Review
this is a compelling book, challenging Christians and atheists alike. He presents a deeply authentic spirituality which reaches into the profound mystery at the centre of Christian faith. --Rt Revd Laurie Green, Bishop of Bradwell
Writing with an admirable lucidity and following a tight line of argument, Michael Hampson outlines a credible Christian theology for the twenty-first century. --Canon David Peacock, Former Pro-Rector, University of Surrey Roehampton
Western Christianity is at a major impasse, and this book gives you the major reasons why. As long as we have a punitive, petty God, whose love is entirely conditional, how can we expect history to be any different? Thank you, Michael Hampson! --Fr Richard Rohr OFM, author of " Everything Belongs"
Writing with an admirable lucidity and following a tight line of argument, Michael Hampson outlines a credible Christian theology for the twenty-first century. --Canon David Peacock, Former Pro-Rector, University of Surrey Roehampton
Western Christianity is at a major impasse, and this book gives you the major reasons why. As long as we have a punitive, petty God, whose love is entirely conditional, how can we expect history to be any different? Thank you, Michael Hampson! --Fr Richard Rohr OFM, author of " Everything Belongs"
Product Description
God without God takes the atheist case against God as a premise, then examines what remains of the western spiritual tradition when the God of presumptive monotheism is removed. It finds right at the heart of the tradition a concept of God, a concept of the divine, far more complex and mysterious than that which the atheist rightly rejects. Far from being destroyed or diminished, the tradition flourishes in its liberation. Tackling every issue head-on, the major sections are God, Ethics, Bible, Creed, and 'Home life, Sex and Gender'. God is the ground of all being and the sum of all divinity, the ultimate reality and mystery at the heart of our existence. The ethical system is the call to full humanity: integrity and compassion in place of disintegration. The bible and the creed come alive with new insights once the false god defined and rejected by atheism is removed from the frame of reference. The final section on home life, sex and gender uncovers more surprising and radical insights from and into the authentic western spiritual tradition. The tradition emerges with a timeless and profound integrity for body, mind and spirit.
From the Inside Flap
The Christian faith stands accused of arrogance,
hypocrisy, abuse of power, imperialism, dictatorship and
genocide, discredited variously by science, rationalism,
pluralism, Vatican politics and protestant
fundamentalism, and finally rendered obsolete by
democracy, wealth, technology, and even the church's
own liberal wing. Once the monopoly player in the
western spiritual marketplace, it looks increasingly like a
bankrupt corporation destroyed by the weight of its own
history.
God without God has no argument with science or
atheism or pluralism - indeed it takes these as its
premises, then sets out to explore what remains of the
western spiritual tradition. It finds right at the heart of
that tradition a concept of the divine far more complex
and mysterious than that which the atheist rightly rejects.
We move beyond theism and atheism to consider the
mystery of existence itself, discovering a tradition full of
contemporary resonance, with a profound and timeless
integrity for body, mind and spirit.
hypocrisy, abuse of power, imperialism, dictatorship and
genocide, discredited variously by science, rationalism,
pluralism, Vatican politics and protestant
fundamentalism, and finally rendered obsolete by
democracy, wealth, technology, and even the church's
own liberal wing. Once the monopoly player in the
western spiritual marketplace, it looks increasingly like a
bankrupt corporation destroyed by the weight of its own
history.
God without God has no argument with science or
atheism or pluralism - indeed it takes these as its
premises, then sets out to explore what remains of the
western spiritual tradition. It finds right at the heart of
that tradition a concept of the divine far more complex
and mysterious than that which the atheist rightly rejects.
We move beyond theism and atheism to consider the
mystery of existence itself, discovering a tradition full of
contemporary resonance, with a profound and timeless
integrity for body, mind and spirit.
From the Back Cover
The God the atheist denies is not the God that people of true faith affirm. Take away the God defined by the atheist - the arbitrary wrathful king - and the western spiritual tradition not only survives, it flourishes.
"A compelling book, challenging Christians and atheists alike. He presents a deeply authentic spirituality which reaches into the profound mystery at the centre of Christian faith." - Rt Revd Laurie Green, Bishop of Bradwell
"Writing with an admirable lucidity and following a tight line of argument, Michael Hampson outlines a credible Christian theology for the twenty-first century." - Canon David Peacock, Former Pro-Rector, University of Surrey Roehampton
"Western Christianity is at a major impasse, and this book gives you the major reasons why. As long as we have a punitive, petty God, whose love is entirely conditional, how can we expect history to be any different? Thank you, Michael Hampson!" - Fr Richard Rohr OFM, author of Everything Belongs
"A challenging and inspiring enquiry into what may lie behind Western Christianity. God without God seeks to penetrate the mystery at the heart of faith and provides plenty of nourishment for theist and atheist alike." - Revd Canon Giles Goddard, Chair of Inclusive Church
Michael Hampson has degrees in Philosophy, Psychology and Theology, worked as a Church of England priest for thirteen years, and now works full time as a writer and retreat leader. He is the author of Head Versus Heart (O Books) and Last Rites (Granta).
"A compelling book, challenging Christians and atheists alike. He presents a deeply authentic spirituality which reaches into the profound mystery at the centre of Christian faith." - Rt Revd Laurie Green, Bishop of Bradwell
"Writing with an admirable lucidity and following a tight line of argument, Michael Hampson outlines a credible Christian theology for the twenty-first century." - Canon David Peacock, Former Pro-Rector, University of Surrey Roehampton
"Western Christianity is at a major impasse, and this book gives you the major reasons why. As long as we have a punitive, petty God, whose love is entirely conditional, how can we expect history to be any different? Thank you, Michael Hampson!" - Fr Richard Rohr OFM, author of Everything Belongs
"A challenging and inspiring enquiry into what may lie behind Western Christianity. God without God seeks to penetrate the mystery at the heart of faith and provides plenty of nourishment for theist and atheist alike." - Revd Canon Giles Goddard, Chair of Inclusive Church
Michael Hampson has degrees in Philosophy, Psychology and Theology, worked as a Church of England priest for thirteen years, and now works full time as a writer and retreat leader. He is the author of Head Versus Heart (O Books) and Last Rites (Granta).
About the Author
Michael Hampson has degrees in Philosophy, Psychology and Theology, worked as a Church of England priest for thirteen years, and now works full time as a writer and retreat leader. He is the author of Head Versus Heart (O Books) and Last Rites (Granta).
