How (Not) to Speak of God : Marks of the Emerging Church

Explore the philosophical and theological underpinnings of the Emerging church movement

With sensitivity to the Christian tradition and a rich understanding of postmodern thought, Peter Rollins argues that the movement known as the “emerging church” offers a singular, unprecedented message of transformation that has the potential to revolutionize the theological and moral architecture of Western Christianity.
How (not) to Speak of God sets out to explore the theory and praxis of this contemporary expression of faith. Rollins offers a clear exploration of this embryonic movement and provides key resources for those involved in communities that are conversant with, and seeking to minister effectively to, the needs of a postmodern world.
 
“Here in pregnant bud is the rose, the emerging new configuration, of a Christianity that is neither Roman nor Protestant, neither Eastern nor monastic; but rather is the re-formation of all of them. Here, in pregnant bud, is third-millennium Christendom.” —Phyllis Tickle
 
“I am a raving fan of the book you are holding. I loved reading it. I have already begun widely recommending it. Reading it did good for my mind and for my soul. It helped me understand my own spiritual journey more clearly, and it gave me a sense of context for the work I’m involved in. In fact, I would say this is one of the two or three most rewarding books of theology I have read in ten years.” —Brian McLaren, from the Foreword

Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 8 Acknowledgements 9 Foreword 10 Introduction: The secret 14 PART 1: HERETICAL ORTHODOXY: FROM RIGHT BELIEF TO BELIEVING IN THE RIGHT WAY 20 Chapter 1: God rid me of God 24 Chapter 2: The aftermath of theology 40 Chapter 3: A/theology as icon 52 Chapter 4: Inhabiting the God-shaped hole 66 Chapter 5: The third mile 78 PART 2: TOWARDS ORTHOPRAXIS: BRINGING THEORY TO CHURCH 96 Service 1: ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ 100 Service 2: Prodigal 110 Service 3: Sins of the Father 116 Service 4: A/theism 122 Service 5: Advent 128 Service 6: Judas 134 Service 7: Prosperity 140 Service 8: Heresy 146 Service 9: Corpus Christi 152 Service 10: Queer 158 Notes 166