Saving Christianity: New Thinking for Old Beliefs

By Hilary Wakeman

Foreword by Bishop Willie Walsh. A radical and provocative challenge to Church beliefs. A major reason For The current crisis in Christian churches, Hilary Wakeman argues, Is that their doctrines are... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1904148328
• ISBN13: 9781904148326
• Release Date: March 2004
• Publisher: The Liffey Press
• Length: 180 Pages
• Weight: 0.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 0.8" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

An important perspective

At the time of this writing there is only one other review of Hilary Wakeman's "Saving Christianity: New Thinking for Old Beliefs". That reviewer describes this book as "excrement". This is a typical response to advocates of change, particularly those who happen to be women. Yale feminist Letty Russel wrote the marvelous book "Circle Church" and was accused of advocating "witchcraft" and "lesbianism" (whatever that is). In fact "Circle Church" appropriately questions patriarchal hierarchies within orthodox Christianity. Same with Carter Heyward who wrote "Saving Jesus", another excellent, scholarly discussion of changing paradigms. Wakeman's "Saving Christianity" offers the following conclusions: If Christianity is to be saved, three things will have to go: "The power structures, which in so many places encouraged or even necessitated deceit, hypocrisy and dishonesty; The paternalism, wherever it still exists, which is a by-product of the power structures : it has kept far too many Christians in spiritual childishness; The imposition of doctrines formulated long ago and in another culture, which no longer ring true to vast numbers both inside and consequentially outside the Church." (152-53) Wakeman elaborates on these themes throughout the book. If you agree that these three areas are open wounds in need of cleansing, then you will appreciate this book. If you do not, then you may choose to join the other reviewer who dislikes this book but was glad to give four stars to some hard rock band and a way cool martial arts book. My minor criticisms of Wakeman's work are that she relied more heavily on Bishop John Shelby Spong than on her own experiences within the church of England and that she dismisses substitutionary atonement ("Jesus died for my sins") without really dealing with the problem of evil. I suggest readers turn to Bart Ehrman's "God's Problem" to connect those dots. Otherwise I recommend this book because it offers the important perspective of a clergywoman on the front lines of ministry who successfully triages the damage that has been done by "left-brain" theologizing.