Acquire Globalization, Spirituality, And Justice: Navigating A Path To Peace: Navagating A Path To Peace (ASM) Penned By Daniel G. Groody Rendered As Manuscript

Thesis: In this book Groody makes a case for social justice in our world infested with imbalance between the poor and the rich, the oppressed and the oppressor.
His concern is: as the process of globalization a theme Hancilestreated his work goes on with its pros and cons, how should one “think about poverty, justice and liberation in light of Christian faith and within our current global context” Groody, xix.
Through “a theological reading of globalization and a global reading of theology,” Groody grounds his thesis upon several ecclesial documents, tradition of the patristics, excerpts from other nonChristian religions, and the metaphors that certain icons, who fought for social justice and liberation, represent.
Groodys case for the quest for justice is one that does not bifurcate reality from theology, This book is about practical theology in regard to justice, peace, spirituality and liberation how to build a more just and human society, where people are liberated and valued in our global village and where humans take creation care to seriously.


General Overview of Content In this volume, Groody seeks an “innerview”, not just an “overview” or “underview” of globalization from a perspective he referred to as “the terrain of the human heart” Groody,.
He outlined this “innerview” of the socioeconomic contours of globalization in our contemporary world, comparing the pervasive imbalance that breed injustice, He grounds his argument, first, on the JudeoChristian Scriptures, from which he highlights biblical perspectives on justice and treatment of the poor and oppressed.
Other grounds upon which he underpins his argument include excerpts from the homilies of the patristics who “lived between the end of the apostolic age ca.
A. Dand the death of Pope Gregory, the Great in the West d,and John Damascene in the East d,” Groody,Roman Catholic and a few Episcopal documentson Catholic Social teaching the writings and traditions of other religions and the witness of some contemporary icons who lived and fought for the cause of social justice, liberation and peace.
Groody underscores a fivenarrative approach to Scripture and human liberation namely the Narratives of the Empire, of the Poor, of Yahweh, of Idolatry and of the Gospel.
. From the patristics, he asserts that though their “sayings carry an ancient message, yet they have a contemporary meaning, They perceptively name some of the indicting and liberating truths about human life that all people in every generation face as we seek to understand the challenge of living in responsible relationship with God, others, and creation”Groody,.
Groody sketches the three dimensions of social justice as right relationships, which entails commutative, contributive and distributive justice, He creatively turns the phrase “A God of life” into an acronym with which he etches out a matrix to designate the various themes that emerge from Catholic Social Teaching.
. In the face of the process of globalization, Groody holds that whatever it may ensue, “the moral vision of Catholic social teaching will continue to rest on the foundation of human dignity, solidarity and subsidiarityand will continue to evaluate the results of globalization process in terms of how the current structures of society help create a more just social order, how they help the poor, how they contribute to the international common good, and how they foster genuine development” Groody,.
He observes that irrespective of the differences between religious traditions in our contemporary world, “the basis of common global ethic is a unified concern for a more just and peaceful world, and a greater commitment to and solidarity with the poor” Groody,.
He frames a canvas he painted with some contemporary icons Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr, Mother Teresa,

Oscar Romero etc, whose “common search for integrityenabled them to become what they admired, and helped them become authentically human”Groody,, Groody identifies three levels of liberation, namely: social, personal and religious, Liberation theologys method and core content is the preferential option for the poor, Thus, for the church to appropriately respond to this task of liberating the oppressed, Groody asserts what Bosch, Newbigin and Ion Bria had early asserted: that the Church seeks to remain both a sign and a sacrament to the worldBosch,, Newbigin, Vassiliadis,.
. This motif, which Ion Bria called “The Liturgy after the Liturgy”, is expanded in Chapterof Groodys volume, Groody looks at “liturgy as a privileged place where God breaks down the walls that divide the human family in order to bring about personal, social and even environmental reconciliation”Groody,.
Groody concludes this volume exploring the spirituality of the Eucharist, which enlivens the journey toward social justice, liberation and peace, Spiritual disciplines necessary for this journey are found on two axes: first a vertical axis renewal of relationship with God and second, a threedimensional horizontal axis renewal of relationship with others, with the environment and with oneself.
For such to happen, one must follow Jesus model of downward mobility,, and “as we look at the immense problems of the world we want to change, it helpsto remember that the challenge of global change begins on the most local level.
Discipleship challenges us to behold and love the world as God loves us in Christ”Groody,,

