Coming Together in the 21st Century: The Bible's Message in an Age of Diversity

by Curtiss Paul DeYoung, Richard Twiss (Contributor)

On the fifteenth anniversary of its original publication, this newly revised and expanded edition offers readers an in-depth study of multiculturalism and diversity in the Christian Scriptures. The original edition has been abridged to make room for nearly 50 percent new material, featuring new contributions from men and women of various cultures and contexts and expanding the definition of diversity to encompass more than race and ethnicity. A great resource for college, university, and seminary courses on reconciliation, multicultural ministry, and biblical studies.

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2009

About the author

Rev. Dr. Curtiss Paul DeYoung is a racial justice academic, author, and activist. He served as the Co-CEO of the Minnesota Council of Churches (MCC)—an ecumenical council of 27-member denominational communions from Historic Black, Mainline Protestant, Pentecostal, Peace, and Greek Orthodox churches. MCC has programs in racial justice, refugee services, and interfaith relations. DeYoung previously served as the Executive Director of the historic faith-based racial justice organization Community Renewal Society in Chicago, IL with its unique programmatic combination of church-based community organizing, policy advocacy, and investigative journalism.

Dr. DeYoung was the inaugural Professor of Reconciliation Studies and Co-chair of the Department of Anthropology, Sociology, and Reconciliation Studies at Bethel University in St. Paul, MN. He served as an adjunct professor at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL.

Rev. DeYoung served on staff at congregations in Minneapolis, New York City, and Washington, DC. He is an ordained minister in the Church of God (Anderson, IN). He consults and speaks nationally and internationally with extensive relationships among activists and peacemakers across the United States and in South Africa and the Holy Land.

Reviews

[Dennis Henn · Rating 3 out of 5]

When considering whether to read this book, ask yourself how you feel about Galatians 3:28. Is diversity in the body of Christ (the Church) important? Is social justice a cause for the church? Does Scripture support your position? If you answered yes to those three questions, De Young's book will provide you lots of Scripture to support your position, but nothing particularly new. If you aren't sure how you feel about opening the church up to voices beyond the majority, cultural voice, it's time you read this book.

[Drick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Curtiss DeYoung introduces the role of culture and its affect on our reading of the Bible and theology in general. He draws on recent biblical scholarship that insists that one must take into account the social position of the reader, as well as the culture and intent of the author of a given biblical text. He then goes on to show Jesus was an Afro-Asiatic Jew who is vastly different than the white European Jesus that is often presented. He then goes on to talk about the Bible's message of racial/cultural reconciliation and what that means for Christians today. In this second edition he has added the voices of other scholars -black, Latino, Asian, Native American, women - to show ways in which the Bible may be interpreted or read from different social/cultural positions. A fascinating and insightful book written for the average reader.