The Congregation in a Secular Age

The Congregation in a Secular Age

Author: Andrew Root

Publisher: Baker Academic

Published: 2021-01-19

Total Pages: 288

ISBN-13: 9780801098482

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Churches often realize they need to change. But if they're not careful, the way they change can hurt more than help. In this culmination of his well-received Ministry in a Secular Age trilogy, leading practical theologian Andrew Root offers a new paradigm for understanding the congregation in contemporary ministry. He articulates why it is so hard for congregations to change and encourages an approach that doesn't fall into the negative traps of our secular age. Living in late modernity means our lives are constantly accelerated, and calls for change in the church often support this call to speed up. Root asserts that the recent push toward innovation in churches has led to an acceleration of congregational life that strips the sacred out of time. Many congregations are simply unable to keep up, which leads to burnout and depression. When things move too fast, we feel alienated from life and the voice of a living God. This book calls congregations to reimagine what change is and how to live into this future, helping them move from relevance to resonance.


Book Synopsis The Congregation in a Secular Age by : Andrew Root

Download or read book The Congregation in a Secular Age written by Andrew Root and published by Baker Academic. This book was released on 2021-01-19 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Churches often realize they need to change. But if they're not careful, the way they change can hurt more than help. In this culmination of his well-received Ministry in a Secular Age trilogy, leading practical theologian Andrew Root offers a new paradigm for understanding the congregation in contemporary ministry. He articulates why it is so hard for congregations to change and encourages an approach that doesn't fall into the negative traps of our secular age. Living in late modernity means our lives are constantly accelerated, and calls for change in the church often support this call to speed up. Root asserts that the recent push toward innovation in churches has led to an acceleration of congregational life that strips the sacred out of time. Many congregations are simply unable to keep up, which leads to burnout and depression. When things move too fast, we feel alienated from life and the voice of a living God. This book calls congregations to reimagine what change is and how to live into this future, helping them move from relevance to resonance.

The Church in an Age of Secular Mysticisms (Ministry in a Secular Age)

The Church in an Age of Secular Mysticisms (Ministry in a Secular Age)

Author: Andrew Root

Publisher: Baker Books

Published: 2023-10-10

Total Pages: 394

ISBN-13: 1493443399

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Post-Christian life and society do not eliminate a desire for the transcendent; rather, they create an environment for new and divergent spiritual communities and practices to flourish. We are flooded with spiritualities that appeal to human desires for nonreligious personal transformation. But many fail to deliver because they fall into the trap of the self. In the last book of the Ministry in a Secular Age series, leading practical theologian Andrew Root shows the differences between these spiritualities and authentic Christian transformation. He explores the dangers of following or adapting these reigning mysticisms and explains why the self has become so important yet so burdened with guilt--and how we should think about both. To help us understand our confusing cultural landscape, he maps spiritualities using twenty of the best memoirs from 2015 to 2020 in which "secular mystics" promote their mystical and transformational pathways. Root concludes with a more excellent way--even a mysticism--centered on the theology of the cross that pastors and leaders can use to form their own imaginations and practices.


Book Synopsis The Church in an Age of Secular Mysticisms (Ministry in a Secular Age) by : Andrew Root

Download or read book The Church in an Age of Secular Mysticisms (Ministry in a Secular Age) written by Andrew Root and published by Baker Books. This book was released on 2023-10-10 with total page 394 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Post-Christian life and society do not eliminate a desire for the transcendent; rather, they create an environment for new and divergent spiritual communities and practices to flourish. We are flooded with spiritualities that appeal to human desires for nonreligious personal transformation. But many fail to deliver because they fall into the trap of the self. In the last book of the Ministry in a Secular Age series, leading practical theologian Andrew Root shows the differences between these spiritualities and authentic Christian transformation. He explores the dangers of following or adapting these reigning mysticisms and explains why the self has become so important yet so burdened with guilt--and how we should think about both. To help us understand our confusing cultural landscape, he maps spiritualities using twenty of the best memoirs from 2015 to 2020 in which "secular mystics" promote their mystical and transformational pathways. Root concludes with a more excellent way--even a mysticism--centered on the theology of the cross that pastors and leaders can use to form their own imaginations and practices.

