Dust that Breathes: Christian Faith and the New Humanisms

This is an insightful and masterly look at the challenges and possibilities for Christian life in the contemporary world. Schweiker investigates Christianity's relevance in the global age and discusses how we can – and ought – to orient the life of faith.

Schweiker begins with an exploration of the big religious themes of modern life, including religious identity in global times, the role of conscience, and current versions of humanism. He also engages some prominent contemporary philosophers and theologians who clarify the nature of faith by developing and contrasting it with ideas from other thinkers on shared topics of reflection. The book goes on to reflect on the themes of integrity, and theological and ethical perspectives of 'life'. The final section returns to the theme of 'religious humanism' with discussions of important recent work on Christian humanism.

Dust that Breathes is unique in its appreciation of the ambiguity of religion, in its representations of the highest human achievements and the very worst of human actions. Schweiker concludes that a Christian outlook on life is still relevant, proposing an approach to Christian existence which is fully engaged with shared human concerns, and yet one which can meet the practical challenges and possibilities of the global age.