A HOLY HAUNTING

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.