The sermons in Summoning the Whirlwind are for those who are not afraid of being challenged, whether it be intellectually, spiritually, or perhaps most difficult of all, in our rather comfortable lifestyles. Sanguin's starting point is always the life and words of Jesus. But rather than isolating them, he paints the religious, cultural, and political context for Jesus' teachings by leading us through recent scholarship and biblical criticisms. He draws connections where they are least expected: from the latest film, book, newspaper, rock song, scientific discovery, or political decision.

Summoning the Whirlwind: Unconventional Sermons for a Relevant Christian Faith

Religion & Spirituality

Sanguin, Bruce

Christian Books & Bibles

CopperHouse

The face of Christianity is changing. In recent years, and in rapidly increasing numbers, people have begun to understand the core message and purpose of Christianity differently. They have returned to its ancient roots and found a wisdom that speaks to their experience of faith and God. According to this emerging vision, Christianity is primarily about transformation - the transformation of the self through a living and dynamic experience of God, who is not separate from us, but a part of us; and the transformation of society. The Emerging Christian Way: Thoughts, Stories, and Wisdom for a Faith of Transformation is a collection of 13 essays, by some of the leading authors and thinkers in the field, covering ever aspect of this developing Christian paradigm. Contributors include Marcus Borg, Matthew Fox, Tom Harpur, Tim Scorer, Sallie McFague, Cynthia Bourgeault, Nancy Reeves, Don Grayston, the Very Rev. Bill Phipps, the Very Rev. Anne Squire, Mark Maclean, Bruce Harding, and Michael Schwartzentruber.

The Emerging Christian Way: Thoughts, Stories, and Wisdom for a Faith of Transformation

Schwartzentruber, Michael

A personal companion to Borg's bestseller, The Heart of Christianity that helps people put their faith into action.

Living the Heart of Christianity: A Guide to Putting Your Faith into Action

Borg, Marcus J.

Scorer, Tim

In March 2005, the United Nations released its Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Among the findings: 2/3 of the world's ecosystems are seriously degraded; 90 percent of the world's fish stocks are depleted; and climate change is not just something that might happen, it is already upon us. Many people, including many Christians, will hear this and delude themselves into thinking that technology can and will save the day. A wiser and more helpful response, especially for Christans, is to find a way to step back into the flow of nature from which we have extricated ourselves. In Darwin, Divinity, and the Dance of the Cosmos, Bruce Sanguin shows us the way. Sanguin draws on the latest scientific understandings of the nature of the universe and weaves them together with biblical meta-narratives and frequently overlooked strands of the Judeo-Christian tradition to create an ecological and truly evolutionary Christian theology - a feat few theologians have even attempted. The importance of this accomplishment can hardly be overstated. As Sanguin writes, "It's time for the Christian church to get with the cosmological program. We need new wineskins for the new wine the Holy One is pouring out in the 21st century. Twenty-first-century science has provided us with new a new story of creation that needs to inform our biblical stories of creation. We now know, for instance, that we live in an evolving or evolutionary universe. Evolution is the way that the Holy creates in space and in time, in every sphere: material, biological, social, cultural, psychological, and spiritual. This new cosmology simply cannot be contained by old models and images of God, or by old ways of being the church." As his starting point, Sanguin encourages readers to rediscover awe - an attitude very much absent from the modern mindset. "We don't see what is before us," he writes, "and as a result, we are plundering our planet at an unprecedented rate." "If we could see what is before our eyes, day in and day out, the sacred radiance of creation would drop us to our knees and render us speechless." Central to this recovery of awe is the new Great Story, the 14-billion-year history of the cosmos. Into this Great Story, first told by Thomas Berry and by mathematical physicist and cosmologist Brian Swimme, Sanguin reintroduces the presence God. Heady as all this sounds, it has very practical implications for the mission of the church. Sanguin writes: "In the first centuries after Jesus' death, his disciples looked around at their world and found that what was needed by way of response to the crisis of their age was hospitals for the sick and food for the poor. This is what compassion required of them. Mission is determined by the context in which the church finds itself in each new age. I am suggesting that, today, there is nothing more critical than a compassionate response to the plight of our planet. The church must be at the forefront of shifting human consciousness away from an ethic of domination for economic gain and toward a spirituality of awe. This book - and more importantly the work of integration it suggests - represents a fundamental challenge to our theological and liturgical models. But for those who are ready and willing to embark on an exciting theological journey of discovery, it also represents a rich opportunity to become reacquainted with the Spirit of God moving in and through the very dynamics of an unfolding universe.

