Book Review

Exploring the sweep of history for an answer: 'Why war?'

Culture
May 23, 2012

THE ORIGINS OF WAR: A CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVE
By Matthew A. Shadle
Published by Georgetown University Press, $29.95

Hanging in the Jonah House living room in Baltimore is an icon of Ben Salmon by Bill McNichols. Salmon refused induction into World War I and was sentenced to death, a sentence later commuted to 20 years. He non-cooperated each step of the way and was released after about four years. I look at the icon and remember Salmon’s words: “Either Jesus was a liar or war is never necessary!” Reading The Origins of War, I thought a lot about Salmon.

Book Review

A lifetime haunted by the bomb

Culture
Feb 29, 2012

BEYOND THE MUSHROOM CLOUD: COMMEMORATION, RELIGION, AND RESPONSIBILITY AFTER HIROSHIMA
By Yuki Miyamoto
Published by Fordham University Press, $26

It is rare to read a book that brings under scrutiny so many significant moments of one’s life. Beyond the Mushroom Cloud did just that, taking me back to my 5-year-old self, standing at the entrance to the altar with my twin on Aug. 4, 1945 -- two days before the bombing of Hiroshima, Japan -- flower girls at a cousin’s wedding.

Book Review

Principles collapse when victory is the goal

Culture
Jun 29, 2011

THE VIOLENCE OF PEACE: AMERICA’S WARS IN THE AGE OF OBAMA
By Stephen L. Carter
Published by Beast Books, $24.99

This was not an easy book for me to read; it is not an easy book for me to review. The author, Stephen L. Carter, is the William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Law at Yale University, where he has taught since 1982. Among his courses are law and religion and the ethics of war.