Customer Reviews

The End of Religion: Encountering the Subversive Spirituality of Jesus

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book changed my life. Religion has become an unfortunate problem for all of us; however, most will not admit it. Bruxy has paved the way for all of us to see Jesus for real through relationships and through a deeper understanding of the Biblical text. I would recommend this to everyone whom belongs to a Christian denomination.

FINALLY, a book that TRULY centers itself on Jesus. It strips away 2000 years of "Ianity" and leaves us with all that is Christ. All of this without offering this new book or its author as the answer and without creating further divisions in the church. Forget the clichés on the subject of Jesus and the church--THE END OF RELIGION leaves them no room--finally, Jesus without our baggage.

The chief reason it doesn't get five stars is that it's too short -- just as one's getting excited about seeing something in a new way the chapter ends and we're forced to move on. Orthodox without being ordinary, Bruxy presents an engaging case for Jesus v. Pharisees that's highly relevant to our culture today.

The book would make an excellent basis for a small group study, particularly for youth. Readers of any age will benefit, though more mature readers will need to branch off for deeper study. In this sense the book is somewhat "shallow" -- though not superficial -- in that issues tend to be discussed rather than explored and sometimes lack a broader doctrinal examination.

I can't thank the author enough for putting on paper what God has been speaking to my heart for years. His desire has always been for us to know Him personally and intimately. He is stirring up a generation of radical lovers who will no longer be satisfied to live as slaves to a loveless system that binds us up with legalities and empty tradition. God will be our reality...on earth as it is in heaven! If you are hungry to know God, and your spirit thirst for His living water, this book is for you. A quote from the book (p. 41): "Religion does not lead people to God any more than cups quench your thirst."

This book was a great benefit to my ailing soul. I used to be a member of a christian church, some would consider a cult; afterwards an avowed agnostic and now a tepid agnostic Christian. This book has shown me that Christianity is not the Church and all entangled with it, but the relationship we build with Christ. I think that if I were to become a full fledged Christian, this book has helped me take a step toward that direction, more than any other Christian book I have ever read! That is saying a lot, since I have read an extensive amount of christian literature. I have purchased multiple copies to give to Christian friends and my family. Simply put, this book, has the potential to change the lives of those outside and inside the Christian relationship.

I only wish there was a book like this available 30 years ago. What a difference it could have made in my life. Thank God it's here now, to help maybe (hopefully) multiplied thousands. I believe deep down that all of us who walk in relationship with Christ know that " religion", (in and of itself) never satisfies. Yet we burden ourselves with trying to measure up to the demands of it. Even without realizing it sometimes we juggle relationship with religion...(WILL NO MORE!!!). In this book Bruxy really brings to light the reasons why it doesn't satisfy. Thanks Bruxy for all the time you spent writing and researching this book. It's the most helpful book I've ever held apart from the scriptures themselves.

My heart breaks because so many people are held hostage to religion. These same people think they are worshipping Jesus, and want to, but religious traditions keep them from seeing who Jesus really is. I encourage every person who has had a problem with "the earthly church" and Christians to read this and give it to others. I especially encourage those who don't like what they see in Christianity to give Jesus a chance. In this book they can see why He really came and how His followers were supposed to handle the Good News.

Bruxy Cavey has provided a powerful book in the Spirituality vs. Religion Discussion that is going on in the wake of a decline in church attendance in the US and Canada (the author is Canadian). In order to provide some context to this review it's helpful to know the context in which the book was written by the author as well as the perspective of the reviewer.

Bruxy Cavey is a pastor of sorts in a non-traditional fellowship located near Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The church he is involved with puts itself forward as a church for people who don't like church. It appears to have an appeal for people who either have not been raised in a more traditional, formal church setting or who have come from such a background but come to a place in their life where religious tradition and things such as liturgy and orders of service have lost their appeal or usefulness in following Christ. That's not to say that Bruxy doesn't have some elements of his own church tradition and perspective present in this book. He does. While the expression of his beliefs may be seen as somewhat non-traditional, many of the perspectives he provides are coming from a Mennonite/Brethren point of view or what some might describe as a modified Anabaptist perspective.