The Pastor in a Secular Age

The Pastor in a Secular Age

Author: Andrew Root

Publisher: Baker Academic

Published: 2019-06-18

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780801098475

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Academy of Parish Clergy 2020 Top Ten Book for Parish Ministry In Faith Formation in a Secular Age, the first book in his Ministry in a Secular Age trilogy, Andrew Root offered an alternative take on the issue of youth drifting away from the church and articulated how faith can be formed in our secular age. In The Pastor in a Secular Age, Root explores how this secular age has impacted the identity and practice of the pastor, obscuring his or her core vocation: to call and assist others into the experience of ministry. Using examples of pastors throughout history--from Augustine and Jonathan Edwards to Martin Luther King Jr. and Nadia Bolz-Weber--Root shows how pastors have both perpetuated and responded to our secular age. Root turns to Old Testament texts and to the theology of Robert Jenson to explain how pastors can regain the important role of attending to people's experiences of divine action, offering a new vision for pastoral ministry today. This is the second book in Root's Ministry in a Secular Age series.


Book Synopsis The Pastor in a Secular Age by : Andrew Root

Download or read book The Pastor in a Secular Age written by Andrew Root and published by Baker Academic. This book was released on 2019-06-18 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Academy of Parish Clergy 2020 Top Ten Book for Parish Ministry In Faith Formation in a Secular Age, the first book in his Ministry in a Secular Age trilogy, Andrew Root offered an alternative take on the issue of youth drifting away from the church and articulated how faith can be formed in our secular age. In The Pastor in a Secular Age, Root explores how this secular age has impacted the identity and practice of the pastor, obscuring his or her core vocation: to call and assist others into the experience of ministry. Using examples of pastors throughout history--from Augustine and Jonathan Edwards to Martin Luther King Jr. and Nadia Bolz-Weber--Root shows how pastors have both perpetuated and responded to our secular age. Root turns to Old Testament texts and to the theology of Robert Jenson to explain how pastors can regain the important role of attending to people's experiences of divine action, offering a new vision for pastoral ministry today. This is the second book in Root's Ministry in a Secular Age series.

The Congregation in a Secular Age (Ministry in a Secular Age Book #3)

The Congregation in a Secular Age (Ministry in a Secular Age Book #3)

Author: Andrew Root

Publisher: Baker Academic

Published: 2021-01-19

Total Pages: 391

ISBN-13: 1493429728

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Churches often realize they need to change. But if they're not careful, the way they change can hurt more than help. In this culmination of his well-received Ministry in a Secular Age trilogy, leading practical theologian Andrew Root offers a new paradigm for understanding the congregation in contemporary ministry. He articulates why congregations feel pressured by the speed of change in modern life and encourages an approach that doesn't fall into the negative traps of our secular age. Living in late modernity means our lives are constantly accelerated, and calls for change in the church often support this call to speed up. Root asserts that the recent push toward innovation in churches has led to an acceleration of congregational life that strips the sacred out of time. Many congregations are simply unable to keep up, which leads to burnout and depression. When things move too fast, we feel alienated from life and the voice of a living God. The Congregation in a Secular Age calls congregations to reimagine what change is and how to live into this future, helping them move from relevance to resonance.


Book Synopsis The Congregation in a Secular Age (Ministry in a Secular Age Book #3) by : Andrew Root

Download or read book The Congregation in a Secular Age (Ministry in a Secular Age Book #3) written by Andrew Root and published by Baker Academic. This book was released on 2021-01-19 with total page 391 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Churches often realize they need to change. But if they're not careful, the way they change can hurt more than help. In this culmination of his well-received Ministry in a Secular Age trilogy, leading practical theologian Andrew Root offers a new paradigm for understanding the congregation in contemporary ministry. He articulates why congregations feel pressured by the speed of change in modern life and encourages an approach that doesn't fall into the negative traps of our secular age. Living in late modernity means our lives are constantly accelerated, and calls for change in the church often support this call to speed up. Root asserts that the recent push toward innovation in churches has led to an acceleration of congregational life that strips the sacred out of time. Many congregations are simply unable to keep up, which leads to burnout and depression. When things move too fast, we feel alienated from life and the voice of a living God. The Congregation in a Secular Age calls congregations to reimagine what change is and how to live into this future, helping them move from relevance to resonance.

Ministry in a Secular Age Set

Ministry in a Secular Age Set

Author: Andrew Root

Publisher: Baker Academic

Published: 2023-10-10

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781540967084

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Andrew Root's well-received Ministry in a Secular Age series offers a developed practical theology that uniquely attends to divine action. Series volumes engage with Charles Taylor's articulation of our cultural context and the challenge he raises for Christian life in a Western world that has found divine action increasingly unbelievable. This project provides not only a needed and deep dialogue with the issues Taylor presents but also offers a constructive vision for confronting Taylor's challenge. Volumes include: · Faith Formation in a Secular Age: Responding to the Church's Obsession with Youthfulness · The Pastor in a Secular Age: Ministry to People Who No Longer Need a God · The Congregation in a Secular Age: Keeping Sacred Time against the Speed of Modern Life · Churches and the Crisis of Decline: A Hopeful, Practical Ecclesiology for a Secular Age · The Church after Innovation: Questioning Our Obsession with Work, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship · The Church in an Age of Secular Mysticisms: Why Spiritualities without God Fail to Transform Us


