Expert: Robert Duke on Evangelicals and Peacemaking: Compassion for Peace

Robert Duke, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies

Heightened conflict in the Middle East continues to draw attention. Some wonder if fighting will ever cease. Is peace possible? What can we do? Robert Duke, Ph.D., assistant professor of biblical studies in Azusa Pacific University’s School of Theology, explores the delicate questions regarding the possibility of peace in his book chapter, “Peacemaking Left Behind: Can Orthopathy Help Evangelicals Promote Peace?”

Examining work from Wesleyan, Pentecostal, and Catholic theologians, Duke uncovers a missing element in our theological reflection: orthopathy. In helping evangelicals navigate a complex world, many understand their faith solely through the lens of orthodoxy (right thinking) or orthopraxy (right actions). However, when orthopathy (right feelings and desires) is also considered, it can transform a person’s world view.

“My feelings of compassion for Israelis and Palestinians who have lost loved ones during the protracted struggle has influenced the way I think. My desire for peace has reoriented my theological system which, in turn, influences my actions,” writes Duke.

Duke, who has a Ph.D. in Ancient Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, spent four years studying in the Middle East, which influenced his perspectives and teaching.

This piece is 1 of 11 chapters from the book Doing Good, Departing from Evil: Research Findings in the Twenty-First Century. Edited by Carole Lambert, Ph.D., director of research at Azusa Pacific, this collection of writings by scholars from various disciplines investigate topics such as racism, propaganda, marital tensions, educational inequities, elders’ depression, neglect of the disabled, and peacemaking. As they uncover the tough questions surrounding goodness, the scholars find there are no easy answers. However, they do find that goodness abounds even in the most difficult of circumstances.
 

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