Christian anarchy, the belief that in Jesus' teachings may be found an inherent opposition to systematic secular rule and an inclination towards war and oppression, is a credence that dates back as far as Christianity itself. York focuses on the movement's modern manifestations and their potential as models for contemporary Christian life. The author examines a few twentieth century Christians from varying religious traditions who lived such a witness, including the Berrigan brothers, Dorothy Day, and Eberhard Arnold. These witnesses can be viewed as anarchical in the sense that their loyalty to Christ undermines the pseudo-stereological myth employed by the state. While these Christians have been labeled pilgrims, revolutionaries, nomads, subversives, agitators, and now, anarchists, they are more importantly seekers of the peace of the city whose chief desire is for those belonging to the temporal cities to be able to participate in the eternal city, the city of God.

In these passionate essays, Tripp York makes the case that both nations and the church require total allegiance and that Christians should choose Christ over state. Greg Boyd, Author, The Myth of a Christian Nation; and Pastor, Woodland Hills Church, says that "The quasi-Christian civic religion of America is like an immunization shot: people get just enough surrogate Christianity to keep them from getting the real thing Third Way Allegiance is a powerful cure to this widespread diabolic affliction. I don't know any work that so succinctly and effectively helps readers wake up to the way many values and practices of the American empire, and of the American church are opposed to the kingdom Jesus established. This well-written, provocative and insightful little book deserves to be--indeed, needs to be--in the hands of every American who is serious about following Jesus." M. Therese Lysaught, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Theology, Marquette University, observes that "Drawing on a cloud of witnesses, Tripp York juxtaposes the politics and liturgies of Christianity with those of U.S. culture, challenging contemporary Christians to rethink the powers that truly hold their allegiances. Those who allow York's vignette's and questions to confront their assumptions cannot help but find their lives changed." J. Nelson Kraybill, President Emeritus, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, warns: "Reader beware This collection of essays may cause insomnia, bold new insight, heated debate, and exuberant bursts of radical discipleship. Tripp York agitates, stimulates, and occasionally pontificates. But if you take Jesus seriously, you'd better listen up. Here is a mother lode of rich ethical reflection, mined by a Christian scholar and teacher with a heart for the church. Third Way Allegiance is perfect as a small group study guide, an adult education elective, or a personal wake-up call to lived faith."

Synopsis: In this devilishly entertaining book, Tripp York takes it upon himself to find the Prince of Darkness. Provoked by a wager made in one of his religion classes, York explores whether in proving the existence of Satan, we might in turn prove the existence of God. Admitting the idea is not half-bad (and thus, conversely, only half-good), York enlists the aid of numerous ministers, theologians, spiritual warriors, pagans, shamanists, fortune tellers, and Satanists in his fiendish quest to determine the whereabouts of God's first fallen creature. Part memoir and part theological treatise, The Devil Wears Nada is a compelling and humorous account of the strange, bizarre, and (oftentimes) offensive things we think about God, the Devil, and everything in between. Endorsements: "Tripp York goes searching for Satan in the classrooms and crossroads of America, but what he finds is quite surprising. As he piles up example after hilarious example of people searching for the wrong thing, he almost persuades me that Hell really is other people. In The Devil Wears Nada, York discovers that, in America, Christianity has become more the devil's prisoner than it realizes." -Jeffrey C. Pugh, author of Devil's Ink: Blog from the Basement Office "I loved this rollicking journey to hell and back. Tripp York thinks that we ought to take Satan seriously, as long as we mock, deride, and laugh at him the whole time. Sex, money, power, religion--Satan is mixed up with all of it, and in the funniest ways. This book is hysterically funny, absolutely serious, and deeply Christian. If you have never thought of Mennonites as funny (and who has?), then you need to read Tripp York on Satan " -Will Willimon, author of Why Jesus? "I didn't want to read this book. I didn't have time. So I just took a quick glance before moving on to other things. But in that quick glance, temptation came over me and I just kept turning pages. I couldn't put it down. It made me laugh. It made me think. You'd better be careful or the same thing could happen to you." -Brian McLaren, author of A Generous Orthodoxy "York . . . attempts to examine the existence of God through a back door, that is, by searching for Satan. The effort offers a lively ride. York captivates the reader with snappy prose and a disarming, at times self-effacing, line of argumentation . . . ." -Publishers Weekly Author Biography: Tripp York teaches in the Philosophy and Religion Department at Western Kentucky University. His previous books include, Living on Hope While Living in Babylon (Wipf & Stock, 2009), The Purple Crown (Herald, 2007), and Donkeys and Kings (Resource Publications, 2010).

