Uncommon Decency: Christian Civility in an Uncivil World
Can Christians act like Christians even when they disagree? In these wild and diverse times, right and left battle over the airwaves, prolifers square off against prochoicers, gay liberationists confront champions of the traditional family, artists and legislators tangle, even Christians fight other Christians whose doctrines aren't "just so."\ Richard Mouw has been actively forging a model of Christian civil conversation with those we might disagree with—atheists, Muslims, gay activists and...
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Few if any people in the evangelical world have conversed as widely and sensitively as Richard Mouw. That's why Mouw can write here so wisely and helpfully about what Christians can appreciate about pluralism, the theological basis for civility, and how we can communicate with people who disagree with us on the issues that matter most.
Introduction to the Second Edition 71 Convicted Civility: Can We Be Faithful & Polite Too? 112 What Christian Civility is Not 213 Defending Christian Civility 314 Speaking in God's Presence: The Importance of Civil Speech 445 Open Hearts: The Importance of Civil Attitudes 576 The Spiritual Underpinnings 667 What's Good About Pluralism? 808 How To Be Civil About Sex 899 The Challenge of Other Religions 10810 Christian Leadership in a Pluralistic World 12211 When There Is No "On The Other Hand" The Limits of Civility 13512 Is Hell Uncivil? 14813 Meet Mother Teresa: The Problem of Triumphalism Abraham Kuyper 15914 Serving A Slow God: Civility and the End of Time 170Afterword: A Civil Hug 182Notes 184
\ D. Michael Lindsay"Uncommon Decency is an arousing call to Christians everywhere that our deepest convictions have to be tempered with civility, especially in this time of increasing partisan rancor and cultural division. To those who want to truly transform the world, Mouw reminds us that we will be most effective when we persuade others with patience, tolerance and compassion."\ \ \ \ \ First Things"A convincing case. . . . We can think of so many people who need to read this book, even as we suspect most of them think it would do us a heap of good. They're probably right."\ \ \ Southwestern Journal of Theology"This book is right on target and just in time—when Christians in the same churches and denominations have trouble talking to one another. Spiritual leaders in these churches and denominations need to embody and practice it."\ \ \ \ \ Christianity Today"Mouw convincingly argues that the need for civility is pressing. The virtue is nearly extinct. Civility is a Christian virtue whereby we enter public discussions with a strong conviction of Christian truth, a willingness to learn from those with whom we disagree, and a desire to honor the humanity of even our fiercest foe. Civility is not a passive politeness that defers to everyone and stands for nothing. Neither is it relativistic. It is a mannerly demeanor in which an inner intensity never overpowers self-restraint or rational discourse. . . . The book articulates an urgent message Christians should take to heart."\ \
