When this book came in the mail, I looked at it and thought it would be interesting, but I am starting to grow tired of most contemporary writing on social justice. When I found out that Ms. Holman is a patristic scholar I definitely lifted an eyebrow in excitement. This book approaches contemporary issues, but from a different stance than before. “God Knows There’s a Need” is from Oxford University Press and was released in 2009.
The book is framed around three models; sensing need, sharing the world and embodying sacred
kingdom. Issues are approached using these models and each chapter is focused on one or two stories from antiquity that exemplify a patristic engagement with the issue of poverty. These paradigms allow a way to apply and join the idea of justice in a very timeless manner. Holman also goes back to the Jewish idea of tzedakah, meaning righteousness AND charity. The Jewish idea of almsgiving being a practiced enacted form of justice also serves as a foundational idea in the book.
In this book, engagement with poverty is almost seen as a hermeneutic and a particular focus was given to those people who decided to live a anonymous life with the poor as an act of prayer. While other works deal with the idea of personhood, Holmon points out how the poor were seen in the patristic age as part of the economy and social make-up. They were necessary, and serving as the recipient for justice placed them as a Holy segment of the socio-economic makeup of the community. Issues of patronage were also explained, and how this cooperative relationship was seen in the eyes of the Church. All of these ancient images are contrasted well with current situations, with examples being given from many contemporary situations. Much of the writing I have read in the realm of justice has been focused on issues outside of the United States (Darfur, India.etc..), Holman grounds most of these contemporary examples inside of the continental United States, and thereby letting it take a very obvious issue, instead of far off.
Many items that are a concern for those that are part of the emerging Hospitality movement or elements of neo-monasticism would find this interesting due to the historical information and the footnotes for ancient texts.
My only serious issue with the book was her mentioning of two things in the first chapter that I was really interested in, but they never materialized. The first was how issues of translation have, until recently, left out patristic writings on justice and poverty. The second was how “heretical” groups often provided many services to the poor, but because of their unorthodoxy, have been left out of the public arena in the discussion of poverty and justice. Their place in the first chapter led me to believe that they would be key ideas, but they were really never mentioned.
Holman’s work is written so it reads easy, and will not be unapproachable to average readers. It would good for anyone that is interested in either issues of justice or patristic scholarship.
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