The Political Theology Network is pleased to present the following roundtable on a timely and illuminating new volume from Wipf and Stock, The Business of War: Theological and Ethical Reflections on the Military-Industrial Complex.
Book Summary: The Business of War incisively interrogates the development and contemporary implications of the military-industrial complex. It exposes the moral dangers of life in neoliberal economies dependent upon war-making for their growth and brings the Christian tradition’s abundance of resources into conversation with this phenomenon. In doing so, the authors invite us to rethink the moral possibilities of Christian life in the present day with an eye toward faithful resistance to “the business of war” and its influence in every aspect of our lives. In combining biblical, historical, theological, and ethical analyses of “the business of war,” the authors invite us to better understand it as a new moral problem that demands a new, faithful response.
The pieces featured in this symposium reflect this invitation to better understanding. Three authors, James McCarty, Christina McRorie, and Bradley Burroughs, will offer reflections on their research and contributions to the volume, followed by responses from Keun-Joo Christine Pae, Eli McCarthy, and Brian Powers. Given the ever-increasing polarization of our political sphere, the kind of historical, moral, and critical perspectives articulated throughout this conversation are much-needed. We thank our contributors for this thought-provoking set of essays, and we hope you enjoy.
