Reforming Christianity [Paperback]

Don Cupitt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2001

Christian churches are seemingly in terminal decline. Is a reformation and renewal of Christianity still possible, even at this late hour?

Don Cupitt argues that it is possible, but will be difficult. Church Christianity as we have received it is handicapped by two great errors—a mistaken interpretation of Jesus as having been the co-equally divine Son of God incarnate and the mistaken belief that there is a controlling supernatural world beyond this world. To escape from these errors we need to go back and start again from the historical Jesus and his message about 'the Kingdom of God' on this earth. We need to create a modern version of his kingdom religion—a religion that is immediate, beliefless, and entirely focussed upon the here and now.

Reconstructing Christianity in this way calls for a revolution in thought At present, the churches don't even want to think about reform and renewal; but if thery are ever to become serious, this is the path they'll have to take.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Don Cupitt is a Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He is the founder of the Sea of Faith movement and author of more than thirty books including Taking Leave of God (1980) and After God (1997).

Product Details

• Paperback: 156 pages
• Publisher: Polebridge Pr Westar Inst; 1st edition (March 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0944344828
• ISBN-13: 978-0944344828
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,033,757 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Kingdom Come through Sea of Faith . . ., May 5, 2001

By 

Dave Kinnear "Executive Leader Coach" (Lake Forest, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Reforming Christianity (Paperback)

Reforming Christianity is a bit more difficult read than Remedial Christianity but as compelling.

I had the pleasure of hearing Professor Cupitt speak at a seminar not long ago, and I find his writing as interesting as his presentation. It helps, too, that I now can hear his voice as I read his book. Each sentence is packed and must be carefully unpacked in order to get the full meaning of his statements. But the effort is worth it since, as you work through the dense words, you begin to see a full picture of the Kingdom Religion that Don Cupitt believes to be so vital to the reformation of Christianity. I refer to such statements such as: "All the doctrinal themes are meant gradually to sink in and become part of one's own being - which gives rise to the paradox that when you have fully become a Christian, you aren't one any longer." And this: "I have already said that in the process of its reformation, Christianity has to move on from its ecclesiastical period, its 'schooldays', now ending, to its fully adult form, the 'kingdom religion' that Jesus originally lived, preached and hoped to see on earth."

I can think of no other way to get across the new ideas and directions for Christianity than the way Professor Cupitt takes. His well structured thoughts in this logically laid out volume helps put things in perspective. And though I found some of the ideas difficult to grasp at first reading, subsequent study made them so with little "Ah Ha!" moments. Overall I have to rate this excellent work at least a 4 on a scale of 5. I hope it gets to your reading list for the hard work of continuing on your spiritual path.