Rating: 
Summary: Rare Compilation of Brilliant Insights for Christians
Review: Among countless commentaries on the Bible and Christianity in general, this one deserves this highest praise. Like a skilled surgeon, Capon gently moves his reader through the maze of misrepresentations many of us heard and read in church or on t.v. toward the most convincing array of facts concerning not only the many sayings attributed to Jesus, but also to how we can confidently and safely live into the Way that He promised to us.
I found so many useful interpretations and questions in this little volume that I will continue to study and admire it for decades to come.
I urge anyone serious about Bible study and living Christianity to read this, one of Capon's best in my opinion.
Rating: 
Summary: This book and astrology
Review: I am not a Christian, and certainly not well read on the subject. But after living around strongly Christian influences my whole life, I feel safe in saying this book is the healthiest, most responsible expression of Christianity I've ever encountered. Anyone overwhelmed by guilt or anxiety over their salvation or what God wants from them will find this a tremendous lift. And anyone who puts themselves on a sanctimonious pedestal would do well to give it a go too!
Rating:
Summary: Christian or not, read this book!
Review: I am not a Christian, and certainly not well read on the subject. But after living around strongly Christian influences my whole life, I feel safe in saying this book is the healthiest, most responsible expression of Christianity I've ever encountered. Anyone overwhelmed by guilt or anxiety over their salvation or what God wants from them will find this a tremendous lift. And anyone who puts themselves on a sanctimonious pedestal would do well to give it a go too!
Rating: 
Summary: Capon is so readable
Review: I have cherished this author ever since I discovered The Third Peacock as a young adult. He presents the faith in such a sensible way - no sentimentality - no self-righteousness. I have also enjoyed his book ...Wealth... & why it doesn't make us happy.
Rating:
Summary: I think I get it
Review: I read this for the first time shortly after becoming a Christian. Earlier, I thought Christianity meant constantly avoiding sin. Capon points out that we will always sin, but the Good News is that God loves us anyway. He emphasizes love and hope, and does not waste energy on the little questions. And he exhorts us also to remember that we do not need to waste our energy on the little questions, but to instead remember Jesus' commandment to love God, ourselves, and each other. This book increased my new-found joy in knowing God's love.
Rating:
Summary: I think I get it
Review: If such concepts as "Both heaven and hell are populated with forgiven sinners", "God isn't in the sin-prevention business....He is in the sin-forgiving business", and "the argument between Cheap Grace and Costly Grace is ridiculous, because Grace is FREE", are intriguing to you, then get and read this book. It is a thought provoking delight!
Rating:
Summary: Realization of TRUE Grace!
Review: If such concepts as "Both heaven and hell are populated with forgiven sinners", "God isn't in the sin-prevention business....He is in the sin-forgiving business", and "the argument between Cheap Grace and Costly Grace is ridiculous, because Grace is FREE", are intriguing to you, then get and read this book. It is a thought provoking delight!
Rating:
Summary: No transformation...
Review: James Carpenter's review on the back of this book states: "This is an exuberant, triumphant theology... A rigorous Paulinist, Capon is at least half right--a very good score for a theologian!" I tend to agree--Father Capon is at least half right. He focuses on grace as a free gift to such an extent that he loses the transformative aspect of Christianity almost completely. As long as you have faith/trust/believe then you're home free! As God has already done away with the consequences of all sin, all guilt, in Jesus' death and resurrection, no one is condemned any longer. Therefore, the only people who will be in hell are those who reject the free gift of grace. They will not be there for their sins. I agree, but see sin as the blocking off of God's grace. By sin I don't mean the mistakes and stumbles we make along the way, but pure out-right nastiness.Capon is so adamant about the fact that no works can earn grace and that no sin can separate you from God's love and forgiveness, that he leaves one thinking you can go on doing whatever you like as long as you accept God's grace. Once again, I agree, but apparently have a different understanding of what accepting God's grace means. To accept God's grace is to let his love and grace flow through you. It's transformative. You can't be nasty when God's love is flowing through you, and when you are, you're cutting off the flow. When God's love is flowing through you, you *can* do whatever you like--it's just that you want like to do anything nasty. ;) Sin blocks one's acceptance of grace--its still there, but you can't see it. God never stops loving or forgiving, but if you blind your vision by clouding it over with sin, you can't see the grace all around you. Its not that "works" are necessary to accept God's grace through faith, but that they naturally flow from you as a result of that acceptance. "Faith without works is dead" as St. James wrote. In Capon's theology, you apparently don't have to follow Jesus to be a follower of Jesus. You don't have to "take up your cross"--just believe that Jesus did. Near the very end of the book Capon does add that "I myself take sin very seriously. As far as I'm concerned, it's what messes up my life, so anything I can do to resist it will make me, and those around me, a lot happier than we presently are." That, to me, is the key to the Christian life. Capon, however, simply sees it as an option of the Christian life, not it's point. While I don't think God will judge us for our sins, I do think the clouding of our vision caused by our sin is what puts us in hell--now and later. I very much agree with Capon's rejection of "transactionalism", however, and think he has some wonderful things to say about the "Mystery" of Christ that is everywhere present. I agree with him that "what God revealed in Jesus was his Incarnation in the whole world." He has a panentheistic understanding of God's Incarnation, seeing the world in God and God in the world, and Jesus as a sacrament and revelation of that Incarnation. I give the book four stars, however, not because I agree with all of Capon's theology, but because his theology makes you think and brings up some very good points. Plus I found the book to be an enjoyable read and like Capon's sense of humour. :) So it's recommended, with reservations.
