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Liberty for All: Defending Everyone's Religious Freedom in a Pluralistic Age
2021 Book Award Winner, The Gospel Coalition (Public Theology & Current Events)
Christians are often thought of as defending only their own religious interests in the public square. They are viewed as worrying exclusively about the erosion of their freedom to assemble and to follow their convictions, while not seeming as concerned about publicly defending the rights of Muslims, Hindus, Jews, and atheists to do the same.
Andrew T. Walker, an emerging Southern Baptist public theologian, argues for a robust Christian ethic of religious liberty that helps the church defend religious freedom for everyone in a pluralistic society. Whether explicitly religious or not, says Walker, every person is striving to make sense of his or her life. The Christian foundations of religious freedom provide a framework for how Christians can navigate deep religious difference in a secular age. As we practice religious liberty for our neighbors, we can find civility and commonality amid disagreement, further the church's engagement in the public square, and become the strongest defenders of religious liberty for all. Foreword by noted Princeton scholar Robert P. George.
Christians are often thought of as defending only their own religious interests in the public square. They are viewed as worrying exclusively about the erosion of their freedom to assemble and to follow their convictions, while not seeming as concerned about publicly defending the rights of Muslims, Hindus, Jews, and atheists to do the same.
Andrew T. Walker, an emerging Southern Baptist public theologian, argues for a robust Christian ethic of religious liberty that helps the church defend religious freedom for everyone in a pluralistic society. Whether explicitly religious or not, says Walker, every person is striving to make sense of his or her life. The Christian foundations of religious freedom provide a framework for how Christians can navigate deep religious difference in a secular age. As we practice religious liberty for our neighbors, we can find civility and commonality amid disagreement, further the church's engagement in the public square, and become the strongest defenders of religious liberty for all. Foreword by noted Princeton scholar Robert P. George.
272 pages, Paperback
First published May 4, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 7, 2022
Liberty For All is a hugely important book. Pastors need to think carefully, biblically, and faithfully on the issue of religious liberty and I am not convinced that many have put much thought into it at all. Walker provides helpful wisdom that does not devolve into Christian nationalism. It is a serious book that is not light reading, but careful thinking on this issue demand sustained and nuanced thought.
June 5, 2021
Based.
February 13, 2022
This book is an excellent look at why Christians ought to be in favor of religious pluralism. And note, it is an argument for Christians, arguing from the basis of various loci of systematic theology. No unbeliever is going to be convinced by these claims, but such is not Walker's claim.
This is a recycled doctoral dissertation, so the text is not always clear as it could be. Walker's primary concern is freedom of conscience, rooted in man's being made in the image of God and vital for the evangelistic mission. Walker is coming at this from a Baptistic perspective, so some pieces of the argument, such as his conflation of infant baptism with nominalism, is more than unfortunate. But his overall argument stands, and must stand. Believers need to know why the NT mission is not a coercive one. Unfortunately this book won't equip them to make religious-freedom arguments in the public square, but it will inform and enforce their own proper understanding.
The only thing else I will say is that this book is in desperate need of an editor. Did Baker fire all of theirs? Nearly every page (no exaggeration) needs help.
This is a recycled doctoral dissertation, so the text is not always clear as it could be. Walker's primary concern is freedom of conscience, rooted in man's being made in the image of God and vital for the evangelistic mission. Walker is coming at this from a Baptistic perspective, so some pieces of the argument, such as his conflation of infant baptism with nominalism, is more than unfortunate. But his overall argument stands, and must stand. Believers need to know why the NT mission is not a coercive one. Unfortunately this book won't equip them to make religious-freedom arguments in the public square, but it will inform and enforce their own proper understanding.
The only thing else I will say is that this book is in desperate need of an editor. Did Baker fire all of theirs? Nearly every page (no exaggeration) needs help.
May 26, 2021
As illiberal approaches to politics become more attractive for Christians frustrated with present cultural pathologies, Walker’s book is a timely reminder that the interior logic of the gospel favors a civic order which is committed to the common good while leaving room for members of the body politic to exist together in society without a requirement of any shared religious or metaphysical commitments.
Christians should advocate for this arrangement out of the conviction that Jesus is Lord of the conscience and will not judge man for his unbelief until the last day. Therefore, human governments do not possess the jurisdiction to adjudicate what ultimately belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ. As human beings distinctively bear God’s image, they should be allowed to grapple with truth claims with a conscience that is free of state coercion.