Synopsis: What is the purpose of animals? Didn't God give humans dominion over other creatures? Didn't Jesus eat lamb? These are the kinds of questions that Christians who advocate compassion toward other animals regularly face. Yet Christians who have a faith-based commitment to care for other animals through what they eat, what they wear, and how they live with other creatures are often unsure how to address these biblically and theologically based challenges. In A Faith Embracing All Creatures, authors from various denominational, national, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds wrestle with the text, theology, and tradition to explain the roots of their desire to live peaceably with their nonhuman kin. Together, they show that there are no easy answers on "what the Bible says about animals." Instead, there are nuances and complexities, which even those asking these questions may be unaware of. Editors Andy Alexis-Baker and Tripp York have gathered a collection of essays that wrestle with these nuances and tensions in Scripture around nonhuman animals. In so doing, they expand the discussion of nonviolence, peacemaking, and reconciliation to include the oft-forgotten other members of God's good creation. Endorsements: "Far too often, serious concern for nonhuman animals is dismissed by well-meaning Christians--who otherwise might share such concerns--because of some remarkably consistent (and understandable) hesitations. For some decades now we have needed a resource that brought together experts to respectfully answer these concerns, and with this book we finally have this invaluable resource." --Charles C. Camosy Assistant Professor of Christian Ethics Fordham University, Duane Library "Many good books deserve an enthusiastic recommendation. But only a few merit the stockpiling of a stash of copies to give to anyone and everyone who crosses one's path. A Faith Embracing All Creatures will be greeted as this latter sort of book by anyone with a heart for creation care. . . . Christians of all varieties will find accessible, creative, and challenging perspectives on a crucial but oft-neglected aspect of their daily discipleship. Animal advocates, Christian or otherwise, will find an indispensable resource for engaging religious audiences. And everyone will find a prophetic call to compassion and justice for all of God's creatures issued from some of the most influential voices in animal ethics and theology as well as from some of the field's most provocative newcomers." --Matthew C. Halteman Associate Professor of Philosophy, Calvin College "Other recent books have made the case that our contemporary treatment of animals is both inhumane and unchristian; A Faith Embracing All Creatures does so in a refreshingly light-handed way. Its arguments are both morally serious and deeply theological, particularly because its authors pore carefully over important sections of biblical text. But the book is also extremely inviting as it opens to questions people are genuinely asking about how a commitment to moral vegetarianism (or related commitments) can make theological sense. . . . Furthermore, the concerns about the welfare of animals that the authors highlight in their theologizing turn out to be immensely fruitful. As they free us from customary presumptions, they teach us how to read and appreciate the biblical material in new ways." --Dr. Charles R. Pinches Professor and Chair, Department of Theology/Religious Studies, University of Scranton Editor Biography: Tripp York, PhD, teaches in the Department of Religion at Virginia Wesleyan College. He is the author and editor of more than half a dozen books including Third Way Allegiance, Living on Hope While Living in Babylon, and The Devil Wears Nada Andy Alexis-Baker is a PhD candidate in Systematic Theology and Theological Ethics at Marquette University. He is coeditor of Christian Attitudes to War, Peace, and Revolution by John Howard Yoder.

