Living the Questions: The Wisdom of Progressive Christianity

by David Felten, Jeff Procter-Murphy

Overview

Ministers David Felten and Jeff Procter-Murphy, along with an all-star cast of Bible scholars and top church teachers, provide a primer to a church movement that encourages every Christian to “live the questions” instead of “forcing the answers.” Based on the bestselling DVD course of the same name, Living the Questions: The Wisdom of Progressive Christianity includes commentary from such bestselling authors as Diana Butler Bass, John Shelby Spong, Marcus Borg, John Dominic Crossan, Brian McLaren, and others. Tackling issues of faith and controversial subjects such as the church’s position on homosexuality, Living the Questions is the most comprehensive, indeed the only survey of progressive Christianity in existence today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062109361
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	08/07/2012
Edition description:	Original
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	268,669
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.78(d)

About the Author

David M. Felten was trained at Boston University School of Theology and Jeff Procter-Murphy at Claremont School of Theology. They have more than forty years combined experience in local church ministry. David and Jeff continue to collaborate on sermons and new resources for www.livingthequestions.com, a DVD series and curriculum in use by nearly six thousand churches and other groups across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand to bring together, equip, and reeducate thinking Christians.

Table of Contents

Preface xi

Section 1 Journey

1 An Invitation to Journey 3

2 Taking the Bible Seriously 11

3 Thinking Theologically 22

4 Stories of Creation 31

5 Lives of Jesus 40

6 A Passion for Christ: Paul the Apostle 51

7 Out into the World: Challenges Facing Progressive Christians 60

Section 2 Reconciliation

8 Restoring Relationships 73

9 The Prophetic Jesus 82

10 Evil, Suffering, and a God of Love 92

11 The Myth of Redemptive Violence 103

12 Practicing Resurrection 116

13 Debunking the Rapture 126

14 Honoring Creation 136

Section 3 Transformation

15 A Kingdom Without Walls 149

16 Social Justice: Realizing God's Vision 165

17 Incarnation: Divinely Human 175

18 Prayer: Intimacy with the Divine 188

19 Compassion: The Heart of Jesus's Ministry 200

20 Creative Transformation 211

21 Embracing Mystery 220

Reader's Guide 229

Acknowledgments 241

Notes 243

Bibliography and Recommended Reading 251

Index 257

About the Authors 271

What People are Saying About This

John Shelby Spong

“Among the most dynamic and talented clergy in the world, David Felten and Jeff Procter-Murphy speak with high levels of credibility to the deep and abiding human hunger that yearns for a Christian future.”

Brian McLaren

“I’m so grateful for Living the Questions. These progressive voices offer less rigid and more expansive approaches to Christian faith, and make room for people who practice critical thinking and question the gatekeepers. They help us see that questioning the gatekeepers is exactly what Jesus was all about.”

Walter Brueggemann

“A welcome book that is bold (without being contentious) and courageous (without needing to be triumphant), Felten and Procter-Murphy give voice to a faith that provides a profound alternative to the dominant ideology of ‘American Christianity.’ Attention should be paid!”

Robin R. Meyers

“Most people in church grew up listening to those who claimed to have all the answers. Who knew that the questions were more interesting, that ‘living’ them is true faithfulness. Felten and Procter-Murphy have given the class such superb resources that no one is in a hurry to graduate.”

Fred C. Plumer

“This has been sorely needed for years. Felten and Procter-Murphy provide an unusual clarity about the issues that commonly confuse and divide people in our churches today and then open a pathway to a more vital and even exciting way to approach the Christian faith in the 21st century.”

Marcus Borg

“A rich, wise, helpful and important book—virtually a manifesto of progressive Christianity.”

Editorial Reviews

Felten and Proctor-Murphy salute the mystics of the past and some of the present moment who help us to be more open to the Divine, to let go of our clinging to ancient dogmas about God and Jesus, and to surrender to ‘not knowing’ all the answers.

Spirituality and Practice

I’m so grateful for Living the Questions. These progressive voices offer less rigid and more expansive approaches to Christian faith, and make room for people who practice critical thinking and question the gatekeepers. They help us see that questioning the gatekeepers is exactly what Jesus was all about.

Brian McLaren

Among the most dynamic and talented clergy in the world, David Felten and Jeff Procter-Murphy speak with high levels of credibility to the deep and abiding human hunger that yearns for a Christian future.

John Shelby Spong

A welcome book that is bold (without being contentious) and courageous (without needing to be triumphant), Felten and Procter-Murphy give voice to a faith that provides a profound alternative to the dominant ideology of ‘American Christianity.’ Attention should be paid!

Walter Brueggemann

A rich, wise, helpful and important book—virtually a manifesto of progressive Christianity.

Marcus Borg

This has been sorely needed for years. Felten and Procter-Murphy provide an unusual clarity about the issues that commonly confuse and divide people in our churches today and then open a pathway to a more vital and even exciting way to approach the Christian faith in the 21st century.

Fred C. Plumer

Most people in church grew up listening to those who claimed to have all the answers. Who knew that the questions were more interesting, that ‘living’ them is true faithfulness. Felten and Procter-Murphy have given the class such superb resources that no one is in a hurry to graduate.

Doctor - Robin R. Meyers

Most people in church grew up listening to those who claimed to have all the answers. Who knew that the questions were more interesting, that ‘living’ them is true faithfulness. Felten and Procter-Murphy have given the class such superb resources that no one is in a hurry to graduate.

Dr. Robin R. Meyers

Amidst the impression that Christianity has an unchanging, singular vision of the world, this book shows how the Christian tradition actually involves a rich, dynamic and diverse conversation where critical reflection, differing opinions and honest engagement with the biggest questions is happening under the very nose of the dogmatists.

Peter Rollins

A rich, wise, helpful and important book—virtually a manifesto of progressive Christianity.

Marcus J. Borg

Progressive Christianity is about embracing mystery. … Accordingly, the authors believe that the necessary incompleteness of our theology is an invitation to ongoing creative transformation. . . . Living the Questions is an excellent introduction to progressive theology.

The Christian Century