It's no secret that my first fiction book, No. 1, is a bit of an enigma. Anyone who sets out to read it may be perplexed or perhaps even annoyed. It's an odd book, but something I couldn't help myself to write. I loved writing it. And I still think it's a great book, something I find myself re-visiting regularly to enjoy. But here I wanted to put together a reading guide for the perplexed, not to explain everything, because I think the search is a part of the fun; instead, this guide will ...

U.S. leadership in global health advances core U.S. interests. It fulfills shared humanitarian values by saving and enhancing lives. It strengthens health security against common and emerging threats. And it promotes stability and prosperity in far-flung communities in the developing world who strive for better health and better lives for their families. For all these reasons, supporting global health should remain a U.S. government and budget priority-and as the second Obama administratio...

Jürgen Moltmann is a theological iconoclast, ever confronting the status quo. Stephen D. Morrison examines Moltmann's unique theology in this clear and accessible study. It is the third book of Morrison's Plain English Series, written "by a beginner, for beginners."This book studies each of Moltmann's major works of theology, including his most popular books (such as Theology of Hope, The Crucified God, and The Trinity and the Kingdom). Here we discuss Moltmann's groundbreaking pro...

"This is a book for beginners, by a beginner..." (from the author's preface)"Karl Barth in Plain English," by Stephen D Morrison, is a clear and concise introduction to the theology of Karl Barth. Written from one amateur to another, Stephen hopes to introduce you to Barth's complex thought without all the confusing theological jargon often involved in discussions of his work. By focusing on eight major ideas central to Barth's thought, Stephen provides you with a profoundly helpfu...

"It may be an overstatement, but I can think of no figure in recent theological memory misunderstood more severely than Friedrich D. E. Schleiermacher… But I am here to say he is not who you think he is. Schleiermacher is not the 'villain' of modern theology. That old, marred image is in dire need of revision." (From the author's introduction.)The fourth book in Stephen D. Morrison's "Plain English Series" aims to reassess Schleiermacher's complicated legacy. He argues that Schleie...

James Cone's theology is a vital wake-up call to white Christianity. As hard as it is to reckon with the brutal legacy of racial oppression, we must repent of white supremacy. Stephen D. Morrison argues that Cone is the most important theological voice of our time, and as a white theologian, he approaches Cone's work with refreshing honesty and vulnerability. A powerful, timely book, James Cone in Plain English is passionate and compelling.

All Riches Come From Injustice examines the anti-mammon witness of the Early Church and its relevance for today. Stephen D. Morrison analyzes six critical insights from the Patristic writers: First, why they questioned the salvation of the rich; second, the commonality of the earth (and what it meant for common vs. private ownership); third, the injustice of hoarded riches; fourth, contentment and the sin of luxury; fifth, usury; and sixth, the tyranny of mammon. Morrison then argues that ...

The second book in Stephen D. Morrison's Plain English Series, "T. F. Torrance in Plain English" offers a clear and concise overview of Torrance's scientific and evangelical theology. Written as an introduction to his complex thought, this book examines nine major ideas selected from Torrance's many volumes and essays. This is a helpful study of an important theologian, thoughtfully written and carefully explained for both the beginner and the novice alike.The subjects of this book...

Often bleak and blasphemous, Samuel Beckett's writing is not commonly considered a source of spiritual courage and theological depth, but "Christ's Wait for Godot" finds much to admire in Beckett's grey world. Stephen D. Morrison leverages his expertise in Jürgen Moltmann's theology to read Beckett with a theologian's eye and discover many surprising parallels. By also gleaning from the insights of Paul Tillich, Karl Barth, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and the mystical and apophatic traditions, Mo...

When health crises strike—measles, MERS, Zika, dengue, Ebola, pandemic flu—and the American people grow alarmed, the U.S. government springs into action. But all too often, when the crisis fades and fear subsides, urgency morphs into complacency. Investments dry up, attention shifts, and a false sense of security takes hold. The CSIS Commission on Strengthening America’s Health Security urges the U.S. government to replace the cycle of crisis and complacency that has long plagued health se...

This book is an introduction to Paul Tillich's theology for beginners. Tillich's thought can be difficult, and it has been frequently misread, but Morrison presents a more charitable reading than the common one, which will be a help to beginners and scholars alike. Tillich strived to make theology relevant to our existential situation today, and for that reason, his work is worth reading carefully and patiently. Morrison examines the major themes and insights from Tillich's thought in a cl...

Academic global health programs are proliferating, and global health partnerships between North American academic institutions and institutions in low- and middle-income countries are steadily increasing. This study employs surveys and key informant interviews to examine global health partnerships, and it presents a framework for success to guide the development of sustainable global health programs and partnerships with measurable, defined impact. Eighty-two North American academic instit...