get a little angry at modern day consumerism, they have a terrible role model to blame for that.
If Shane has contempt for anyone it is middle-class America, and I share that contempt. My main criticism is that while Shane clearly has an understanding that the problems of America and the global economy are systemic and structural, he a) does not offer anything a detailed account of his own perspective on these problems beyond the passing observation and b) seems to think that repeatedly invoking "love" is going to solve the problem.
To put it another way Shane and his comrades are Christian versions of the anarchists, at least in method - particularly a non-violent "propaganda of the deed" approach to social transformation. As the infamous Ward Churchill and others have convincingly argued, the supposed successes of non-violent civil disobedience are spurious at best, concurrent with violent movements that also forced governments to react. Does this mean the only solution is violence? Not necessarily. But the categorical exclusion of a whole range of tactics - non-violence - is a recipe for certain failure. Some believe that the ends do not justify the means. I say that if the appropriate means are neglected you may as well not have ends at all.
Of course Christ changed a great deal and established a new covenant with man, but I can't forget that the God of the old testament is a warrior. He sees evil and points his chosen people towards it with a sword.
Finally for the touchy conservatives who cry about the hurt feelings of wealthy Americans, allow me to quote the Book of Wisdom, chapter 6, verses 6-8:
"For the lowly may be pardoned out of mercy but the mighty shall be mightily put to the test. For the Lord of all shows no partiality, nor does he fear greatness, Because he himself made the great as well as the small, and he provides for all alike; but for those in power a rigorous scrutiny impends."
If God has different standards for the lowly and the mighty, so must we.
 Incredibly convicting to any Christian November 29, 2008
This book truly made an already bleeding heart yearn for true justice in this world, realizing that recognition is not enough. The real gospel is one of action and bringing the kingdom of heaven to earth, as Christ intended. Claiborne will rock your world, because this brother has a story to back it up!
Wow November 9, 2008
Amazing book. A must read for any Christian who has felt closeted by the cultures depiction of Christians as violent, intolerant, elitists. For those of us who know there is another way to be a Christian that includes living nonviolence in all areas of our lives and really taking seriously Christ's tendency to hang with the poor and outcasts in our society. Makes the reader question their relationship to class and economic systems.
"The words of late Catholic bishop Dom Hleder Camara: 'When I fed the hungry, they called me a saint. When I asked why people are hungry, they called me a communist.' Charity wins awards and applause, but joining the poor gets you killed." -- Page 129
Read with an open mind... November 4, 2008
This is not a book written by a professor of theology or an award winning author. It is written by a regular person, like you or me, who discovered that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a "pearl of great value" and took the next step and sold everything he owned to buy it.
Aside from being a very thought-provoking book, Irresistable Revolution has special value to me because it inspired me to take a step of faith and use my professional skills on a short term mission trip. I am the first admit that I am a "crawling" Christian, but it is my opinion that the only way to truly grow spiritually is by living out your faith serving those in need.
Shane should not be praised for being an extrodinary Christian. He should just be taken as an excellent lesson in the way that we are called to live. Even if you disagree with large sections of this book (as many reviewers have), you should definately read it for its shining example of the amazing things that can be done through you if you let your life be lead by Christ.
Someone who hears the message of Jesus in his heart November 3, 2008
Shane hears what Jesus says clearly and is putting it to work in the world. He is challenging others to live, love, stop war, share with the poor. He is inpsired to try to build a new culture inside the old. I love it. I am with him. It is time to change the old paradigm of getting ahead, by living in competition, hoarding resources, and dropping bombs on people for whatever reason. As he says quoting Ghandi: There is enough for everyones need but not for everyones greed. Peace and jam on brother!
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