What We Talk About When We Talk About God audiobook

What We Talk About When We Talk About God (WWTAG) is the first book Rob Bell has written since Love Wins blew up the internet. Since then, Rob has stepped down from his position as Lead pastor at Mars Hill, the church he founded, and moved to the Los Angeles area.Writing book reviews is always tricky. But when Rob Bell writes a book, that review is even harder because you almost have to write a review about Rob himself before you can talk about the book. Well, I’m not going to do that. I’m going to stick to the book itself. If you like Rob, you’ll probably like this book. If you don’t like Rob, I doubt you’ll like it. This review is for people who are more interested in God than Rob Bell.WWTAG launches conversations about God into the twenty-first century.Rob opens by acknowledging a problem many in the Church are afraid to face: for many outside the Church (and a growing number inside, too) the way we talk about God feels at best stale and outdated and at worst dangerous and primitive. Rob asks if God can keep up with the modern world.The question is rhetorical. Rob immediately confesses that the God he finds in the Old and New Testament Scriptures, the God revealed in Jesus, isn’t behind us somewhere, trying to keep up. Rather, God is ahead of us, calling us into a better future.Rob uses the story of Jacob dreaming of a ladder to Heaven. When Jacob wakes, he confesses that God was there even though he didn’t know it. The story reminds us thatGod hasn’t changed; it’s Jacob who wakes up to a whole new awareness of who – and where – God is.How do we talk about God in the wake of Modernity?Rob offers three concepts: God is with us, for us and ahead of us. Contrary to the distant god of Modernist Deism, God is working around us, near us, accessible to us. But Rob is clear that this is not pantheism. God is not everything. We are not God. God is with us.Contrary to the moralistic god of Modernist Humanism, God invites us to discover the persons we were created to be. God came among us as Jesus not to give us a list of rules, to legislate us into persons God could tolerate, but to show us the way back to life. But Rob is clear that this is not Prosperity Gospel. Jesus’ good news is radical, counterintuitive.Contrary to the primitive, tribalistic god who can’t keep up with Modernity, a god of the gaps whose realm constantly loses ground to the onslaught of Science, God is ahead of us, calling humanity forward to be a better people. Every day is a chance to move another “click” forward as a people.The primary criticism that’ll be leveled against WWTAG will be its Progressivist bent.Rob tackles the very difficult Scriptures of the Old Testament – like the genocides in Joshua and “eye for an eye” in Exodus by claiming that God meets human cultures where they are and then calls them forward. So what might be progressive in one culture (“Eye for an eye” in the nomadic, post-Exodus Israelite culture) can become regressive by Jesus’ day.Will we participate or resist?Rob argues that the whole of Scripture is God calling humanity forward, and that in our interpretation we should always be looking forward too (since that’s where God is – ahead of us). Here Rob leans most clearly towards classical liberalism. But even still, he’s grounded squarely within Orthodoxy.If you accept any sort of progressive revelation, it’s hard to see how you can avoid Rob’s conclusions.Rob believes that God is taking the world somewhere, that God is calling us all to participate in that, and that we have the responsibility to be the people we were created to be.At the same time, Rob never denies the reality of Sin, the hopelessness of humanity left to our own devices and he never denies that human nature hasn’t gotten any better.And for Rob, the answer to this dilemma is nothing but Jesus himself. Jesus is the sword that cuts through the Gordian knot of our sinfulness and opens the way into God’s better future.So why do we need to read this book?WWTAG sounds exactly like the conversations I have over and over with people who genuinely want to know God but can’t comprehend the god presented to them by the Church. Rob offers the Church new ways to talk about God that are still wholly faithful to the Church’s historic witness to Jesus.And we need new ways to talk about God. Not because God has changed. But because we have.If you don’t like Rob, you probably won’t like WWTAG. If you’re in the Church and you don’t see any problem with the way the Church has always talked about God, this book will probably just make you mad.But if you have ever wondered how the Old Testament God fits with what you know about Jesus, give it a try. If you have ever cringed at the battle between faith and science and wondered if there’s a better way, read it. If you have a hard time ditching the idea that God is a distant judge waiting to condemn you, read WWTAG.And we all know people who have these same questions. So get two copies of this book, and read it with a friend. Enjoy the new conversations about God this book will spark.Bottom Line: What We Talk About When We Talk About God offers a compelling post-modern incarnation of biblical theology. Read it with a friend, because you’ll want to talk about it.YOUR TURN: Will you read WWTAG? What image of God do you find most compelling?Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review purposes from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

