4.5 (31)

Confessions of a Recovering Fundamentalist

Name: Confessions of a Recovering Fundamentalist
Rating: 4.5 (31 reviews)
Author: Keith Ward

by Keith Ward

4.5 (31)

Can theology be expounded almost entirely in jokes? This is an attempt to do so. But it is also a record of how one person recovered from fundamentalism, and found a different, more positive spirituality within Christian faith. It seeks to speak to those who only know an exclusive and dogmatic version of Christianity, and who feel the need for something more universally compassionate and friendly to informed scientific thought. Ward argues that we need to escape from the image of a vindictive, wrathful, judgmental God, who saves just a few people from endless torture for no obvious reason. He proposes instead a view of the universe as evolving towards a goal, guided by a supreme cosmic consciousness, which manifests its nature in this historical process. Jesus is the human image of this consciousness, an image of universal self-giving love and a foreshadowing of the transformation of human lives by their union with the divine.
The jokes are there because Christian faith should be really joyful, hopeful, and positive good news for everyone–that there is a spiritual basis and goal of the universe which wills everyone without exception to share in its unlimited wisdom and love.

“This is a fabulous and delightful book. Every page will make you smile. Through the humor, Keith Ward’s erudite and perceptive mind comes out and the result is a beautiful, attractive, and thoughtful account of the faith. This is a book to buy and give to your skeptical friends who need to find a way into faith that makes moral and intellectual sense. I love this book.”
–Ian Markham, Dean and President, Virginia Theological Seminary

“Do not read this monstrosity of a book! Buy as many copies as you can and burn them! Then jump up and down on the ashes!”
–Society of Fundamentalist Theology (SOFT)

“There are some people who have spent their lives thinking about God: Keith Ward is one of them. It’s a privilege to read his reflections, expressed here with such humor and clarity.”
–Linda Woodhead, Distinguished Professor of Religion and Society, Lancaster University

“Fake news!”
–He who shall not be named

Keith Ward is Regius Professor of Divinity Emeritus at the University of Oxford, Professor of the Philosophy of Religion at Roehampton University, and a Fellow of the British Academy. He is a Canon of Christ Church, Oxford.