Recommended by the Rev. Kay Johnson: “Very readable, the best overview of progressive Christianity that I know of.”

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Product Description

World-renowned Jesus scholar Marcus J. Borg shows how we can live passionately as Christians in today's world by practicing the vital elements of Christian faith.

For the millions of people who have turned away from many traditional beliefs about God, Jesus, and the Bible, but still long for a relevant, nourishing faith, Borg shows why the Christian life can remain a transforming relationship with God. Emphasizing the critical role of daily practice in living the Christian life, he explores how prayer, worship, Sabbath, pilgrimage, and more can be experienced as authentically life-giving practices.

Borg reclaims terms and ideas once thought to be the sole province of evangelicals and fundamentalists: he shows that terms such as "born again" have real meaning for all Christians; that the "Kingdom of God" is not a bulwark against secularism but is a means of transforming society into a world that values justice and love; and that the Christian life is essentially about opening one's heart to God and to others.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9186 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09-01
• Released on: 2004-08-17
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 234 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Borg follows up two of his previous releases about the Bible and Jesus with a volume that could easily have played on those titles, because this highly readable book is essentially about looking at Christianity again for the first time. In that respect, it provides a valuable glimpse into the essence of Christianity for those who have left the faith because they no longer believe its doctrines and those who are trying to remain in the faith while questioning its doctrines. With those people in mind, Borg emphasizes the transformational aspect of Christianity by examining the "emerging paradigm" that is gradually replacing the belief-centered paradigm of the last several hundred years. The new paradigm, Borg writes, is about loving God and loving what God loves, rather than rigidly adhering to a specific set of beliefs. In exploring this new way of "being Christian," Borg offers a middle ground for conservative and liberal Christians, though it's unlikely conservatives will conclude, as he does, that Jesus was not really the Son of God, nor are liberals likely to begin using the term "born again," as he advocates. Still, there's much here that both sides can agree on, possibly helping to bring them a step closer to the unity that has eluded them for centuries. As always, Borg writes with clarity and precision, which should also help the ongoing conversation.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Christianity appears to be at a crossroads, and religious historian Borg draws a distinction between what he calls an emerging paradigm and an earlier paradigm. The distinction is important because Christianity, he says, still makes sense and is the most viable religious option for millions. He contends the earlier paradigm, based upon a punitive God and believing in Christianity now for the sake of salvation later, simply doesn't work for many people. It also doesn't take into account the sacramental nature of religious belief; that is, religion as a vessel wherein the sacred comes to the faithful. Borg's emerging paradigm is based upon the belief that one must be transformed in one's own lifetime, that salvation means one is healed and made whole with God. He feels the new paradigm allows more people to be and become Christians. In his compelling proposal Borg consistently aligns the emerging paradigm with God, Jesus, the Bible, tradition, and religious practice, which constitute the heart of Christianity. Donna Chavez
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

From the Back Cover
Now in paperback, renowned and beloved author Marcus Borg presents a renewed way of being Christian for the twenty-first century.

Borg reveals that, when properly understood, the vital elements of Christian faith are more compelling than ever. Borg offers a practical guide to thinking about God, Jesus, the Bible, faith, and Christian practice. He shows how faith in God and Jesus has never really been about believing certain propositions but rather about a dynamic relationship. He shows that being “born again” is at the center of Christian life and that the “kingdom of God” is a matter of transforming society into real world values of justice and love. And that the Christian life is essentially about opening one’s heart—to God and to others.

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Customer Reviews

A Rational Faith
Marcus Borg has written the clearest exposition of the Christian faith that has come to my attention! On the first page of the Preface, Borg states: "The sacrifice that Christianity asks of us is not ultimately a sacrifice of the intellect."

Borg describes the critical importance of "metaphor" and "myth" in understanding the Bible. He quotes Thomas Mann in describing myths not as fanciful untruths, but as "stories about the way things never were, but always are. They are really true, even though not literally true."

He deals with "supernatural theism" versus panentheism and carefully deals with our tendency to create God in our image as over against that of God as a spirit who pervades all of life. When his students come to him (at the Univ. of Oregon) and say they can't believe in God, he asks them to describe the God they can't believe in. His response is "I don't believe in that God either."

The author makes and important and fascinating distinction between the human "pre-Easter Jesus" and the "post-Easter Jesus", pointing out that Jesus' death was "the consequence of what he was doing and not his purpose".

Borg discusses the meaning of "thin places", as he call them and a number of topics that are traditionally accepted as tenets of the Christian faith, to which he gives new interpretation, such as the terms, "born again", "faith", the nature of the "Kingdom of God", "Sin and Salvation" (a new insight!) and finally what it means to "practice" the Christian faith.

This, as Borg says, is a book for "lovers of the faith and those seeking a faith to love". And best of all it does not require a sacrifice of the intellect!

Ernest G. Barr

Excellent Primer of Postmodern Thought
Marcus Borg has come forth as a leading advocate of faithless postmodernism that appears similar to Unitarianism in rejecting the divine inspiration of scripture, and the miracles of Christ, his resurrection, atoning sacrifice, and deity. For Mr. Borg, God is a deistic impersonal entity who started the universe, then went on a long trip never to return. God does not personally intervene or answer prayer, and so prayers of petition are simply a show of caring by the one who is praying. One will look in vain to find in "The Heart of Christianity," any discussion of current vital moral issues such as the humanity of children still in the womb, homosexuality and gay marriage, and other issues related to sexuality. The book in my view comes across as an effort to introduce or support the reader in unbelief and atheism, and as such I recommend it to anyone wanting to understand the emergence of a post-Christian culture in North America.

A stimulating discussion of where Christianity may go
I found THE HEART OF CHRISTIANITY ...an excellent, stimulating read. Borg clearly addresses questions that will help those who have been struggling with their religious commitment. I found his discussion of the types of faith and belief particularly helpful and believe his discussion of emerging Christianity to be just what is needed for the 21st century. Tom Hood