I am done trying to explain Rob Bell books. It's impossible. I am also done recommending Rob Bell books because I am somehow personally hurt when someone else doesn't like him - his writing style, his theology, his extreme comfort with ambiguity. Whatever. I love him. WWTAWWTAG was about 48 hours of sublime exploring and thinking about god. He pulls in many themes close to my heart - a reckless love for people, comfort in seemingly paradoxical things, questions that can only have mysterious answers, and a fundamental starting point in Jesus. We are all people of faith - it is just a question of what that faith is in. Loved it. It's not a theological handbook but it is a phenomenally approachable conversation starter and a deep sense of awe for our world, other people, and who god may be, and how he may show up in our lives. When I say I see Jesus everywhere, I think of how this book FEELS. And feels is the right word. RB has a gift of poetic writing and vivid feelings. Sure it may play a bit much to a spiritual feeling but god isn't going to be contained in any one book, and this one is a fresh and makes-you-want-to-dance kind of inspiring. If I recommended RB books this would be highly recommended.

About the Book:New York Times bestselling author Rob Bell, whom the The New Yorker describes as “one of the most influential Christian leaders in the county,” does for the concept of God what he did for heaven and hell in his book Love Wins: He shows how traditional ideas have grown stale and dysfunctional and how to return vitality and vibrancy to lives of faith today.Pastor Rob Bell explains why both culture and the church resist talking about God, and shows how we can reconnect with the God who is pulling us forward into a better future. Bell uses his characteristic evocative storytelling to challenge everything you think you know about God. What We Talk About When We Talk About God tackles the misconceptions about God and reveals how God is with us, for us, ahead of us, and how understanding this could change the entire course of our lives.How God is described today strikes many as mean, primitive, backward, illogical, tribal, and at odds with the frontiers of science. At the same time, many intuitively feel a sense of reverence and awe in the world. Can we find a new way to talk about God?Pastor and New York Times bestselling author Rob Bell does here for God what he did for heaven and hell in Love Wins: he shows how traditional ideas have grown stale and dysfunctional and reveals a new path for how to return vitality and vibrancy to how we understand God. Bell reveals how we got stuck, why culture resists certain ways of talking about God, and how we can reconnect with the God who is with us, for us, and ahead of us, pulling us forward into a better future—and ready to help us live life to the fullest.Pre- Review: What is Heresy?Before I get started digging in to Rob Bell's new book, I want to take a moment to define my perspective. I am writing as an Evangelical Blogger. But before I am an Evangelical, I am a Christian. A big-tent, broad, orthodox Christian. This means that I adhere to the traditional tenants of the Christian faith that have been defined for nearly 2,000 years. These tenants are affirmed by every major sect of Christianity- Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Orthodox. These tenants are what the early Church councils agreed upon as a standard for theological orthodoxy. And these doctrines are summed up in the creeds of the faith. The basic tenants of true, orthodox Christianity are as follows:The Nicene Creed:We believe in one God,the Father, the Almighty,maker of heaven and earth,of all that is, seen and unseen.We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,the only Son of God,eternally begotten of the Father,God from God, Light from Light,true God from true God,begotten, not made,of one being with the Father.Through him all things were made.For us and for our salvationhe came down from heaven:by the power of the Holy Spirithe became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,and was made man.For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;he suffered death and was buried.On the third day he rose againin accordance with the Scriptures;he ascended into heavenand is seated at the right hand of the Father.He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,and his kingdom will have no end.We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,who proceeds from the Father and the Son.With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.He has spoken through the Prophets.We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.We look for the resurrection of the dead,and the life of the world to come. Amen.From very early on in Church history it was understood that no one who