A stimulating discussion of where Christianity may go

books:


	• The Heart of Christianity: Rediscovering a Life of Faith Marcus J. Borg HarperOne, 2004 - 234 pages average customer review:based on 84 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A stimulating discussion of where Christianity may go

I found THE HEART OF CHRISTIANITY ...an excellent, stimulating read. Borg clearly addresses questions that will help those who have been struggling with their religious commitment. I found his discussion of the types of faith and belief particularly helpful and believe his discussion of emerging Christianity to be just what is needed for the 21st century. Tom Hood

Amazing book

I was introduced to Marcus Borg books by the Pastor of my church. His ideas have changed my life. A good read for any open-minded, intellectual, and spriritual person.

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Great Book

One of the best over all views of the emerging paradigm within the Christian Church. Good stuff about the progressive and conservative points of view, and what the mainline churches need to learn from each of them. The seeds to the future are here for everyone to see. A must read for the serious Christian.

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A Rational Faith

Marcus Borg has written the clearest exposition of the Christian faith that has come to my attention! On the first page of the Preface, Borg states: "The sacrifice that Christianity asks of us is not ultimately a sacrifice of the intellect."

Borg describes the critical importance of "metaphor" and "myth" in understanding the Bible. He quotes Thomas Mann in describing myths not as fanciful untruths, but as "stories about the way things never were, but always are. They are really true, even though not literally true."

He deals with "supernatural theism" versus panentheism and carefully deals with our tendency to create God in our image as over against that of God as a spirit who pervades all of life. When his students come to him (at the Univ. of Oregon) and say they can't believe in God, he asks them to describe the God they can't believe in. His response is "I don't believe in that God either."

The author makes and important and fascinating distinction between the human "pre-Easter Jesus" and the "post-Easter Jesus", pointing out that Jesus' death was "the consequence of what he was doing and not his purpose".

Borg discusses the meaning of "thin places", as he call them and a number of topics that are traditionally accepted as tenets of the Christian faith, to which he gives new interpretation, such as the terms, "born again", "faith", the nature of the "Kingdom of God", "Sin and Salvation" (a new insight!) and finally what it means to "practice" the Christian faith.

This, as Borg says, is a book for "lovers of the faith and those seeking a faith to love". And best of all it does not require a sacrifice of the intellect!

Ernest G. Barr

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

World-renowned Jesus scholar Marcus J. Borg shows how we can live passionately as Christians in today's world by practicing the vital elements of Christian faith.

For the millions of people who have turned away from many traditional beliefs about God, Jesus, and the Bible, but still long for a relevant, nourishing faith, Borg shows why the Christian life can remain a transforming relationship with God. Emphasizing the critical role of daily practice in living the Christian life, he explores how prayer, worship, Sabbath, pilgrimage, and more can be experienced as authentically life-giving practices.

Borg reclaims terms and ideas once thought to be the sole province of evangelicals and fundamentalists: he shows that terms such as "born again" have real meaning for all Christians; that the "Kingdom of God" is not a bulwark against secularism but is a means of transforming society into a world that values justice and love; and that the Christian life is essentially about opening one's heart to God and to others.

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