Finally, according to Walker, this arrangement should upheld by Christians, since religious liberty provides conditions that are conducive to the Church fulfilling the Great Commission. Walker undoubtedly affirms that the Gospel can advance in any politics climate, but Christians ought to favor a modus vivendi that is free from external impediments to Christian witness and that is antithetical to the common good.
Christians should advocate for this arrangement out of the conviction that Jesus is Lord of the conscience and will not judge man for his unbelief until the last day. Therefore, human governments do not possess the jurisdiction to adjudicate what ultimately belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ. As human beings distinctively bear God’s image, they should be allowed to grapple with truth claims with a conscience that is free of state coercion.
Finally, according to Walker, this arrangement should upheld by Christians, since religious liberty provides conditions that are conducive to the Church fulfilling the Great Commission. Walker undoubtedly affirms that the Gospel can advance in any politics climate, but Christians ought to favor a modus vivendi that is free from external impediments to Christian witness and that is antithetical to the common good.
March 28, 2022
This is an important book with the goal of spelling out the importances of religious freedom from a Christian perspective. One of the main principles Walker applies to point to the importance of religious freedom is imago dei (humans being made in the image of God), and therefore all humans having dignity and rights to worship according to their consciences, insofar that their consciences and their beliefs don’t harm others or harm the greater good of society according to natural law. The author also looks at the idea and downfalls of a government-mandated religion, and points out that situations like that can be an act of coercion, and as believers we are to persuade others to come to a decision of what they will worship (of course also affirming God’s sovereignty and the work of the Holy Spirit regenerating hearts). The Christian’s mission to share the gospel is depicted as thriving most in a society embracing religious liberty, where people are free to worship what they want with the ultimate judgement of Christ looming on what people choose. Baptists (among others) should resonate with this book given their convictions on polity, religious persecution throughout church history, and their emphasis on the significance of the local church.
I enjoyed the book, but I give it 3 stars because it was very repetitive. Do I think the work is important and thought provoking? Yes! But I think the message could’ve been conveyed in much less content, and therefore more worthwhile of a read, even despite this being a summation of the author’s dissertation. I think natural law also could’ve been discussed a little bit more, especially given religions we’ve seen break natural law in the present day and the harm that does to the idea of religious liberty. Overall, I’m thankful to live in a country where we are currently able to worship freely, and I think this is something that is important for Christian’s to consider. We ought to be watchful and prayerful that the Lord would preserve us, while being thankful in the present for any freedoms that we do get to enjoy.
I enjoyed the book, but I give it 3 stars because it was very repetitive. Do I think the work is important and thought provoking? Yes! But I think the message could’ve been conveyed in much less content, and therefore more worthwhile of a read, even despite this being a summation of the author’s dissertation. I think natural law also could’ve been discussed a little bit more, especially given religions we’ve seen break natural law in the present day and the harm that does to the idea of religious liberty. Overall, I’m thankful to live in a country where we are currently able to worship freely, and I think this is something that is important for Christian’s to consider. We ought to be watchful and prayerful that the Lord would preserve us, while being thankful in the present for any freedoms that we do get to enjoy.
August 29, 2022
Best book I've read in the last five years. I'm passionate about this topic and have searched for a clear manifesto on it.
Liberty in the Things of God by Robert Louis Wilken provides a solid survey of Christian statements on religious liberty going back to the church fathers, but it doesn't ground anything in theology.
This book does that.
Church-state separation is a deeply Christian idea. It's not something invented by modern secular liberals to diminish the influence of religion in culture. It was developed by Christians to create an environment most conducive to sincere faith. God is Lord of the conscience. Sincere faith cannot be coerced. In this time between, before Christ returns, it serves the interest of Christian mission for people to be allowed the space to seek truth.
This is important today. Some American Christians, exasperated with the confusion of modern culture, are placing their hope in increasingly illiberal approaches to religious freedom. I think "Christian nationalism" is a very overused term - merely being Christian, politically right leaning, and letting your values inform your political opinions is decidedly not Christian nationalism. However, there is no doubt that some people have truly fallen for it, and they need to read this book.
Liberty in the Things of God by Robert Louis Wilken provides a solid survey of Christian statements on religious liberty going back to the church fathers, but it doesn't ground anything in theology.
This book does that.
