These Three Things — No, Four: These Four Things

October 5th, 2007 — 548 words by Brother Maynard

Olives Will Hinton tagged me and a few others with a meme he’s started around the new book, unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity… and Why It Matters by Barna Group president David Kinnaman. The book is getting noticed — a brief article in Time says, unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity... and Why It Matters

It used to be, says David Kinnaman, that Christianity was both big and beloved in the U.S. — even among its non-adherents. Back in 1996, a poll taken by Kinnaman’s organization, the Barna Group, found that 83% of Americans identified themselves as Christians, and that fewer than 20% of non-Christians held an unfavorable view of Christianity. But, as Kinnaman puts it in his new book (co-authored with Gabe Lyons) UnChristian, “That was then.”

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Church-Leaving Forum & Help Request

October 1st, 2007 — 686 words by Brother Maynard

Questionnaire Today we’re thinking and/or talking about The Great Church Exodus (more below)…. Barb started it. Barb Orlowski is in the D.Min. program at A.C.T.S. Seminary at TWU in Langley, B.C.. Speaking of Christians who have experienced the emotional and spiritual effects of authoritarian or controlling church leaders, Barb writes,

There are many Christians who have faced the untimely distress of this particular yet widespread phenomenon. Many have simply left the church, while others have made an effort to reintegrate into a local church setting. It has taken courage for them to desire to reconnect with a pastor and seek their assistance in processing their grief and disillusionment with previous church leaders.

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