Publishers Weekly
05/01/2023
Pinn (Interplay of Things), a professor of religion at Rice University, and Braxton (Open), a pastor and professor of public theology at Chicago Theological Seminary, explore their “deep differences” regarding an array of moral and social issues in this open-minded offering. Structured as a dialogue between Braxton, a Christian, and Pinn, a secular humanist, the authors aim to “expose the assumptions undergirding” the arguments of both traditions while envisioning a better, more just world. Topics of discussion include the Black Lives Matter movement, whether suffering can be redemptive, and Black “nones”—the “growing group of religiously unaffiliated people”—whose close commitment to social justice work, Pinn opines, “raises questions concerning the... meaning of religiosity as a guiding orientation for ‘good’ living.” Elsewhere, the two tackle the role of hope in social movements (Braxton considers it essential, while Pinn advocates instead an attitude of resistance), and religion’s place in public life (Braxton views religious communities as key drivers of social change, whether they’re registering voters or supporting climate change initiatives; Pinn calls for a “public arena that... doesn’t privilege the claims of any particular faith”). The authors’ obvious rapport keeps the conversation from lagging despite its theological heft, and their rejection of “Pollyannish call” for simple agreement is appealing. This gives readers a lot to chew on. (July)
From the Publisher
This book should help many people find fresh ways to navigate issues of disagreement with others.”
—Spirituality & Practice
“This illuminating conversation between a Black Christian theologian and a Black atheist is a seminal text in the emerging field of Black interfaith studies. It is a beautiful model of how to constructively engage on matters of fundamental disagreement even while strengthening collaboration on issues of mutual concern.”
—Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith America and author of We Need to Build: Field Notes for Diverse Democracy
“Professors Braxton and Pinn remind us that dialogue between people shaped by and holding diverse, if not disparate, worldviews and life experiences is critical for the well-being of both the body and the spirit, and that such engagement must be based not on the goal of uniformity but on appreciation and affirmation of the differences and distinctions that make us who we truly are. This seminal work is a primer for leaders in all sectors committed to strategically engaging, with ‘curiosity, humility, and respect,’ the seemingly entrenched and immutable conflicts, disagreements, and divisions that characterize so much of today”s society.”
—David Leslie, executive director, Rothko Chapel
“Brad Braxton and Anthony Pinn model the honest questioning, clear articulation of ideas, and willingness to remain engaged needed to move beyond the theist/nontheist divide in search of a shared purpose. A Master Class on Being Human is a call to theists and nontheists alike to bring the best of their resources forward to resist the forces that threaten our shared humanity and existence.”
—Elías Ortega, president, Meadville Lombard Theological School
“Reading A Master Class on Being Human was like an invitation to eavesdrop on two friends in probing and intimate conversation. It is a salve for anyone exhausted by polarization and domination, and a reminder that difference can be a source of connection rather than something to be extinguished.”
—Brie Loskota, executive director, Martin Marty Center for the Public Understanding of Religion, University of Chicago
“We know that avoiding discomfort won’t make us whole and that shutting down disagreement prevents us from growing. But what we don’t know is how to take on these difficult challenges. A Master Class on Being Human helps us answer this critical question, both by sharing profound insights on how we can live in this world together and by modeling how we have meaningful conversations with people who don’t always agree with us.”
—Simran Jeet Singh, author of The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life
