Tripp York""Reading the martyrs well means that Christians are to enact a heavenly kind of politics that is simultaneously an earthly alternative to the despair of 'secular' politics, both left and right. Deftly weaving historical and contemporary narratives wth theological analysis, York shows how martyrs overcome the dichotomy of religion and politics, and restore hope to God's good creation. This book is clearly-written and ecumenically minded. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the relevance of martyrdom to contemporary discipleship."" --William T. Cavanaugh, University of St. Thomas ""Christian Martyrdom is posed by The Purple Crown as the loving sacrifice which sustains the witness of God's global nation--the church-- against the honorable sacrifice of sword-bearing armies that presume to protect and defend the earthly nations which demand our loyalty. This book helps to explain why the church needs to keep telling the stories of martyrs and how those stories assist the church in making a loving and persuasive witness to the peace proclaimed and accomplished in the life of Jesus Christ amidst nations that continue to lift up military heroes as the makers of history and the bearers of peace."" --Gerald J. Mast, Bluffton University ""For anyone perplexed by the logic of Christian martyrdom or uncertain about its contemporary relevance, Tripp York's The Purple Crown merits a careful reading."" --John D. Roth, Goshen College, from the Foreword Read More Read Less