The Emerging Christian Way: Thoughts, Stories, and Wisdom for a Faith of Transformation

by Michael Schwartzentruber (Editor)

The face of Christianity is changing. In recent years, and in rapidly increasing numbers, people have begun to understand the core message and purpose of Christianity differently. They have returned to its ancient roots and found a wisdom that speaks to their experience of faith and God. According to this emerging vision, Christianity is primarily about transformation - the transformation of the self through a living and dynamic experience of God, who is not separate from us, but a part of us; and the transformation of society.

The Emerging Christian Way: Thoughts, Stories, and Wisdom for a Faith of Transformation is a collection of 13 essays, by some of the leading authors and thinkers in the field, covering ever aspect of this developing Christian paradigm. Contributors include Marcus Borg, Matthew Fox, Tom Harpur, Tim Scorer, Sallie McFague, Cynthia Bourgeault, Nancy Reeves, Don Grayston, the Very Rev. Bill Phipps, the Very Rev. Anne Squire, Mark Maclean, Bruce Harding, and Michael Schwartzentruber.

Genres: Religion, Christianity, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2006

Reviews

[WashU Catholic Student Center]

*filed under M. Borg*

[Elizabeth]

My best friend saw this book on my shelves (one of the many books I adopted from Jeff and Julie) when she was visiting, so I pulled it out.

I skimmed the Table of Contents and flipped to "To Sing or Not to Sing: That Is the Question" (Bruce Harding). I read much of it aloud -- boggling at what a not-very-good essay it was.

Next I read "Paying Homage: Being Christian in a World of Many Faiths" (Bruce Sanguin), which was fairly decent.

After she'd left, I read the remainder of the book in its entirety from the beginning. *shrug* I'm familiar with progressive Christian theology (and worship), and there wasn't much that felt new-to-me here in any really positive way.

[Jeremy]

Eh, it's alright. There's some good articles, but as I go through my notes, I didn't take much. I guess if you are new to emerging (progressive) Christianity you'll get more out of it, but it was a bit superficial at places.

However, there are several excellent paragraphs and commentary on worship styles and ideas for the emerging christian way. See pages 130, 186, and 213 are good sections.

[Psanders]

Enjoyed Matthew Fox article.