affirmed these basic tenants of the faith was considered a heretic. One could disagree on anything and everything theologically- just not these core doctrines. These were the theological ideas that mattered. Everything else was generally up for speculation and debate. That included heaven and hell. That included atonement theories. That included the doctrine of sin. Many of the major doctrines that we have divided over and often accused people of being heretics because of their lack of agreement with us on are simply not the essentials. They don’t make one heterodox. They don’t make one a false teacher. And they certainly don’t make someone a heretic, which literally implies that the person is outside the saving grace of Jesus Christ and is damned. A serious accusation indeed.Many Evangelicals have written Rob Bell off as a heretic. Many (if not most) Evangelical bloggers are going to post about this book and say this is the final nail in Bell’s coffin- implying that he is a goner. He’s done. He’s not a Christian. I want to begin my review saying this- in any and all of Rob Bell’s works, I have never once found a heterodox/heretical statement of theological belief on Bell’s part. Never. Not in Velvet Elvis, Jesus Wants to Save Christians, Sex God, Drops Like Stars, Love Wins, and I did not find any heresy in What We Talk About When We Talk About God. Rob is infamous for asking hard questions. He pushes the envelope and asks “What if?” And whether you like that style of teaching or not is your own problem- not Bell’s. In a postmodern culture, a new generation of Christians has risen up that are asking the questions Bell is asking. We are struggling through these things. And that is why Bell has become such a go-to-guru for us- because he is one of us and understands us. He understands our desire to rethink, reform, and renew. He affirms our core belief that God is big enough, strong enough, and loving enough to handle any question or doubts we throw at him.As I begin this in-depth review of Bell’s new work, I want to say this: I obviously don’t agree with everything Rob Bell says in this book. I think you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who agrees with everything in he has written in it. Rob does push boundaries and I do think it is safe to say that Bell can no longer be classified as an “Evangelical” in the modern sense of the word. He says some shocking things. But none of it- and I mean none of it- is heretical. None of it is actually new. All of the ideas Rob suggests in What We Talk About When We Talk About God have roots in the historic, orthodox Christian faith. For sure, this book is paradigm shifting. It will be wholly rejected by the conservative community (unfortunately). But none the less- it is still a thoroughly Christian work that can and will help countless people renew their faith in God. And for that, we all need to thank God for.With that as my foundation, let’s take a look at the content of What We Talk About When We Talk About God:My Summary (Spoiler Alert!):The book begins with Bell suggesting that when we talk about God, we really don’t know what we mean. “I realize that when I use the word God in the title of this book there’s a good chance I am stepping on all kinds of land mines….and that’s why I use it… from people risking their lives to serve the poor because they believe that God called them to do it…to musicians in their acceptance speech at an Award show thanking God for their hit song about a late-night booty call, when it comes to God, we are all over the place.”But Bell proposes that the problem that we have with God isn’t even necessarily that we are all talking about something extraordinarily different when we speak of God. Instead, our problem is that many of our understandings of God fail to give us meaning, value, or purpose in life. In fact, for many of us, our view of God causes us harm. And that’s why Bell has written this book.He says, “I’ve written this book about that word, then, because there something in the air, we’re in the midst of a massive rethink, a movement is gaining momentum, a moment in history is in the making: there is a growing sense among a growing number of people that when it comes to God, we’re at the end of one era and the start of another, an entire mode of understanding and talking about God [is] dying as something new is being birthed” (pg 3) (and yup, there is a typo)That is quite a bold and beautiful statement. And Rob insists that though those wonderful words may be inflammatory for many, he is not “remotely interested” in being controversial. But he acknowledges that his concepts in this book may “skirt heresy” in a quote by German Theologian Helmut Thielicke: “A person who speaks to this hours need will always be skirting the edge of heresy, but only the person who risks those heresies can gain truth”. And with that, Bell dives in deep.The first part of the book is addressing how many of our understandings of God are like Oldsmobile’s- outdated. Bell addresses issues like women in ministry, creationism, legalism, and eschatology as issues that many Christians are behind on and that