The God We Never Knew: Beyond
Dogmatic Religion To A More
Authenthic Contemporary Faith by
Marcus J. Borg
From Supernatural Theism To Panentheism
Answering the many spiritual questions left unaddressed by such popular
historical bestsellers as A History of God and God: A Biography, renowned
author Marcus Borg reveals how to embrace an authentic contemporary
faith that reconciles God with science, critical thinking and religious
pluralism. How to have faith--how to even think about God--without having
to stifle modern rationality is one of the most vital challenges facing
contemporary religion.In providing a much-needed solution to the problem
of how to have a fully authentic yet fully contemporary understanding of
God, Borg--author of the bestselling Meeting Jesus Again for the first
Time--traces his personal journey. He leads readers from the all-powerful
and authoritarian God of his (and their) childhood and traditional faith to an

equally powerful but dynamic image of God that is relevant to
contemporary seekers and more biblical and spiritually authentic. Borg
shows how the modern crisis of faith is itself rooted in delusion--
misinterpretation of biblical texts and of Gods true nature--and challenges
readers to a new way of thinking about God. He opens a practical
discussion about how to base a relationship with the divine both immanent
and transcendant, here and now, always and everywhere. Arguing that the
authentic Judeo-Christian tradition is that Gods being includes the whole
world, Borg persuasively shows how this understanding accounts for the
whole variety of human religious experience. Ultimately, he introduces
readers to a way of thinking about God who is right here all around them,
rather than distant and remote. This understanding is more intellectually
and spiritually satisfying and allows readers to reclaim a stronger sense of
Gods presence.
Personal Review: The God We Never Knew: Beyond Dogmatic
Religion To A More Authenthic Contemporary Faith by Marcus J.
Borg
Since I have become convinced of the authenticity of the cosmo-centric
world view that has clearly made the geo-centric and helio-centric
perspectives only understandings of a limited and fragmented view of
reality, I am not as certain about God as Borg's "The God We Never
Knew." With exuberance, if not exaggeration, he claims a vision of that
"unknownable" reality.
Having written that, I put my cynicism aside so that I could read this book
with a perspective that, at minimum, leaves the options about the sacred
open. Against the background of his own journey, Borg seeks to describe a
vision of God that a modern human being can embrace.
Before filling in the contours of his image of God he rejects the concept of
the God of supernatural theism. He goes to some detail to "package" the
God of this perspective. The elements he sees in this view are: (1) God is
one who intervenes in the world; (2) the Bible is a divine and authoritative
product; (3) though created in the image of God, humans are sinful and
guilty and God provides a solution for us in Jesus; (4) Jesus is God's only
son and is the one who makes the forgiveness of our sins possible; (5)
faith in Jesus is the only way of salvation; (6) faith is correct belief; (7)
salvation means going to heaven but some go to hell.
Then this book moves on envision God -- "and the image of Christian faith
that goes with it" -- in detail. If you, therefore, are struggling with what
Gordon Kaufman of Harvard Divinity School calls "the God problem," then
here is help. He will insist that you abandon the authoritative God of
"supernatural theism." I, for one, agree that you must if you seek an
"authentic view of God that is...compatible with good science, critical
thinking and religious pluralism." If I wasn't already convinced of the power
of such a perspective as his, this book would challenge me to give

consideration to panentheism. Examine it carefully and you will profit from
his discussion!
For More 5 Star Customer Reviews and Lowest Price:
The God We Never Knew: Beyond Dogmatic Religion To A More Authenthic
Contemporary Faith by Marcus J. Borg 5 Star Customer Reviews and Lowest Price!