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I recently finished “Christianity After Religion: The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening” by Diana Butler Bass. Here’s a brief review.
The End of the Church?
This phrase may sound alarmist, but Bass does a fine job of casting this as an end to organizational traditionalism that has sought societal power ever since Constantine. Religion rarely protects people from change. And so, much like our ancient spiritual ancestors when they were in exile, we must do the work of reforming, renewing, and reimagining ancient ways.
This work, backed by significant study and data, asks tough questions. Questions that the larger church has been afraid or blind to ask in the past.
Bass asserts that religion has failed. What we spent roughly 1700 years trying to force into our religion has left a static lifelessness and meaninglessness.
These are rough statements for a modern-day religion-based Christian to swallow. But here’s the thing …
I Agree! We Are Ready for Christianity After Religion
Bass sketches historical accounts that show the long-standing method of the Christian religion’s system: believing, behaving, belonging. She flips that pattern upside-down, and argues that the way forward is just the opposite: belonging, behaving, believing.
What comes after? Bass calls it an awakening.
Awakenings begin when old norms – guidelines and rules our parents, communities, and government once followed – no longer work. — Diana Butler Bass
Tracing the processes and outcomes of former great spiritual awakenings, Bass identifies a way forward emerging.
Performing Awakening
In her last chapter, Bass spells out four important actions for performing faith during a time of awakening: prepare, practice, play, participate.
Nothing new in this formulation. Our ancient ancestors figured this out in exile. But Bass has re-narrated it in a fresh way for our time.
This is a book dense with data and research, but written with a voice that probingly questions and inspires. Bass gives voice to many leanings I had when I resigned and walked away from vocational ministry 7 years ago. Her synthesis and call to the future gives me new wind to stick with this thing this time around, during seasons of renovation and renewal.