they give us an image of God that is stale. Bell says that for many Christians, believing in that image of God “feels like a step backward, to an earlier, less informed and enlightened time, one that we’ve thankfully left behind.” (pg 7) With that understand, Bell asks the question “Can God keep up with the modern world?” Now naturally, many people are going to react against this kind of questioning- of course God is timeless and maybe the things we are learning and embracing now aren’t true and godly anyways right? I recently had a professor tell our class that humanity is actually going through an “Endarkenment” and that our knowledge is becoming less and less advanced. Where does that thinking come from? It seems that Bell is proposing- a stale and dated image of God. Images of God that cause many to doubt, scoff, leave, and hate the Christian faith.Like Love Wins, Bell says that this book is based on a deeply personal journey he has embarked on- about the times that he has doubted everything and entered into dark nights of the soul. From the very first chapter, Bell has captured the interest of almost every human being, striking the chord for all of us that lead us to decide whether or not we believe in God. Bell says that this book is an account of “What I experienced over a long period of time…a gradual awakening to new perspectives on God-specifically the God Jesus talked about.” (p 13) Bell introduces his readers to his standpoint before taking us on the grand journey through the book. He says first, he is a Christian and second, he believes that all people love to talk about God. He is clear that this is not an apologetics book- he is not trying to prove the existence of God, but rather working from his foundational belief that a God does exist.The entirety of the book centers around six simple words: Open, Both, With, For, Ahead, So. Bell explains each word and why it is essential to our talking about God:Open because “we all drag a massive amount of expectations and assumptions…and that…will demand that we be open.”Both because “language both helps us and fails us in our attempts to understand and describe the paradoxical nature of the God who is beyond words.”With because “I understand God to be the energy, the glue, the force, the life, the power, and the source of all we know… I believe God is with us because I believe that all of us are already experiencing the presence of God in countless ways every single day.”For because “I believe God is for every single one of us, regardless of our beliefs or perspectives or actions or failures or mistakes or sins or opinions about whether God exists or not. I believe God wants each of us to flourish and thrive…”Ahead because “when I talk about God, I’m not talking about a dive being who is behind, trying to drag us to a primitive, barbaric, regressive, prescientific age…I want you to see how the God we see at work in the Bible is actually ahead of people, tribes, and cultures as God has always been…”So because “So is the question about what all this talking has to do with our everyday thinking and feeling and living.”And those words serve as the chapter breakdown for the entire book. What I will do in this review is give a brief summary of the content of each chapter and then respond at the end to the whole of the book. So let’s dive in:OPEN:In this chapter, Rob Bell takes time to talk about the universe we live in and how massive it is, how finite it is, and how it effects who we fundamentally are. He takes us on a deeply scientific journey through the universe and describes, with great factual detail, the “weirdness” of it all. Bell points out that over 96 % of our universe is “unknowable” and right in the middle of it all floats a planet called Earth. Bell delves so deeply into issues of time, matter, anatomy, and existence simply causing the reader to scratch their heads and say, “Wow…” In this section, Bell explains what the role of science is and shows how we all can appreciate it. Science answers the “How” but not the “Why”. Bell says, “Science shines when dealing with parts and pieces, but it doesn’t do all that well with soul.” (p 75) He shows that the two things- science and soul- have been separated in our world of divides over sacred and secular, but how fundamentally God exists and is magnified in both. “Because sometimes you need a biologist, and sometimes you need a poet. Sometimes you need a scientist, and sometimes you need a song.” Bell paints a beautiful picture of the reality that the miraculous does exist and cannot always be merely explained away. The conclusion of this chapter, Bell says that to be open is to “believe that there’s more going on here, that there may be reality beyond what we can comprehend- that’s something else. That’s being open.” (p 80)BOTH:In this chapter, Rob Bell points out the problem of using technical language to talk about God because of its limitations. Sure, we can describe God in very technical terms, but it will always fall short. “Intense experiences and extreme situations- like great pain and anguish, or unspeakable joy and ecstasy- need extreme, larger, gigantesque