How Big is Your Tent? E-Book

Peter DeHaan

• Herausgeber: Spiritually Speaking Publishing
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Beschreibung

How Big is Your Tent?

Leseprobe

How Big is Your Tent?

A Call for Christian Unity, Tolerance, and Love

Peter DeHaan, PhD

How Big is Your Tent? A Call for Christian Unity, Tolerance, and Love. Copyright © 2013, 2016, 2017 by Peter DeHaan.

All rights reserved: No part of this book may be reproduced, disseminated, or transmitted in any form, by any means, or for any purpose without the express written consent of the author or his legal representatives. The only exception is short excerpts and the cover image for reviews or academic research.

ISBN: 978-1-948082-03-7 (ebook) / 978-1-948082-02-0 (print)

Published by Spiritually Speaking Publishing

Credits:

Copyeditor: Claudia Volkman

Proofreader: Robyn Mulder

Cover design: Cassia Friello

I dedicate this book to my spiritual director Sister Gertrude Maurer.

Contents

Introduction

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Conclusion

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

About Peter DeHaan

Other Books by Peter DeHaan

Dear Theophilus: A 40–Day Devotional Exploring the Life of Jesus through the Gospel of Luke

52 Churches: A Yearlong Journey Encountering God, His Church, and Our Common Faith

Women of the Bible:

The Victorious, the Victims, the Virtuous, and the Vicious

95 Tweets: Celebrating Martin Luther in the 21st Century

Peter DeHaan’s upcoming books:

The Friends and Foes of Jesus: Explore How People in the New Testament React to God’s Good News

Dear Theophilus, Acts: 40 Insights for Today’s Church from the Book of Acts

(a follow up to Dear Theophilus)

Friends and Foes of God: Heroes, Heretics, and Heavies of the Old Testament

Woodpecker Wars: Discovering the Spirituality of Everyday Life

Be the first to hear about Peter’s new books and receive updates at www.PeterDeHaan.com/updates.

Introduction

This is a book I never wanted to write.

Well, that’s not entirely true.

I’ve wanted to write it for quite some time.

I’ve been contemplating these ideas for several years.

It’s just that I don’t want anyone to read it.

I fear no one’s going to like what I say.

Friends may say I’ve gone too far.

They’ll claim I’ve cast too big of a faith net, I’ve painted theology with too broad of a brush, and I’ve embraced as “one” a spiritual population too diverse.

Everyone else will vilify me for being narrow-minded.

They’ll criticize me for advocating an exclusive worldview that pushes serious faith seekers of diverse perspectives to the outside.

But I hope I’m wrong. Let’s see.

Discussion Questions

1. Do you think Peter’s fears about having others read How Big Is Your Tent? are justified?

2. Do you hold out hope you might end up agreeing with him?

3. Do you suspect you will be one of those who thinks he went too far or one who thinks he didn’t go far enough?

Part 1

The Buffet

I reject the popular notion of buffet religion.

A buffet approach to spirituality allows people to make up their own faith. They pick what they like—and ignore what they don’t—from various worldviews, religious practices, and secular perspectives.

The result is a spiritual smorgasbord.

The meal may be tasty, but it’s not healthy.

And don’t give me this “as long as you sincerely believe” crap.

If I sincerely believe gravity doesn’t exist, that doesn’t mean I avoid its affect.

I could go on, but you get the point.

We can’t make God into our own image[1] and expect it to work.

A feel-good religion we just make up means nothing; it won’t rescue anyone.[2]

Discussion Questions

1. How do you react to Peter’s criticism of the buffet approach to spirituality?

2. How do people today pursue buffet religion?