Home › Books › Circle of Hope: A Reckoning with Love, Power, and…
Circle of Hope: A Reckoning with Love, Power, and Justice in an American Church
by
52/99
Critics' Rating Index
28/99
Readers' Rating Index
n/a
Scholars' Citation Index
89/99
Volume of Reviews
61/99
Volume of Reader Ratings
Sign in to add to your shelf, rate, or review this book.
About This Book
A Pulitzer Prize winner's intimate portrait of a church, its radical mission, and its riveting crisis. "The revolution I wanted to be part of was in the church." Americans have been leaving their churches. Some drift away. Some stay home. Many search for more authentic ways to find and follow Jesus. Circle of Hope tells of one such "radical outpost of Jesus followers" in Philadelphia, dedicated to service, the Sermon on the Mount, and working toward justice for all in this life, not just salvation for some in the next. Part of a little-known yet influential movement at the edge of American evangelicalism, Circle grows for forty years, plants four congregations, and then finds itself in crisis. Immersive, explosive, and tender-hearted, Pulitzer Prize winner Eliza Griswold offers an American allegory full of urgent How do we commit to one another and our better selves in a fracturing world? Where does power live? Can it be shared? How do we make "the least of these" welcome? Building on years of deep reporting, Griswold chronicles Circle's journey as its devoted pastors and members strive toward change that might help the church survive. Through generational rifts, an increasingly politicized religious landscape, a pandemic that prevents gathering in worship, and a rise in foundation-shaking activism, Circle of Hope tells a propulsive, layered story of what we do to stay true to our beliefs. It is a soaring, searing examination of what it means for a community to love, to grow, and to disagree.
Reviews
"Combin[es] rigorous research with relatable real-life characters whose stories are told in straightforward sentences ..."
"This lack of clarity diminishes the impact of Griswold's well-intentioned investigation."
"It's a fascinating inquest into the death of a church that doubles as a compassionate case study on the insufficiency of good intentions."
"In addition to highlighting the challenges and frustrations of trying to live a religious life, Circle of Hope demonstrates what church can provide."
"This reader craved an occasional counterbalance to the narrative's granularity and near-constant action, a broader perspective on the internecine battles and what they mean to Griswold's overarching concerns about religion and politics in American life ..."
"Circle of Hope is the intimate story of one small church, but it carries within it profoundly relevant lessons for all people of faith."
"It's nearly miraculous how Griswold manages to present everybody involved as neither villains nor heroes and heroines."
"The text suffers from repetition and scrambled chronologies and leaves many unanswered questions but effectively reveals the inner workings of a group of dedicated believers trying to spread Christianity."
"It's very much worth reading Griswold's book, examining our own hearts and asking ourselves a vital question: Are our differences so great that they justify destroying relationships or institutions that are truly good?"
Preview
Reader Reviews
0 reviewsSign in to write a review.
No reader reviews yet. Be the first!