language because other kinds of words and phrases aren’t enough.” And God fits into that category. But also, sometimes words themselves aren’t adequate enough to describe an emotion or a sensation. To that, Bell asserts, “When we talk about God we’re using language, language that employs a vast array of words and phrases and forms to describe a reality that is fundamentally beyond words and phrases and forms.” God is just too vast for our language. And that’s why we get paradox. Throughout scripture, God is described in contrasting terms. Mother and Father, judge and friend, lawgiver and gracious. These words don’t complement each other- they describe fundamental differences, logical inconsistencies. These paradoxes make us fearful sometimes and sometimes they make us angry. And many religious or academic leaders attempt to end paradoxes because they just don’t jive. That’s understandable. Still others turn to doubt. But as Bell points out, “faith and doubt aren’t opposites; they are, it turns out, excellent dancing partners.” (p 92)But it’s important to realize that these paradoxes aren’t Gods “fault”. It’s because “when we talk about God we’re talking about…that which is crystal clear and that which is more mysterious than ever. And sometimes language helps, and sometimes language fails.” (p 91) Our language evolves, our faith evolves, and our conceptions of God evolve. Sometimes, Bell points out, we act with so much certainty only to know that undergirding it all is the looming notion that “I could be wrong.” But that is fundamentally how faith works. That’s what it is.WITHIn this chapter of the book, Bell addresses the language many people us about God. In most churches, a prayer will be prayed asking God to “show up” or “be present”. We often here Benedictions like “God be with you”. But the problem with this language is that is subconsciously teaches us that God is somewhere else. Bell argues that this conception of God “can easily lead people to the notion that life, the world, existence, etc. is perfectly capable of going on without that God. That God becomes, in essence, optional.” (p 99) But this is not the best way to view God. Bell proposes that God is always with us, right now. God is in all things, through all things, around all things, with all things, all of the time. And this view of God will change everything. Bell presents the case for God being present in everyone’s everyday life all of the time but a lack of awareness- or awakeness- on our part to see it. Using the Hebrew concept of “ruach” or Spirit of God that flows from God into all parts of creation, Bell uses the Hebrew Bible to paint beautiful images of God being the breath we breathe, the ground we stand, the source of our day to day life- but not in some mere metaphorical sense- quite literally! Bell goes on to tell us how to be awake to see God in every breath of our lives. Bell says, “We have an intuitive awareness that everything is ultimately connected to everything else and I believe that is one more clue to which it is we’re talking about when we talk about God.” (p 116) In other words, God is present everywhere and in everyone. Therefore we need to be more consciously aware of this connectedness and in that, we shall see God. How beautiful. “We are involved, all of us. And it all matters, and it’s all connected.” (p 119) Bell suggests that fundamental to being aware of God in all things is the necessity of faith. “Everybody has faith…to believe God requires faith. To experience this world and its endless surprise and mystery and depth and then emphatically declare that is has no common source, it is not heading somewhere, and it ultimately has no meaning- that takes faith as well.” (p 124) We all have the faith to see the beauty of God every day, but to experience the fullness of our lives requires us to slow down, breathe deeply, and gaze with more fascination than ever at the something mores’ that surround us all.FORQuite simply, Rob Bell argues in this chapter that God is for every human being. God desires us all to thrive, to be ourselves. But many people’s conceptions of God are filled with against. Conditions. Bell argues that this is fundamentally a distortion of the Christian message. We have all been told that God would bless us, love us, or anoint us if only we gave more, prayed, followed, believed, or had enough faith. But this is not the image of God in Christ. This is not the portrait of a God who is fundamentally for us all. Bell declares that this is the fundamental Gospel message which he defines as “Jesus’ announcement of good news and blessing over everybody who needs it… I’ve interacted…with people…who were operating under the conviction that if they could just get better- more moral, more disciplined, more holy….then they would be in or accepted or embraced or …affirmed by God….that is not Gospel. Gospel is shocking, provocative, revolutionary, subversive, counterintuitive good news that in you moments of greatest despair…sin…failing…falling short, God meets you there- right exactly there- in that place, and announces I am on your side.” (p 134-136) Bell makes