Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16Shane Claiborne, the well-known activist and author, wants “a Christianity that looks like Jesus.” His Simple Way community in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood seeks to live out the revolutionary vision of the Sermon on the Mount: peacemaking, racial reconciliation, and a life rich in relationships instead of possessions. Plough asked Shane what he’s learned about communal living, how marriage has changed him, why millennials are leaving Christianity, and his newest mission: abolishing the death penalty. Many willing hands help construct a hydroponic greenhouse in the Simple Way park for local families in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. Today the greenhouse produces organic vegetables, while the watertank below houses fish whose waste serves as fertilizer. Photograph by Noir Guy Peter: Shane, you and I are speaking together outside the US Supreme Court building, where you’re part of a four-day vigil calling for an end to capital punishment. That’s also the focus of your latest book, Executing Grace, which argues that abolition should be a priority for US Christians. Why this issue now? Shane: When some people hear me say “death penalty” they go, “Ooh, sounds like debate class in high school!” I get that. But what sets this issue apart – what makes it so disturb- ing – is that we Christians are the biggest champions of executions in this country. In fact, the regions where the death penalty has flourished are precisely the areas where Christians are most concentrated. Eighty-five percent of all executions since 1976 have happened in the Bible belt. Other studies confirm that the group that supports capital punishment most fervently is evangelical Christians – much more so than secular people. For followers of Jesus, other life issues, including abortion, remain very important.