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A review by davehershey
Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals by Shane Claiborne, Enuma Okoro, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove
4.0
This book gets four stars just for the scope - prayers for every single morning of the year! If you are wanting to get into the tradition of fixed hour prayer (there are also midday and evening prayers on a weekly rotation) this book could be a help.
Claiborne, and the other authors, are part of the New Monasticism, emphasizing discipleship to Jesus as entailing things like poverty and nonviolence. These emphases shine through, though they do bring in voices from all Christian traditions.
The only qualm is that some of the persons quoted (or not quoted) and events noted (or not noted) are questionable. On October 31 there is no mention of Reformation day or Martin Luther. I don't think this means they are anti-reformation as I recall quotes at times from other Reformers. Also, they note various historical events, some that do not paint the USA in a good light. This is not surprising as one of Claiborne's big themes is that all nations are imperfect, if not evil. But perhaps the anti-America bent too greatly colors, if not politicizes, the book. August 6th we read of the US bombing of Hiroshima, but on December 7th there is no mention of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
I think these are minor issues, which is why I still give the book four stars. The authors did an admirable job of compiling quotes and prayers from people throughout the wide breadth of the Christian tradition. I believe this book will enrich your prayer life and put you in communion with Christians who have gone before.
Claiborne, and the other authors, are part of the New Monasticism, emphasizing discipleship to Jesus as entailing things like poverty and nonviolence. These emphases shine through, though they do bring in voices from all Christian traditions.
The only qualm is that some of the persons quoted (or not quoted) and events noted (or not noted) are questionable. On October 31 there is no mention of Reformation day or Martin Luther. I don't think this means they are anti-reformation as I recall quotes at times from other Reformers. Also, they note various historical events, some that do not paint the USA in a good light. This is not surprising as one of Claiborne's big themes is that all nations are imperfect, if not evil. But perhaps the anti-America bent too greatly colors, if not politicizes, the book. August 6th we read of the US bombing of Hiroshima, but on December 7th there is no mention of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
I think these are minor issues, which is why I still give the book four stars. The authors did an admirable job of compiling quotes and prayers from people throughout the wide breadth of the Christian tradition. I believe this book will enrich your prayer life and put you in communion with Christians who have gone before.