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book cover for Is It God's Will?

Is It God's Will?

Making Sense of Tragedy, Luck, and Hope in a World Gone Wrong

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Pub Date Sep 09 2025 | Archive Date Oct 24 2025

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Description

From an acclaimed journalist and a rising star in theological academia, a provocative book about human and divine agency in an era of political extremism, climate catastrophe, and rising violence.

In the wake of two foiled assassination attempts while Donald Trump was campaigning for President, many of his supporters claimed Trump's survival was an act of Divine intervention, and a sign that Trump was favored by God. In his victory speech, Trump alluded to this. But his survival prompts other questions: Why did God spare Trump, but not the retiree sitting behind him? Why couldn’t God have spared everyone that day? And if God is truly omnipotent, why do so many children die in gun violence every year?

To award-winning journalist and theologian Brandon Ambrosino, these mortal questions provide us with an opportunity to explore the great questions about Divine and human agency, especially in relation to human tragedy and a world that seems to be slipping into chaos. In this powerful and searching enquiry—in the vein of N.T. Wright and C.S. Lewis— Ambrosino argues that theologians have been poorly equipped to confront these questions, because many hang on to an omnipotent model of God. Exploring the daily tragedies that so many of us must contend—as well as a provocative and challenging reading of Christ’s death and resurrection—Ambrosino provides us with the tools to understand and process grief but also presents a refreshing portrait of less a God of power, and more of one of persuasion, who can still provide a residue of hope in a world gone wrong.

From an acclaimed journalist and a rising star in theological academia, a provocative book about human and divine agency in an era of political extremism, climate catastrophe, and rising violence.

...


Advance Praise

“Brandon Ambrosino's book is a pleasure to read. And it's not just his accessible writing and probing insights. It's also the vision of God he sets forth, often as a rejoinder to unhelpful visions of the divine. This is the kind of book I'll give a thoughtful person asking tough questions and seeking loving, and hopeful answers.”
—Thomas Jay Oord, author of God Can’t: How to Believe in God and Love after Tragedy, Abuse, and Other Evils

“Brandon Ambrosino's book is a pleasure to read. And it's not just his accessible writing and probing insights. It's also the vision of God he sets forth, often as a rejoinder to unhelpful visions of...


Marketing Plan

• National print, online, TV and radio publicity campaign
• ARC campaign to Christianity Today, The Christian Century, Library Journal, Booklist
• Ads in Publishers Weekly ALA Issue, Christian Retail Association, Mother Jones
• Featured title at trade and library conferences such as ALA, TLA and PLA
• Global social media campaign targeted to those interested in current events, theology

• National print, online, TV and radio publicity campaign
• ARC campaign to Christianity Today, The Christian Century, Library Journal, Booklist
• Ads in Publishers Weekly ALA Issue, Christian Retail...


Available Editions

EDITION Hardcover
ISBN 9781640658417
PRICE $27.95 (USD)
PAGES 256

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