[BOOK REVIEW] DIVIDED: REASONS WHY WE LIVE IN THE AGE OF WALLS [BOOK]

By Gordon Showell-Rogers | Monday, January 15, 2024

Because they believe in the creator, who makes all people equal, and in the Savior, who builds the church in every tribe and nation, Christians must take the lead in overcoming the polarization that exists in our world.

Marshall's team looked at how walls have historically divided people and still divide people today, from the Great Wall of China to the gated communities of modern cities.

Marshall has thirty years' experience in foreign affairs, setting boundaries in places as diverse as the United States, the European Union, Israel and Palestine, the Middle East, and South Asia.

He is not always firm in his stance, but sometimes he asks provocative and challenging questions. For example, he quoted former U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano's words, "Show me a 50-foot wall and I'll show you a 51-foot ladder," as he opened a chapter on the United States.

In his first sentence about China, he said that China's emperors have always struggled to unite their disparate and divided dominions into a unified whole. In the context of the United States, he pointed out that the U.S.-Mexico border has long been a problem.'

Discussions about political identity, the rise of nationalism around the world, psychological "walls," and the fear of difference appear from historical perspectives. Christian readers will probably disagree with some of the conclusions he makes. However, he concluded by saying, "The codification of human rights recognizes that, at least in theory, all human beings are created equal."

These books are perfect for reading with book clubs or discussion groups. To enhance the discussion, Christians may want to read it along with a Bible book such as Genesis, The Gospel of John, or one of the three Epistles of John.

"Divided: Why We Live in the Age of the Wall," written by Tim Marshall. Published by Elliott & Thompson in 2018. Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-78396-343-0; ebook ISBN: 978-1-78396-343-0.

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