In 'Stealing Jesus,' Bruce Bawer embarks on a provocative journey through the intersection of religion and modernity. He explores how Christianity has been reshaped by contemporary culture, often leading to a dilution of its core messages. Bawer challenges readers to confront the commodification of faith, urging a return to authenticity. His incisive critique not only dissects the motives behind religious transformations but also poses poignant questions about belief and identity. This compelling narrative invites readers to reconsider the true essence of Christianity in a rapidly changing world.
By Bruce Bawer
Published: 1998
""In a world where faith is commodified, the essence of spirituality lies in the quiet rebellion of the soul against the noise of conformity.""
From the author of the widely acclaimed A Place at the Table, this is a major work, passionately outspoken and cogently reasoned, that exposes the great danger posed to Christianity today by fundamentalism. The time is past, says Bruce Bawer, when denominational names and other traditional labels provided an accurate reflection of Christian America's religious beliefs and practices. The meaningful distinction today is not between Protestant and Catholic, or Baptist and Episcopalian, but rather between "legalistic" and "nonlegalistic" religion, between the Church of Law and the Church of Love. On one side is the fundamentalist right, which draws a sharp distinction between "saved" and "unsaved" and worships a God of wrath and judgment; on the other are more mainstream Christians who view all humankind as children of a loving God who calls them to break down barriers of hate, prejudice, and distrust. Pointing out that the supposedly "traditional" beliefs of American fundamentalism--about which most mainstream Christians, clergy included, know shockingly little--are in fact of relatively recent origin, are distinctively American in many ways, and are dramatically at odds with the values that Jesus actually spread, Bawer fascinatingly demonstrates the way in which these beliefs have increasingly come to supplant genuinely fundamental Christian tenets in the American church and to become synonymous with Christianity in the minds of many people. Stealing Jesus is the ringing testament of a man who is equally disturbed by the notion of an America without Christianity and the notion of an American Christianity without love and compassion.
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“"In a world where faith is commodified, the essence of spirituality lies in the quiet rebellion of the soul against the noise of conformity."”
Stealing Jesus
By Bruce Bawer
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Bruce Bawer is an acclaimed American author, essayist, and critic, known for his insightful commentary on culture, society, and politics. He has written several notable works, including "While Europe Slept: How radical Islam is destroying the West from within" and "Surrender: Appeasing Islam, Sacrificing Freedom." Bawer's writing is characterized by its blend of personal narrative and thorough analysis, often addressing the complexities of modern life and the challenges posed by extremism. With a distinctive voice, he engages readers in discussions about freedom, identity, and the impact of religious fundamentalism on Western society.
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