Low Anthropology: The Unlikely Key to a Gracious View of Others (and Yourself)

by David Zahl

Overview

"A lighthearted yet high-minded exploration of failure's ability to serve as a gateway to grace. Readers will find this a balm."—Publishers Weekly

Many of us spend our days feeling like we're the only one with problems, while everyone else has their act together. But the sooner we realize that everyone struggles like we do, the sooner we can show grace to ourselves and others.

In Low Anthropology, popular author and theologian David Zahl explores how our ideas about human nature influence our expectations in friendship, work, marriage, and politics. We all go through life with an "anthropology"—an idea about what humans are like, our potentials and our limitations. A high anthropology—thinking optimistically about human nature—can breed perfectionism, anxiety, burnout, loneliness, and resentment. Meanwhile, Zahl invites readers into a biblically rooted and surprisingly life-giving low anthropology, which fosters hope, deep connection with others, lasting love, vulnerability, compassion, and happiness.

Zahl offers a liberating view of human nature, sin, and grace, showing why the good news of Christianity is both urgent and appealing. By embracing a more accurate view of human beings, readers will discover a true and lasting hope.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781587435560
Publisher:	Baker Publishing Group
Publication date:	09/13/2022
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	1,058,083
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

David Zahl is founder and director of Mockingbird Ministries, which receives more than 1 million website page views per year and 35,000 newsletter subscribers and social media followers. He is editor in chief of the Mockingbird blog and cohost of the Mockingcast podcast. Zahl wrote the critically acclaimed book Seculosity: How Career, Parenting, Technology, Food, Politics, and Romance Became Our New Religion and What to Do about It and has written for Christianity Today and the Washington Post. He lives with his wife and three boys in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he also serves on the staff of Christ Episcopal Church.

Table of Contents

Contents

Introduction
1. The Problem of High Anthropology
Part 1: The Shape of Low Anthropology
2. Limitation: Or, Modesty Is the Best Policy
3. Doubleness: Or, Can't Stop Won't Stop
4. Self-centeredness: Or, Control Freaks Anonymous
Part 2: The Mechanics of Low Anthropology
5. How We Avoid Low Anthropology
6. The Fruit of Low Anthropology
Part 3: The Life of Low Anthropology
7. Low Anthropology and the Self
8. Low Anthropology in Relationships
9. Low Anthropology in Politics
10. Low Anthropology in Religion
Conclusion

Editorial Reviews

07/18/2022

In this probing and spirited guide, Zahl (Seculosity), founder of Mockingbird Ministries, contends that readers should be more candid and forgiving of their shortcomings. He suggests that “low anthropology”—which he defines as the belief that the “human spirit” is fallible and “veers, by default, in a malign direction and, as a result, cannot flourish without assistance or constraint”—offers hope because it casts mistakes and setbacks as inescapable parts of life, rather than the result of personal failings. Those critical of themselves and others, by contrast, live under a “high anthropology” that believes individuals are “defined by their best days and greatest achievements” and are capable of whatever they set their mind to, a perspective that results in disappointment and feelings of inadequacy. Exploring the virtues of low anthropology, Zahl contends that it encourages humility through the acknowledgement of one’s limits and unity through recognition of shared shortcomings: “God has given everyone different gifts and abilities, yet similar weaknesses.” The fresh and unexpectedly positive take on sin and pride makes for a lighthearted yet high-minded exploration of failure’s ability to serve as a gateway to grace. Readers will find this a balm. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly