Accidental, David W. Peters
Accidental, David W. Peters
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Accidental
Rebuilding a Life after Taking One

Author: David W. Peters

Narrator: Adam Verner

Unabridged: 4 hr 22 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 11/07/2023


Synopsis

Accidental injury is the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of forty-five. From fatal traffic accidents to firearms injuries to casualties of war to a deadly virus passed to an elderly loved one, accidental harm dates back almost as far as our human stories go. When these accidents occur, they pose profound and agonizing questions: What do we do when a death falls somewhere between a murder and an insurance claim? What if we are responsible for such harm? Is healing even possible?

Rooted in research on moral injury, religious rituals of confession and cleansing, and psychology—as well as the hard-won wisdom of someone who has been there—Accidental explores the complicated reality of accidental death and injury and offers companionship to those affected by these tragedies. Author, military veteran, and Episcopal priest David W. Peters walks with us through his own lonely journey after he unintentionally killed someone in a traffic accident and the journey of his family, as his brother was killed by a bus. Peters investigates the cars, guns, and systems that put some people and communities at more risk than others, and then draws wisdom from ancient cities of refuge, where accidental killers could find asylum. Accidental helps listeners accept responsibility, see themselves in the stories of others, and find absolution and community.

About David W. Peters

David W. Peters served as an enlisted Marine and Army Chaplain, who deployed to Iraq in 2005. He is the author of several books, notably Death Letter: God, Sex, and War and Post-Traumatic God: How the Church Cares for People Who Have Been to Hell and Back. Today he serves as the vicar of St. Joan of Arc Episcopal Church, a new church plant in the diocese of Texas.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Mirissa

This book is billed as a self-help book for those who have accidentally killed someone, so I was feeling odd reading it. However, page 12 welcomes those like me into the audience: “Maybe you’re simply interested in essential questions of human existence: of penitence, guilt, moral injury, remorse, s......more

Goodreads review by Mariel

Quite literally not for me. I learned a lot and was very moved by the humanity but there is a lot of Christianity which can be a struggle.......more

Goodreads review by Nicole

Good read, but I think people will be surprised how religious it is. Didn’t see that coming.......more