Church-state separation is a deeply Christian idea. It's not something invented by modern secular liberals to diminish the influence of religion in culture. It was developed by Christians to create an environment most conducive to sincere faith. God is Lord of the conscience. Sincere faith cannot be coerced. In this time between, before Christ returns, it serves the interest of Christian mission for people to be allowed the space to seek truth.
This is important today. Some American Christians, exasperated with the confusion of modern culture, are placing their hope in increasingly illiberal approaches to religious freedom. I think "Christian nationalism" is a very overused term - merely being Christian, politically right leaning, and letting your values inform your political opinions is decidedly not Christian nationalism. However, there is no doubt that some people have truly fallen for it, and they need to read this book.
January 13, 2023
This book from my understanding is a somewhat pioneer piece in the realm of Christian Ethics thus making it a very interesting read. Through advocating religious liberty in the state the church will have a more impactful witness for the Gospel. Walker is very comprehensive in his advocacy for religious liberty and I think makes a very strong case for allowing pluralism in this “penultimate era”. This book frequently comes to the conclusion that the state is not our ultimate authority, and should not appear to us as our ultimate authority. A challenging read, but nonetheless a goodread.
“Nothing is to stand between the individual and God, not the state or the family.”
“Nothing is to stand between the individual and God, not the state or the family.”
August 2, 2021
Dr. Walker does an excellent job writing in an academic area that is largely untouched by scholarly comprehensive works. He shows clearly that religious liberty is a worthwhile political ethic for all individuals to hold while also showing the Baptist roots for religious liberty.
February 16, 2024
This is a pretty difficult book to rate because it is all over the place. Some parts were pretty good and others were just really, really bad. Religious pluralism, to begin with, is something all Christians affirm to some degree. We aren’t burning down mosques, silencing false prophets in the public square, blockading Mormons from entering our towns, etc. And so we are pluralistic by default. But what Walker is establishing is that the default position is the correct position and this extends into the legislature as well in terms of what laws we should want passed, what infringements on religious liberty we should want allowed, and to essentially give to other religions that freedom that we should want for ourselves.
Walker was my Ethics professor in Seminary and we spoke briefly about this book a year or so before it was released. My biggest issue with it, especially as an American Christian, is that we must at some level pick between the first commandment and the first amendment. They do not coexist. Nowhere in Scripture do we find Christ among many gods. Dagon bows to him, Baal is powerless before him, and His face is set against Molech. There is no plurality of gods and there should be no plurality of religions. I don’t see how or why this argument could be made from a Biblical standpoint without severely exposing the truth of Scripture to scorn. If this is all true, and it is, the really interesting book that should have been written is to discuss what it looks like for a Christian who is does not affirm religious freedom to live in a pluralistic age that does affirm religious freedom. In other words, let’s revisit Acts 17 and ask how Paul was being faithful among those who thrived in religious freedom (unless that freedom was given to Christians).
Walker was my Ethics professor in Seminary and we spoke briefly about this book a year or so before it was released. My biggest issue with it, especially as an American Christian, is that we must at some level pick between the first commandment and the first amendment. They do not coexist. Nowhere in Scripture do we find Christ among many gods. Dagon bows to him, Baal is powerless before him, and His face is set against Molech. There is no plurality of gods and there should be no plurality of religions. I don’t see how or why this argument could be made from a Biblical standpoint without severely exposing the truth of Scripture to scorn. If this is all true, and it is, the really interesting book that should have been written is to discuss what it looks like for a Christian who is does not affirm religious freedom to live in a pluralistic age that does affirm religious freedom. In other words, let’s revisit Acts 17 and ask how Paul was being faithful among those who thrived in religious freedom (unless that freedom was given to Christians).
September 27, 2023
In the western world, freedom is like the air we breath. We only seem to recognize it’s importance as it is taken away. In this work, Andrew Walker writes to show that religious freedom isn’t a mere practical invention but grounded in a Christian understanding of eschatology, anthropology, and missions. In other words, Walker attempts to get to the theological roots of religious liberty.
At times, Walker’s argumentation and writing abound with brilliance and insight. Unfortunately at other times, the book is cumbersome and overly wordy without being overly clear. While I take almost no qualms with the ideas of the book, the execution can be found to be lacking. In this readers opinion, cutting out half the work and most of the quotes would serve this book well.
