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Rating: 
Summary: Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Review: This book lays open the attitude of the modern church toward its loving critics: "Don't ask, don't tell." Andrew Furlong was a priest of The Church of Ireland, a priest who knew from the moment he was ordained that his mind could not accept many ancient dogmas as they were usually interpreted. He shared his intellectual reservations with a few colleagues, and some older clergy. All these people encouraged him to remain in the priesthood. Furlong served for a time as a hospital chaplain, then for eleven years as a missionary in Zimbabwe. On his return from Zimbabwe he was assigned to be a local priest. Furlong was confident his unorthodox beliefs would not be a problem in his local parish, since his bishop was a friend with whom he had often discussed his beliefs. All went well until Furlong began to publish articles which were accessible to the laity. His bishop then called him in, demanded that he recant, and, when Furlong refused to change, dismissed him from his parish. This led to preparations for a trial for heresy, the first in the lifetime of any of those who were scheduled to participate. Preparations for the trial went on long enough to create controversy across the entire Christian world. At the last moment, Furlong withdrew from the priesthood to save himself and his church the agony of the trial itself. As he forcefully describes in his account, the planned trial was more a trial of The Church of Ireland (and, by extension, of the entire Christian church) than it was about the beliefs of Andrew Furlong. The church was shown to be a hypocrite, willing to wink at its so-called heretics as long as they remain quiet, but ready to pounce on them when they are so bold as to share their insights and doubts with the larger community. In the final chapters of his book, Furlong shares in a positive manner the beliefs that have sustained him through his difficulties-beliefs that are intellectually responsible and in harmony with the broader traditions of the Christian community. His moving Credo can be an inspiration for all those whom John Spong has called "Christians in exile." This book is essential reading for all who find spiritual sustenance in the basic Christian myths, yet want to interpret those myths in ways that preserve intellectual integrity.
Rating:
Summary: Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Review: This book lays open the attitude of the modern church toward its loving critics: "Don't ask, don't tell." Andrew Furlong was a priest of The Church of Ireland, a priest who knew from the moment he was ordained that his mind could not accept many ancient dogmas as they were usually interpreted. He shared his intellectual reservations with a few colleagues, and some older clergy. All these people encouraged him to remain in the priesthood. Furlong served for a time as a hospital chaplain, then for eleven years as a missionary in Zimbabwe. On his return from Zimbabwe he was assigned to be a local priest. Furlong was confident his unorthodox beliefs would not be a problem in his local parish, since his bishop was a friend with whom he had often discussed his beliefs. All went well until Furlong began to publish articles which were accessible to the laity. His bishop then called him in, demanded that he recant, and, when Furlong refused to change, dismissed him from his parish. This led to preparations for a trial for heresy, the first in the lifetime of any of those who were scheduled to participate. Preparations for the trial went on long enough to create controversy across the entire Christian world. At the last moment, Furlong withdrew from the priesthood to save himself and his church the agony of the trial itself. As he forcefully describes in his account, the planned trial was more a trial of The Church of Ireland (and, by extension, of the entire Christian church) than it was about the beliefs of Andrew Furlong. The church was shown to be a hypocrite, willing to wink at its so-called heretics as long as they remain quiet, but ready to pounce on them when they are so bold as to share their insights and doubts with the larger community. In the final chapters of his book, Furlong shares in a positive manner the beliefs that have sustained him through his difficulties-beliefs that are intellectually responsible and in harmony with the broader traditions of the Christian community. His moving Credo can be an inspiration for all those whom John Spong has called "Christians in exile." This book is essential reading for all who find spiritual sustenance in the basic Christian myths, yet want to interpret those myths in ways that preserve intellectual integrity.
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