A Christianity Worth Believing: Hope-Filled, Open-Armed, Alive-And-Well Faith for the Left Out, Left Behind, and Let Down in Us All (Living Way: Emergent Visions)

"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

A Christianity Worth Believing offers an engaging, 'come-with-me-on-a-journey-of-exploring-the-possibilities' approach to what it means to be a follower of Jesus in our day. Written by Doug Pagitt—a leading voice in the Emergent conversation—this beautifully written book weaves together theological reflections, Christian history, and his own story of faith transformation.

Pagitt invites readers to follow him as he tells the story of his un-churched childhood, his life-altering conversion at age 16, his intense involvement in the church, and his growing sense of unease with the version of Christianity he was living. On page after page, Pagitt lays out his journey toward an authentic, passionate expression of a faith that feels alive, sustainable, and meaningful.

A Christianity Worth Believing is for the growing numbers of people who have serious and thoughtful questions about Christianity, who have lived for years with deep-seated wondering and doubts about their faith. Pagitt points the way to a new kind of faith by asking the "off-limits" questions about God, Jesus, sin, the Bible, humanity, church, and the Kingdom of God. Rather than rehashing old debates, he offers new insights, provocative possibilities, and hopeful alternatives.

In A Christianity Worth Believing you may well discover questions you didn't think you could ask, ideas you didn't think you could pursue, beliefs you didn't think you could hold onto. Ultimately you will discover a Christianity worth believing.

A Christianity Worth Believing offers an engaging, 'come-with-me-on-a-journey-of-exploring-the-possibilities' approach to what it means to be a follower of Jesus in our day. Written by Doug Pagitt—a leading voice in the Emergent conversation—this beautifully written book weaves together theological reflections, Christian history, and his own story of faith transformation.

Pagitt invites readers to follow him as he tells the story of his un-churched childhood, his life-altering conversion at age 16, his intense involvement in the church, and his growing sense of unease with the version of Christianity he was living. On page after page, Pagitt lays out his journey toward an authentic, passionate expression of a faith that feels alive, sustainable, and meaningful.

A Christianity Worth Believing is for the growing numbers of people who have serious and thoughtful questions about Christianity, who have lived for years with deep-seated wondering and doubts about their faith. Pagitt points the way to a new kind of faith by asking the "off-limits" questions about God, Jesus, sin, the Bible, humanity, church, and the Kingdom of God. Rather than rehashing old debates, he offers new insights, provocative possibilities, and hopeful alternatives.

In A Christianity Worth Believing you may well discover questions you didn't think you could ask, ideas you didn't think you could pursue, beliefs you didn't think you could hold onto. Ultimately you will discover a Christianity worth believing.

Preface.

1 Confessions of an Adopted Son.

2 Passion Play.

3 From Amen to Uh-Oh.

4 The Wild Goose Chase.

5 When Different Was Good.

6 It’s in the Way That You Use It.

7 Strange Medicine.

8 Together, Again.

9 Up and Out.

10 Down and In.

11 Wonderfully Made.

12 Same as It Ever Was.

13 There Goes the Judge.

14 Behind Blue Eyes.

15 The Jew I Never Knew.

16 You Say You Want a Revolution.

17 I Didn’t Know Him from Adam.

18 Heaven on Earth.

Notes.

Acknowledgments.

The Author.