Friday, June 06, 2008

With or Without God

I just started reading this important book. This quote about Christianity's core message and the church's funtion - will challenge you I think. Read it slowly, drinking it in. For me, it really resonated.

"Out of the multitude of understandings of religion, spirituality and faith; out of the varying views of the origins, nature and purpose of life; out of the countless individual experiences of what might be called divine; out of it all may be distilled a core that, very simply put, is love.

This core message carries its own authority. It needs no doctrine to validate it, no external expert or supernatural authority to tell us it is right. Love is quite demanding enough as a foundation, sufficiently complex and challenging without the requirement of additional beliefs, unbelievable to many. The church the future needs is one of people gathering to share and recommit themselves to loving relationships with themselves, their families the wider community and the planet.

Such a church need not fear the discoveries of science, history, archaeology, psychology or literature; it will only be enhanced by such discoveries. Such a church need not avoid the implications of critical thinking for its message; it will only become more effective. Such a church need not cling to and justify a particular source for its authority; it will draw on the wisdom of the ages and challenge divisive and destructive barriers. Such a church, grown out of values that transcend personal security, self-interest, and well-being, could play a role in the future that is not only viable but radically transformative and desperately needed."

- Gretta Vosper

John

1 comment:

dave said...

BUT JOHN!!
I haven't read this book or even looked a copy of it, but based on your comments I feel like I can accurate respond on behalf of orthodoxy and all that is sacred.
Jesus said that, "I am the way and the.."

ha seriously though man
we are doing something in calgary this weekend. a gala thing for onexone. flying in friday, leaving sunday.. i'll wave at you from the plane if nothing else. it'll be mad busy but i might be able to slip an early morning b'fast or late night decaf or something if you aren't busy and are interested??
give me a call 360 393 2594 if you like what i GOT.

that sounds like a cool book. i will check it out. i am about to start one called 'what is the what' that my cool mom spoke very highly of.