Praise for A Christianity Worth Believing

If you are drawn to the mystifying, loving God whom we meet in Jesus Christ, but put off by? 'Christianity, ' this contrarian, wise, winsome, passionate book is a must-read.

--Lauren F. Winner, author, Girl Meets God; assistant professor, Duke Divinity School

Envisioning and articulating fresh ways of holding and living Christian faith, Pagitt's book reads like an old-fashioned testimony, but it opens up important new possibilities and serves as a window into the soul of a new generation of Christians.

--Brian McLaren, networker; speaker; author, A New Kind of Christian, A Generous Orthodoxy, and Everything Must Change

With honesty, humor, and insight, Doug Pagitt offers us a beautiful, holistic, compelling vision of the Kingdom of God. If you're one of the ever-increasing multitude who sense something is profoundly 'off' with traditional Christianity, this book is a must read

--Gregory A. Boyd, author, Myth of a Christian Nation

This is Doug Pagitt's raw, honest, fear-and-trembling faith workout. Thanks, Doug.

--Shane Claiborne, activist, author, and recovering sinner

I am certain that this book will resonate with the many who have always felt there must be more to this faith life that we've chosen. Doug has created a treatise on Kingdom living in the here and now that you just will not want to miss.

--Jim Watters, former vice president of support ministries, World Relief; currently director of development, Pastor's Retreat Network

Here is theology as it is supposed to be: a love story between two parts of one whole. Intimate, candid, vulnerable as well as brilliant and salvific, this one is God-talk at its most persuasive. It is also emergence Christianity at its clearest and best.

--Phyllis Tickle, founding editor, Religion Department of Publishers Weekly; author, The Words of Jesus

"Pagitt, a leader in the Emergent church movement, came to faith as a teenager at a Passion play, but Christian theology often didn't cohere with his own raw, powerful and inclusive experiences of and intuition about God. Here Pagitt tells his own story and weaves together a new theology for the Emergent movement, viewing Christian doctrine from a slightly different perspective and trying to break it out of the firm grasp of Greek thinking by returning it to its Jewish context, the way it would have been understood by first-century readers. To Pagitt, humanity's fallen state as a result of sin should not be emphasized so much as God's desire to partner with people to do good work in the world. The Bible is not so much about truth and error as it is a picture of God attempting to reconnect, while Jesus represents our potential to live in love and establish the kingdom of God now. Pagitt clearly articulates both the heart and theology of the Emergent movement. Conservative critics will no doubt consider this Christianity subtly twisted out of recognition, but postmodern readers struggling with current expressions of faith will see love and hope." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

A fresh, untamed vision of Christian faith, life, and meaning

Growing numbers of people have serious and thoughtful questions about Christianity. They remain committed to the church, but no longer feel attuned to its messages and have doubts about the sustainability of contemporary Christianity. This book shows these doubters how to embrace their questions, explore new ways to answer them, and ultimately deepen their faith. Addressing topics such as God, Jesus, sin, the Bible, humanity, church, and the Kingdom of God, it approaches theological questions in personal and engaging ways, showing readers new ways to think about Christianity, with new hopes, new understandings, and new outcomes. Rather than rehashing old debates and categories, it offers fresh insights, provocative possibilities, and hopeful alternatives in a lively and accessible way.

Doug Pagitt (Edina, MN) is the pastor of Solomon's Porch, a holistic, missional Christian community in Minneapolis, Minnesota, who has written four books for lay leaders and clergy. He is a key leader in and member of the board for Emergent Village.