The Story We Find Ourselves In- Further Adventures of a New Kind of Christian Description:

The Story We Find Ourselves In: Further Adventures of a New Kind of Christian review:
5 stars (Read It for Yourself) - After reading The Story We Find Ourselves In, I walk away feeling that most, if not all, the reviews I read concerning it (whether in favor or against) were strangely beside the point. I encourage you to read it for yourself (starting with the Preface).



It seems strange to me that folks would defend so vehemently their interpretations (whatever they are-in agreement with the character Neo or not) of this story that every human finds himself/herself in: as if it's our interpretations of life that gives life meaning or significance. It would seem to me that the most basic significance of our story is that it exists before, above and beyond any one of us individually, though we find ourselves inextricably a part of it. In the face of anything that is so indisputably greater than one's self-such as LIFE-it makes more sense to me to seek meaning from that thing than to think that one's undeniably limited perceptions of the thing can somehow add meaning it. The former is all I see McLaren doing in a most respectful way. And it is my humble opinion that in most instances McLaren's search is for the better.



For those to whom it matters, McLaren's writing is substantive and full of latent meaning. The title itself, in its lack of grammatical convention, strikingly suggests that by exploring "the story we find ourselves in" we simultaneously find both personal context and meaning. Though narrative, the vehicle of choice for McLaren is almost exclusively dialogue which may take some getting use to for some, but there's nothing wrong with that. Of course the quality of his use of the narrative form could be critiqued-doesn't education teach us that all things can be improved-but such critique would be better reserved for a truly artistic work of fiction. McLaren's work is more along the lines of "creative nonfiction" (a more accurate categorization that a reader of the first book in this series gave him). Besides I get the impression that McLaren's purpose is more parable and less art. The content is not heretical in the least. McLaren only asks you to re-examine the assumptions upon which beliefs about creation, evolution and God's interaction with humanity are based. That which is worth believing should hold up to examination.



Whether Evolutionist or Creationist or Intelligent Design Advocate or Christian or not, I hope you read The Story We Find Ourselves In. I hope you enjoy and are inspired by it. If not, I hope it at least challenges you to reconsider for your own benefit why you believe what you believe.
5 stars (The Story We Find Ourselves In) - This, the second book in McLaren's "New Kind of Christian" trilogy is the most satisfying on some levels. It works better than volumes I and III as story, as fiction. But, too, it is very stirring theologically, a brave attempt at rethinking the gospel in light of current scientific knowledge. What stays with me most, now that I've lain the book down, is its vision of heaven. A provocative yet comforting book. Not for everyone, yet God bless Brian McLaren from one who needed it.
5 stars (great book) - This is an excellent book. It highlights the areas that Christians need to re-examine in light of where we are in the culture