the case that this Gospel calls us to change our way of thinking and understand that God is for us even when were not all together. “[This is] a radical word about our true selves, a word so fresh and unsettling and surprising that it requires us to trust that it is actually true, that God is indeed for us.” (p 152)AHEADIn this chapter, Bell addressed the idea that God is constantly calling us ahead, forward, more and more towards newness and innovation. And Bell bases his entire idea on the Biblical understanding of God. He uses God’s words in the Old Testament, “An eye for an eye…” which Bell argues was initially meant to lessen violence and injustice has been twisted by the religious to justify violence. And then Jesus comes. And he changes it. Bell points out many other examples of Go

I first heard Bell speak about the content of this book when I listened to a talk he gave at some Christian school in Tennessee (maybe it was a seminary). It sort of reminded me, the whole book, I mean, of the first section of Mere Christianity--reaffirming how God is a part of all of our lives, that there is not one person on earth who doesn't interact with God (whether they know it or not). Obviously, this is not a book for everyone, especially atheists easily triggered to anger by the mention of the divine. But as someone who is, despite all, pretty crazy about the person of Jesus, I found a lot in this book to affirm that affection.Of all of his books, this is the least "Christian." He hardly talks about Jesus at all, though Jesus does come up enough to make someone who isn't a Christian uncomfortable. I think, though, that the main point of this book is to give perspective about God's generous, orderly, and loving nature in a world where chaos tends be a little more obvious.Thanks Rob Bell, again, for the right words when I needed them.

How does one find their way in the current world of theological ideologies, loud-mouthed opinions, biblical hermeneutics and the like? More importantly, what happens to God (or more realistically, our understanding of God) in the meantime?Bell continues to re-articulate the gospel and repaint the Christian faith in a way that resonates with the typical 'every-day' thinker. While keeping away from the high and lofty academic discussions fit for those with ministry training, the discussion certainly challenges every reader in profound ways. Rob takes his philosophical approach to theology and asks some big questions -- some may even say THE big questions -- about who God is. He challenges the reader to be open about the possibilities and realize that language both helps and hurts the theological conversation. He then makes some profound statements about God as seen through Jesus. God is WITH us, God is FOR us, and God is AHEAD of us. Wrapping up the book with a section on "so what", Bell challenges us to talk about God differently.I personally feel as though this conversation may be even more foundational than the conversation of Love Wins. In approaching our fundamental understandings of who God is, the conversation seems to rise above the arguments of biblical hermeneutics. It certainly will be more practical for the "typical person" who doesn't have theological conversations on a regular basis.

Brilliant. Rob Bell challenges the intellectualism of the Western Church by explaining that, when we focus on knowledge about something we are missing the point; it is the experience of that something, or someone, that we should seek. It is within this context that Bell says, "To elevate abstract doctrines and dogmas over living, breathing, embodied experiences of God's love and grace, then, is going the wrong direction. It's taking flesh and turning it back into words" (149).Unfortunately, some may misunderstand Bell to be saying that doctrine is not important--which is a complete misreading of what he is trying to say. What Bell is attempting to do is reintroduce a kind of mysticism necessary within the context of a transcendent God.This book was a great read, and one that many modern evangelicals, who are wrapped up in head knowledge, would benefit from reading. Sadly, most won't because it was written by... Wait for it... Rob Bell. In fact, the only reason this book is controversial (besides Bell's old earth creationism, which in my book isn't a problem) is because of who authored it.I would highly suggest reading it.

I’m unfairly comparing this to his other book: “What is the Bible,” which I thought overall was ‘better’ and ‘more illuminating.’ That is not to say this is a bad book by any means. It calls to the fore what should be the crux of the Christian faith and the many things that can distract us or distance us from that crux of the Christian faith, or sidetrack is completely. Overall I thought this book was very well done, pointed out how the argument of science versus religion is a misguided and fruitless struggle that misses the point of the core tenets of Jesus’ message entirely and is really beside the point (among the many other ‘distractions’ mentioned). I highlighted many passages to revisit at a future date or for future encouragement.

