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Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighborhood Church Is Transforming the Faith
by Diana Butler Bass
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About This Book
ISBN13: 9780060836948 |
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Synopses & Reviews
Publisher Comments:
For decades the accepted wisdom has been that America's mainline Protestant churches are in decline, eclipsed by evangelical mega-churches. Church and religion expert Diana Butler Bass wondered if this was true, and this book is the result of her extensive, three-year study of centrist and progressive churches across the country. Her surprising findings reveal just the opposite—that many of the churches are flourishing, and they are doing so without resorting to mimicking the mega-church, evangelical style.
Christianity for the Rest of Us describes this phenomenon and offers a how-to approach for Protestants eager to remain faithful to their tradition while becoming a vital spiritual community. As Butler Bass delved into the rich spiritual life of various Episcopal, United Methodist, Disciples of Christ, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, and Lutheran churches, certain consistent practices—such as hospitality, contemplation, diversity, justice, discernment, and worship—emerged as core expressions of congregations seeking to rediscover authentic Christian faith and witness today.
This hopeful book, which includes a study guide for groups and individuals, reveals the practical steps that leaders and laypeople alike are taking to proclaim an alternative message about an emerging Christianity that strives for greater spiritual depth and proactively engages the needs of the world.
Review:
"Most pundits will tell you that the mainline churches — Presbyterians, Methodists, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Congregationalists and Disciples of Christ — are in decline: it is now commonplace to assume that liberal churches are doomed and only evangelical churches are growing. Think again, says Butler Bass (The Practicing Congregation) in this challenging and hopeful book, which summarizes the findings of a three-year study funded by the Lilly Endowment. Yes, many mainline churches are struggling, but not because liberal Christianity is a contradiction in terms. Rather, the old neighborhood Protestant church has fallen on hard times because the old neighborhood has been replaced by a strip mall. And many mainline churches are thriving. Butler Bass showcases 10 of them, including Redeemer UCC in New Haven, Conn., and Saint Mark (Lutheran) in Yorktown, Va. She then examines 10 practices, from hospitality to worship to vigorous theological discussion, and posits that these practices are the heartbeat of vital mainline churches. Her provocative conclusions include the observation that today's mainliners have redefined politics by favoring bottom-up acts of service over structural change. And, she says, the thriving congregations are neither red nor blue, but purple — a mix of Democrats and Republicans. This is Bass's best book yet. (Oct.)" Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
Synopsis:
Bucking the conventional wisdom that only conservative churches are growing, the surprising results of Bass's investigation reveals just the opposite: non-evangelical, progressive churches are flourishing, and they are doing so without resorting to mimicking the mega-church, evangelical style.
What Our Readers Are Saying
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Average customer rating based on 2 comments:
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nanamarcy, March 17, 2008 (view all comments by nanamarcy)
the evangelical church has almost become a cult full of lists of to don't. everything seems to be a sin and everything is judged. they appear to open their doors to the "lost" but if you don't "reform" to look and act just like them losing your entire personality in the process then you must not be "saved" and therefore need to be "de-demonized". Satan is around every cornor and constantly trying to get to you. It's "them" against the "outside" world. I actually had the church and it's leaders tell me that all my family problems were due to my rebellious 13 year old and I needed to "kick him out of the family". When I asked for biblical backup scriptures for that I didn't get any and was told that I had a problem with authority. We left that church and to this day my son, now 22 has trouble spritually. He was not into drugs, or anything illegal. He was not a bad 13 yr old. Just a normal rebellious 13 yr old that didn't want to listen to his mom and I am a single mom. When I tried to start a program and asked to and used a particular church as an example that has one in place that screens their men carefully makes them commit to a year and they mentor fatherless kids from broken homes or homes where the father died or something. The paster responded to me with "go join that church then" He totally missed an opportunity to minister to the countless kids in need in his own congrgation. How sad. My son is a wonderful dad and husband and the best kid I got. Very much a mama's boy in the way that he always checks on me and makes sure I have what I need. I keep praying that he will return to his upbringing and depend on the Lord again. It was the only church he knew that we all went to as a family but he was also raised in a Christian school and exposed to wonderful Christian people in his lifetime. Unfortuately the majoraty of his exposure memories are the dozens who call themselves "christians" who don't have any clue how to be a true deciple of Christ and therefore give it a bad name that turns him off. There are millions of hypocrites in this world but when you say you are a "Christian" and you are a hyprocrite satan lets the whole world know it and it gives us all a bad name. It is those who quietly practice and don't make all the noise that bring on the true converts and no critisim.
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wasroop, January 1, 2007 (view all comments by wasroop)
Every 'mainline" liberal congregation should read this book and hold discussions during adult education time. Vestrys should use this book for retreats to begin the new year.
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Product Details
- ISBN:
- 9780060836948
- Subtitle:
- How the Neighborhood Church Is Transforming the Faith
- Author:
- Author:
- Author:
- Publisher:
- HarperOne
- Subject:
- Christianity
- Subject:
- Community
- Subject:
- Church renewal
- Subject:
- Christianity - History - Social Issues
- Subject:
- Christianity - Denominations
- Subject:
- General Religion
- Publication Date:
- September 2006
- Binding:
- Hardcover
- Grade Level:
- General/trade
- Language:
- English
- Pages:
- 336
- Dimensions:
- 8.62x5.84x1.09 in. .98 lbs.