Rating:
Summary: No transformation...
Review: James Carpenter's review on the back of this book states: "This is an exuberant, triumphant theology... A rigorous Paulinist, Capon is at least half right--a very good score for a theologian!" I tend to agree--Father Capon is at least half right. He focuses on grace as a free gift to such an extent that he loses the transformative aspect of Christianity almost completely. As long as you have faith/trust/believe then you're home free! As God has already done away with the consequences of all sin, all guilt, in Jesus' death and resurrection, no one is condemned any longer. Therefore, the only people who will be in hell are those who reject the free gift of grace. They will not be there for their sins. I agree, but see sin as the blocking off of God's grace. By sin I don't mean the mistakes and stumbles we make along the way, but pure out-right nastiness. Capon is so adamant about the fact that no works can earn grace and that no sin can separate you from God's love and forgiveness, that he leaves one thinking you can go on doing whatever you like as long as you accept God's grace. Once again, I agree, but apparently have a different understanding of what accepting God's grace means. To accept God's grace is to let his love and grace flow through you. It's transformative. You can't be nasty when God's love is flowing through you, and when you are, you're cutting off the flow. When God's love is flowing through you, you *can* do whatever you like--it's just that you want like to do anything nasty. ;) Sin blocks one's acceptance of grace--its still there, but you can't see it. God never stops loving or forgiving, but if you blind your vision by clouding it over with sin, you can't see the grace all around you. Its not that "works" are necessary to accept God's grace through faith, but that they naturally flow from you as a result of that acceptance. "Faith without works is dead" as St. James wrote. In Capon's theology, you apparently don't have to follow Jesus to be a follower of Jesus. You don't have to "take up your cross"--just believe that Jesus did. Near the very end of the book Capon does add that "I myself take sin very seriously. As far as I'm concerned, it's what messes up my life, so anything I can do to resist it will make me, and those around me, a lot happier than we presently are." That, to me, is the key to the Christian life. Capon, however, simply sees it as an option of the Christian life, not it's point. While I don't think God will judge us for our sins, I do think the clouding of our vision caused by our sin is what puts us in hell--now and later. I very much agree with Capon's rejection of "transactionalism", however, and think he has some wonderful things to say about the "Mystery" of Christ that is everywhere present. I agree with him that "what God revealed in Jesus was his Incarnation in the whole world." He has a panentheistic understanding of God's Incarnation, seeing the world in God and God in the world, and Jesus as a sacrament and revelation of that Incarnation. I give the book four stars, however, not because I agree with all of Capon's theology, but because his theology makes you think and brings up some very good points. Plus I found the book to be an enjoyable read and like Capon's sense of humour. :) So it's recommended, with reservations.
Rating: 
Summary: I tried to "get it", but there were too many roadblocks
Review: Robert Farrar Capon is a very enthusiastic, passionate author with a very definite point of view. It is definitely in his favor that he takes a biblical approach, patiently explaining why the Bible, in his view, teaches that the whole world is in Christ, and therefore the whole world will be saved. This is the "mystery of Christ" to which he refers. The only ones who will not enter into heaven will be those who pointedly reject the free grace of God, which the author believes will be continually offered even after death. Capon loves Jesus' parables (he has written three books on them, one of which I have read), and draws much of his theology from those parables. Some of the parables presented in this book (the Sheep and the Goats, for example) are interpreted in the light of Capon's universalism, which results in some novel interpretations. Not that that's always a bad thing, indeed, his interpretation of the parable of the Ten Virgins is quite enlightening. Just the fact that the "wise" virgins are portrayed as being selfish and snippy show the reversal in the Kingdom of the good and the bad, and that nothing is received on merit, all on grace. I don't give this book a relatively low rating because I'm anti-univeralist (I don't happen to be a universalist, although I'm always open to change), but because I have some issues with certain things in the book that just cannot be easily resolved. Capon gives far too much value to astrology, and without much explanation except for the fact that his wife is a professional astrologer. It has always been my conviction that astrology is anti-Christian and anti-intellectual (in simpler terms, both Satanic and a crock), and those who engage in it are either deceived or are spiritual flim-flam artists. Anyone who deems astrology acceptable and then tries to teach me Christian theology suffers a severe credibility problem. Another stumbling-block is that the author doesn't seem to take sin very seriously. That problem is addressed in the book, but not in a very convincing manner. Some things that, from a biblical standpoint, are indeed sin are deemed a non-sin in this book (sprecifically homosexuality). I enjoyed the format of the book, alternating between one-on-one counseling sessions or conversations and group discussion of those situations. One of the discussion participants fits my profile really well. That participant, while he learned a lot, still had reservations at the end. That is my position as well.
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