God and Guns, edited by C.L. Crouch, isn't a perfect book, but is an important and very readable one. In general, I read historical fiction, mysteries, and magical realism—but I also have a fondness for theology, especially the history of the early Christian church and the ways in which the church is responding to the violence and hatred of the time we're living in. Thus, God and Guns.

This title is the result of a conference considering that same question that was held in Pasadena (oh, that I had known of it beforehand so I could have attended). In the essays gathered here, a diverse group of theologians each try to use careful examination of canonical texts to determine what message, if any, the Bible has for us regarding the ownership and use of guns.

Gun ownership and use, of course, are highly contentious issues, but the ethical wrestling here feels both sincere and thoughtful. Each essay takes its own approach, but the central argument of this collection amounts to "can you truly love others, all others, in a Christ-like way when you are prepared to end the life of any one of those others at a moment's notice?"

I don't know that this book is going to change the minds of believers who feel a need to be armed in order to face our times, but it does invite thoughtful reflection of a kind I find particularly valuable. Soul-searching, whether Christian or not, whether contextualized in a specific faith or not, can be a deeply rewarding way to spend one's reading time.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via EdelweissPlus; the opinions are my own. ( )