The Gospel in a Pluralist Society [Paperback]

 

 

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There's little I can say about this book that will do it justice. This is, in my opinion, without doubt (a phrase that takes on a whole new meaning after reading Newbigin) the best treatment of contemporary religious pluralism ever written. Newbigin is theologically astute, writes with clarity and acumen, missionally informed and focused and touches on virtually all the relevant issues connected with the question of pluralism.

Some of the most rewarding things I have gleaned from Newbigin involve the issues of "faith" and "reason" and "science." Newbigin's engagement with Michael Polanyi and Alasdair MacIntyre treats these issues wonderfully well, showing how "science" does not have a privilaged position in the discussion of what counts as public truth. Science names a socially embodied tradition that relies on established doctrine, schooling, and ultimately, faith to function. There is, ultimately no contention between "faith" and "reason," but rather between different socially embodied traditions that each attempt to narrate their interpretation of the world from their own particular fiduciary-rational framework. This puts the whole issue of "science and Christianity" in a different light. After reading Newbigin, I was more conviced than ever the Christianity has no obligation or stake in attempting to justify itself on the basis of scular reason. Rather Christianity is an laternative form of reasoning based on different presuppositions. This ultimately calls for witnesses rather than lawyers, so to speak. Much of evangelical theology is intent on "prooving" that Christianity is true "beyond a reasonable doubt", not realizing that the role of the Christian is not that of the layer (if anyone is that it is the Holy Spirt), but rather of the summoned witness. Newbigin's work in this book yeilds so much fruit in relation to these questions.

This book also touches on other relevant themes that are far too many to mention here. Newbigin's treatment of the principalities and powers was excellent, and his work on the church is also superb. When he declares that the congregation is the hermeneutic of the gospel, all I can do in response is write "YES!!" in the margins.

This book should be required reading for any Christian attempting to think through the "tough issues" of religious pluralism, faith and reason, church and state and the like. Highly recommended.

Lesslie Newbigin offers an insightful look at Christianity today in his book, Gospel in a Pluralist Society. Serving as a Christian missionary in India for almost 40 years has given this author a unique and authoritative perspective on the Christian's response to a society full of so many different faith systems. He is ready and willing to ask the tough questions that Christians are afraid to ask. He turns the reader to the logic of mission and election, the authority of the gospel, the difference between knowing and believing, and finally the call of the church to be the vessel of the Christian mission. Understanding that Christians today have lost their confidence to boldly proclaim the uniqueness and authority of Christ, he calls the Church to remember its calling in light of a pluralistic culture. Rather than focusing on apologetics or forcing adherents of other faiths to "see the light," Newbigin calls for open dialogue between Christians and people who work within other faith systems or have no religion at all. The focus, then, is not on evangelism, but on developing open, trusting conversation where the Christian can boldly and lovingly proclaim the gospel. Once engaged in such conversation, the Christian can follow Newbigin's example of looking at Christianity in history. On the premise that God exists, He has revealed himself through creation and history. Christ is the unique revelation of God in history, and it is faith in this revelation, which lays the foundation for Christianity. This is a book, which requires slow and steady reading to grasp the depth and insight within it. But, even in a quick reading, it is both challenging and encouraging for the Christian living in a society full of so many other religions.

