Some error occured while loading the Quick View. Please close the Quick View and try reloading the page.
Dare to imagine a new birth from deep within Christianity, a fresh stirring of the Spirit.
"The walls of Western Christianity are collapsing. In many parts of the West that collapse can only be described as seismic.... There are three main responses or reactions to this collapse. The first is to deny that it is happening. The second is to frantically try to shore up the foundations of the old thing. The third, which I invite us into, is to ask what is trying to be born that requires a radical reorientation of our vision. What is the new thing that is trying to emerge from deep within us and from deep within the collective soul of Christianity?"
—from the Introduction
In the midst of dramatic changes in Western Christianity, internationally respected spiritual leader, peacemaker and scholar John Philip Newell offers the hope of a fresh stirring of the Spirit among us. He invites us to be part of a new holy birth of sacred living. Speaking directly to the heart of Christians—those within the well-defined bounds of Christian practice and those on the disenchanted edges—as well as to the faithful and seekers of other traditions, he explores eight major features of a new birthing of Christianity:
- Coming back into relationship with the Earth as sacred
- Reconnecting with compassion as the ground of true relationship
- Celebrating the Light that is at the heart of all life
- Reverencing the wisdom of other religious traditions
- Rediscovering spiritual practice as the basis for transformation
- Living the way of nonviolence among nations
- Looking to the unconscious as the wellspring of new vision
- Following love as the seed-force of new birth in our lives and world
"Occasionally I read a book that leads me to think, 'I wish I had written that.' This is one of those books."
—Marcus Borg, author, The Heart of Christianity and Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time, among other books
"Draw[s] from fresh, deep springs of faith ... placing before us the challenge of our day: Will we allow God to be born anew in us, in the earth, in the cosmos? Will we embody the ever-new life of the Source from which we come?"
—Mary C. Earle, author, Celtic Christian Spirituality: Essential Writings—Annotated and Explained
“Wow.... This book will move you ... with fresh insight into the rebirth of everything. What a writer, what a book!”
—Rob Bell, author, Love Wins and What We Talk about When We Talk about God
“From page one to the conclusion, John Philip Newell engages our imagination and as we read we are born anew. His writing is a blessing!”
—Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell, former executive director, U.S. World Council of Churches; author, Living into Hope: A Call to Spiritual Action for Such a Time as This
“Reconnecting is the word! The deep connection is already there and given, but this little book of wisdom will help you to find the essential message again—and in fresh, intelligent ways.”
—Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, Center for Action and Contemplation, Albuquerque, New Mexico
“Courageous.... A refreshing cup of cool, clear water for our spirits that enlivens us for the journey beyond the stumbling blocks of unquestioned doctrine toward a reconnection with the earth and the human capacity for awareness, compassion and spiritual practices that restore awe and hope for our enacted faith.”
—Thomas V. Wolfe, president, Iliff School of Theology
Introduction
Chapter 1: Reconnecting with the Earth
The Cathedral of Earth, Sea, and Sky
The Whole Universe Takes Part in the Dance
At the Heart of Matter Is the Heart of God
A Spirituality of Intimacy with the Natural World
Chapter 2: Reconnecting with Compassion
A Revolution of the Spirit
The Courage to See
The Courage to Feel
The Courage to Act
Chapter 3: Reconnecting with the Light
Turn But a Stone and an Angel Moves
The Light at the Center of Every Cell
Be Filled with Light and Shine
Letting Go to the Light
Chapter 4: Reconnecting with the Journey
Journeying into Unknown Territory
Traveling as Pilgrims
Shedding Our Attachment to the Ego
Finding the Other Half of Our Soul
Chapter 5: Reconnecting with Spiritual Practice
A Contemplative Orientation
Finding Our Diamond Essence
Plunging Deep into the Heart of the World
Nurturing the Seed-Force for Change
Chapter 6: Reconnecting with Nonviolence
Response-Ability
Love-Force Not Brute-Force
Love Is the Strongest Yet Humblest Force
Blessed Are the Peacemakers
Chapter 7: Reconnecting with the Unconscious
Opening to the Well of the Imagination
The Marriage of the Conscious and the Unconscious
The Promise of Union
Dreaming the Way Forward
Chapter 8: Reconnecting with Love
God Is Love
Saying Yes to the Heart of the Other
Giving Up Our Imaginary Position as the Center
There Is No Distinction between Love and Justice
Epilogue
Notes
Suggestions for Further Reading
About the Author