This reviewer is a former pastor and church worker who has left institutional church and is moving toward what is commonly known as "organic church." The reviewer therefore is coming from a position that is highly sympathetic to the author and for that reason it will be no surprise that the book is rated accordingly. The measure of a book however, is not necessarily that there is agreement with the author going in, but rather how well the author presents his material and states his case. It is in this measure that this book excels and met most of the reviewer's expectations.

In reading some of the evaluations from different sources, it appears there is a small contingency of those who look at the title of the book, "The End of Religion" and draw from it an assumption that this is a book written in the vein of a recent resurgence in militant atheism or as it's referred to recently by the misnomer of "New Atheism." Such a perception would be dispelled by reading the continuing sub-title, "Encountering the Subversive Spirituality of Jesus." What is at work in this book is not a blanket condemnation of all religion, or specifically in this instance, of the Christian religion. This book is primarily an examination of those elements of religion which have become blockages for many people in seeing, understanding and coming to know Jesus Christ in a relationship that doesn't mistake religious trapping for the substance of genuine spiritual renewal.

This is the "Religion" that Cavey speaks of ending and in many ways it ties into what appears to be an expanding dialog that focuses upon "Spirituality" as opposed to "Religion." Depending upon the point of view of the reader and whether they are defensive of these elements of religious tradition or as noted before, unreasonably expecting an atheist diatribe, there is something here for most followers of Christ who might happen upon it.

More than anything, the predominant theme of this book is a focus upon Jesus Himself in the context of the times in which he lived and ministered. An examination of the Gospels (from which is where most scripture in the book is drawn) shows Jesus as someone who if anything, was a subversive figure, challenging the religious norms of his time and proclaiming that religious forms had come to replace the substance of genuine love for God. Extending this forward to today, Bruxy shows the irony that the "religion" that Jesus came to overthrow has in many regards come to be established and continued under the name of Christianity but completely foreign to the values and teaching of Jesus Christ and even more-so, the person of Jesus Christ.

Cavey has a gift for taking these premises and through the use of well researched quotes or in his own writing, turning phrases that are pithy and on target in illustrating his point. Through a simple progression of examining the roots of Christ in the Gospels, the history of the religious establishment in place that Christ can to dismantle and then a comparison to today's religious establishments Cavey arrives at the primary purpose of this book, a challenge to retreat from the empty shell of what much of Christianity has become and to return to Christ in the context of relationship.

This reviewer is accustomed to charging through and reading books quickly. This book however demanded a slower pace with pauses to ruminate and chew over the messages contained.

In short, if you've ever found yourself frustrated by a shallow, systemic religion that seems to have lost sight of the person of Jesus Christ, or if you're a believer in Christ who longs for revival and personal renewal, this book is a strong offering in addressing where religion gets off the path and how to return to Christ as central to your spiritual life.

5 stars. A profound and highly effective read.

bart breen

At first I was afraid to read this book, but I am very glad I did! I now see just how legalistic nearly every church is. Even the church our family recently began visiting (and we intend to become members) has had a tendency to cause me to feel guilty and ashamed. I have always known I won't reach perfection here on Earth, but now I can rest easy. This book is so wonderful, I don't know how many quotes I shared on facebook!!!

The church that I am on-staff at is presently in the middle of a 50 Day adventure using Bruxy's book. We are using the small group format and I am using it to teach our Youth group.Christ is revealed for the purpose for His arrival here among us. Anyone who is not quite sure where they stand with God, or sitting on the fence in their personal lives would be well served in reading this book. Also helpful is the 6 part CD set that Bruxy recorded a couple of years ago at "The Meeting House" called the "IRreligious Christ". Bruxy is very easy to listen to as He presents the material that basically makes up his book.The question and answer period on the CD is Live and Unscripted. Was actually a priviledge to be present @ The Meeting house personally while 2 of the 6 were recorded.While talking to Bruxy yesterday at a Meeting in Kitchener Ont. he asked to report back to him how it is going over with the Youth because He is interested in how relevant it is for youth.Bruxy has demonstrated that he is very much like David in that he is a man after God's own heart!