The Cathedral of the World: A Universalist Theology (Hardcover)

~ Forrest Church (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this collection of sermons, essays and speeches, author and longtime Unitarian minister Church lays out a framework for a 21st-century universalist faith. Contrary to popular opinion, he says, universalism is the most morally rigorous of theologies because of its call to respect and even embrace otherness, rather than merely to tolerate or, even worse, dismiss it. The son of a senator, Church makes a nuanced argument for the role of spirituality in politics, and argues that the story of America is a narrative of gradual moral progress, in which deed begins to approximate creed. As with many such collections, this volume at times feels too dated (in chapters focused on Terri Schiavo, the Oklahoma City bombing, and Y2K), too local (in sermons given to his congregation) and too oral (in jokes that were surely funnier when spoken aloud). Yet considering that Church has terminal cancer and thought his previous book, Love and Death, would be his last, such imperfections fade. An acclaimed minister's erudite and perhaps final treatise against theological parochialism, what he calls our era's most dangerous dysfunction, this book is an essential read for anyone interested in liberal religion. (Nov.)
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From Booklist

After his ostensible last book, Love & Death (2008), Church was reprieved from terminal cancer. Although no one was more surprised, he didn’t let the extended opportunity to grace us with more inspiring wisdom and blessing slip away. He reminds us in so many words how lucky he and we are to be in the hands of a lovingly liberal God. His message in a nutshell: “The same light shines through every religious window.” That is, while everyone perceives God through the prism of his or her own experience, the creator remains unchanged. A bit more political than his previous book—he spends several chapters defending a liberal God against charges made by the “right” that God is unreservedly conservative—this one feels like a swinging wide open of the doors of a dusty house and a letting-in of sunshine and fresh air. At the very least, it probably cheers many with its reassurance that people like Church, if not the man himself, who died in September 2009, are still around. --Donna Chavez

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Beacon Press (November 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807073237
• ISBN-13: 978-0807073230
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #114,576 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fitting summation/tribute to Forrest Church, October 17, 2009

By	Bobby Newman (Long Beach, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    (VINE VOICE)

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The Cathedral of the World is Forrest Church's final book, and a more perfect summary/tribute could not be imagined. There are new writings, and revisions of old. Dr. Church brings together themes he has explored throughout his career, from American history and the separation of church and state, to unitatian universalist theololgy, to social causes. What makes Dr. Church's writing so brillant is his absolute refusal to be put into a box, and his active avoidance of others doing the same. In a denomination where liberality in religion is often assumed to co-exist with liberality in politics, Dr. Church is quick to point out that being a liberal does not have to mean big government programs. On page 31 we read: "liberal means free from narrow prejudice." And that means from both the right and left of the political spectrum. He allows for the fact that we may agree on social goals, but disagree on how to get there. He doesn't hesitate to point out when we are giving "too convenient and self-flattering an answer" (page 32). Church truly thinks through all his positions, and gives you his reasoning. Pay special attention to the essays describing the histories and original meanings of particular holidays. The book is engaging and convincing in its advocacy for a thinking theology and social program, one that is all-inclusive. Dr. Church will be missed.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful overview of Forrest Church's spiritual journey, November 22, 2009

By	M. Wayne Saville "SwedishChef" (San Diego) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Cathedral of the World: A Universalist Theology (Kindle Edition)

Of all of Dr. Church's books, this one puts his lifetime of thought in one volume. Yes, it is largely derived from his previous works, and is a bit choppy in style (after all, he was dying and didn't have much time to work on it). However, it's a wonderful map of one very rational and thoughtful person's approach to religion, spirituality, politics, and humanitarianism. We can only hope that at least a few religious and political leaders incorporate this sort of thinking into their actions in the future.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The practical Side of Unversalism, December 29, 2009

By	Gregory M. Clapp "Greg Clapp" (Toronto, ON, Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Cathedral of the World: A Universalist Theology. Forrest Church. Beacon, 2009; $24.95

The Cathedral of the World: A Universalist Theology is a collection of excerpts from Forrest Church's sermons and previously published writings.
The late Forrest Church uses the twenty-five chapters to give the reader an overview of the development of religious liberalism and its involvement in American political and religious development.
The chapters are grouped into five sections. The first and second sections discuss the liberal influences on the development of the American Constitution and the need to rescue that history from its "captivity by the religious right".

The third and fourth sections focus on the history, theology and practice of Universalism.
Forrest Church sees Universalism, and its present day form, Unitarian Universalists, as an alternative religion that is constantly evolving. It has a theology that grows and is guided by a set of principles without the restrictions of creeds and dogmas.
He deals with all the expected theological topics such as evil, sin, death, hell, adversity and virtues. He also refers to interdependence, fear, pro-life, and guns.
One chapter is an examination of the self-reliance proposed by the patron saint of Universalism, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Church believes that the self-reliance proposed by Emerson has a negative effect on the practice of Universalism as well as society in general.

The fifth section of the book is a personal exploration into death and love while facing his impending passing in September 2009.



Church portrays Universalism as a constantly evolving, thoughtful religion that has spiritual, political and social dimensions which have been, and continue to be, important to the development of the fabric of American history.

"Finally, I extend my hand to the unchurched seeker. You, too, are on a journey, a quest for life's meaning and purpose. I believe both can be found in universalism, where you may discover, as I have, that to be saved without damning another is a wonderful thing." Forrest Church (1948 - 2009)