A pastor I think that is very progressive for this day and age. I think many would actually enjoy his views and non judgmental attitude with the way he writes. A breath of fresh air when you are looking for someone talking to the average person about God and how to live life.

5 stars, with caveats and context. I’ve got a lot of thoughts and there are a lot of layers to my impressions, many of which I won’t unpack here, so this won’t be super articulate.I tried reading this book a couple months ago, and had to put it down. I couldn’t stand Rob Bell’s writing style or tone or maybe even his personality. I went in biased against him as a white male mega church ego centric preacher dude, and so it’s no surprise I couldn’t get past the first page or two.But something about it was pulling me to give it another shot, so I dropped my judgement and condescension. I went in open and without feeling the need to either agree 100% or prepare a counter argument. I just read the book. And I really enjoyed it. It wasn’t groundbreaking, but it was interesting. It put to words some things I’ve experienced and felt, and it offered a few new perspectives on some other things. It was easy and accessible and not theological or intellectual at all; I often prefer something more challenging in that sense. This wasn’t a class or a debate or an analysis. (Or even particularly good writing.) But it was interesting and resonant and refreshing. I found myself wishing I had read this as a teenager, and wondering how it would have impacted my faith and my experience of the world. And I want to share it with my teenager, to let it help me explain to my sons how I feel the “hum of reverence” when I’m at the ocean or looking at the stars or listening to music or watching them play or witnessing people come together or strangers connect and share a moment. It can help me explain to them that God is so much more expansive than the constraints of typical explanation, that we’re part of something sacred and connected and much bigger than we are, that we are being drawn forward to repair brokenness and to connect to the world around us. That faith and science and intellect are not in conflict. And for them to read that message in a book where they can re-read and think about things in new ways, and ponder connections they haven’t made before.This book may be too simplistic for people who think often and deeply about spirituality and God and the universe, but it may be profound for teens or for people who have had a very traditional religious upbringing. I’m glad I read it, and I’m better for having dropped my condescension and opened to listening to someone I had prematurely decided I wouldn’t like. This book offered me a bridge to someone and a way of thinking that is different from who and what I typically interact with, and I found I could agree and relate and engage and think in new ways. So that was good, too.Takeaway - this book was another that is helping me reconcile what I’ve been taught/raised with about faith and God and the Bible, with what I believe now and how I want to raise my kids.

I haven't read a Rob Bell book in years and I forgot how wonderful a writer he is. I've always appreciated Bell's work and the primary reason I stopped reading his books is price - he got popular enough that his books never crept down in price! Of course, that's the publisher...but anyway.I created a new shelf just for this book. The thing is, lots of Christians find Bell dangerous and even a bit scary. I know people who shudder when they hear his name (though they admit they haven't read his books). Yet the first chapter in this book is brilliant. Bell talks about the complexity, beauty and wonder of the universe we find ourselves in, from the very big of galaxies and black holes to the very small of quarks and particles. All this to end up by saying that to be truly open minded is to leave space for God. To reject God outright is the closed position.Its fascinating that to some degree, this is standard Christian apologetics. But Bell just does it better. He writes a book I could see skeptics actually reading and being interested in. Let me clarify, not skeptics who enjoy reading philosophy and such. I am thinking of people who tend not to read books about God because they just find God irrelevant or pointless. I am thinking of normal people who take their kids to school and soccer, who work hard and spend weekends doing home improvement and all that. Bell writes in a way that everyday people could connect with. I would give this first chapter, if not the whole book, to all sorts of people. In other words, perhaps people who don't read much at all would find Bell's book interesting.The rest of the book is Bell talking about God as with us, ahead of us, for us (and maybe a few more). I suspect two things. People who already didn't like Bell and see him as heretical would deem this book also highly questionable. People who do like Bell and are sympathetic will find this book helpful. Take the God ahead of us. Is this different then what we learned in Sunday school? Yes. But is this basically what people like NT Wright, Jurgen Moltmann and other top-notch theologians have said? Yes. Bell may take what those others taught and apply it slightly differently or go a step or two in a different direction. In general though, its a good and helpful book.Perhaps I could be nitpicky about a few things. Of course, I don't think Bell's target audience is people like me. And I doubt he's concerned with my nitpicky-ness. Overall, if you're someone who is skeptical of faith and Christians, or someone who has been around church in a while and finding it all stale, I'd recommend this book. For the record, my favorite book of Bell's was Jesus Wants to Save Christians, and I find this book most similar to that. Velvet Elvis was good but not memorable and Love Wins was controversial and brought up lots of good topics but lacked the notes and bibliography to show where Bell was coming from which this one thankfully has. I even noted a few books Bell mentioned as ones I need to read.