Book Synopsis Ministry in a Secular Age Set by : Andrew Root

Download or read book Ministry in a Secular Age Set written by Andrew Root and published by Baker Academic. This book was released on 2023-10-10 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Andrew Root's well-received Ministry in a Secular Age series offers a developed practical theology that uniquely attends to divine action. Series volumes engage with Charles Taylor's articulation of our cultural context and the challenge he raises for Christian life in a Western world that has found divine action increasingly unbelievable. This project provides not only a needed and deep dialogue with the issues Taylor presents but also offers a constructive vision for confronting Taylor's challenge. Volumes include: · Faith Formation in a Secular Age: Responding to the Church's Obsession with Youthfulness · The Pastor in a Secular Age: Ministry to People Who No Longer Need a God · The Congregation in a Secular Age: Keeping Sacred Time against the Speed of Modern Life · Churches and the Crisis of Decline: A Hopeful, Practical Ecclesiology for a Secular Age · The Church after Innovation: Questioning Our Obsession with Work, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship · The Church in an Age of Secular Mysticisms: Why Spiritualities without God Fail to Transform Us

Rethinking Secularization

Rethinking Secularization

Author: Gary Gabor

Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing

Published: 2009-05-27

Total Pages: 450

ISBN-13: 1443811734

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Rethinking Secularization: Philosophy and the Prophecy of a Secular Age provides a philosophical appraisal of secularization in light of the recent re-emergence of religion in the public sphere. It explores the adequacy of classical theories of secularization, and, rooted in historical and conceptual analysis, what might be offered in their place today. Responding to the once dominant theories of a global, world-historical emancipation from an inherited religious past to a modern secular age, the volume also considers the extent to which philosophy itself has inspired and nourished such prophecies. As a result, a more sophisticated view of secularization emerges, both more interesting and complex than the simple linear process it is often thought to be. From the conceptual origins of secularity in the writings of Saints Augustine and Thomas Aquinas to the contemporary secularization theories of Hans Blumenberg, Marcel Gauchet, and Charles Taylor, Rethinking Secularization considers philosophy’s own relationship to the concept of secularization. It reflects the trend in contemporary philosophy to rethink the relation between religion and modernity, and includes systematic contributions to the debate. The book would appeal to a wide range of readers in philosophy, sociology, religious studies, and intellectual history.


Book Synopsis Rethinking Secularization by : Gary Gabor

Download or read book Rethinking Secularization written by Gary Gabor and published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. This book was released on 2009-05-27 with total page 450 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Rethinking Secularization: Philosophy and the Prophecy of a Secular Age provides a philosophical appraisal of secularization in light of the recent re-emergence of religion in the public sphere. It explores the adequacy of classical theories of secularization, and, rooted in historical and conceptual analysis, what might be offered in their place today. Responding to the once dominant theories of a global, world-historical emancipation from an inherited religious past to a modern secular age, the volume also considers the extent to which philosophy itself has inspired and nourished such prophecies. As a result, a more sophisticated view of secularization emerges, both more interesting and complex than the simple linear process it is often thought to be. From the conceptual origins of secularity in the writings of Saints Augustine and Thomas Aquinas to the contemporary secularization theories of Hans Blumenberg, Marcel Gauchet, and Charles Taylor, Rethinking Secularization considers philosophy’s own relationship to the concept of secularization. It reflects the trend in contemporary philosophy to rethink the relation between religion and modernity, and includes systematic contributions to the debate. The book would appeal to a wide range of readers in philosophy, sociology, religious studies, and intellectual history.

Faith Formation in a Secular Age

Faith Formation in a Secular Age

Author: Andrew Root

Publisher: Baker Academic

Published: 2017-10-03

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780801098468

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A Top Ten Book for Parish Ministry in 2017, Academy of Parish Clergy The loss or disaffiliation of young adults is a much-discussed topic in churches today. Many faith-formation programs focus on keeping the young, believing the youthful spirit will save the church. But do these programs have more to do with an obsession with youthfulness than with helping young people encounter the living God? Questioning the search for new or improved faith-formation programs, leading practical theologian Andrew Root offers an alternative take on the issue of youth drifting away from the church and articulates how faith can be formed in our secular age. He offers a theology of faith constructed from a rich cultural conversation, providing a deeper understanding of the phenomena of the "nones" and "moralistic therapeutic deism." Root helps readers understand why forming faith is so hard in our context and shows that what we have lost is not the ability to keep people connected to our churches but an imagination for how and where God could be present in their lives. He considers what faith is and what steps we can take to move into it, exploring a Pauline concept of faith as encounter with divine action. This is the first book in Root's Ministry in a Secular Age series.


