How (Not) To Speak Of God – Part 1
I had heard a great deal of buzz surrounding Pete Rollins’ book “How (Not) To Speak Of God”, but intentionally steered away from other reviews until I had a chance to read it myself. Unfortunately, the book came in the busiest time of my year, and given the thorough and “meaty” content of the book, I am still wrestling through it (I say that fully as a positive remark). Having finished “Part 1 – Heretical Orthodoxy: From Right Belief To Believing In The Right Way”, I thought I had better review in two parts, as I wanted the material fresh in my mind.
I should start by saying that I am no theologian. Beyond my high school diploma, my education has been through my own reading, which has been excellent, but not at the same level as I might have had with further education. As a result, reading Rollins’ book was a true labour and education in and of itself. I learned so much through reading it, for which I am very grateful. However, given the lack of prior engagement with some of the theological and philosophical material in the book, it is quite possible I have missed aspects of it. I say this, not to be self-depracting, but to encourage you to read the book yourself.
That being said, I believe that Pete Rollins offers most thorough formational a/theologies (you’ll have to read the book to know what that means) for the emerging church I have ever read. While I might disagree on aspects, usually only by small degrees, I was challenged, excited and inspired to hope as I read. He artfully allows postmodernism to inform his engagement with theology and praxis without allowing orthodoxy to be co-opted by it (thus the teasingly “controversial” phrase ‘heretical orthodoxy’).
The next section of the book, which represents about 2/3′s of the book, is entitled “Part 2 – Towards Orthopraxis: Bringing Theory To Church” reflects on how this a/theology plays itself out in the context of Pete’s community Ikon. I am really look forward to getting into it.
P.S. Don’t forget to keep voting for me this week. Thanks!
