Justice That Heals: A Biblical Vision for Victims and Offenders

by Arthur Paul Boers

Overview

How do we deal with crime? It is inescapable. Since 1960, crime in the U.S. has increased 500% while the population has grown by only 41%. What is our responsibility to the victim and the offender? What is the Christian response? Explore the inadequacies of North American criminal justice systems and discover the alternative the Bible has to offer. Listen to stories of those involved in the system and from those pursuing a more "restorative justice." Hear clearly God's words of hope, challenge, and counsel.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781725221604
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	02/01/2008
Series:	Restorative Justice Classics Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	176
File size:	66 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Arthur Paul Boers teaches pastoral theology at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. A Mennonite minister and Benedictine oblate, he has pastored in rural and urban settings in the U.S. and Canada. The author of six books, his degrees include the following: DMin, MTh in Pastoral Counseling, MDiv, and an MA in Peace Studies. Boers, a Canadian, is the oldest child of Dutch immigrants. He and spouse Lorna McDougall are the parents of two young adults.
Arthur Paul Boers teaches pastoral theology at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. A Mennonite minister and Benedictine oblate, he has pastored in rural and urban settings in the U.S. and Canada. The author of six books, his degrees include the following: DMin, MTh in Pastoral Counseling, MDiv, and an MA in Peace Studies. Boers, a Canadian, is the oldest child of Dutch immigrants. He and spouse Lorna McDougall are the parents of two young adults.

Table of Contents

Dedication
Acknowledgements
Introduction     1
Who Is My Neighbor?: The Anguish of Victims     4
Just Another Burglary
Consequences of Victimization
How the System Fails the Victim
For Discussion
Aids to Reflection
Restoration or Retribution?: The Anguish of Offenders     17
The Criminal Who Didn't Belong in Prison
The Failure of Old Answers
An Alternative to Retribution
For Discussion
Aids to Reflection
From Eye for Eye to Steadfast Love: Justice in the Old Testament     29
Where Should Killers Go?
Does the Bible Mandate Revenge?
God's Justice Versus Society's Justice
Justice in the Old Testament
For Discussion
Aids to Reflection
A Wideness in God's Mercy: Justice in the New Testament     40
Costly Errors, Costly Reconciliation
Whatever Happened to Just Desserts?
The State and the Sword
Be Reconciled to God
For Discussion
Aids to Reflection
What's So Good About Blind Justice?: The Purpose of Law     53
Just the Facts, Ma'am
The Letter or the Spirit of the Law?
Justice: Retribution or Distribution?
For Some, Crime Pays Well
Retaliation or Restoration?
The Need for Restoration and Reconciliation
For Discussion
Aids to Reflection
Am I My Brother's Jailkeeper?: A Critique of Imprisonment     66
Life Sentence
What John's Experience Taught Us
The Failure of Prisons
The Offender as Victim
For Discussion
Aids to Reflection
Can Prisons Be Made to Work?: Humanizing Imprisonment, CreatingAlternatives     77
What Can Be Done About Prisons?
The Limits of Reform
Alternatives to Prison
For Discussion
Aids to Reflection
Liberty to the Captives: Restorative Responses to Victims and Offenders     88
What Then Do Victims Need?
Making Offenders Accountable
Case Study: Victim Offender Reconciliation Group
Case Study: Teaching Peace in Prison
Restitution Versus Imprisonment
Restoring Offenders
For Discussion
Aids to Reflection
The Restorative Justice Vision: What Can Christians Do?     103
Whose Side Are You On?
The Hazards of Involvement
The Media's Message
Analyzing the Media's Treatment of Crime
What Can We Do?
For Discussion
Aids to Reflection
Epilogue     115
Leader's Guide     119
Resources     154
About the Author     166