This all said, the work’s ideas are certainly worth considering if one has the fortitude to climb through some literary brambles. In the end, the book shows the theological foundations behind Oliver Cromwell’s (1599-1658) claim that “he had rather that Mahometanism were permitted amongst us than that one of God’s children should be persecuted.” Considering the now seemingly weekly issues of religious freedom being addressed by the Supreme Court, the ideas contain within the book are as relevant as ever.
At times, Walker’s argumentation and writing abound with brilliance and insight. Unfortunately at other times, the book is cumbersome and overly wordy without being overly clear. While I take almost no qualms with the ideas of the book, the execution can be found to be lacking. In this readers opinion, cutting out half the work and most of the quotes would serve this book well.
This all said, the work’s ideas are certainly worth considering if one has the fortitude to climb through some literary brambles. In the end, the book shows the theological foundations behind Oliver Cromwell’s (1599-1658) claim that “he had rather that Mahometanism were permitted amongst us than that one of God’s children should be persecuted.” Considering the now seemingly weekly issues of religious freedom being addressed by the Supreme Court, the ideas contain within the book are as relevant as ever.
April 24, 2021
This book was totally not what I expected in the best way possible. I expected a telling of how the government has recently encroached on religious liberty and an argument on how Christians should resist. Liberty for All rises above the cultural moment and takes on religious liberty from a deeply theological and philosophical perspective.
I've been following Walker on twitter for awhile, and while I knew he was smart, I did not know he was this brilliant of a writer. Walker argues that religious liberty for all, not just those who agree with us, is something all Christians should be advocating for. More than just maintaining cultural power, religious liberty is a social good for the advancement of societies.
This book is not for the faint of heart- it's deeply intellectual compared to much of the writings today, but is incredibly rewarding for the careful reader. I walked away moved, inspired, and overall better for reading this book. This should be mandatory for Christians who want to engage in the socio-political arena.
I've been following Walker on twitter for awhile, and while I knew he was smart, I did not know he was this brilliant of a writer. Walker argues that religious liberty for all, not just those who agree with us, is something all Christians should be advocating for. More than just maintaining cultural power, religious liberty is a social good for the advancement of societies.
This book is not for the faint of heart- it's deeply intellectual compared to much of the writings today, but is incredibly rewarding for the careful reader. I walked away moved, inspired, and overall better for reading this book. This should be mandatory for Christians who want to engage in the socio-political arena.
July 7, 2021
Religious liberty is one of those things that we all say is incredibly important, but we do not always have the vocabulary to talk about adequately and Christianly. This book helps fill that gap quite nicely. Walker divides his book into three main sections: eschatology, anthropology, and missiology. Personally, I was particularly intrigued by the middle section on anthropology which, in summary, argues that religious liberty is actually consistent with not just our legal conventions in America but our human nature. I think that is a powerful argument for why we need to defend the God-given faculty of all to worship. Some people will utilize but faculty wrongly, but that does not justify the restriction of the God-given faculty that is intrinsic to our nature.
There is much in this book that will be debated. However, I think it is a powerful defense of religious liberty, and it is certainly worth your time to read.
There is much in this book that will be debated. However, I think it is a powerful defense of religious liberty, and it is certainly worth your time to read.
April 5, 2022
An argument for why Christians ought to be for religious liberty grounded in biblical theology (eschatology, anthropology, and mission) rather than the enlightenment.
God has reserved for himself the right to execute judgement over the consciences of individuals.
God’s response in this penultimate age is non-coercive.
Biblical anthropology and mission leads to a principle of “contestability.”
God has reserved for himself the right to execute judgement over the consciences of individuals.
God’s response in this penultimate age is non-coercive.
Biblical anthropology and mission leads to a principle of “contestability.”
March 31, 2022
I struggled with the prose. I couldn’t tell if it was too repetitive or if he was piling up too many supporting citations. The argument seemed simple enough, such that I was surprised I struggled to maintain his thought at times.
June 10, 2022
I think this was an excellent read and certainly explains Christian ethics using the dynamics of real social issues today. I'm working on a thesis on the subject and this author will be certainly be given credit for the argument.
June 6, 2021
Must-read for any Christian who cares about public policy.
October 23, 2021
Fantastic book that roots religious liberty in a biblical theological framework. It does not diminish the church’s ultimate mission or the common good of the state.
December 15, 2021
First defense of religious liberty that I have read. Glad I did, it gives me a broader respect for that freedom for all people and the undergirding Biblical framework.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews