Reviews, Interviews, News, Commentaries, Excerpts, My Top 5 Books, Wilson's Bookmarks, Book AwardsSpirituality Starts in the Pews
Though I had anticipated a more substantial examination of our culture's anti-religious winds, I now realize that the book is better understood as a collection of vignettes and brief essays on spirituality, with the "spiritual but not religious" theme loosely serving as a sort of gravitational center. They depict a spiritual life that can appreciate sunsets only because the religious practices of gathering in community, knitting baby booties, hearing the liturgy, and reading Scripture help us face sin, injustice, and disaster as the sunset gives way to darkness.
A Place for the Bruised and Broken
Our heritage of institutional Christianity need not be viewed as a shameful skeleton to be kept locked away in the ecclesial closet. Well, okay, there are some darker chapters in our history that need not be retroactively whitewashed, but in many respects, that heritage and our communal traditions are precious gifts.
Daniel is not dishonest, however, about the shortcomings of the church's religious life. As a pastor, she has probably seen those failings more up close and personally than most folks claiming to be spiritual but not religious. One does get the impression that the sort of church culture she finds most embarrassing is of the more conservative stripe, as opposed to her own mainline church tradition. She is gracious, though, never naming names and maintaining sincerely that the various manifestations of Christianity all have their weaknesses and strengths (even her own).
Some readers might wince at a few sentiments at home in mainline Protestantism but contested in evangelical circles. But Daniel's book is neither a defensive manifesto of mainline spirituality nor an attack against any particular religious tribe. Even her witty polemic against the Spiritual/Not Religious notion is much more of an invitation than a critique. Daniel concludes powerfully by extending the arms of Christian religious life toward the religiously bruised and broken. There is a place for all of us right next to her seat on the pew.
Andrew Byers, a chaplain for St. Mary's College at Durham University, is the author of Faith Without Illusions: Following Jesus as a Cynic-Saint (InterVarsity Press). He blogs at Hopeful Realism.
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Bob Bobo
"there are some darker chapters in our history that need not be retroactively whitewashed, but in many respects, that heritage and our communal traditions are precious gifts". I agree, and I get the point. Certianly I have wonderful memories of the churches I attended and served in through the years. And I also have seen the reasons why people shake the dust of their feet and walk out. Yet, God is in it all and we do not throw the baby out with the bathwater But, we must both embrace community, tradition and all the good of the old fashioned sunday morning organizations, and also be fearful of the problems that can come from relying on organization. Truth is, Jesus is where two or more are gathered in his name. It matters not what the building looks like.
audrey ruth
A relationship with the Lord begins in the heart. Some people who warm church pews have such a relationship, some don't. Jesus said there would be tares (unbelievers) among the wheat (believers). I've attended funerals where church pastors lauded church members to the skies, since all they knew about them was their pious behavior at church. Sadly, their friends and family members knew the awful truth. There's a balance to anything, and the Lord tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves with other believers. He also tells church leaders not to lord it over the "underlings". Church abuse happens and it is a real problem.
John Carothers
"Spiritual But Not Religious" folks and the "Nones", by an overwhelming majority, like Jesus. Christians like Jesus. Let's see if I can't make this simple for those inclined to complicated. That's common ground not battle lines. Clear enough? When I see attitudes like those expressed by self-important religious elites like Pastor Daniel I wonder, “Have you ever sat down with one of those so called “Spiritual But Not Religious” people for a heart to heart talk about matters of faith? Have you ever sincerely asked them why they feel the way they feel about religion, not to start a debate, but just to listen to what they have to say? I have, and the experience is extraordinary. Turns out, many of them have a deep yearning for a close relationship with God, and an even deeper belief that God needs to be a central part of their life. And they’re not at all convinced they need to be in church to achieve that. Now the issue for a guy like me isn’t whether they’re right or wrong, but rather the incredible opportunity they represent for the Harvest. They, by a vast majority, have a high opinion of Jesus, they spend a lot of their time thinking about their relationship with God, and they love talking openly and acceptingly with others with similar goals. They’re perfect for us. So why do we insult them? What deep flaw in our souls causes us to condemn them instead of engage with them? Mathew 23 might be a chapter many of our leaders need to read.