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John Sexton (2) (–1942)

Author of Baseball as a Road to God: Seeing Beyond the Game

For other authors named John Sexton, see the disambiguation page.

John Sexton (2) has been aliased into John E. Sexton.

4 Works 198 Members 24 Reviews

Works by John Sexton

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Common Knowledge

Date of death
1942-09-29
Gender
male

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Reviews

Standing for Reason: The University in a Dogmatic Age by John Sexton argues persuasively for a return to more open debate on campus and, as a result, more nuanced and useful public debate. I read this book in tandem with Religion in the University by Nicholas Wolterstorff and taken together they make a strong and positive case for not just our universities but our currently polarized society.

Sexton's argument is full of very solid points, good research, and success using these ideas. It is laid out in a way that is easy to follow. Part of laying the groundwork is refuting the propaganda that conservatives have been overrun in the university by liberals. Yes, conservatives have decreased in percentage but liberals have not increased. The increase went to those who call themselves moderate. With the current state of what passes for conservatism being so extreme, many of the moderates would likely have been conservative a couple decades ago but hesitate to self-identify as such for fear of being associated with the extremists currently holding the term "conservative" hostage.

The university must return to being a safe place for open and nuanced debate and discussion of just about any topic. Even when it means allowing offensive (to some) speakers on campus. The key, of course, is the context of how they are welcomed to campus. Not a pep rally for an extreme view, regardless of which end of the spectrum. Time for a Q&A and perhaps a rebuttal. Part of a series that includes views all along whatever topic spectrum there is.

At the core of this is what Sexton calls "secular ecumenism." The same concept when used about Christianity, or various religions, but applied to all of the diversity in the world. Diverse people, diverse thoughts, and diverse solutions. These should all be open to critique, debate, and reconsideration. Religion is certainly included here, not in a dogmatic fashion but as a part of what makes society what it is. Only the space for open discourse is sacred, not any specific idea. If you aren't open to critique and discussion about your ideas, whatever they may be, maybe you don't understand your own beliefs and ideas as well as you want others to believe you do.

If more people experience this type of environment during their formative years then it will carry over to the public sphere. Social, cultural, religious, and political conflicts then might be characterized by nuanced and thoughtful debate rather than who can scream loudest, gerrymander the most, or get the most big dollar contributions (with strings attached). The world is getting smaller and we can't keep othering everyone over each and every difference or there will be no group larger than a handful that might be enough alike to care about each other.

I highly recommend this book for those concerned about higher education and/or our toxic polarized society.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
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pomo58 | Jun 5, 2019 |
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
Baseball As a Road to God addresses some aspects of the ineffability of faith by drawing comparisons between religion and baseball's colorful history and inscrutable rules. Explored are aspects of faith as variegated as sacred spaces, blessings and curses, and saints vs. sinners.

The book is larded with anecdotes. This Mets fan loved to see the story of the infamous scuffed ball of the '69 World Series told in the chapter, "Third Inning: Doubt." Orioles fans will know what I mean.

It's a little too compact in the theology it serves. The authors don't examine the seedier aspects of faith or fandom. There's little exploration of the fervor that strikes at the heart of both religion and baseball. An examination of the thin line between belief and zealotry might have made this book feel less pat.
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LibraryPerilous | 22 other reviews | Aug 16, 2016 |
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
The author teaches a college class with the same title. He weaves in baseball stories with aspects of religion. I really enjoyed the baseball stories. Some of the religious discussions got a little tedious, but overall, the author made his point and the book was very enjoyable.
 
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chgstrom | 22 other reviews | Oct 29, 2013 |
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
I was excited to read this book when I heard the title, but disappointed by what it delivers. The stories were rather shallow at some distance from the idea of religiosity.

I love baseball, and am (like the author) a Catholic, so I expected to find many specific examples of how baseball presented opportunities for transcendence, or illustrations of the inexplicable violence of chance. Instead, I found a very poorly-argued collection of anecdotes and assertions along the lines of "sometimes there is just no easy answer" or "you just gotta believe."

I think this topic is worth exploring, and is still waiting for its book to be written.
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1 vote
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wenestvedt | 22 other reviews | Sep 9, 2013 |

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Works
4
Members
198
Popularity
#110,929
Rating
3.8
Reviews
24
ISBNs
35
Languages
1

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