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Reviews
A New Kind of Christianity: Ten Questions That Are Transforming the Faith by Brian D. McLaren
briannadasilva's review against another edition
3.0
This book explores ten questions that many Christians are asking about our faith, and then the author describes his "responses" to those questions.
I appreciated that he called them "responses" rather than "answers". He did not try to imply that he had everything figured out, but rather invited readers to begin a conversation with him.
The humility in that gesture was refreshing.
Nonetheless, while I did feel that the ten questions of this book are important for Christians to be asking and exploring, I ultimately disagreed with many of the author's "responses".
The main areas where we differ include our approaches to Biblical prophecy, and the fact that the author is a pacifist, and I, well, am not.
Still, I learned some things from this book, and even found parts inspiring. For example, I thought the author's approach of reading the Bible like a "library" instead of a "constitution" was brilliant, liberating, and immensely eye-opening.
Also, his perspective on bringing beauty and redemption to the world, as a mission of Christianity, was stirring... even if parts of it were far-fetched and impractical in my mind. But it's become something for me to think about.
I don't fully agree with this author, but I am grateful for the conversation he began. It's a conversation I definitely intend to continue engaging in.
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(P.S. I was unsure how to rate this... I might say it's a 3.5 for me. But my feelings and opinions on this book are pretty mixed, so any rating feels somehow inaccurate.)
I appreciated that he called them "responses" rather than "answers". He did not try to imply that he had everything figured out, but rather invited readers to begin a conversation with him.
The humility in that gesture was refreshing.
Nonetheless, while I did feel that the ten questions of this book are important for Christians to be asking and exploring, I ultimately disagreed with many of the author's "responses".
The main areas where we differ include our approaches to Biblical prophecy, and the fact that the author is a pacifist, and I, well, am not.
Still, I learned some things from this book, and even found parts inspiring. For example, I thought the author's approach of reading the Bible like a "library" instead of a "constitution" was brilliant, liberating, and immensely eye-opening.
Also, his perspective on bringing beauty and redemption to the world, as a mission of Christianity, was stirring... even if parts of it were far-fetched and impractical in my mind. But it's become something for me to think about.
I don't fully agree with this author, but I am grateful for the conversation he began. It's a conversation I definitely intend to continue engaging in.
---
(P.S. I was unsure how to rate this... I might say it's a 3.5 for me. But my feelings and opinions on this book are pretty mixed, so any rating feels somehow inaccurate.)
jtisreading's review against another edition
4.0
thought provoking and insightful. I don't want to say too much but I am definitely recommending the read.
anniegroover's review against another edition
3.0
I will probably re-read this at some point because it was invigorating in parts and unnerving in other parts.... I need to chew on it a bit more before I can make a definitive judgment.
paterson's review against another edition
1.0
There is only one kind of Christianity - we don't need a new kind.
monk888's review against another edition
4.0
"I've heard stories of Catholics being saved from ritualism by becoming Pentecostal, Pentecostals being saved from emotionalism by becoming Presbyterian, Presbyterians being saved from rationalism by becoming Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox being saved from clericalism by becoming Baptist, and Baptists being saved from historical amnesia by becoming Catholic or Orthodox. Simple churches save people from complexity, and complex churches save people from simplicity. Political churches save people from an overly personal religiosity, and personal churches save people from an overly politicized religiosity. Exciting churches save people from boredom, and quiet churches save people from hoopla and hype. Around and around the cycle goes."
kiranrai's review
3.0
This book is worth reading - I found it refreshing to read such an honest questioning of some of the aspects of modern Christian faith that never quite made sense (to me). Although I'm still figuring out where I stand on all the views expressed in the book, the majority of it I found helpful and encouraging. There were a few moments where I felt an actual sense of a weight being lifted as he explored the areas of christian faith that need rethinking.
The book is framed around 10 questions of the Christian faith that McLaren has often been asked, or that he thinks are particularly poignant. On one hand this approach gives a breadth to the book it may not have otherwise had, but on the other it limits the depth or focus of each subject. This is why it's a 3 star for me - it's a useful, conversational book, and good for opening up discussion, but is spread thin because of the number of questions it's built on.
The book is framed around 10 questions of the Christian faith that McLaren has often been asked, or that he thinks are particularly poignant. On one hand this approach gives a breadth to the book it may not have otherwise had, but on the other it limits the depth or focus of each subject. This is why it's a 3 star for me - it's a useful, conversational book, and good for opening up discussion, but is spread thin because of the number of questions it's built on.
unionmack's review against another edition
4.0
While corny at times, I did enjoy this fictionalized dialogue between a struggling evangelical pastor and a more postmodern, openminded Christian. I'd been meaning to read this since my own evangelical days and, while it hasn't brought me back to the fold of Christianity at all, it's refreshing to see a depiction—even an imaginary one—where two people benefit from each other's opposing viewpoints with the shared goal of ensuring their religious beliefs line up with both truth as they can see it and the world's needs. The more conversations like that, the better.
wadudu's review against another edition
5.0
Certainly brings up many things we (particulary as christians) all need to think about. Even if I don't agree with everything in the book, I find myself going back to reread various chapters all the time.
bosullivan's review against another edition
5.0
Don't be put off by the introductory chapter, which is anecdotal and kind of boring. I was, and so I put off reading chapter 2 until today (3/15/11) where the real discussion of theology and philosophy begins. It's fabulous.