Ebook A New Kind of Christianity Ten Questions That Are Transforming the Faith Brian D McLaren Books

Product details Paperback 336 pages Publisher HarperOne; Reprint edition (February 1, 2011) Language English ISBN-10 0061853992

A New Kind of Christianity Ten Questions That Are Transforming the Faith Brian D McLaren Books Reviews

• In this book McLaren examines ten questions that he feels are essential for postmodern Christianity to re-imagine
  What is the overarching storyline of the Bible?
  How should Biblical authority be understood?
  Is God violent?
  Who is Jesus and why is he important?
  What is the Gospel?
  What do we do about the church?
  Can we find a way to address human sexuality without fighting about it?
  Can we find a better way of viewing the future?
  How should followers of Jesus relate to people of other religions?
  What do we do now?
  Given the scope and scale of these questions, it should come as no surprise that this is a weighty tome, with much to say and much to ponder for readers. As in his other books, McLaren poses questions as much as he provides answers. Chapter 7 may seem a bit backward to Progressive churches that are already open and affirming of LGBTQ members---McLaren appears to be addressing readers still in the Evangelical camp and needing to be convinced of this position. This book might be useful for study groups that are strongly committed to discussing the deeper issues of faith.
• This is a revolutionary book that tries to provide wise justification for revising the Christian faith for our times. I have read several of McLaren's fine books, and this book seems to me to be a companion piece to his work "Everything Must Change," in which he tries to address the most urgent questions and issues of our times. He feels the Christian faith has the answers to these questions and must address them.
  Now in is this volume,"A New Kind of Christianity," he asks 10 new questions that have to do with our faith and how we face these important aspects of faith in new way more suited to the 21st Century. I believe he has set a new course for a more liberal, open-minded evangelical faith that is not satisfied with many of the weak and outdated assumptions and platitudes of Protestantism. He also is more inclusive and speaks to the Catholic Church (his wife is Roman Catholic) and even to Jews and others. If you are frustrated with the church and its inability to meet our needs in these rapidly changing times, then I think you will find many thought provoking ideas. I was already moving in this same direction for years, and then I discovered McLaren and it has opened some whole new worlds to my thinking and my faith. I think it will take several decades for most evangelicals to come to many of these new ideas, but the change has begun. He has been a guest lecturer at most of our leading
  seminaries, and he has numerous addresses and interviews on You Tube. He has ministered around the world and has started his own church in his home, and also has started many other churches in the U.S., Canada and other nations. So I urge you to become familiar with his books and ideas, and to discuss them with other believers who are open-minded truth seekers, and way want a new way to look at the Bible and these important issues, and strive to revise our faith in a more meaningful way. Highly recommended!
• Our church is using this book for a group study (Sunday School). A larger group has been coming every week. The group is very excited and engaged in our discussion of the book. We don't teach the book. We briefly introduce the chapter topics and then invite open discussion. There is never enough time. The attendees are very engaged and have many things that have peaked their interest and for many have been the stimulus for further reading that they bring to class.
  We are finding that we are quite ready to challenge ourselves to consider our theological beliefs and listen to other's opinions. We have not had to struggle to create a safe sanctuary for discussion. Most of us have come from Baptist, Catholic, or other conservative belief traditions that we have grown to doubt. Brian gives a lot of information and a lot of background to his topics. I believe that this study will continue with a further discussion of other topics that Brian hasn't brought up.
  We are very grateful for his excellent writing and invitation to be gentle with our pasts.
• My wife and I are reading through Brian McLaren's 'New Kind of Christianity' as part of our morning devotions. I'm not sure why all the fear and loathing on this - It's good, important, even. I get what McLaren's trying to do, I'm just not convinced about "New" and "Transforming" bits. The title is meant to engage, to be provocative in that click-bait kinda way but the book is really more a return to historical and cultural contexts, and a less common but consistent and principled perspective on Scripture. It's a good companion to books like Kenneth Bailey's "Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes"/"Paul through Mediterranean Eyes", and Sarah Ruden's "Paul Among the People". All of them will make you think - which is vital.