Existential Punk

'Jesus, Interrupted' By Bart Ehrman

A HUGE thanks to Mike Morrell at theOoze.com for inviting me to be a part of the Viral Bloggers series from theOoze.com where we read and review books. i am excitedly awaiting the arrival of my copy of Bart Ehrman's new book, 'Jesus, Interrupted: Revealing the Hidden Contradictions in the Bible (And Why We Don't Know About Them)'. Harper Collins, Ehrman's publisher, is kind enough to send out several copies for bloggers to review. Later this month i will be posting a review. Here is Ehrman talking abut his new book:

Publisher's Weekly Review Of Pete Rollins' Upcoming Book

 Pete Rollins' newest book, "The Orthodox Heretic: And Other Impossible Tales", will be released this April by Paraclete Press. Publisher's Weekly recently reviewed "The Orthodox Heretic" in it's Religion section under Nonfiction Reviews.

The Orthodox Heretic: And Other Impossible Tales Peter Rollins. Paraclete, $19.99 (164p) ISBN 978-1-55725-634-8

Don't be fooled by the slender spine of this unusual book. Rollins, the Irish philosopher/po-mo theologian who has previously published How (Not) to Speak of God and The Fidelity of Betrayal, upends some of Christians' most cherished platitudes about God in his newest outing. He cautions readers that the book is not to be read quickly, for acquiring information, but to be savored slowly for possible transformation. Mostly, the book lives up to this billing. Rollins recasts some of the most familiar parables of and stories about Jesus, sometimes subversively—as when he proposes a version of feeding the 5,000 that shows Jesus and his disciples pigging out on meager resources while the multitudes look on, starving. His point? That Christians are the body of Christ, and when we oppress the poor and hoard scarce resources, we are saying that represents the kind of God we serve. Although not all of the parables work equally well—some could use further illumination—Rollins is a tremendously talented writer and thinker whose challenges to Christianity-as-usual should be well-received by the emergent church crowd, if not beyond. (Apr. 1)

Thoughts On 'Jesus, The Bible, And Homosexuality'

i found Jack Rogers book, 'Jesus, The Bible, And Homosexuality: Explode The Myths, Heal The Church' and am in chapter 4 and really enjoying what i am learning. Adam at pomousings is doing a thorough review here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. i am simply going to post quotes that resonated with me from each chapter. i grew up Presbyterian and my mom served as an elder, but we left when i was 10 years old. So, it's nice to learn about this history of my childhood denomination.

Feel free to add your thoughts, BUT in a respectful manner and with well-thought out words. i know there are people who will disagree and not change their minds. i respect that, so respect my views! Thanx! Ok, then, here are a few teaser quotes:

'This book offers a rare opportunity to see why one of America's leading evangelical scholars and a former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) changed his mind about homosexuality. What Jack Rogers discovered by reviewing the biblical, creedal, and historical evidence for himself just might change your mind as well.'
    - Mel White, Founder, Soulforce

'All Christians, but especially blacks and women, will appreciate Jack Rogers's argument from history showing how and why mainstream Presbyterians changed their minds about race and gender equality. This plain-spoken but scholarly work teaches not only that we can change our minds about homosexuality, but that we must.'
    - Gayraud S. Wilmore, Emeritus Professor of Church History, Interdenominational Theological Center,
    Atlanta

'This book is a page turner! Rogers's arguments are relentless, accurate, and devastating to those who might claim that there are serious, scriptural, doctrinal, or confessional reasons to deprive LGBT people from full participation in the life and ministry  of the church.'
    - Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson, Moderator, Metropolitan Community Church.

And from Jack Rogers himself:

'I have gone through a change in my mind and heart. I have gone from being a silent spectator to actively working for change. I believe people who are homosexual should be given full rights of membership in the church and citizenship in the nation. I believe that this is the only way to heal the wounds of the church and the nation.' (p. x)

"The Rapture"

My good friend Pete Rollins is working on a series of seven short books with the working title called 'Dis-Courses'. Each will offer an incisive discourse on a theological idea that is intended to send the reader off course and onto a new course.

Pete is also writing more parables and here is one he just wrote and shared on his blog. i asked him this question and i am waiting on his answer:

 "God would rather spend time with those who are depraved and selfish rather than the self-righteous? Is this the point you are making? If so, i LOVE it!"

——

Just as it was written by those prophets of old, the last days of the Earth overflowed with suffering and pain. In those dark days a huge pale horse rode through the Earth with Death upon its back and Hell in its wake. During this great tribulation the Earth was scorched with the fires of war, rivers ran red with blood, the soil withheld its fruit and disease descended like a mist. One by one all the nations of the Earth were brought to their knees.

Far from all the suffering, high up in the heavenly realm, God watched the events unfold with a heavy heart. An ominous silence had descended upon heaven as the angels witnessed the Earth being plunged into darkness and despair. But this could only continue for so long for, at the designated time, God stood upright, breathed deeply and addressed the angels,

“The time has now come for me to separate the sheep from the goats, the healthy wheat from the inedible chaff”

Having spoken these words God slowly turned to face the world and called forth to the church with a booming voice,

“Rise up and ascend to heaven all of you who have who have sought to escape the horrors of this world by sheltering beneath my wing. Come to me all who have turned from this suffering world by calling out ‘Lord, Lord’”.

In an instant millions where caught up in the clouds and ascended into the heavenly realm. Leaving the suffering world behind them.

Once this great rapture had taken place God paused for a moment and then addressed the angels, saying,

“It is done, I have separated the people born of my spirit from those who have turned from me. It is time now for us leave this place and take up residence in the Earth, for it is there that we shall find our people. The ones who would forsake heaven in order to embrace the earth. The few who would turn away from eternity itself to serve at the feet of a fragile, broken life that passes from existence in but an instant”.

