BOOK REVIEW #2
The Great Emergence – Phyllis Tickle
Part 1
Intro/Chapter 1 – What Is It/Rummage Sale
Christianity shifts every 500 years. It needs to replenish itself so that renewal and new growth can happen. This is what Bishop Dyer calls “The Rummage Sale” of the church. Currently we are embarking on the next rummage sale with the Great Emergence. Prior to this time period, there was the Great Reformation, The Great Schism, and Gregory the Great.
Chapter 2 - Cable of Meaning
Religion is a social contract, although this may offend some who are deep in faith. But it is answering the question that humanity has of "why?" and to the need to find purpose in life. Therefore, religion is like a cable of meaning constructed of a waterproof casing (the story-that which represents shared history), a sleeve (consensual illusion or common imagination-it is the common agreement of how the world works), and then 3 braided ropes (spirituality, corporeality, and morality).
Part 2
Chapter 3 - The Great Reformation
The history of how the Great Reformation came to be. We need to examine this period in order to understand how the Great Emergence came to be
Chapter 4 - Questions of Re-formation
Cannot look at the Great Reformation without incorporating and looking into the Renaissance and the emerging of science. It is with this that the question of authority - the voice to follow - begins to be questioned (hence Scripture only and only Scripture is questioned). This leads to the overarching questions belonging to the Great Emergence of 1) What is human consciousness and 2) what is the relation of all religions to one another?
Chapter 5 - The Century of Emergence
Enter the introduction of the theory of relativity and bring about the question, "who is the real Jesus?" and a new examination of the authenticity of the Western Christian Jesus. Pentacostalism comes onto the scene and begins to answer the authority question - it is the believer and the message received from the Holy Spirit. Other such influences were the likes of Karl Marx and AA, which brought spirituality beyond the borders of the church. This also leads into the expansion of social order and what is the corporate believing body of believers.
Part 3
Chapter 6 - The Gathering Center
Although there may be 4 discernible categories (liturgicals, renewalists, social justice Christians, and conservatives), these categories are not limited to remain in these divisions. Rather, there is a fluidity among all four in which one can identify oneself in each/all of the categories - therefore creating a certain "gathering center"
Chapter 7 - The Way Ahead
A deeper examination in the question of "who is the authority" which is a question that is challenged with every shift that happens (every 500 years). The Great Emergence seems to naturally continue to place authority in both scripture and community. The book concludes with a look at the Quakers influence and the influence of John Wimber and the Vineyard movement.
Part 1
Intro/Chapter 1 – What Is It/Rummage Sale
Christianity shifts every 500 years. It needs to replenish itself so that renewal and new growth can happen. This is what Bishop Dyer calls “The Rummage Sale” of the church. Currently we are embarking on the next rummage sale with the Great Emergence. Prior to this time period, there was the Great Reformation, The Great Schism, and Gregory the Great.
Chapter 2 - Cable of Meaning
Religion is a social contract, although this may offend some who are deep in faith. But it is answering the question that humanity has of "why?" and to the need to find purpose in life. Therefore, religion is like a cable of meaning constructed of a waterproof casing (the story-that which represents shared history), a sleeve (consensual illusion or common imagination-it is the common agreement of how the world works), and then 3 braided ropes (spirituality, corporeality, and morality).
Part 2
Chapter 3 - The Great Reformation
The history of how the Great Reformation came to be. We need to examine this period in order to understand how the Great Emergence came to be
Chapter 4 - Questions of Re-formation
Cannot look at the Great Reformation without incorporating and looking into the Renaissance and the emerging of science. It is with this that the question of authority - the voice to follow - begins to be questioned (hence Scripture only and only Scripture is questioned). This leads to the overarching questions belonging to the Great Emergence of 1) What is human consciousness and 2) what is the relation of all religions to one another?
Chapter 5 - The Century of Emergence
Enter the introduction of the theory of relativity and bring about the question, "who is the real Jesus?" and a new examination of the authenticity of the Western Christian Jesus. Pentacostalism comes onto the scene and begins to answer the authority question - it is the believer and the message received from the Holy Spirit. Other such influences were the likes of Karl Marx and AA, which brought spirituality beyond the borders of the church. This also leads into the expansion of social order and what is the corporate believing body of believers.
Part 3
Chapter 6 - The Gathering Center
Although there may be 4 discernible categories (liturgicals, renewalists, social justice Christians, and conservatives), these categories are not limited to remain in these divisions. Rather, there is a fluidity among all four in which one can identify oneself in each/all of the categories - therefore creating a certain "gathering center"
Chapter 7 - The Way Ahead
A deeper examination in the question of "who is the authority" which is a question that is challenged with every shift that happens (every 500 years). The Great Emergence seems to naturally continue to place authority in both scripture and community. The book concludes with a look at the Quakers influence and the influence of John Wimber and the Vineyard movement.
1 comment:
Good work. In the future, try to comment at least 50 words a chapter, though. 2.25/2.5
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