A Heretic’s Guide To Eternity
Some time ago, I received a copy of the now “infamous” book “A Heretic’s Guide to Eternity” by Spencer Burke and Barry Taylor for review. However, between other reviews and a major increase in ministry activity, I didn’t get to the review. When time did open up, I found myself unsure how to articulate my take on this provocative book. In the mean time, many others have reviewed the book thoroughly and excellently. The best I found, reflecting my own views quite a bit, was Scot McKnight’s take, found here:
Scot McKnight Review of Heretic’s – Part 1
Scot McKnight Review of Heretic’s – Part 2
Scot McKnight Review of Heretic’s – Part 3
Scot McKnight Review of Heretic’s – Part 4
There is a great deal to read, including the comment sections, but they are well worth the time. In the end, I would say that I deeply appreciate the intentions of Spencer & Barry in writing this book. I also resonate with many of the ideas and thoughts that had that brushed the edge of the status quo of Christianity. However, I think they went too far. In a medium that is so widely available, many people may or may not be able to process or engage these ideas safely. Further, I am not sure those changes most needed in the Body of Christ were central in the book, with attention focusing on interesting, yet unnecessarily dangerous emphasis.
Therefore, this book does not get my recommendation, though neither would I hide my copy from (most) guests… wink!
Hey Jaime (always appreciate your insights over at Grace’s place…)
I need to get this book and see what all the fuss is about. I recently interviewed Burke and found him quite congenial. He is making himself as accessible as possible to those who want to dialogue with him directly. His email is readily available at his Ooze site.
(my interview with him is for Off the Map’s Revolution Conference which Burke is one of the many speakers involved…www.revolutionconference.com The interview will be posted next week…
Pam,
Without question, Spencer is a great guy, a brother in Christ and someone thousands have (and will) benefit in their spiritual journey from. That being said, I think the book was not written with the care it could have. Just my opinion. Thanks for weighing in.
Peace,
Jamie
I read the book, and although didn’t agree with every direction Spencer was going…I enjoyed it, it made me think, reflect on faith…for that I’m gratefull. I think some folks read far to much into this book, almost portraying Spencer as the poster child for ” emerging ” theology. I think more, it was a sort of spiritual journal of his own journey up to date. Like you’ve said, it’s good to read Scot McKnights thoughts on the book, in the shadow of your own reading. Peace…Ron+
Ron,
You are right that it is unfair for Spencer to be seen as representing all things emerging (or even EV) from this book. It is an annoying, though perhaps inevitable, reality.
While I had a similar experience with the book, I know far too many young Christians who would not have the maturity to handle such a book, especially as they did not qualify the work as such. Just my thoughts.
Peace,
Jamie
Ok Jamie, I have to ask. If you wouldn’t recommend the book, why? For what reason(s)? I’m curious to know what would make a book a “non-recommendation”?
Ken,
I should have clarified- this book would not get my general, public recommendation, though I might to specific people. My reasons are what I stated above, the rest being largely summed up by Scot McKnight. Does that make sense?
Peace,
Jamie
Yup, makes sense. But I wonder: if it doesn’t get recommendation to ‘certain people’, why is that? Because it will offend, be too controversial, advocates what you take to be error, something else?
Sorry, I realize you see thinks like McKnight, which I certainly heed. But do you have any nuance or more specific reasons?
Ken,
I see you aren’t going to let me get away with my intentionally vague answers (wink). Alright, I will try to give a general picture.
First, I want to reaffirm that I am not saying I am out to ban this book, but rather I would be far more cautious about who and how I recommended this book.
While I am open to questioning and challenging the way we have done and been God’s people- the Church- I feel like they went, at times, too far in abandoning historical understandings of faith, Scripture, etc. At times they cast more doubt on the reliability of even Jesus teachings and life than seems at all fair or helpful. The books seems to suggest that ones spirituality is entirely up to them to form with little to connection to what Jesus taught and incarnated Himself.
The book makes man excellent points, but discredits many of those point with poorly referenced examples from Scripture which don’t actually support its intent, often when other, better examples may have been used. Others were just unreasonable stretches.
In the end I do not question the authors sincerity or salvation, while I do have some concern about their theology. However, what I most worry about is not so much the content, but the lack of care used in articualting it. Too often it was clumsy, at best, which for a writer equals irresponsible. Spencer has brought a great deal of clarity since the critique, which is good. It is, I think, somewhat too late. Not the end of the world, but unfortunate.
I hope that answers things better.
Peace,
Jamie
Yes, it does. The feeling I get from reading reviews is that the book is in a way ‘all over the place’ and scant on support for some of its more controversial claims. I’d love to read the book at some point, especially since one of the areas I’m reading deeply in at the doctoral level is the emergence (!) of toleration and the conceptions of heterodoxy. And it does seem somewhat strange that Spencer could bring clarity only after the fact? I guess it just means I’ll have to get around to the book one day! As an aside, I’d be interested in how you recommend something ‘in general’ to readers? You seem to imply that there are certain people – youth perhaps? new Christians? – who wouldn’t be able to ‘handle’ certain books. OR am I off on that one?
Ken,
You are not entirely off. It is just that this book is coming out at a time when there are many Christians (many of them young or new, many of them that are not) looking for answers to difficult questions. The emerging church movement has attempted to offer a safe place to explore those things. With issues as significant as the ones Spencer & Barry dealt with, I think they failed to responsibly deal with the climate surrounding those who would be influenced by the book.
Therefore, I would be careful not to recommend this book to someone who has no foundation in orthodoxy (which is sadly ALL too common for many Christians).
Peace,
Jamie