Critical Reflection: It is true that this work is exceptional and brings to the fore the stark imbalance we see in our globalized world as it pertains to justice and spirituality.
Goodys work is solid, robust, and speaks to the heart of contemporary issues, especially in the face of oppression and violence, Nevertheless, Groodys theological reading is by no means global as he claimed it to be, Although he seeks a global reading of theology, yet his reading is solidly Roman Catholic, for he draws majorly from Roman Catholic tradition and resources.
His theological reading narrowed on the Roman Catholic sidelines the nonRoman Catholic arms of the global church the Orthodox, the Protestant and Pentecostal Church readings.
This is evident through the absence of documents from these arms of the Church and his treatment of theology with a strong Roman Catholic assumption.
For example: the Eucharist and the doctrine of transubstantiation Groody,,, and, It is apparent that his use of the term “Universal Church” is confined to imply the Roman Church, ingeniously not affirming the nonRoman Catholics as part of the Universal Church, which betrays Groodys myopic understanding of the Church in spite of his vast travels.
Furthermore, in his excerpts from the Muslim writings, he cites Quranic verses the primary document of Islam but fails to balance it with the Islamic perspectives as found in the Hadiths the Sunna or traditions of the prophet of Islam and the Sharia the judicial Islamic code of law, which are two other important writings of Islam that together with the Quran mold the Muslims Weltanschauung worldview.
Despites these few weaknesses, Groodys work will remain monumental and useful for those seeking to confront the problems of social injustice, oppression and violence in our world, by applying Jesus motif of downward mobility.


Endnotes:
. Hanciles
. Groodys grounding of his perspectives on both Scripture and Roman documents compare with Tans underpinning of his mission among the peoples of Asia upon the documents of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences FABC Tan
.
Groodys Narrative of the Empire is reminiscent of Jonathan Tans perspective on the same theme as seen from the historical experiences of Christian mission among the peoples of AsiaTan,ff.

. Each of the themes etched in this creative acronym reveals a given dimension of what it means to do social justice and seek liberation.
The last theme on environment and ecological stewardship was also put in relief in two essays in the volume Orthodox Perspective on Mission Vassiliadis,.

. Leslie Newbigin, The Open Secret: An Introduction to the Theology of Mission, Grand Rapids, MI: Wm, Eerdmans,,,“The church lives in the midst of history as a sign, instrument, and foretaste of the reign of God, ” p See also p.“It is by faith that we confess this body, constituted by its sharing in the dying and rising of Jesus, to be the sign instrument and foretaste of the reign of God in the midst of history.
” Ion Bria in his essay on “The Liturgy after the Liturgy” in the anthology edited by Petros Vassiliadis, Orthodox Perspectives on Mission, also that the “Church is a holy place because it symbolizes the venue of the coming Kingdom of God.
it is the sign and sacrament of the Kingdom”Vassiliadis,
, The term, “downward mobility” is attributed to have been coined by Henri Nouwen, He avouched there were two things that propelled his life: “an upward and downward mobility”Nouwen,

Bibliography
Bosch, David Jacobus.
. Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission,th Anniversary Edition ed. Maryknoll, N. Y. : Orbis Books.
Groody, Daniel G Globalization, Spirituality, and Justice: Navigating the Path to Peace,
Hanciles, Jehu J Beyond Christendom: Globalization, African Migration, and the Transformation of the West, Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.
Newbigin, Lesslie The Open Secret: An Introduction to the Theology of Mission, Grand Rapids, Mich. : Eerdmans.
Nouwen, Henri J. M In the name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership, New York: Crossroad.
Tan, Jonathan Y Christian Mission Among the Peoples of Asia,
Vassiliadis, Petros Orthodox Perspectives on Mission. Eugene, Oregon: Wipf amp Stock Pub, In this book, Groody writes “I have tried to examine the contribution of the Christian tradition to the process of globalization, and the contribution of globalization to a renewed understanding of theology.
” Groody. Preface. As he covers the global issues of the economy, human life, and ecology, Groody interfaces theology and the pursuit of justice, At the end, all of this goes back to relationships, Relationship with God our creator and our relationship to one another and the earth,
In a bit of poetic analogy, Groody likens our global disparities and waywardness to a ship, “While a few passengers have firstclass suites on the upper decks, the vast majority of the earth's inhabitants are slaving along in the steam room as the vessel moves forward.
The economy is the engine that is driving the ship technology is fueling it communications is steering it, Groody. ChOur future on this earth, according to Groody is directly related to how we end up steering this proverbial ship, Although he does admit it is unclear who the captain is, Groody. Ch.
Reminiscent of Timothy:, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, ” Groody addresses how we have been steering the proverbial ship, He points to “moneytheism” as the root of global injustices, In what I would consider a bold, stance, Groody questions the global idolatry of the free market, He notes that while it has been beneficial in some ways to some people, it has also unmasked human “unfreedoms” Groody, Ch. “freemarket system must also be evaluated alongside of weaknesses of human nature, ” Groody. Ch. I consider this a brave statement as many conservative Evangelicals equate God, freedom and the free market as a human right, Groodys point in uncovering where this has been unjust for others is one that I believe needs to be addressed more in our churches that God and the free market are not all one and the same.
As Groody addresses the injustices of the poor, he underlines the “unfreedoms” of humanity that we have often overlooked as a capitalist society.

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