A nuanced, if not comprehensive, call for revitalization of Christianity’s core messages.
The founder of 180 Church in New York City calls for a reevaluation of his faith’s core principles in this debut book.
“At the heart of God,” writes Christian minister Kim, “there are no liberals or conservatives….There aren’t even Christians or atheists. He sees only Lost and Found.” When Christians divide the world into an us-versus-them dichotomy, he cautions, “we have fundamentally misunderstood the Christian faith.” Echoing C.S. Lewis, who’s referenced in this brief book more than a dozen times, Kim seeks a return to the core fundamentals of the faith, which he says have been neglected by Christians preoccupied with wars against secularism, political rivals, and science. Like Lewis, Kim embraces a distinctly mainline Protestant brand of Christianity that’s ecumenical in nature, and he cited Christians from diverse perspectives, including fundamentalist evangelicals and Catholics. Divided into three parts, the book begins with the doctrinal foundations of Christianity (“Faith in Theory”) and a scientific examination of the “evolutionary longing to make meaning of human existence.” The book’s second part (“Faith in Process”) explores the “messy and tumultuous” aspects of religion, particularly in a postmodern society that values deconstruction of traditional ideals. The book concludes with a focus on “Faith in Practice” that addresses common critiques of religious skeptics, such as the historicity of Jesus and the reliability of the Bible. As a Harvard University-trained ethicist and regular contributor to Christianity Today, Kim approaches Christianity with well-reasoned, empathetic ideas that seek meaningful conversations, not heavy-handed conversions. The book revels in the nuances of religion, carefully balancing traditional theological interpretations with a willingness to reconsider entrenched positions, such as a literal six-day Creation. Written in an accessible style that includes many pop-culture references, the work is ideal for book clubs and group discussion, with each chapter concluding with questions for reflection. Its deliberate avoidance of politics, however, also means that it fails to engage with the intersection of faith and LGBTQ concerns, reproductive rights, racism, and other key social issues.
A nuanced, if not comprehensive, call for revitalization of Christianity’s core messages.Pub Date: April 11, 2023
ISBN: 9781631959905
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Morgan James Faith
Review Posted Online: Nov. 11, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
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