God Is Not a Christian

April 1, 2011
Drawing mostly from public utterances by Tutu, South Africas Nobel Peace Prize laureate, his biographer (Rabble-Rouser for Peace, 2006) creates an ideal calling card for this magnificent apostle of peace and fellowship. The selections span four decades of Tutus advocacy for tolerance, justice, and forgiveness, and Allen presents them in sections concerned with, respectively, inclusiveness in religion and society, freedom from political oppression, economic and racial injustice, and the exercise of power. Specific topics include interfaith respect, gay and lesbian religious and social equality, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the necessity of black theology, Christian involvement in politics, and the successes and failures of South Africa after apartheid. No matter the topic, Tutu speaks throughout in the voice of the Christian prophet, decrying cruelty and meanness, defending the poor and the powerless, delighting in the beauty of creation, assuring us that each and every person has Gods love, as we hope, pray, and work for the kingdom of God. A little book that perfectly answers the question, who is Desmond Tutu? Ed: cap not in the title.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)