Adopted: The Sacrament of Belonging in a Fractured World
This 2017 book by ethicist and theologian, Kelley Nikondeha, is equal parts memoir, bible study, ethical study, and theological reflection. It is no small task to make those parts work together, but Nikondeha pulls it off and the result is thought-provoking and worth your time.
Adoption appears frequently in the Bible, notably in the story of Moses and his upbringing in Egypt. This is the story that Nikondeha, an adopted child and adoptive parent herself, identifies with and uses as the starting point for her book. Over eight chapters, she examines the whole experience of adoption: those who adopt, those who are adopted, those who relinquish children for adoption, and the extended family created by adoption. Each chapter blends the elements of memoir, theology, ethics, and biblical reference in a clear, engaging way. Nikondeha's writing is a pleasure to read.
The biggest theological considerations came toward the end of the book. Nikondeha frames adoption as a possible contribution toward the repair of damage and hurt in the world. Children in need of a loving, supportive, capable home can find one through adoption. This is a good thing and addresses some of the ills which put people in a position where considering relinquishing a child is necessary. But Nikondeha does not stop there. She goes on to expand this idea, suggesting that if we took the idea of adoption seriously, in all of its theological depth, many of those ills would be eliminated from the world. If we could truly understand one another as parents, siblings, and children all related in the great family God has gathered together and treated one another as beloved family, the world would be a much different place.
Adopted: The Sacrament of Belonging in a Fractured World is an excellent read and worth your time if the subject of adoption seen through a theological lens is of any interest to you. The content is made accessible by Nikondeha's fine writing and this book would make a good choice for a book club or study group.
