Heart of Christianity Rediscovering a Life of Faith

In The Heart of Christianity, world-renowned Jesus scholar and author of the bestseller Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time argues that the essential ingredients of a Christian life—faith, being born again, the kingdom of God, the gospel of love—are as vitally important today as they have always been, even during this time of conflict and change in the church.

Borg wants to show us, as today's thinking Christians, how to discover a life of faith by reconceptualizing familiar beliefs. Being born again, for example, has nothing to do with fundamentalism, but is a call to radical personal transformation. Talking about the kingdom of God does not mean that you are fighting against secularism, but that you have committed your life to the divine values of justice and love. And living the true Christian way is essentially about opening one's heart—to God, and to others. Above all else, Borg believes with passion and conviction that living the Christian life still makes sense.

“Highly readable ... a valuable glimpse into the essence of Christianity... Borg writes with clarity and precision.” Publishers Weekly

“Marcus Borg brings expert knowledge, insight, and warmth to this revisiting of Christianitys heart and soul. He makes absolute sense.” Thomas Moore, author of Care of the Soul and The Soul's Religion

“A winsome, accessible, pastoral offering ... Borg provides a way for an important, positive, and serious rethinking of the gospel.” Walter Brueggemann, Christian Century

“This ambitious, substantive, and boldly political resource establishes the terms for a conversation that will no doubt continue for years…. [A] watershed work.” Spirituality and Practice

In The Heart of Christianity, bestselling author Marcus J. Borg shows how we can live passionately in today's world by practicing the vital elements of Christian faith.

For the millions of people who have turned away from many traditional beliefs about God, Jesus, and the Bible, but still long for a relevant, nourishing faith, world-renowned Jesus scholar Borg shows why the Christian life still makes sense today. Emphasizing the critical role of daily practice, he explores how prayer, worship, Sabbath, pilgrimage, and more can be experienced as authentically life-giving experiences.

Borg reclaims terms and ideas once thought to be the sole province of evangelicals and fundamentalists. He demonstrates that terms like "born again" have real meaning for all Christians, that the "Kingdom of God" is not a bulwark against secularism but instead is a means of transforming society into a world that values justice and love, and that the Christian life is essentially about opening one's heart to God and to others.

Marcus J. Borg is Hundere Distinguished Professor of Religion and Culture at Oregon State University and author of the bestselling Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time, Reading the Bible Again for the First Time, The God We Never Knew (with N. T. Wright), and Jesus: A New Vision. He was an active member of the Jesus Seminar when it focused on the historical Jesus and he has been chair of the Historical Jesus section of the Society of Biblical Literature.

"With great clarity and pastoral genius, Marcus Borg offers questioning Christians a way to keep the faith without shutting down the search for truth."

- Barbara Brown Taylor, author of When God Is Silent

--Walter Brueggemann, Christian Century

Marcus Borg's fastest selling book ever, now in paperback. An engaging and inspiring guide to Christian living, this shows that the essential ingredients of a Christian lifeand#26977;ith, being born again, the kingdom of God, the gospel of loveand#27425;ke vital sense today.

Borg reveals that, when properly understood, the vital elements of Christian faith are more compelling than ever. Borg offers a practical guide to thinking about God, Jesus, the Bible, faith and Christian practice. He shows how faith in God and Jesus has never really been about believing certain propositions but rather about a dynamic relationship. He shows that being and#10351;rn againand#10217;s at the centre of Christian life and that the and#10921;ngdom of Godand#10217;s a matter of transforming society into real world values of justice and love. And that the Christian life is essentially about opening one's heartand#27887; God and to others.

World-renowned Jesus scholar Marcus J. Borg shows how we can live passionately as Christians in today's world by practicing the vital elements of Christian faith.

For the millions of people who have turned away from many traditional beliefs about God, Jesus, and the Bible, but still long for a relevant, nourishing faith, Borg shows why the Christian life can remain a transforming relationship with God. Emphasizing the critical role of daily practice in living the Christian life, he explores how prayer, worship, Sabbath, pilgrimage, and more can be experienced as authentically life-giving practices.

Borg reclaims terms and ideas once thought to be the sole province of evangelicals and fundamentalists: he shows that terms such as "born again" have real meaning for all Christians; that the "Kingdom of God" is not a bulwark against secularism but is a means of transforming society into a world that values justice and love; and that the Christian life is essentially about opening one's heart to God and to others.

Marcus J. Borg (1942-2015) was a pioneering author and teacher whom the New York Times described as "a leading figure in his generation of Jesus scholars." He was the Hundere Distinguished Professor of Religion and Culture at Oregon State University and canon theologian at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, and he appeared on NBC's The Today Show and Dateline, ABC's World News, and NPR's Fresh Air. His books have sold over a million copies, including the bestselling Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time, Reading the Bible Again for the First Time, Jesus, The Heart of Christianity, Evolution of the Word, Speaking Christian, and Convictions.