DOC Christianity After Religion: The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening by Diana Butler Bass in History

Review

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful. Explains what's happening in Christianity; and all religions; todayBy Gettysburg FarmBass's book is really helpful in explaining where our nation is currently in Christianity; esp in the US; but also around the world in other religions. I was especially intrigued by her discussion of the great awakenings; and how the one we saw from 1960 to 1980 was interrupted by a fear-based fundamentalism ('75-95') that was erroneously considered an awakening but was actually a reaction against one. Although she speaks primarily about Protestantism in the book; her analysis mirrors the current dilemma of the Catholic Church perfectly. The Church was evolving during Vatican II and the reforms seen right after it; and then; with the last and current pope; has reverted back to a bizarre fundamentalism that is driving parishioners away in droves. The trouble is the "fundamentals" are not fundamental to Christian spirituality any more than terrorists are fundamental to Islam. They are mere dogma; words; political stances; protectionism. For a Christian surely fundamentals are how we treat one another; our experience of Christ. She says there is less war between religions and more inter-religious warfare within each faith between those who would move deeper into relationship with Christ and those who are reacting against the awakening. She says there is a current awakening starting in 1995 and that spiritual leaders today need to help transform people's fear of change to urgency and courage. She gives practical advice about how to do that.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Christianity After Religion: The End of the Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual AwakeningBy T. EggebeenTwo words come to mind: honest and hopeful.Diana Butler Bass is an honest writer - no punches pulled on her descriptions of the changing times in which Christianity finds itself; and her descriptions of the many deformities of the Christian Church in the West; and especially in America with its sense of "exceptionalism" (an inordinate pride in our religious landscape) and no punches pulled; either; on the dangers confronting the Spiritual Awakening emerging in these times.If any reader here wishes to get some handles on the monumental changes occurring throughout the world; in all religions; no better place to begin than with this book.But let me move to the next word: hopeful.While the author's comments on Jonathan Edwards are most helpful - i.e. human beings; fervent and faithful; cannot; of themselves; bring about Spiritual Awakening. That belongs only to God. Yet; there is one thing the faithful; the hopeful; can do; and that's to pray!And adopt a variety of other behaviors; disciplines; described in detail; to engage the world with eyes that see and ears that hear and hands that do.The author reflects upon her own efforts to see and hear the world with an appreciative; loving; heart. To see people; hear them; and walk with them.Will this bring about the Awakening?In one sense; the Awakening is already upon us ... the world as we knew it is disappearing; and though various nativist groups and ideologies seek to return us to the past; the world moves in only one direction; and that's forward.The character of the Awakening is known to us - much of the book offers detailed analysis of it - and even if we lament what is lost; we can join hands with those who seek a better world.And honest book full of solid; scholarly; analysis; and; as well; a hopeful book; outlining ways and means that we can embrace right now and the emergent Awakening.This book deserves the widest possible reading - by those who love the church and those who have rejected it; often times for very good reasons. Religion plays an enormous role in human history; for good and for ill; and to understand religion a bit more can only help all of us.Thanks to Diana Butler Bass for this remarkable contribution.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. thought- provokingBy Sharon NaleI have to admit; I fought hard and long against much of what Butler-Bass presented here. But I also found chunks of food; nutritious chapters and paragraphs that fed me. I was anxious to complete the book;for one reason; because it will have been the first book I've completed since the death of my husband two years ago! Not a good reason I admit; but it kept me going during the "lean" days when I didn't feel fed at all. By the end of the book; especially that last chapter; for some unknown reason; I was moved to tears. I still cannot fully understand; except that the vision she created of what we can do to participate in awakening; to celebrate it and realize it; well; her description was the most beautiful description of a hoped-for community of Christians that I have ever read. I am a lay person; and we are reading this in our adult forum during the Sunday School hour; hoping to clarify our vision for mission and move into the future.