Rating: 
Summary: A fine introduction to a truly biblical church
Review: When I started my search for a church worth joining, I stumbled across this fine little volume. Written in a clear, authoritative style, it soon made clear to me that the Episcopal Church is one with a long, venerable history, and a modern, thoughtful theology that Christians living in the 21st century can subscribe too. I suppose those living in 1928, say, would prefer a theology more along the lines one can hear on so-called Christian radio: one devoted to threats of eternal punisment for infidels, or gleefully rejoicing that the Salvation Army decided to cancel a gay person's health insurance.Newcomers looking for a church that embodies joy and gratitude to God as the primary motivation for worshipping Him, rather than fear of eternal retribution, will find this volume a revelation. One point which the author makes is that biblical scripture can in no way be taken literally in all its parts, as fundamentalists, be they Baptist or "conservative Anglican," like to do. Scripture was written from the beginning to be interpreted rather than taken literally in all respects, such as the two different Creation myths in Genesis (yes, there are two, as anyone with an open mind can see for themselves). A simple-minded, literal reading of the Bible reduces it to an incoherent comic book. And for the record, the Resurrection is all about God's redemption of a world dead in sin, not about physical resuscitation. That is not to say that the Episcopal Church does not teach that nothing, not even death, can separate us from the love of God. BUT: we worship Him for what he has done FOR us, not because of what he'd otherwise do TO us. I for the life of me can't see why schismatic "Anglicans" think they do God any favors by describing him as some sort of Freddie Kreuger act-a-like, torturing souls for all eternity. What do they suggest he does to dead people - turn them into flies and tear off their wings? The Episcopal Church believes that God is just a little more elevated, more... well, divine, than that!
| 
