A review by rjmaupin
How to Inhabit Time: Understanding the Past, Facing the Future, Living Faithfully Now by James K.A. Smith

reflective slow-paced

2.0

If any Christians are looking at this review for guidance, don’t read mine. I picked up this book in my local bookstore without doing a thorough read of the back and assumed it was a philosophical, not theological, musing on time. I was raised Christian, but am now an agnostic, so I had to explain that bias.

With all this in mind, I still decided to read it because I felt I could pull out some pieces of insight and/or just learn more about the contemporary Christian movement. I have to start by saying that I really admire the author and the way he is writing about religion. I haven’t heard ANY Christians acknowledge the rampant racism in religious (white) communities, so I was shocked to see Smith discussing it. I do wish he spoke more about it, especially the part at the beginning where he explains that the harmful histories inflicted upon people of color still exist in the present. There is so much more to say and I wish he pushed it further.

I wouldn’t say I disagreed with any of his general principles. Living with the seasons, embracing ephemerality, and having discernment are all key things to live by. I didn’t read the Meditations sections since I was treating this like philosophy and the end got a little too preachy/boring for me so I skimmed it. I’m sure it would be a great book for the correct audience, lol.