Synopsis: What do talking donkeys, fasting lions, and wolves playing with sheep have in common? They are all found in the Bible. Author Tripp York and illustrator Zak Upright bring to life eight different stories about animals as discovered in Scripture. York spins a different account on these stories (such as the flood, Jonah, as well as Daniel and the lion's den), by attempting to imagine what it might mean to understand these narratives from the perspective of the animals. Though the short stories in this collection are written for children, adults will take much from them as they attempt to provoke the readers to new ways of understanding some of the most popular stories in the Bible. Endorsements: "With this book Tripp York participates in that venerable 'truth-by-parable' Christian tradition, in which sage storytelling trumps both clever systematic logic and avalanches of information. The literary genre may be 'fiction,' yet York's non-human eye-witnesses reveal again the genius of the biblical narrative. Readers are, therefore, invited to see once more the scandalous biblical message-a gospel too 'absurd' for the self-assured, too 'weak' for the self-reliant, and too 'unsophisticated' for the self-righteous. -Richard C. Goode Lipscomb University "In the playful spirit of Aesop, and with a touch of Lewis's 'deeper magic,' Tripp York imaginatively glimpses the eternal through this strangely familiar menagerie of talking animals--fellow creatures in our great journey with God. York's quirky, contemporary narrative voice and his creative openness to the teleology of God's ubiquitous movement among His creation offer readers a rare and meaningful opportunity to reconsider the power of God's Word with fresh eyes and responsive hearts." -Jeffrey D. Frame Trevecca Nazarene University Author Biography: Tripp York is Visiting Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Elon University, in Elon, North Carolina. He is the author of The Purple Crown: The Politics of Martyrdom (2007) and Living on Hope while Living in Babylon (Wipf & Stock, 2009).

Synopsis: In A Faith Not Worth Fighting For, editors Justin Bronson Barringer and Tripp York have assembled a number of essays by pastors, activists, and scholars in order to address the common questions and objections leveled against the Christian practice of nonviolence. Assuming that the command to love one's enemies is at the heart of the Gospel, these writers carefully, faithfully--and no doubt provocatively--attempt to explain why the nonviolent path of Jesus is an integral aspect of Christian discipleship. By addressing misconceptions about Christian pacifism, as well as real-life violent situations, this book will surely challenge the reader's basic understanding of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Endorsements: In this anthology of new essays, theologians reply to such challenges to Christian pacifism as what would you do if someone were attacking a loved one, what about Hitler, and didn't Jesus chase people from the temple with a whip? By countering common objections to the Christian peace witness, the book endeavors to help both pacifists and nonpacifists alike gain a deeper understanding of how a Christian commitment to nonviolence can be enacted and supported. Especially strong essays include "What About War and Violence in the Old Testament?" by Ingrid Lilly (Western Kentucky University) and "Didn't Jesus Say He Came Not to Bring Peace, but a Sword?" by Samuel Wells (Be Not Afraid), which combines a close reading of the biblical text with a contemporary illustration of the difference between appeasement and a principled peace stance. The essays are, on the whole, varied, lively, and thought provoking. The book includes an introduction by Stanley Hauerwas (War and the American Difference) and an afterword by Shane Claiborne (Irresistible Revolution). --Publishers Weekly "Addressing oft-heard questions posed to Christians who refuse to kill, this is a must-read book for all Christians occupying church pews or sitting behind desks in college classrooms. . . . Even if one does not agree with everything written here (and I don't), A Faith Not Worth Fighting For helpfully clarifies the theology of Christian nonviolence so as to foster further--and hopefully fruitful--conversation." --Tobias Winright Associate Professor of Theological Ethics, Saint Louis University "This book addresses the predictable questions posed to pacifists. Having spoken publicly hundreds of times and in varied contexts on pacifism, I know this. However, having read widely on the subject of the Christian faith and violence, I also know that this book is a rare treat. For it offers mature, carefully considered reflections on this standard set of issues. This is almost unheard of; this book is a valuable resource." --Mark Thiessen Nation Professor of Theology, Eastern Mennonite University "A Faith Worth Fighting For is much needed. Its essays provide readers with clear thinking and moral seriousness that challenge all followers of Jesus to journey with him in the ways of peace. Just about any possible objection to Christian pacifism is considered--and overcome." --Ted Grimsrud, Professor of Theology and Peace Studies, Eastern Mennonite University Editor Biographies: Tripp York teaches in the Religious Studies Department at Virginia Wesleyan College in Norfolk, VA. He is the author and editor of numerous books including Third Way Allegiance, Living on Hope While Living in Babylon, and The Devil Wears Nada. Justin Bronson Barringer is a graduate student at Asbury Theological Seminary where he also works for the Office of Global Community Formation. He has been a missionary in China and Greece, worked extensively among homeless people in Nashville, and served at mercy and justice organizations like The Dream Center and Sojourners.