""Wherever the willingness to rethink has been squelched, wherever that sense of quest has been buried under convention and complacency, the Christian faith in all its forms is in trouble. But even there, something is trying to be born. Even now, right here, among us, inside you, inside me. You may feel it as a curiosity, a desire for better answers than you inherited so far. You may experience it as frustration, knowing that there must be more to faith than you currently know. You may know it as hope, hope that God is seeking humble people whose hearts and lives can be the womb of a better future. . . . In you, your family, your faith community, and circles of friends, among people of peace and faith everywhere, something is trying to be born.""
—from A New Kind of Christianity
We are in the midst of a paradigm shift in the church. Not since the Reformation five centuries ago have so many Christians come together to ask whether the church is in sync with their deepest beliefs and commitments. These believers range from evangelicals to mainline Protestants to Catholics, and the person who best represents them is author and pastor Brian McLaren.
In this much anticipated book, McLaren examines ten questions facing today's church—questions about how to articulate the faith itself, the nature of its authority, who God is, whether we have to understand Jesus through only an ancient Greco-Roman lens, what exactly the good news is that the gospel proclaims, how we understand the church and all its varieties, why we are so preoccupied with sex, how we should think of the future and people from other faiths, and the most intimidating question of all: what do we do next? Here you will find a provocative and enticing introduction to the Christian faith of tomorrow.
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"Great book to take a look at some of the worst tendencies in Christianity today and ask the question: Why? He then puts forth 10 questions to think about and grapple with that McLaren hopes will bring about a new kind of Christianity that more closely mirrors the life of Jesus. "
— Amy (5 out of 5 stars)
" McLaren is good at asking questions and drawing others into dialogue. "
— Steve, 2/2/2014" Certainly challenging, not easy or comfortable reading for many but worth deeply reflecting on his thesis that Christianity must change. Our need is to rediscover what it means to follow Jesus and work for the Kingdom rather maintain a broken institution. A necessary book. "
— David, 1/29/2014" This book is not for the faint of heart as it will cause you to rethink everything you have ever held as truth regarding the Bible and God. However, keep in mind that if your "truth" can not with stand scrutinizing questions, is it really Truth? "
— Voniece, 1/18/2014" McLaren is always provocative, but I frequently find that I agree with him. More exactly, I find that Brian has simply given voice to the convictions I find evolving in me, pushing me further along in that thinking-though process. "
— Larry, 1/16/2014" I feel that Brian McClaren's book was very in sync with my own thoughts about Christianity today. Would recommend to anyone wondering about Christianity in today's world and if there is a more inclusive way to love our Creator. "
— Mary, 1/12/2014" I'm not sure if I have found what I'm looking for or not, but this book presents a Christian faith I could believe in. A very good overview on emerging / progressive Christianity and the questions shaping it. "
— Jarkko, 1/11/2014" Although some of what he had to say was interesting his tone was condescending and his arguments were sometimes weak and very repetitive. "
— Casey, 1/6/2014" So much to think about.... "
— Jessica, 12/31/2013" I disagree with so much of what he says but he makes convincing arguments. It's Matthew 4:1-11 all over again. "
— Richard, 12/11/2013" Sort of the theological underpinning of A New Kind of Christian from almost 10 years earlier. "
— Raborn, 12/10/2013" Excellent - provides many ideas to think about and absorb. Need to read it more than once. "
— Arlene, 11/22/2013" Good idea for a book, but for some reason the writing just didn't engage me. "
— Jim, 10/25/2013" Great ideas. Tough to stay interested. "
— Beth, 5/28/2013" Good questions on faith and culture "
— AJ, 3/27/2013" I liked the ideas in this book, but I felt the ideas were a bit over explained at times. The writing could have been stronger, and a little less dense. But this is a good read for those truly interested in thoughtful conversation about faith. "
— Michelle, 12/25/2011" Interesting reading as an evangelical Christian describes a "new" way of approaching Christianity that closely resembles the faith I was raised with. Nevertheless, he articulated it in ways that I found useful and insightful. "
— Laura, 9/9/2011" This is an interesting and useful book to stimulate thinking in new ways; looks at church history from a viewpoint I hadn't considered before.... "
— Dennis, 6/10/2011" Don't be put off by the introductory chapter, which is anecdotal and kind of boring. I was, and so I put off reading chapter 2 until today (3/15/11) where the real discussion of theology and philosophy begins. It's fabulous. "
— Deborah, 3/15/2011" Excellent critique of our current practices as Christians and ways to change that to a more true world view. "
— Kay, 2/27/2011" I'm not sure if I have found what I'm looking for or not, but this book presents a Christian faith I could believe in. A very good overview on emerging / progressive Christianity and the questions shaping it. "
— Jarkko, 2/25/2011" Good questions on faith and culture "
— AJ, 1/25/2011" Great ideas. Tough to stay interested. "
— BessieAnn, 1/8/2011Brian D. McLaren is the author of fifteen books. A former college English teacher and former pastor for twenty-four years, he is an author, activist, public theologian, and frequent guest lecturer for gatherings in the United States and internationally. His work has been covered in Time magazine, and many other media outlets. He is a faculty member of the Living School at the Center for Action and Contemplation.
Lloyd James (a.k.a. Sean Pratt) has been a working professional actor in theater, film, television, and voice-overs for more than thirty years. He has narrated over one thousand audiobooks and won numerous Earphones Awards and nominations for the Audie Award and the Voice Arts Award. He holds a BFA degree in acting from Santa Fe University, New Mexico.