Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
52 of 54 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Book is mistitled, nonetheless a great read, April 26, 2003
Co-authored books, where either the authors alternate chapters or the authors write a chapter and the other responds, are among the most enlightening books to read, especially in the area of theology. Dialog between two authors who have different viewpoints allows the reader to arrive at his or her own conclusions, sort of like "Point-Counterpoint". While McLaren and Campolo are sometimes in agreement, they often disagree on some fundamental issues. McLaren is becoming (along with Leonard Sweet) the poster-boy for postmodern Christianity, while Campolo camps out on the left edge of evangelicalism. When McLaren takes his flights of fancy into his new kind of Christianity, Campolo is there to keep the subject grounded in a slightly more traditional interpretation (excluding a few areas, such as homosexuality, in which his views would be rather troubling to the more conservative reader). This book brought to my mind the fact that, although the world and parts of the church seem to be moving towards postmodernism, the transition is far from complete, and, in fact, may take a few hundred years! McLaren's final essay on postmodernism, while probably the most difficult passage in the book, gives a great overview of epochs of history and how different eras and transitions have played out. All in all, I find myself having more of a kinship with Campolo than I do McLaren (McLaren's view of absolute truth being relatively unimportant is totally wrongheaded, in my view, but once again, Campolo brings some sanity to the issue with his reply), but, whichever author strikes one's fancy, this is still a terrific read.
|
|
|
44 of 48 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty good, pretty light , May 20, 2005
If you find it hard to believe that one could actually call oneself a Christian and vote Democrat, you might find this book shocking. Otherwise, most of this ground is pretty covered. That doesn't make this bad reading, far from it, because Campolo and McLaren cover their ground pretty well, summing up clearly what can be complex and confusing issues. But if you've been keeping up at all with the ongoing debates in the church and culture surrounding the issues here (homosexuality, seminary, the environment, etc.) don't expect to have your mind changed by this book.
That said, there are a few chapters that stand out:
--The one on the Bible, which offers alternative approaches to scripture (beyond analysis.) I want to make copies of this and give it to everyone in my small group.
--The second half of the chapter on worship, in which McLaren condemns chasing "the Feeling" and leaving God behind.
--The last chapter, on Postmodernism. How refreshing to hear the pomo church guru himself admit that he's growing sick of the term and its myriad meanings and mis-usages. (oy, what a thoroughly "modern" use of alliteration that was!)
It's a pretty quick and light read, and might be one to keep on the bookshelf for the sake of lending to those who are just stepping out of the hyper-religious conservative mindset.
PS - the title is a bit misleading. The authors never actually deal with "how the culture" has done anything. They just address where they think mainstream middle class churchianity has missed the point.
|
|
|
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A profitable read!, June 29, 2003
A profitable read for anyone who is mildly discontent with popular doctrines/positions or is just plain curious about some current Christian thought concerning topics such as sin, doubt, evangelism, environmental stewardship, post modernity, worship, and salvation (these chapters were the most interesting to me). Even if you are not a Christian you maybe interested in reading this book because it opens a window into some major issues in Christian Theology, while showing that Christians are not quite so dogmatic as people may think. A brief overview for those who would like a little more info. Responsibility for the writing of the various chapters fell on one author affording the second author an opportunity to add, elaborate, counter, or all three at the end of the chapter. For the most part I consider this format a benefit but at times it became annoying. The mild annoyance was caused by some of Campolo's responses. It wasn't the fact that Campolo ocassionaly disagreed with McLaren, but fact that he seemed to expect McLaren in one chapter explain every last little detail and facet of the item being discussed, or he just plain missed McLaren's point altogether. This was my only complaint. You will also become familiar with post modernity if your not already, do to the fact that McLaren talks about it in nearly every chapter that he wrote. Which could be a possible annoyance for some,it didn't bother me though. Campolo best chapters were eschatology and environmental stewardship. In the chapter on eschatology Campolo challenges dispensationlism saying that it eliminates the motivation for working to further the Kingdom of God, in that dispensationlism attempts to rescue those jumping ship instead of recruiting laborers to make the best repairs possible until the ship reaches the harbor and can be fully restored. Environmental stewardship is pretty self explanatory, but commonly overlooked. I'm glad someone finally took the time rebuke our current policy on the environment. McLaren shines in doubt, salvation, and worship. He also takes time to explain that often fuzzy term called post modernity. Mclaren purposes that we need to stop judging people when they have questions and realize that doubt can be good a lot of the time because it encourages growth. Salvation starting line or finish line? Worship, who have we made the audience to be, God or ourselves? There is a lot in this book that is worth reading. You may not agree with everything but the benefit is that encourages you to think the issues through for yourself. If you found your self interested with any of these topics and want to read more on these issues, I would recommend a few other books by Brian McLaren in addition to this one, A New Kind Of Christian, The Story We Find Ourselves In, and More Ready Than You Realize.
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
by Brian D. McLaren
by Brian D. McLaren
See all Editorial Reviews
