Owens, a doctoral candidate at the University of Chicago and a former research associate with the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, gathers contributors from academia, government, and public life who represent a wide range of faiths to share their perspectives on the retention, reform, or abolition of capital punishment. Their ideas are collected under themes of faith traditions and the death penalty, theological reflections on the death penalty, and personal commitments and public responsibilities. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)