And so it was that God and the heavenly host left that place to dwell among those who had rooted themselves upon the earth. Quietly supporting the ones who had forsaken God for the world and thus who bore the mark God. The few who had discovered heaven in the very act of forsaking it.

"The Orthodox Heretic and Other Impossible Tales"

My good friend from Belfast, Northern Ireland, Pete Rollins, has his third book releasing April 2009! i have read many of the parables he told me were going to be in this collection, but i will be glad to have them all in one place! i absolutely LOVE his parables. They are deep and thought-provoking, often pushing me to think outside my comfortable boxes that are safe. CONGRATS, Pete!

You can pre-order at Amazon or Paraclete Press.

“This book should be banned! It’s DANGEROUS!” *

 So might any Christian say for whom faith functions like a comfortable chair and a lot of good will. If you are comfy and satisfied, then what you have might not be faith after all, explains Peter Rollins.

Christian faith only has meaning if it affects the ways that people live their lives. For many who are not Christians, critiquing Christianity from the outside, this sort of “faith” appears all-too common and is an easy target. Perhaps Christians are simply those possessed of an ideology that keeps them passive, childlike, and ineffectual, they seem to think.

Rollins has crafted a series of parables that shatter these realities and popular perceptions. Parables that demonstrate how genuine faith is radical—and has never been concerned with escaping the world we inhabit, but rather, with engaging in it more fully. That genuine Christian faith has never capitulated to injustice but rather fought against it at every turn. In opposition to those who would claim that Christian faith embraces God at the expense of the suffering world, Peter shows how the true believer embraces God only inasmuch as he fully embraces a needy world.

“I remember driving around Belfast with Pete, sitting in the front seat listening to him tell these parables that he'd written—thinking, ‘Everybody needs to hear these.’ And now you can.”

—Rob Bell, author of

Jesus Wants to Save Christians

 

Sweet Quote!

Friend, teacher and writer Len Sweet has a new book just released called "11: Indispensable Relationships You Can't Be Without"

Amazon Reviewer, N. Hooker "Nevan" from Louisville, KY has this to say about the book:

"Relationships are like investments...it's important that you diversify. Sweet highlights 11 key relationships that we all need, and the best part is that they're all rooted in Biblical stories and teachings. "

AND also states this REALLY COOL QUOTE from LEN SWEET:

"...the older I get the more complex my theology becomes...but the older I get the more simple my faith becomes."

This is certainly true for me for the most part! Simple yet very deep is how I find Len Sweet's writings.

A Note from Pete Rollins

Here's a note from my good friend, Pete Rollins, about his forthcoming and second book, "The Fidelity of Betrayal: Towards a Church Beyond Belief" published by Paraclete Press:

In this work I make the claim that, in order to remain faithful to Christianity, we must be courageous enough to betray the bible (section 1), God (section 2) and the church (section 3). Why? Do I think that we must abandon them as redundant relics of a by-gone era? Do I think that they have served their purpose? Or do I feel that they prevent the world coming of age? By no means! Here I argue for a betrayal that remains faithful to these very words by helping us to re- discover the truly untamed, white-hot, life-transforming reality that they house.

This book was not easy to write and it will no doubt be difficult to read, but I hope that you find it to be a provocative and worthy dialogue partner as you continue to reflect upon what it means to follow Christ today.

Cheers,
Pete Rollins

"Fidelity of Betrayal"

My great friend, Pete Rollins, has a new blog from his publisher, Paraclete Press, that simply looks cool. Can't wait to see Pete adding stuff! AND, the BIG  news is that his SECOND BOOK, "The Fidelity of Betrayal: The Ir/Religious Heart of Christianity" will be released this coming spring (2008). You can PRE-ORDER it at Paraclete or Amazon. I am really excited for Pete and look forward to reading it. Here is a summary about the book from Pete's site:

"The Fidelity of Betrayal: Towards a Church Beyond Belief

What if one of the core elements of a radical Christianity lay in a demand that we betray it, while the ultimate act of affirming God required the forsaking of God? And what if fidelity to the Judeo-Christian scriptures demanded their renunciation?

In short, what if the only way of finding real faith involved betraying that faith with a kiss, like Judas did to Christ? The author of last year’s much-talked-about debut, How (Not) to Speak of God—is at it again.

Employing the insights of apophatic theology, Soren Kierkegaard, and deconstructive theory, The Fidelity of Betrayal seeks to explore the subversive and clandestine nature of a Christianity that dwells within religious institutions while simultaneously undermining them."

Purchase the book at ParacletePress.com >>
Purchase the book at Amazon.com >>

"I Am (Not) As Smart as Peter Rollins"

The title of this post at Theoblogy by Tony Jones, where he has these things to say:

"I will no longer respond to any critics of Emergent
who have not read
How (Not) to Speak of God."

AND

"If you want to get the emerging church, read this book."


So, WHAT ARE  YOU WAITING FOR? Get off your duff, buy a copy, and read it! OK?!! "How (Not) to Speak of God"  by Peter Rollins

Church and Postmodern Culture

Church and Postmodern Culture  has invited me to be part of a four week series of engagements with Pete Rollins' new book, "How (Not) To Speak Of God" beginning this Monday, October 9, 2006. My engagement will be first followed by:

Christopher Rousei (aka impleri): Oct 16th.
Geoff Holsclaw (aka for the time being): Oct. 23rd.
Will Samson (aka willzhead): Oct. 30th.

It should make for very interesting conversations, so stop by, check it out, and join in on the conversation!

The site's purpose is:

"...contemporary philosophy...for the church...in the vernacular"