This collection of essays in honor of Archbishop Desmond Tutu takes its title from what must be one of the most revolutionary texts of the Bible: "They will beat their swords into ploughshares, their spears into pruning knives. ... Each man will sit under his vine, under his own fig tree; and no one will be terrorized ..."(Micah 4:3,4).

Hammering Swords into Ploughshares. in the spirit of Tutu's ministry, sees the call to peace not simply as a call to lay down arms, but as a call to transform the tools of violence into materials for peaceful and productive life. The authors, who share Tutu's position that peace is not a passive spiritual condition, clarify and support his stance on matters of justice and peace.

This book includes personal tributes to Desmond Tutu, theological discussions on the South African struggle, and essays on the complex political and social situation. A fitting tribute to a man who has dedicated his life and ministry to the liberation of the oppressed and exploited, Hammering Swords into Ploughshares will help readers discern a truly biblical response to the South African situation and to oppression wherever it occurs.