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labufadora44's review
5.0
While many of the ideas in this book were not new to me, Bell has a way of putting things that breathes life into them, with fresh language and imagination. I so appreciate his writing.
marno_klass's review
3.0
Good ideas, engaging stories. Main point: everything is spiritual - (I should have read Heschel.)
brittishliterature's review against another edition
I will probably come back to this one again at some point. I can feel that my mood has shifted and I want to let that lead me to my next read.
lydiawesome's review
5.0
The most approachable theology book ever. Brilliant and moving. A true poet and prophet.
heidihaverkamp's review
4.0
Someone said recently that all contemporary Christian writing is apologetics. I am so thankful for Rob Bell. My friend Katherine Willis Pershey calls him a "great public theologian," and I love that term for him. He writes about many things that have been thought and said before, but his particular voice and celebrity give it a new prominence. I wasn't always sure who his audience was - atheists and agnostics? former or disgruntled evangelicals? current Christians struggling with it all?
Some of his ideas were new and intriguing for me, but many were familiar. I confess, sometimes I flipped pages, because I sort of knew what he was getting at. But I imagine I will turn back to this book now and again when I want clarification on something I feel I "already know," he says it so well.
One favorite: Bell uses the world - planets, the speed of light, quantum mechanics, the human body, agrarian history - as a text as much as (or more?) than scripture. I'm intrigued by this. For about five hundred years, we've made the Bible such a central part of Christian faith and life that it's become an idol. Something to worship. The only pathway to knowing God or Christ. I'm not sure he means to do this, but he shows one can know God through Creation as well as through scripture. And experience.
Francis Bacon: “God has, in fact, written two books, not just one. Of course, we are all familiar with the first book he wrote, namely Scripture. But he has written a second book called creation.”
Some of his ideas were new and intriguing for me, but many were familiar. I confess, sometimes I flipped pages, because I sort of knew what he was getting at. But I imagine I will turn back to this book now and again when I want clarification on something I feel I "already know," he says it so well.
One favorite: Bell uses the world - planets, the speed of light, quantum mechanics, the human body, agrarian history - as a text as much as (or more?) than scripture. I'm intrigued by this. For about five hundred years, we've made the Bible such a central part of Christian faith and life that it's become an idol. Something to worship. The only pathway to knowing God or Christ. I'm not sure he means to do this, but he shows one can know God through Creation as well as through scripture. And experience.
Francis Bacon: “God has, in fact, written two books, not just one. Of course, we are all familiar with the first book he wrote, namely Scripture. But he has written a second book called creation.”
laila4343's review
5.0
Pretty damn awesome. I like people who make room in their hearts and minds for things they can't see or touch or quantify, but that they still KNOW deep down in their bones. I'll be rolling this one around in my brain for quite some time, I think.
ereidsma's review
3.0
The 1st half of the book really challenged me to think out of the box (as Rob often has) I love the setup with all the science and physics info. I have lost trust in Rob as I don’t agree with him on everything especially as he’s gotten more liberal and he really pushes “God loves everyone” in this book, but despite our disagreements I feel that God continues to use Rob and in so pushes me to think “bigger and deeper”
pastordad82's review
4.0
I enjoy Rob's writing style. If you don't, you won't like this. Its definitely not as controversial as Love Wins. Good stuff about God being for us, with us, and ahead of us. Nothing new here, but great style and presentation.