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Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighborhood Church Is Transforming the Faith
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Average Rating:  out of 26 Reviews
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Price: $13.95
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Sale: $5.99
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Manufacturer: HarperOne
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EAN (European Article Number): 9780060859497
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Number of Items: 1
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Binding: Paperback
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Author: Diana Butler Bass
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Publisher: HarperOne
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Dewey Decimal Number: 230
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Publication Date: 2007-10-01
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Reading Level: 336
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Description: 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.
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Customer Reviews
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Review Summary: Following the GPS on a new journey |
Date: 2008-06-21 |
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Details: Diana Butler Bass continues presenting her helpful (and hopeful) data and analysis for mainline congregations. This is an excellent book to study in clergy groups, or with parish lay leaders as part of a strategic planning process. On many counts the information is time-tested; but there are fresh insights about new directions for "God-provided-signs" (GPS)to guide us toward the Kingdom. |
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Review Summary: A book of hope for today's church |
Date: 2008-05-16 |
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Details: First off, I must say that I loved this book. I actually checked it out of the library but half-way through I knew I needed to own it.
"Christianity for the Rest of Us" is the result of a three year study of emerging mainline churches in the United States. If you are like me, then you probably need "mainline" defined for you. Mainline churches are the "brand-name" churches you see across the country - Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Congregationalists, and Episcopalians. These churches are often more liberal and progressive than their evangelical counterparts (although they may not like these labels). These churches have also been perceived (with some reality behind the perception) to be declining while more conservative and evangelical churches have been growing. The purpose of Bass' study was to visit and explore growing and vital moderate-to-liberal mainline churches. The study included 50 participating congregations but focused on ten.
These churches are filled with people who do not fit into the new evangelical Christian majority in the United States. They are desiring to know God and follow Jesus in our world but are not interested in embracing the evangelical culture of political and religious conservatism and/or fundamentalism. On the other hand, these churches are also not interested in the largely secular religion indicative of many declining mainline churches. For the most part, these churches include a diverse group of people from all ideologies and backgrounds - including some conservatives.
In some ways, this was actually a strange book for me to read. I am not part of a mainline church (or any institutional church for that matter). I have never even attended a mainline church. I know very few people who attend mainline churches. And I grew up in very conservative evangelical churches, in which mainline churches were largely discredited. Yet it is because of all of these statements that I felt the need and desire to read this book. I wanted to see what God is doing in an area I am very unfamiliar with. And in short, I was very excited about what I read - God is certainly doing a lot.
Throughout reading this book, I was struck by how well it complements Gibbs' and Bolger's "Emerging Churches." Whereas "Emerging Churches" focuses on a new breed of churches that have largely come out of the evangelical movement, "Christianity for the Rest of Us" looks at a new type of church coming from the old mainline of Christianity. What is so interesting is that these stories overlap in so many ways! "Emerging Churches" deals with a reaction against the sometimes dead religion that results from fundamental evangelicalism and "Christianity for the Rest of Us" looks at how churches are emerging from the liberal secularism found in some mainline religion. However, both of these "emerging churches" are heading in the same direction. They are both looking to follow Jesus without the trappings of the liberal/conservative divide, apart from the modern focus on reasoned certainty or skepticism, and in a way that is relevant to a new post-Christian culture. Many of the findings of these books are very similar. They even identify some very similar traits in the churches they studied. Is this really one movement of Christians that is being observed? Just in different environments and from different backgrounds? At least in some ways, I think so.
In short, I find all of this very intriguing and encouraging. God is working in a lot of different places. This is good news. God is not confined to any particular "movement" or perspective. He is busy using people to transform others and to influence the world. All are welcome to play a part. |
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Review Summary: A Helpful Resource for Mainline Leaders |
Date: 2008-05-16 |
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Details: Butler Bass provides a book worth reading. This book is for moderate to liberal mainline church leaders who are confident that the church does not have to be conservative and evangelical in order to grow. Her book is a survey of numerous mainline congregations across the denominational spectrum. Much of the book is an examination of key practices in these congregations. Butler Bass also casts vision for the future of the mainline, painting a hopeful picture of the future of moderate and liberal mainline Christianity. Her work, at times, implements caracitures of conservative Christianity that I do not believe are accurate, but are appropriate for her intended audience. I read this book in tandem with a friend and discussed the content. I would suggest a similiar reading plan for interested mainline Christians. |
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Review Summary: Practices and Personalities |
Date: 2008-05-07 |
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Details: I appreciated the imagery in this book, particularly pilgrimage and signpost. For congregations of pilgrims, Bass offers ten signs of vitality: hospitality, discernment, healing, contemplation, testimony, diversity, justice, worship, reflection, and beauty. The author gave many examples of practices in each of these areas from thriving mainline churches across the country.
I grew weary of the recurring animus against religious conservatives. If a reader doesn't share that feeling, the book gets alienating after a while. The book also overlooks the shades of belief between conservative and liberal.
I wondered if it was the practices she mentioned that made the difference in these congregatations, or if it was the personalities of the leaders who initiated the practices. She talks about them a little, but the book would have benefited from a deeper exploration of the personalities behind the practices. |
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Review Summary: Everyone should read this book |
Date: 2008-03-28 |
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Details: Our church is investigating different ways how we should be more relevant. This book is very timely.
Richard |
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