how [not] to speak of god

Pete Rollins of ikon, the Belfast based community that describes itself as 'iconic, apocalyptic, heretical, emerging and failing', has a new book coming out this May. The Brian McLaren foreword is very positive, and having read some of Pete's other work myself, I would wager it goes a long way to fulfilling the above description of ikon all by itself. Its sure to rock a few worlds, incur a generous amount of wrath and inspire many disheartened souls, like myself. Hooray! Cant wait Pete.

I am sure there is a better way to post the full Brian McLaren foreword, but right now I can't think of one (all suggestions most welcome!), so here it is in abbreviated form.

"I am a raving fan of the book you are holding. I loved reading it. I have already begun widely recommending it. In the last two days I have recommended it to three rabbis, and in recent weeks, to many Christian leaders. Reading it did good for my mind and for my soul. It helped me understand my own spiritual journey more clearly, and it gave me a sense of context for the work I’m involved in. In fact, I would say this is one of the two or three most rewarding books of theology I have read in ten years. Do I sound like I’m raving yet? ...

... And it’s more significant still because the author of this book is a young – and I think it’s safe to say up-until-now unknown – emerging theologian. But as this book makes clear, he deserves to be known and appreciated, especially when one thinks that this may be the first of many contributions he makes in the years to come.

Growing up in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Peter Rollins has seen Christianity expressed in one of its more dysfunctional Western forms. Speaking of God in Northern Ireland has too often fomented distrust and prejudice, not peace and reconciliation: speaking of God has too often been part of the problem, not of the solution. Like a kid growing up in a conflicted family characterized by loud and violent fights with the windows wide open, he has had to grapple with issues that more genteel dysfunctional families can more successfully hide. His setting prepares him uniquely to speak about how (not) to speak for God – and one hopes that people in other settings (including my own conflicted country, to be sure) will learn much from him.

Coming of age in what is often called a postmodern context, Peter Rollins was not formed – at least not successfully – within the constraints of modernity. He represents what is to me one of the first and most hopeful expressions to date of Christian theology being done in a postmodern context – not merely speaking of postmodernity in the context of theology, but speaking of God meaningfully in the context of postmodernity. Some have said that theology in the context of postmodernity is impossible or unfruitful, but here they will see better (im)possibilities. Again and again, Peter challenges us to embrace opposite ends of common modern polarities, and in so doing, shows the creative and constructive power of what is commonly called deconstruction.

Equally unusual and significant, Peter is doing the serious work of theology while rooted more in a faith community than in an academic institution. As the second part of the book makes clear, Peter believes that people who are engaged in real communities of spiritual practice are uniquely prepared to speak of God. The rituals and gatherings of the Ikon community will be shocking or even scandalous to some, inspiring and moving to others. Peter includes them not so that others will imitate them as a “mass-reproducible model,” but so that the reader can imagine what this way of (not) speaking of God looks like as practiced in one innovative faith community in one location. One hopes that many others will be inspired to similar creativity in their situations. ...

... I share Peter’s enthusiasm for what he calls “the emergent conversation.” Here he makes one of the most important contributions to date to that conversation. I hope that what he says here will draw more and more people into that conversation, and give us all more to think and speak about. As Peter says, “That which we cannot speak of is the one thing about whom and to whom we must never stop speaking.”

All in the emergent community share the hope that our ongoing conversation about and with God will prove converting and transformative for all of us who participate, and for our faith communities, and for our world. Many will share my enthusiasm about this book and my gratitude to – and for – its author."

Brian McLaren
(www.anewkindofchristian.com)