Integral Christianity: The Spirit's Call to Evolve - Hardcover

Smith, Paul

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 155778891X ISBN 13: 9781557788917

Publisher: Paragon House, 2011

Synopsis

This book presents a model of Christianity that incorporates the insights of a Jesus-centered theology of biblical interpretation, integral philosophy, and over fifty years of pastoral experience in leading evolutionary change in the local church. The perspectives of integral theory and practice, articulated by Ken Wilber, help uncover the integral approach that Jesus advocated and demonstrated in the metaphors of his time and that traditional Christianity has largely been unable to see.
Smith incorporates elements of traditional, modern, and postmodern theological viewpoints, including progressive, New Thought, and emerging/emergent ones. However, he goes beyond all of them and moves to a Christianity that is devoted to following both the historical Jesus and the Risen Christ whose Spirit beckons to us from the future. Smith says, "The oldest thing you can say about God is that God is always doing something new. Jesus pushed his own religion to newness by including the best of its past, and transcending the worst of its present. He calls us to do the same, whatever our religion is today."

About this title

About the Author

During Paul Smith's nearly half a century of innovative pastoral leadership at Broadway Church in Kansas City, Missouri, the church has evolved from a traditional Southern Baptist church to the integral model described in Integral Christianity. Smith has taught on the evolving church at seminaries and churches around the country. In addition to numerous articles, booklets, and teaching CD's and DVD's, he has authored Is It Okay to Call God Mother? Considering the Feminine Face of God. His dream has been to develop an inclusive, theologically progressive, healing community focused on the spiritual transformation that comes from following Jesus Christ.

From the Back Cover

"A lot of us were introduced to a take-it-or-leave-it approach to Christian faith: it was a tight, stiff, one-size-fits-all system that offered little room to grow. Many of us are now discovering that there's another approach...an expansive, adaptive approach that sees growth and development as inherent to faithfulness, for both individuals and traditions. In Integral Christianity, Paul Smith offers a helpful, readable, and inviting portal into this alternate approach." --Brian McLaren, author of A New Kind of Christianity

"Clarifying, honest, courageous, and genuinely helpful, making the Gospel shine with a new brilliance and beauty. All sincere believers and seekers should welcome this book." --[Fr.] Richard Rohr, O.F.M. Center for Action and Contemplation and author of Things Hidden

"Integral Christianity is a wonderful guide for Christians seeking a personal and world-transforming spirituality." --Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, University of St. Thomas and author of Jesus Against Christianity: Reclaiming the Missing Jesus

"Paul Smith gives us a fine book on integral Christianity. It speaks directly to Christians as well as other religious persons everywhere. Highly recommended."

--Allan Combs, Professor, California Institute of Integral Studies and author of Consciousness Explained Better

"An impassioned book that helps chart a future course of development for the Christian church, showing how the integral philosophy of evolution can illuminate our quest to find God." --Steve McIntosh, author of Integral Consciousness and the Future of Evolution

From the Inside Flap

THE EVOLUTION OF ALL RELIGIONS into deeper, wider, and higher dimensions is crucial to the evolution of human spirituality and consciousness. In this book, Paul Smith presents just such an inviting and expansive pathway for the Christian religion that is faithful to a Jesus-centered theology of biblical interpretation and illuminated by the emerging field of integral philosophy.

The perspectives of integral theory and practice articulated by Ken Wilber help uncover the integral approach that Jesus advocated and demonstrated in the metaphors of his time--and that traditional Christianity has largely been unable to see.

Smith incorporates elements of traditional, modern, and postmodern theological viewpoints, including progressive, New Thought, and emerging/emergent ones. However, he goes beyond them and moves to a Christianity that is devoted to following both the historical Jesus and the Risen Cosmic Christ whose Spirit beckons to us from the future.

Smith reminds us, "The oldest thing you can say about God is that God is always doing something new. Jesus pushed his own religion to newness by including the best of its past, and transcending the worst of its present. He calls us to do the same, whatever our religion is today. Jesus continues to be a prototype for all spiritual paths in their task of keeping up with the Spirit's evolutionary impulse to welcome the next transcendent stage."

Edition details

• Publisher: Paragon House
• Publication date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 155778891X
• ISBN 13: 9781557788917
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 408