Darwin, Divinity, and the Dance of the Cosmos: An Ecological Christianity

The teen years are often a time for searching and questioning many of the fundamental aspects of one's culture and society. This traditional questioning of life by teens often includes the aspect of faith - their own and that of others. What would it be like to follow the Hindu faith? How would my life be shaped by this? What are the beliefs of those who follow that tradition? What guidelines would I adopt in my everyday journeying? Carolyn Pogue's comprehensive book covers most of the world's main religions in a way that provides insight to these and many other wonderings in an accessible and captivating way. Carolyn's emphasis is not restricted to describing the unique practices of the various faith traditions included in the book; rather, she goes beyond institutional rites and beliefs to touch on the deeper truths common to humanity. Throughout, there is a strong message of caring for the earth and for each other, a message of connection and social justice. She uses interviews with young people as the basis of many of the chapters - they speak in their own words about their practices and how these influence their lives and world views. Full-colour photographs and comments from teens from other cultures allow teens to appreciate how the influences of different faith traditions affect other lives in a relevant way. The chapters also include a thumbnail sketch of each faith tradition, a prayer, a glossary of terms and concepts unique to that faith, a story and a Golden Rule. Carolyn also recognizes that many young people have a deep concern and interest in ecological matters and includes a "Green Rule" in each chapter - a short piece on how each faith interprets our relationship with the earth. Altogether, the information provided has depth and answers many questions that a curious and discerning teen might wonder about. Carolyn urges us to seek and celebrate our essential unity and this book provides an enjoyable and informative way to explore this. The last chapter, on Interfaith, provides information about and gives examples of organizations and individuals who are working for unity and peace globally. There are quotes from activists of many different faiths. This book invites and inspires the teen reader to look beyond his or her own faith and to explore the universality of spirituality that is rooted in us all. It encourages individual action and compassion by highlighting the universal truths of the world's many faiths. As Carolyn says, "My prayer is that this book can be a small tool for building a world fit for teens and other living beings on this good green Earth." A World of Faith includes a foreword by His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal (The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan), who is Moderator of the World Conference on Religion and Peace; Co-chair of the Independent Bureau for Humanitarean Issues; and a patron of Religion and Humanity.

A World of Faith: Introducing Spiritual Traditons to Teens

History

Pogue, Carolyn

World

Global society stands at a crossroads, one of those critical moments in the history of humankind. The simple fact is that the Earth cannot support our rampant overuse and misuse of its abundant gift of resources. Not only are we depleting the forests, oceans, soil, we are also poisoning the air and polluting our rivers, lakes, and oceans. We are living far beyond our means. Life as we are creating it is measurably and extravagantly unsustainable. - Bill Phipps. All societies live by their stories. This provocative book from one of the most provocative leaders in the Canadian church challenges the governing story that has shaped and defined Western culture and society - a story that has manifested itself in ecological destruction, war and the obscene military expenditures that go with it, unprecendented consumerism, economic disparity between rich and poor, mistreatment of non-white cultures and races, sexism, and fear. Clearly, it is time for a new story. Bill Phipps takes on the task of outlining the core themes of this new story with the passion and vision of a modern-day prophet. He shows us the deeply spiritual nature of the issues and choices that confront us. Recognizing that the challenges we face are inherently interconnected and can no longer be treated in isolation from each other, his approach is multi-faceted, touching on all aspects of life, including the role of the arts in bringing about transformation. As a culture and as a society, we do indeed stand at a crossroads - one of those rare grace-moments when we are granted the opportunity to choose our future. So the question remains before us. Will we choose the way of death, or the way of new life? Cause for Hope is part warning cry, part visionary exploration, part encouragement for the journey. As such, it is itself a cause for hope. Each chapter concludes with questions for discussion, making this book a valuable resource for study group use.

Cause for Hope: Humanity at the Crossroads

Phipps, Bill

At last, an important and relevant faith development curriculum for grown-ups! Inspired by Marcus Borg, Experience! offers adults an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the Bible in the formation of their mature faith. Accept the invitation to come into the kind of experiential learning community that Jesus gathered around him.

Experience! The Bible Again for the First Time

Borg, Marcus

In this 10 session study, discover who Jesus was, what he taught, and why he still matters today. Explore Jesus as a religious revolutionary, a Jewish mystic totally centered in the reality of God, and a movement initiator who opened a path of personal and political transformation.

Experiencing Jesus

In this captivating book, Bob Thompson opens a window onto the soul and lets the welcome breeze of his writing freshen many of our traditional perspectives on Christianity. Using humour and a light and accessible tone, he challenges religious orthodoxy in a non-confrontational way that encourages us to live our humanity joyfully, thankfully, and fully from our hearts. He offers an image of God that is not obscured by rigid dogma, the idea of separation, or an obligatory sense of unworthiness. Voluptuous is not a word most of us associate with God. Yet God is delicious, says Thompson. God takes pleasure in simple things. God knows "that laughter is the best medicine, that only love can heal what ails us, and that only joy can cause our hearts to sing." Thompson calls us to worship a God of intimacy rather than a God of distance. God and humanity hunger for closeness, and so Thompson calls us to an intimate relationship with the divine. The book is rooted in the Christian tradition but affirms that truth is found in other religions and spiritualities, and in secular practices. It offers an exploration of the place - which is here and now - "where we belong to God and to each other." A Voluptuous God questions, and offers insights into, many of the ideas and experiences our minds and souls dance with daily. It allows us to examine our personal spiritual needs and makes accessible the larger spiritual truths that give shape and meaning to our lives.

A Voluptuous God: A Christian Heretic Speaks

Robert V. Thompson

Experiencing Ecological Christianity is the third in the series Experience! Faith Formation Curriculum for Adults.
 Based on the bestselling book Darwin, Divinity, and the Dance of the Cosmos by Bruce Sanguin, Experiencing Ecological Christianity invites participants to focus on the ecological crisis. According to Bruce Sanguin, "Today, there is nothing more critical than a compassionate response to the plight of our planet. The church must be at the forefront of shifting human consciousness away from an ethic of domination for economic gain, and toward a spirituality of awe."
 Experiencing Ecological Christianity comes on DVD which includes:
 <ul>
 <li>Leader's Guide by Tim Scorer - 160 pages - in pdf format suitable for printing</li>
 <li>Participant Handbooks - in pdf format suitable for printing</li>
 <li>Images for projection</li>
 <li>Video clips of mentor and guide, Bruce Sanguin</li>
</ul>
 Also included is: 1 copy of Darwin, Divinity, and the Dance of the Cosmos by Bruce Sanguin

Experiencing Ecological Christianity: A 9-Session Program for Groups on DVD (Experience! Faith Formation Curriculum for Adults)

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