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The Story We Find Ourselves In: Further Adventures of a New Kind of Christian (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) (Book 2)
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$ 13.16
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$ 14.95 |
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$ 1.79 (12%) |
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| Item Number |
96163 |
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Item Description...
After many years as a successful pastor, Brian McLaren has found, as more and more Christians are finding, that none of the current strains of Christianity fully describes his own faith. In The Story We Find Ourselves In -- the much anticipated sequel to his award-winning book A New Kind of Christian-- McLaren captures a new spirit of a relevant Christianity, where traditional divisions and doctrinal differences give way to a focus on God and the story of God's love for this world. If you are searching for a deeper life with God-- one that moves beyond the rhetoric of denominational and theological categories-- this delightful and inspiring fictional tale will provide a picture of what it could mean to recapture a joyful spiritual life. |
Item Specifications...
Pages 310
Dimensions: Length: 1" Width: 5.5" Height: 8.25"
Weight: 0.75 lbs.
Binding Softcover
Release Date Apr 1, 2008
Publisher Jossey-Bass
ISBN 0470248416
EAN 9780470248416
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Availability 7 units.
Availability accurate as of May 24, 2012 12:58.
Usually ships within one to two business days from Johnson City, TN.
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Reviews - What do our customers think?
 | Entertaining and thought proviking Dec 9, 2007 |
I read this on the recommendation of a good friend a little while back, and decided to give this as a gift this Christmas. After going through the reviews, though, I thought I needed to throw my voice into the ring as well.
First, understand that this book is primarily a set of fictional dialogs, not a drama or action book by any means. Through the dialogs between the main characters, we are presented with an interesting and thought provoking alternative perspective on Christianity.
Through this story (and his other stories as well), McLaren tells hard truths- about a church that is out of touch with modern society, a church that is so caught up in its orthodoxy and purity of doctrine (conservative or liberal) that it has largely forgotten its original purpose. This message is bound to raise the hackles of those in the establishment, and you can see this discomfort reflected in the negative reviews above.
Which is fine, and I am guessing that this is what McLaren wanted in the first place. Modern America has lost the art of dialog and debate. Sure, you can turn on the TV and watch ranting people talk past each other, but that is not a dialog. True engagement with the possibility of disagreement is considered impolite and distasteful, and something to be avoided at all costs. So what we are left with is opposing positions (Christian and otherwise) isolating themselves in their own ideological sandbox and refusing to constructively engage the other side.
McLaren is making an effort to start the missing dialog, and bridge the isolated ideologies, and he does so by presenting a new perspective on the Christian story... a "third way" that is perpendicular to the liberal/conservative axis. He never claims (either himself or through his characters) that this is the right story or the only story. But it is a story that makes you think and challenges each reader to explore further. (One way to explore, of course, is to engage with those of opposing perspectives... perhaps, just perhaps, there is a kernel of truth in their position as well.)
Christianity was born as a rebellious movement with a focus on ditching the ceremony/dogma of Roman era Judaism and getting back to the basics- honoring God, serving each other, etc. In some ways, McLaren is simply asking us to go back to our roots. I, for one, have been enriched by that journey, and I suggest that you give it a go. This is as good a place as any to start.
| | |  | The story we find ourselves in Nov 29, 2007 |
| Again I loved this series. If you are open to new presentations of Christianity but are not ready to question parts yet then read this book first. You cannot come away from this novel not either having been opened up to new expressions of faith or having your current beliefs strengthen. Either way your far better off. | | | | And what a story! Jun 30, 2007 |
| In the most unlikely of settings with the most unlikely people, NEO (see book 1) tells his imagined story of the universe and life, ending with a a very interesting preview of what Heaven might be like. (Some characters: terminal cancer PhD biologist/atheist and her hippy son, Jamaican ex-preacher-still-Christian PhD scientist and believer in evolution (NEO), a disenchanted preacher, and his family). The book centers around a long story by NEO , who is on vacation, that starts in Ecuador trying to explain how he can be a Christian and a Science teacher to a sceptical atheist biologist who is trying to save species. It continues and concludes in Maryland where NEO finally convinces her (with God's help, of course). Shortly before she dies of cancer she becomes a true believer and is baptised. It sounds pretty far fetched and terribly melodramatic the way I put it here, but actually, for me, it was a believable, fascinating continuation of the first book, "A New Kind of Christian", well worth 5 stars. I am going on to read the last of the trilogy, with great thanks to Brian McLaren for some beautiful insights and a touching narrative. | | |  | Messing With Creation... Mar 26, 2007 |
...but in a good way, I think. McLaren's ideas in this installment of the trilogy are excellent, shying away from any kind of doctrinal statement but instead placing ideas and thoughts within the wider meta-narrative of Hebrew religion, Judaism, and Christianity. The best move this book makes is placing sexuality, perhaps THE most overlooked part of the human experience in evangelical culture and American culture as a whole, within the framework of creation. McLaren is absolutely right in pointing out that any debate on origins shouldn't start with creation vs. evolution, but should start with sexuality. McLaren's ideas have always been more conversational, and this book follows in that stance of critiquing rational minded religion.
So, why three stars? To put it as nicely as I can, McLaren's prose is underwhelming, his characters are one dimensional, and the plot of this book would have been better written by a team of writers from "General Hospital." Some might disagree with me and would say that McLaren's book is more conversational theology than novel, but I would counter that it would have been better as a strictly conversational theology book and not a novel.
But, its hard to argue with McLaren's intentions and this book is a welcome addition to his end of the theological conversation. | | | | The Story I found myself a part of . . . Mar 9, 2007 |
| In part 2 of the this series we find the characters coming to the realization of no boundaries, unexpected discoveries, and love for all of creation (not just the human creation). What the author brings forth for all who read is not a pointless liberal agenda, or leftist mentality, but rather a perspective of the truth that transcends categories. It is a story about the inclusive rescue by God for all creation, our role in that rescue, and the role of others past, present and future. This book- and series- has challenged some of my earlier notions and categories and is bringing about an emergence of a new perspective. I am gratfeul to the author for writing this book. | | | Write your own review about The Story We Find Ourselves In: Further Adventures of a New Kind of Christian (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) (Book 2)
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