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Michael G. Smith

Review Essays

The Empire of Theory and the Empires of History

Theory and history offer two contrasting ways for apprehending the large and multifaceted concept of “empire.” The six books under consideration sort themselves according to their respective tendencies to treat “empire” theoretically or historically. A concept of “empire” driven by theory will show centripetal trajectories and risk becoming reductionist while historical concepts will expand to…
Michael G. Smith
April 15, 2010
Reviews

The Future of Christian Learning: An Evangelical and Catholic

The Future of Christian Learning: An Evangelical and Catholic Dialogue by Mark Noll and James Turner, edited and with an introductory essay by Thomas A. Howard, was born out of a lecture series at Gordon College. Howard situates the conversation optimistically within a developing rapprochement between Evangelicals and Catholics. Past Protestant-Catholic hostilities took place against…
Philip D. Byers, Mark Cosgrove, Polly Graham, Mark L. Rippetoe, Michael G. Smith and Rachel Hostetter Smith
October 15, 2009
Reviews

Earthly Powers, Sacred Causes, The Stillborn God & A Secular Age

Taken together, these four books provide one an opportunity to survey the broad and deep questions that are interwoven with secularization and religion in Western Europe and North America over the past few centuries. Each has a distinct purpose and framework making for a wide-ranging treatment of the many issues they raise. I read all…
Michael G. Smith
July 15, 2008