I first read this book for my History and Theology of Mission class in college. Leslie Newbigin's book was a treat to read. He offers a very good look into the Gospel and modern culture and tries to offer a solution to the question of where Christianity fits in a pluralistic world. In an age where no one can claim to know the whole truth anymore, how can Christians go around proclaiming that we know the only way? In modern culture, this makes us seem arrogant and prideful and causes more and more modern people to view the Church in an increasingly harsh light.
However, evangelism can best be served, he argues, by the living witness of a community of Christians and by the activism of ordained ministers to help guide and teach this community. Jesus formed a community, he says, and the best way to witness is simply by being an active part of a flourishing community that praises, has truth, is involved with the neighborhood, where people are sustained to minister to the world, that is responsible, and that has hope. We are not called to defend the faith but instead to simply witness.
Another answer to the increasingly hostile view of many towards Christianity can be found in dialogue. New begin argues that true dialogue serves as a "starting point in our relation to people of other faiths." (180) All humans share the same need to answer the question "Why?" and he believes that dialogue can open the doors to a renewed sense of spirituality because it involves the telling of the story of Jesus. Of course to have true dialogue we must also listen to those we are conversing with, but instead of seeing this as something fearful that could possibly cause us to lose faith we should instead look upon it as an opportunity to check our own biases. No one is completely outside some kind of cultural background, he says, and to keep us from thinking that our own way is the only correct way and to keep us from truly becoming arrogant, he suggests that true dialogue can be used as a sort of diagnostic tool with which to clean the coloring from our lenses.
This book is an excellent apologetic for the twenty-first century; however it does have a few flaws. The first is his use of circular arguments. For example, in an early part of the book Newbigin's response to the attack on Christianity is to ask the unbeliever how he or she can know for sure that we are wrong because they have no outside frame of reference. No one can know the whole truth. However, what is stopping that from turning back on us? Can't one claim that we cannot know the whole truth either? It also raises some questions that it does not answer sufficiently, such as how we should deal with the problem of syncretism. Newbigin agrees with Rolland Allen that once a new church has a Bible, sacraments and apostolic tradition they should be left on their own to develop the gospel themselves. Yet earlier, on p. 96 he says, "...Jesus has been painlessly incorporated into the Hindu worldview. The foreign missionary knows that this is not the conversion of India but the co-option of Jesus, the domestication of the gospel into the Hindu worldview." How do we deal with problems like this? We had to discuss this in class because Newbigin does not provide a satisfactory answer.
This book is definitely a worthwhile buy for anyone interested in modern missiology. Newbigin lays out many good points and suggestions for how modern Christians can deal with witnessing their faith in the pluralistic world we inhabit. It does have several drawbacks, though, in that some parts of it are not fully developed or thought out. It would probably be best to read this at the same time with someone else you know in order to formulate a discussion on some of the issues Newbigin does not cover satisfactorily.

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5.0 out of 5 stars A highly relevant book for students of Christian missions
The Gospel in a Pluralistic Society is a highly relevant book for any modern student of missions. Newbigin's numerous theological and sociological insights have made this a work... Read more

Published on Dec 7 2002 by Foster Stanback

5.0 out of 5 stars An extremely valuable read
When I initially picked up this book, I thought, "oh, another one of these books." There seems to be a new book on pluralism and postmodernism coming out every day. Read more

Published on Feb 23 2002 by Patrick Oden

5.0 out of 5 stars A Penetrating Analysis of Gospel and Culture
Lesslie Newbigin has written a penetrating analysis of the gospel in our western, pluralistic society. Read more

Published on May 5 2000 by John C. Tittle

5.0 out of 5 stars Answers the questions you didn't want to face
This is an incisive response to the problems we feel when trying to evangelise. How can I claim to know the truth? Why should I make a stand? Read more

Published on July 28 1999 by Chris

5.0 out of 5 stars A great affirmation of faith in a multicultural world
Newbigin is certainly qualified to speak about the relationship of Christianity and other religions and cultures. I loved this book. Read more

Published on April 13 1999

4.0 out of 5 stars A Bridge Between the Past and the Future.
I consider Lesslie Newbigin a bridge between the past and the future. He is a British Churchman (intended gender reference) with one foot in the traditional (particularist)... Read more

Published on Feb 4 1999 by BillFarley@msn.com

5.0 out of 5 stars Extrremely relevant to today's society; answers many questio
In our multi-cultural world were religion is slipping into being viewed as a BELIEF versus science and "best-of world morality" being viewed as undeniable FACT, this... Read more

Published on Dec 12 1998 by chris-c@ibm.net

5.0 out of 5 stars Newbigin is a must read for missions and evangelism
Newbigin breaks down the core issues and pre-suppostions that we face in a pluralistic culture. His experience as an eastern missionary has given him an objective eye to view the... Read more

Published on Dec 1 1998

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book on the Gospel and epistemology!
As part of our Doctor of Ministry program at Asbury Theological Seminary, we were assigned this book to read. Read more

Published on Nov 28 1998 by Dan_Reinhardt@ats.wilmore.ky.us

1.0 out of 5 stars Do not buy it.
If you don't want to change the world with the Gospel read this book. It is theory. What is more that it is not good theory. Read more

Published on Nov 5 1998

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