“How you believe and what you believe are two different things.” I am convinced that Bell is a genius. Not in the way that we often prescribe a genius. Bell is a curator and connector. His ability to see seemingly random things and tie them together in such a way that beauty and wonder can be found in them is a real gift to us.Sure he’s not as worried about the traditions you might want him to be worried about, but in this book about God, or rather how we talk about him, he explains why. The God revealed to us in Jesus is both with us and for us (in more ways than we might imagine) but also ahead of us. To talk about this God then is to see the traditions and past history of God, not as something we are called to preserve and maintain, but rather as a map to guide us into the future that God has for us each individually and collectively.As a pastor I find myself thinking that more of us should talk about God the way that Bell does here. It’s curious and inquisitive, which I think is a deeply human way to think about things. But I mean human in an expansive way. Religion and Science both tend to think in reductionist ways, which is what Bell really wants you to realise (amongst other things) in this book. To cease thinking in such small categories better prepares us to talk about God.Here’s the thing about Bell. He’s easy to bash. His style, rhetoric and ambiguity frustrate so-called scholars like me (so we write “better” books which no-one reads or understands). But I think he’s also doing something significant for lots of people. In all the hurt and traditionalism within the church, I think he’s helping more than a few people hold on to their trust in God while they figure out what they’re doing or where they’re going. Sure I think that if everyone read more Karl Barth or St Paul they’d figure it out, but seriously, who’s going to do that? But Bell is the easy step, the safe recommendation. Honestly, I’d happily hand this book to anyone on the edge of faith, at very least what they’ll hear is of a God who is for them. Something they probably don’t hear enough in church.

A couple caveats before I get to the real business of this post – reviewing Rob Bell’s most recent book What We Talk About When We Talk About God.To like or dislike a book is not an endorsement/rejection of a person. I can like a book by someone I generally disagree with and vice versa. I don’t believe in theological “guilt by association.” Someone told me years ago that I shouldn’t be so public about which books/authors I read. I think that’s ridiculous. In fact, maybe we should only read books that are provocative or from “dissenting voices.”Yes, I agree with some of the literary reviews of Bell. Namely, his writing style annoys me. I could listen to him speak for hours, and he’s good at writing in his speaking voice. But writing is a different medium than speaking and should therefore be approached h differently. Too much white space, one word paragraphs, etc.Yes, it’s often annoying that Bell isn’t very transparent about his sources or what he’s really saying.I don’t read Bell’s books looking for answers, I read them because he asks the same questions that I ask and is as unsatisfied with the “standard response” as I usually am. I don’t think of him as a theologian, but a poet. What I mean by that is to be a “theologian” requires precision, ample cross referencing, citing sources, etc. Whereas a poet is more concerned with painting a picture – or the beauty of the thing. We need BOTH poets & theologians in the church. I particularly think of Bell as a poet-provocateur – someone who is looking to start conversations, not answer questions.Having thus qualified my review... for full review, see my blog.

Rob Bell is not everyone's cup of tea, and I get that. But as someone who totally geeks out about the complexity of all things and is comfortable with mystery and ambiguity, I really enjoyed this one. The chapters on quantum physics kind of blew my mind, in a good way. If you already know you don't like Bell's stuff, you're not gonna like this one.