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by Benjamin L. Corey (Author)
The creator of the popular Formerly Fundie blog on Patheos explains how the "American Christianity" we are currently taught is actually a fear-saturated distortion of biblical faith.
Benjamin L. Corey thought he was suffering a crisis of faith, but it turned out to be a spiritual awakening.
Corey became aware that the constant fear of hell and judgment that defined his Christian faith was out of sync with the idea that God acts from love, and promises to deliver us from fear. In the wake of this realization came newfound insights--from reading the Bible to re-examining American life and the church's role in the wider world. Corey learned that what he had been taught was a distorted version of Christianity that was not only untrue but caused real spiritual harm.
He also discovered that he wasn't alone. Many Christians are yearning to distinguish between the Christianity that has become a rigid American civil religion and the authentic Christian faith embodied in Jesus. As he recounts his own spiritual journey, Corey offers a powerful and inspiring message of hope for every Christian increasingly frustrated with the church today. Do not be discouraged, he assures them. You do not need to give up your faith; you can rediscover the reality of a vibrant Christianity that delivers us from fear and inspires and guides us all today.
Front Jacket
GOD IS NOT TO BE FEARED!
Benjamin L. Corey thought he was suffering a crisis of faith. But what he was going through was a spiritual awakening. Corey documents his growing awareness that the version of Christianity he was raised with was built upon a foundation of fear--fear of our sins, fear of hell, fear of God's judgment, fear of becoming heretical, fear of getting the faith wrong, and much more. But he also knew that God was supposed to deliver us from fear. So how did Christian faith get so intertwined with fear?
Corey realized that fear does not express faith, since Scripture makes clear that love is both God's nature and God's mandate to us, and that these are fully incompatible foundations for faith. In the wake of this realization came newfound insights. Corey learned that what he had been taught was a distorted version of Christianity that was not only untrue but caused real spiritual harm.
He also discovered that he wasn't alone. Many Christians are yearning to return to the root of their faith, to learn how to distinguish between the Christianity that has become a rigid American civil religion and the authentic Christian faith embodied in Jesus and passed on by his disciples. As he recounts his own spiritual journey, Corey offers a powerful and inspiring message of hope for every Christian increasingly frustrated with fear-based Christianity. Do not be discouraged, he assures them. You do not need to give up your faith; you can rediscover the reality of a vibrant Christianity that delivers us from fear and inspires and guides us all today.
--Carol Howard Merritt, author of Healing Spiritual WoundsBack Jacket
GOD IS NOT TO BE FEARED!
Benjamin L. Corey thought he was suffering a crisis of faith. But what he was going through was a spiritual awakening. Corey documents his growing awareness that the version of Christianity he was raised with was built upon a foundation of fear--fear of our sins, fear of hell, fear of God's judgment, fear of becoming heretical, fear of getting the faith wrong, and much more. But he also knew that God was supposed to deliver us from fear. So how did Christian faith get so intertwined with fear?
Corey realized that fear does not express faith, since Scripture makes clear that love is both God's nature and God's mandate to us, and that these are fully incompatible foundations for faith. In the wake of this realization came newfound insights. Corey learned that what he had been taught was a distorted version of Christianity that was not only untrue but caused real spiritual harm.
He also discovered that he wasn't alone. Many Christians are yearning to return to the root of their faith, to learn how to distinguish between the Christianity that has become a rigid American civil religion and the authentic Christian faith embodied in Jesus and passed on by his disciples. As he recounts his own spiritual journey, Corey offers a powerful and inspiring message of hope for every Christian increasingly frustrated with fear-based Christianity. Do not be discouraged, he assures them. You do not need to give up your faith; you can rediscover the reality of a vibrant Christianity that delivers us from fear and inspires and guides us all today.
