Isolation Moderation​ by Tonali Windslor (2019) - Nonfiction

Grappling with a “Christian perspective” of complex international affairs through a clear and concise book

*Note: This review was written with a special request from author to focus on the Christian aspects of his novel. Therefore, it's structure looks a different than

traditional book review.

With 40 days before a general election you don’t need to look far to find politically divisive articles, blog posts, or youtube videos of people spouting their opinions. Not all are rubbish of course, but now more than ever we need to be mindful of what information we’re consuming. Tonali Windslor’s concise 67 page book, Isolation Moderation, is a respite of clarity. He takes what are usually politically convoluted issues like border security, world policing, and free trade and presents them in a manner comprehensible and informative for the general reader. It’s a book really for anyone interested in learning about international affairs and some domestic-related issues like freedom of speech, equality, and even the nuclear family.

Many readers will appreciate that Windslor is upfront about his underlying political philosophy, namely that countries need to look inward to correct their own deficiencies before looking outward to assist others. And even then, countries should practice “moderate isolationism” to avoid being too politically tied up with other nations (p. 2).

This review looks at the book through a Christian perspective, and I’ve found that the majority of Christians are not unlike their non-believing counterparts in that they have a wide range of perspectives on the hot-botton issues seen throughout the book. To encapsulate a “Christian perspective” would be nearly impossible considering that articles like Should Christians ‘Believe in Science’ amid a Pandemic? even exist; and not to mention issues like polygamy are still debated on the battleground of the faithful.

10 years ago Reagent College Professor Mark Noll wrote The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind in which he (in)famously states: "The scandal of the evangelical mind is that there is not much of an evangelical mind." Noll’s thesis is quite clear and it’s for reasons like this that Christians need to critically engage with books like Isolation Moderation. The best way we can gain a Christian understanding of the book is to investigate roots of the faith. That means Jesus, and not the Jesus is My Homeboy Jesus, or the Jesus for the Second Amendment Jesus, but the radical Jewish rabbi Jesus of the first century A.D. He lived in a time of Roman occupation and Hellinistic (Greek and Near Eastern) influence. He traveled, preached, and healed people throughout what we know as modern day Israel (or Palenstine depending on who has invited you over for dinner). While the Romans did generally allow people to practice their faith freely the local Roman representative, Pontius Pilate, was naive of the inner workings of Jewish faith and politics. The Jewish leaders of the time were expecting a sword-wielding, political-cutthroat leader who’d take back Jerusalem. Imagine someone like a Make Jerusalem Great Again kind of leader. What they got instead was a radically different kind of Messiah. One who seemingly taught a pacifistic, love your enemy, and die to yourself kind of a message. Jesus further peeved the religious leaders by choosing to commune with the lowliest unclean, uneducated, and poor people of society. He even spoke with culturally ostracized women (a big “no no” for any respectable religious person). But he was hated most for his blasphemous proclamations that he was the Son of God, the long awaited for Messiah. “Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6, New Living Translation).

With this historical and cultural knowledge in mind we’re able to steer closer to a genuine Christian perspective of Windslor’s ideas. This helps us boil down to a rather cliche-sounding but still pertinent question: How would Jesus read Isolation Moderation? Early in the book Windslor explains how we’re living a time of expansive globalization which may “cause populist anger” to arise (p. 1). Remember that Jesus was living in a time of cultural, economic, and geographic repression of his people and many looked to him to overthrow these systems. However, his goal was to bring about change through personal repentance and a corresponding transformation of the human spirit that would ignite an overflow of generosity and healing. Depending on who you are, you might believe you’re living in a similar reality of external repression. Windsor’s goal is to give pragmatic solutions to these types of challenges, and he does so very effectively. However, Christian readers should be cautious of paralleling the life and teachings of Jesus into the complex realm of modern day international affairs. Jesus Christ should inspire not dictate specific interpretations of Isolation Moderation.

Since Jesus did not give us a manuscript for issues like tariffs, military alliances, or visas–all of which are discussed in the book–the Christian perspective on these will likely have developed from things we’ve read and conversations with friends, family, and educators. There are topics, however, where the Bible and Isolation Moderation do overlap, at least on a superficial level. Take for example, Citizenship. The Apostle Paul writes, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phillipians 3:20). While the verbiage is similar this does little to inform our understanding of political citizenship matters.

Other examples, like Accepting Refugees, are more critically examined through a Chritian lense. Windsor gives the example of thousands of refugees fleeing violence throughout the Middle East and heading towards Europe. He makes his views clear, “Simply put, it is not the responsibility of Europe to clean up the mess that other countries have created.” To be fair he does add, “This is not to say that Europe should not take in any refugees, but the number it took and the pace of intake might have been adjusted” (p. 17). It may not be the responsibility of Europe to fix all the world’s refugee problems; however, it is a Christian’s job to do more about this dire situation. The Bible is bursting with wisdom and clearcut commands on helping people like this. Look to Deuteronomy 27:19, “‘Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.”; Then all the people shall say, “Amen!’”

My one criticism of Isolation Moderation is that some sections feel like they’re written in a vacuum. I understand that Windslor never intended to write a comprehensive guide to the issues he describes. Nevertheless, his treatment of the particular issue Immigration Quotas seems to neglect some of it’s humane complexities. He gives an example of how we simply couldn’t expect any country of our choice to grant us benefits if we haven’t gone through the legal immigration processes. This is logical and fair. However, for Christians our approach to immigrants needs to be similar to that of refugees (excluding of course immigrants with ill intentions–usually referred to as terrorists). Jesus says, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body...Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26, New International Version). Because isn’t it our feelings of insecurity about not having enough that which holds us back from giving more of ourselves to those who are in need?

The reality is that if more people truly followed the teachings of Jesus Christ there would be little need for books like Isolation Moderation. Individual governments may not be responsible to correct all the world’s problems; however, Christians are called to be on the front lines of social and even political change.

Overall, Windslor is quite fair and balanced. He gives clear and practical examples such as highlighting how some European countries “champion their superior public services and benefits, but they fail to understand that these benefits are only possible because someone else is paying the large military bills to ensure their protection” (p. 30). Those paying the military bills are primarily the U.S. This fits into his overarching thesis: that every country should remain moderately isolated–holding to the idea that governments closest to its citizens are the most qualified to handle their challenges.

You won’t agree with everything Windslor promotes. But that is fine because he doesn’t seem to expect you to. Isolation Moderation would be a great addition to any high school or college Government course. It’s for Christians and non-Christians alike who want some clear and concise input on some very complex issues.

Highest Score - 5 Trophies

Writing: 🏆🏆🏆🏆

Readability: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

Argument: 🏆🏆🏆🏆

Overall: 🏆🏆🏆🏆

September 28, 2020