Evolution of the word: All things change
This is an online workshop facilitated by Rev. Marianne Borg. She calls it "Second Saturday Conversation." I've decided to sign up and also tell you about it, in case you are interested. Details for this month are below, from her email. By the way, it's free.
When: November 12, 2022Time: 9:30 am - 11:00 am Pacific TimeOptional "coffee time" 11:05-11:20Title: Do I stay Christian? A conversation with Brian McLaren
Brian McLaren is our guest for Second Saturday Conversation on November 12. He will bring his experience and reflections to our ongoing exploration of Christianity in and for the 21st century.Brian is author of over twenty books. He knows the evangelical world from the inside and outside and the rocky terrain of the Christian landscape in America. He is also in conversation with people across the globe who hope against hope for a better future. A better future requires we make changes now.
She mentioned his two most recent books, so here's information about them. I decided to read this first one after reading an online comment saying it can be summed up in the phrase "The only thing that matters is faith expressing itself through love." It also contributes to my Nonfiction November challenge to read nonfiction books, which began on October 31st.
Sixty-five million adults in the U.S. have dropped out of active church attendance and about 2.7 million more are leaving every year. Faith After Doubt is for the millions of people around the world who feel that their faith is falling apart. Using his own story and the stories of a diverse group of struggling believers, McLaren (a former pastor and now an author, speaker, and activist) shows how old assumptions are being challenged in nearly every area of human life, not just theology and spirituality. He proposes a four-stage model of faith development in which questions and doubt are not the enemy of faith, but rather a portal to a more mature and fruitful kind of faith. The four stages ― Simplicity, Complexity, Perplexity, and Harmony ― offer a path forward that can help sincere and thoughtful people leave behind unnecessary baggage and intensify their commitment to what matters most.
McLaren addresses in public the powerful question that surprising numbers of people ― including pastors, priests, and other religious leaders ― are asking in private. Picking up where Faith After Doubt leaves off, Do I Stay Christian? is not McLaren's attempt to persuade Christians to dig in their heels or run for the exit. Instead, he combines his own experience with that of thousands of people who have confided in him over the years to help readers make a responsible, honest, ethical decision about their religious identity. There is a way to say both yes and no to the question of staying Christian, McLaren says, by shifting the focus from WHETHER we stay Christian to HOW we stay human.
Here's the rest of Rev. Marianne Borg's email:
All are welcome to Second Saturday Conversation. There is no registration fee. An RSVP is required. Please click on the RSVP link below to register. The link to the November 12 session will be sent to you the day before and morning of November 12.Share this announcement. A way to let people know about Second Saturday Conversation and this special session with author, speaker, pastor, galvanizer, Brian McLaren.Look forward to seeing you November 12— Marianne
Knowing we'll be looking at things from Brian McLaren's point of view, I looked to see which of his books are on my bookshelves or on the Kindles (mine and Donna's that I inherited). Here's what I found there and on this blog:
This participant guide provides an introduction to the main text and can also stand alone with additional commentary and questions. The book also contains new content from McLaren, including personal devotionals he wrote for each section. I rated it 9 of 10.
1. Spiritually, Christians focus less on doctrine and more on the abiding life of love made manifest in Jesus.
2. Theologically, a new way of reading Scripture shifts away from literalism and toward a more generous, literary approach.
3. Missionally, the new way of life leads to "organizing religion" rather than organized religion, in which spiritual activists are committed to ecological, economic, and interfaith concerns.
McLaren presents a four-stage framework for understanding the spiritual life, and he unfolds spiritual practices appropriate to each stage. Each practice is rooted in a simple word: here, thanks, O, sorry, help, please, when, no, why, behold, yes, and silence. I noted these lines when I read this book:
"Contemplating a loving God strengthens portions of our brain — particularly the frontal lobes and the anterior cingulate — where empathy and reason reside. Contemplating a wrathful God empowers the limbic system, which is 'filled with aggression and fear.' It is a sobering concept: The God we choose to love changes us into his image, whether he exists or not" (p. 71).
McLaren was quoting Michael Gerson's summary of a different book, but it is a very interesting thought, isn't it?
We Make The Road By Walking: A Year-Long Quest for Spiritual Formation, Reorientation, and Activation ~ by Brian D. McLaren, 2014, theology, 304 pages
The fifty-two (plus a few) weekly readings can each be read aloud in 10 to 12 minutes and offer a simple curriculum of insightful reflections and transformative practices. These readings give an overview of the whole Bible and guide an individual or a group of friends through a year of study, interactive learning, and personal growth.
Just looking at what I underlined eight years ago reminds me of how much I like Brian McLaren's writing. I'm ready to finish reading this book and (hopefully) the one below:
This is a 52-week devotional, based on his book We Make The Road By Walking (see above) to inspire and activate you in your spiritual journey. Here you'll find a reorientation from a fresh and healthy perspective to explore what a difference an honest, living, growing faith can make in your life and in our world today.
This book is on Donna's Kindle, and she rated it 5 stars out of 5. She highlighted some sections, so it will be almost like discussing it with her.
No comments:
Post a Comment