Spiritual Bankruptcy: A Prophetic Call to Action

by John B. Cobb Jr.

In these times many people feel that their cherished religious values are held hostage by the forces of secularization and that, as a consequence, society is morally bankrupt.  While acknowledging this problem, John Cobb overturns the prevailing expectations by drawing a distinction between secularization and secularism. 

Secularization, as Cobb uses the term, has a prophetic function. It is a process by which religion is cleansed and refocused on mission and ministry rather than on other-worldly myths and concerns. The uncritical understanding of religion that focuses on religion for its own sake is what Cobb calls secularism. In Cobb’s view, secularization has led to secularism or a culture of consumerism that threatens those very religious convictions many hold dear.  After teasing the concepts of secularization and secularism apart, Cobb proposes an alternate path for secularization that will help us reevaluate our relation to our world and each other.

192 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2010

About the author

John Boswell Cobb Jr. was an American theologian, philosopher, and environmentalist. Cobb was regarded as a preeminent scholar in the field of process philosophy and process theology, the school of thought associated with the philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead. He was the author of more than fifty books. In 2014, Cobb was elected to the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Reviews

[Bo Gordy-Stith · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Cobb argues for the secularizing of the traditional, religious Way of Christianity, in order to save a planet in crisis and the people (and all living things) who inhabit it. He also argues that this tactic will address the postmodern crisis of increasing irrelevance of the Christian Church in a postmodern world. Cobb distinguishes "secularizing of the tradition" (drawing knowledge from the best thinkers of the day without compromising the distinctive contributions of the Way) from the "secularism of the cultural context" which drowns out the wisdom of all Ways of religious understanding in a cacophony of knowledge (of science, philosophy, higher education, and economism).

Pointing to the Hebrew prophetic tradition (in which Jesus stands), Cobb appeals to Christians to critically reappropriate our tradition in order to speak truth to a consumer mentality that is contributing to the destruction of our world. Cobb interprets the basileia theou (traditionally "Kingdom of God") as Commonwealth of God, and argues that this understanding of God's just rule on earth was powerfully opposed to the Roman empire. It still is - though so many followers of the Way have spiritualized this radical message to the point of stripping the Gospel of its power to affirm God's will on the earth.

Cobb argues persuasively for the Christian Church to find its voice and speak truth first to religious acculturation with culture and with power, and then to empire, currently bent on the destruction of the planet. He surveys the historical Jesus, Pauline Christianity and Church history comprehensively to stir the Christian Church to rekindle a prophetic call to all people to keep faith with each other and our planet in this global climatological crisis. It's a hopeful and empowering read.