[Dialogue] A Book Question

[Ken Fisher]

Hi Priscilla,

It is no secret that I am a big GWM fan.  I appreciate his loyalty to JWM, and RS1 theologians. While I explore other resources, I keep Gene's work as my primary context.  I do so because it works, as it were.

Over a period of time last year, Pat and I read Gene's recent book, Jacob's Dream: A Christian Inquiry into Spirit Realization.  It has had as significant impact on our conversations with one another.  I would love to study it in the context of our local church.  Marcus Borg has spoken at St. John's also.

Perhaps you have already read it.

In it, Marshall explores: 

-in the context of awe, a new assertion of the Trinity: trust, love and freedom
-an absolutely original interpretation of the Enneagram - nine ways to fall from grace and the embrace of ones own unique spirit challenge in the 'Nine Ways Home' section.
-an original exploration of the beatitudes

Recalling that Kierkegaard literally died of starvation, and living in obscurity, I sometimes think that Gene is writing for the next generation.  And no doubt it is!  But this book is highly accessible, practical and engaging.

For me it brought newness and simplicity to my consciousness of the spirit journey.

Today's Richard Rohr quote says:

You cannot understand anything well once you have approved or disapproved of it. There is too much you there. Contemplation is loosening our attachment to ourselves so that Reality can get at us, especially the Absolute Reality that we call God.
Contemplation is the most radical form of self-abandonment that I can imagine. It is most difficult if there is not a profound trust that there is Someone to whom I can be abandoned! Such self-forgetfulness paradoxically leads one to a firm and somewhat fearless sense of responsibility. Now I can risk responsibility precisely because I know the buck does not stop here. There is a co-creation going on, a life givingsynergism that is found somewhere between surrender and personal responsibility, God fully “co-operating with those who love God” 


What Jacob's Dream offers is some new and practical content in both loosening our attachment to ourselves so that we meet Reality.

Thanks again for reprinting 'The Facilitative Way'.  My additional copies arrived Friday.

Ken






On 2012-02-18, at 10:48 AM, R Williams wrote:

Priscilla,
 
If the question is where the next phase of Christianity is going, I strongly recommend The Future of Faith by Harvey Cox.  You will remember he wrote The Secular City in the 60s.  This one is his swan song, written a couple of years ago upon the occasion of his retirement.  Some of the freshest thinking on the subject I've seen.  In it he rings the death knoll on fundamentalism.
 
Randy

"Listen to what is emerging from yourself to the course of being in the world; not to be supported by it, but to bring it to reality as it desires."
-Martin Buber (adapted)

--- On Sat, 2/18/12, Wilson Priscilla <Pris at TeamTechPress.com> wrote:

From: Wilson Priscilla <Pris at TeamTechPress.com>
Subject: [Dialogue] A Book Question
To: "Dialogue ica" <dialogue at wedgeblade.net>
Date: Saturday, February 18, 2012, 7:41 AM

I belong to a women's book study group at Village Presbyterian Church. We have studied Marcus Borg, Karen Armstrong, Bruce Chilton's Rabbi Jesus, among others. We are just finishing Brian McLaren's A New Kind of Christianity. Brian is coming to our church in April to speak. Borg has been here also.
I consider our church on the edge re mission, pursuing the question of where the next phase of Christianity needs to take us, etc.

I would appreciate any suggestions for books from any of you. We finish McLaren in mid-March and haven't decided what next.
Priscilla


Priscilla H Wilson
Pris at TeamTechPress.com
913-432-2107
www.teamtechpress.com







_______________________________________________
Dialogue mailing list
Dialogue at wedgeblade.net
http://wedgeblade.net/mailman/listinfo/dialogue_wedgeblade.net
_______________________________________________
Dialogue mailing list
Dialogue at wedgeblade.net
http://wedgeblade.net/mailman/listinfo/dialogue_wedgeblade.net

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://wedgeblade.net/pipermail/dialogue_wedgeblade.net/attachments/20120218/389047f5/attachment.html>