Book Synopsis Faith Formation in a Secular Age by : Andrew Root

Download or read book Faith Formation in a Secular Age written by Andrew Root and published by Baker Academic. This book was released on 2017-10-03 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Top Ten Book for Parish Ministry in 2017, Academy of Parish Clergy The loss or disaffiliation of young adults is a much-discussed topic in churches today. Many faith-formation programs focus on keeping the young, believing the youthful spirit will save the church. But do these programs have more to do with an obsession with youthfulness than with helping young people encounter the living God? Questioning the search for new or improved faith-formation programs, leading practical theologian Andrew Root offers an alternative take on the issue of youth drifting away from the church and articulates how faith can be formed in our secular age. He offers a theology of faith constructed from a rich cultural conversation, providing a deeper understanding of the phenomena of the "nones" and "moralistic therapeutic deism." Root helps readers understand why forming faith is so hard in our context and shows that what we have lost is not the ability to keep people connected to our churches but an imagination for how and where God could be present in their lives. He considers what faith is and what steps we can take to move into it, exploring a Pauline concept of faith as encounter with divine action. This is the first book in Root's Ministry in a Secular Age series.

Confessions of a Secular Fundamentalist

Confessions of a Secular Fundamentalist

Author: Mani Shankar Aiyar

Publisher: Penguin Books India

Published: 2006

Total Pages: 338

ISBN-13: 9780143062059

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In Confessions Of A Secular Fundamentalist, Mani Shankar Aiyar, Crusader For A Secular Credo, Calls For An Unambiguous And Decisive Restoration Of Secularism To The Core Of Our Nationhood. In Doing So, He Revisits Every Dimension Of Our Secular Ethos And Exposes The Various Myths Perpetuated By Communal Elements Of All Hues. Putting Under The Scanner Contentious Issues Like Conversions, Uniform Civil Code And Article 370, He Nails The Falsehood Underlying Terms Like Pseudo-Secularism , Appeasement And Soft Hindutva . And He Places The Domestic Debate Over Secularism In India In The Wider External Dimension By Discussing The Experiences Of Countries Like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Israel And Erstwhile Yugoslavia. Admitting To Wearing His Secularism On His Sleeve, Aiyar Reasons That Only A Determined And Inflexible Adherence To Secularism Can Counter Religious Bigotry And Fundamentalism. Clear In His Convictions, With History, Logic And Persuasive Argument At His Command, This Is Mani Shankar Aiyar At His Best, On A Subject That We Can Ignore Only At Our Own Peril.


Book Synopsis Confessions of a Secular Fundamentalist by : Mani Shankar Aiyar

Download or read book Confessions of a Secular Fundamentalist written by Mani Shankar Aiyar and published by Penguin Books India. This book was released on 2006 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Confessions Of A Secular Fundamentalist, Mani Shankar Aiyar, Crusader For A Secular Credo, Calls For An Unambiguous And Decisive Restoration Of Secularism To The Core Of Our Nationhood. In Doing So, He Revisits Every Dimension Of Our Secular Ethos And Exposes The Various Myths Perpetuated By Communal Elements Of All Hues. Putting Under The Scanner Contentious Issues Like Conversions, Uniform Civil Code And Article 370, He Nails The Falsehood Underlying Terms Like Pseudo-Secularism , Appeasement And Soft Hindutva . And He Places The Domestic Debate Over Secularism In India In The Wider External Dimension By Discussing The Experiences Of Countries Like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Israel And Erstwhile Yugoslavia. Admitting To Wearing His Secularism On His Sleeve, Aiyar Reasons That Only A Determined And Inflexible Adherence To Secularism Can Counter Religious Bigotry And Fundamentalism. Clear In His Convictions, With History, Logic And Persuasive Argument At His Command, This Is Mani Shankar Aiyar At His Best, On A Subject That We Can Ignore Only At Our Own Peril.

