Andrew T. Walker - Liberty for All: Defending Everyones Religious Freedom in a Pluralistic Age

Walkers splendid book rescues the idea of religious liberty from the culture wars and locates its true home in a place that will take many readers by surprise: the theology of Christianity itself. Elegant and eye-opening, Liberty for All is essential reading for Americans seeking to understand the deepest cultural currents of our timeincluding those of different creeds, and those with no creed at all.

Mary Eberstadt , author of Primal Screams: How the Sexual Revolution Created Identity Politics and How the West Really Lost God

Religious liberty is not, first and foremost, a constitutional right. The great contribution of Walkers excellent book is to remind us that religious liberty is a doctrine grounded in the Biblein eschatology, anthropology, and missiology. That means religious libertys defense by Christians is an act of biblical obedience, and its observance by governments is a fundamental act of justice. I do not know of a better explanation and defense of the doctrine of religious liberty. Walkers book deserves a wide hearing and a long life.

Paul D. Miller , professor, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University

There may be pragmatic reasons to embrace religious liberty, but Christians need to be satisfied that this is a theologically sound idea. Liberty for All is thus a timely and important work. Walker invites readers to reflect on religious liberty in light of some of the most important Christian doctrines and makes a bold case that honoring religious liberty is not merely consistent with Christian conviction but also its necessary corollary. Christians of all sorts should read this book and digest Walkers case.

David VanDrunen , professor, Westminster Seminary California; author of Politics after Christendom

Religious liberty has become surprisingly controversial of late. Walkers excellent book offers Christians a strong, incisive set of theological and scriptural arguments in favor of a robust religious liberty. We would do well to heed his arguments and, even better, put them into practice.

Bryan T. McGraw , associate professor, Wheaton College

Walker shows that the strongest case for religious freedomincluding a freedom from confessional political ordersis the Christian case. In Walkers account, the public square is richly garbed in the free discourse of all faiths, not stripped bare for the sake of a desiccated secularism, and the kingdom of God is advanced in a civic friendship of Christians with fellow citizens. Religious liberty, he shows us, is the essential predicate of our reasoning together about ultimate things in our penultimate time together here.

Matthew J. Franck , associate director, James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions; lecturer, Princeton University

In this welcome and timely resource, Walker has brilliantly articulated a thoroughgoing treatment of religious liberty for our secular and pluralistic context. Seeking to retrieve a tradition for the common good while offering his own understanding of Baptist distinctives related to this important subject, Walker makes a convincing case for religious liberty for everyone. One of the most important books on this subject in recent years, Liberty for All is a must-read, and I heartily recommend it.

David S. Dockery , president, International Alliance for Christian Education; distinguished professor, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Walker has successfully demonstrated that religious liberty, vindicated by history as good public policy, is also demonstrated by Scripture to be good Christian theology. Liberty for All aids a new generation in recognizing that religious liberty enthrones Christ as King, respects people as his subjects, and promotes the Christian gospel. This book will quickly find a place on the shelves in seminary libraries. May God also bring it to church libraries and home libraries.

Bart Barber , senior pastor, First Baptist Church, Farmersville, Texas

Christian public witnessand human flourishing in generalis inseparable from a full-orbed understanding of religious liberty. In this important book, Walker rightly underscores how high the stakes truly are. As he points out, religious liberty hinges on some of the deepest questions of ethics and worship. Liberty for All will be essential reading for any thoughtful Christian eager to faithfully navigate a pluralistic and increasingly secular public square.

Matthew J. Hall , provost, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary