Faith: A Journey for All

By Jimmy Carter

Simon and Schuster     2018

179 pages     Spiritual

This slim volume contains the spiritual pondering of the thirty-ninth President of the United States, Jimmy Carter.  Some of the chapters are culled from his many writings on the topic of faith as well as what he is thinking now in his 94^th year.

The surprising thing to me is that Carter’s thoughts are well-researched, both biblically and theologically. It shouldn't have been a surprise. This is a man who has taught a Sunday School class all his adult life. He has researched and met many of the signature theologians of Protestantism, including Reinhold Niebuhr, William Sloane Coffin, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He quotes these (and other) theologians extensively as well as quoting many verses of scripture.

The goal of this book is to “explore the broader meaning of faith, its far-reaching effect on our lives, and its relationship to past, present, and future events in America and around the world.” He discusses faith in the context of religion, but he also discusses it in the broader dimension—in our communal lives, our individual lives, and our lives in government and secular affairs. He expresses how his faith has guided him in all his endeavors, including the political. One chapter is spent on the discussion of how he used his faith in his political life. My feeling about this chapter was that it may have been gleaned from some of his other writings. It is very interesting, although perhaps a bit out of context.

Carter believes that people must have a “foundation on which we can build a predictable and dependable existence.” He calls for people to have a central core of beliefs and standards. This, to him, is faith.

One of my favorite quotes in the book is "I love the recklessness of faith. First you leap, and then you grow wings." William Sloane Coffin. To this, Carter responds “I have always felt that my own faith has been made possible or strengthened by my sincere desire to have it, a personal blessing to me.”

He has harsh words to say to fundamentalists who say that they have the only answer. He says, “there are three words to characterize this brand of fundamentalism: pride, domination, and exclusion. In sharp contrast, Jesus espoused humility, servanthood of leaders, and breaking down walls between people.”

My church book club had a very meaningful discussion related to Faith: A Journey for All. It is written in a simple, engaging style. I recommend it for discussion groups.