The Grace of Dogs

The Grace of Dogs

Author: Andrew Root

Publisher: Convergent Books

Published: 2018-06-05

Total Pages: 178

ISBN-13: 0451497619

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In the bestselling tradition of Inside of a Dog and Marley & Me, a smart, illuminating, and entertaining read on why the dog-human relationship is unique--and possibly even "spiritual." Dr. Andrew Root's search for the canine soul began the day his eight-year-old son led the family in a moving Christian ritual at the burial service for Kirby, their beloved black lab. In the coming weeks, Root found himself wondering: What was this thing we'd experienced with this animal? Why did the loss hurt so poignantly? Why did his son's act seem so right in its sacramental feel? In The Grace of Dogs, Root draws on biology, history, theology, cognitive ethology (the study of animal minds), and paleontology to trace how in our mutual evolution, humans and dogs have so often helped each other to become more fully ourselves. Root explores questions like: Do dogs have souls? Is it accurate to say that dogs "love" us? What do psychology and physiology say about why we react to dogs in the way that we do? The Grace of Dogs paints a vivid picture of how, beyond sentimentality, the dog-human connection can legitimately be described as "spiritual"--as existing not for the sake of gain, but for the unselfish desire to be with and for the other, and to remind us that we are persons worthy of love and able to share love. In this book for any parent whose kids have asked if they'll see Fido in Heaven, or who has looked their beloved dog in the face and wondered what's going on in there, Dr. Root delivers an illuminating and heartfelt read that will change how we understand man's best friend.


Book Synopsis The Grace of Dogs by : Andrew Root

Download or read book The Grace of Dogs written by Andrew Root and published by Convergent Books. This book was released on 2018-06-05 with total page 178 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the bestselling tradition of Inside of a Dog and Marley & Me, a smart, illuminating, and entertaining read on why the dog-human relationship is unique--and possibly even "spiritual." Dr. Andrew Root's search for the canine soul began the day his eight-year-old son led the family in a moving Christian ritual at the burial service for Kirby, their beloved black lab. In the coming weeks, Root found himself wondering: What was this thing we'd experienced with this animal? Why did the loss hurt so poignantly? Why did his son's act seem so right in its sacramental feel? In The Grace of Dogs, Root draws on biology, history, theology, cognitive ethology (the study of animal minds), and paleontology to trace how in our mutual evolution, humans and dogs have so often helped each other to become more fully ourselves. Root explores questions like: Do dogs have souls? Is it accurate to say that dogs "love" us? What do psychology and physiology say about why we react to dogs in the way that we do? The Grace of Dogs paints a vivid picture of how, beyond sentimentality, the dog-human connection can legitimately be described as "spiritual"--as existing not for the sake of gain, but for the unselfish desire to be with and for the other, and to remind us that we are persons worthy of love and able to share love. In this book for any parent whose kids have asked if they'll see Fido in Heaven, or who has looked their beloved dog in the face and wondered what's going on in there, Dr. Root delivers an illuminating and heartfelt read that will change how we understand man's best friend.

God and Government in an 'Age of Reason'

God and Government in an 'Age of Reason'

Author: David Nicholls

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2003-08-29

Total Pages: 305

ISBN-13: 1134982275

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In this companion volume to Deity and Domination, David Nicholls broadens his examination of the relationship between religion and politics. Focusing on the images and concepts of God and the state predominant in eighteenth-century discourse, he shows how these were interrelated and reflect the language of the wider cultural contexts. Nicholls argues that the way a community pictures God will inevitably reflect (and also affect) its general understanding of authority, whether it be in state, in family or in other social institutions. Much language about God, for example, has a primarily political reference: in psalms, hymns and sermons God is called king, judge, lord, ruler and to him are ascribed might, majesty, dominion, power and sovereignty. But if political rhetoric is frequently incorporated into religious discourse, the reverse is also true: many key concepts of modern political theory are secularised theological concepts. In his consideration of this important and neglected relationship Nicholls sheds new light on religion and politics in the eighteenth century.


Book Synopsis God and Government in an 'Age of Reason' by : David Nicholls

Download or read book God and Government in an 'Age of Reason' written by David Nicholls and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2003-08-29 with total page 305 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this companion volume to Deity and Domination, David Nicholls broadens his examination of the relationship between religion and politics. Focusing on the images and concepts of God and the state predominant in eighteenth-century discourse, he shows how these were interrelated and reflect the language of the wider cultural contexts. Nicholls argues that the way a community pictures God will inevitably reflect (and also affect) its general understanding of authority, whether it be in state, in family or in other social institutions. Much language about God, for example, has a primarily political reference: in psalms, hymns and sermons God is called king, judge, lord, ruler and to him are ascribed might, majesty, dominion, power and sovereignty. But if political rhetoric is frequently incorporated into religious discourse, the reverse is also true: many key concepts of modern political theory are secularised theological concepts. In his consideration of this important and neglected relationship Nicholls sheds new light on religion and politics in the eighteenth century.