The Last Word and the Word after That: A Tale of Faith, Doubt, and a New Kind of Christianity [Hardcover]

Pastor Dan has been suspended by his church for being a potential heretic, his friend Neil ('don't call me Neo, I hated the last two Matrix movies') Oliver invites him to be part of a neo-monastic community, lots of people get married, and everyone is talking about Hell. Lots. Like men talk about sport: can't let go, despite the pain it causes.

I've really, REALLY enjoyed the first two books, cheering pastor Dan on as he loosens up and learns to enjoy a more progressive 'generous orthodoxy'. In retrospect, I've probably been a patronising to the main character. This time, however, as McLaren has Dan exploring new territory on the new creation, I found myself saying, 'Whoah, Dan, slow down, I can't keep up!' Dan's final view tends to correspond with NT Wright's 'realised eschatology', which basically means we need to think a lot more about the reign of God in the world today than whatever might happen in the future.

As with the previous book in the series, in which one of the main characters becomes a Christian on her deathbed, all threads are wound together in a way that feels just a bit too simple. How many heresy trials do you know of where nobody gets burned? Still, I found myself with a lump in my throat as I read the happy ending, which I think means that I really do care about these people who have helped me find a language for the journey that I, and so many others, are experiencing in these days.

The books itself is well written, given that it attempts the impossible: to marry a theology textbook and an airport novel. The story is simply and unobtrusively told, the narrative is on the thin side, but compelling enough at times that you want to skim the heavy stuff, and the heavy stuff is interesting and challenging enough that you never do skim it.

Sometimes the book suffers from the painful insertion of really deep theology into a story which groans from the effort of carrying so much meaning. You can push an illustration too far, like Alan Bennett's vicar opining 'Life is rather like a tin of sardines: we're all of us looking for the key.' McLaren takes us to the holocaust memorial in Washington DC to hammer home his main points about evangelical views on Hell: that they turn God into Hitler and Christians into little kommandants running around chucking everyone into the fire. So if Hitler was bad for disposing of everyone he considered not up scratch, why do we say God is good for doing the very same thing on a cosmic scale? A good point, but rammed home with all the subtlety of... well, that time when I mistook Marmite for chocolate spread...

I really like this book. It has obvious strengths and weaknesses, and if you take it for what it is, you will find you mind (and maybe even your spirit) expanded by the process. The story itself has a climax, but for me the abiding sensation as I put down the book, was a long, 'Hmmmmmmm'.

I have heard Brian speak and shared breakfast with him, so whenever I read these books I can't help but make Brian the Dan character of the book.

I read this final episode whilst in the South of France with my family and in hindsight a more trashy novel may have been more appropriate. However after being impacted by the first book couldn't wait to read this. For those who have not got their hands on any other book in the series, they do stand alone, but are more complete when read as the series.

Brian uses the story of Dan, Neo et al, to unpack the long held evangelical stance of hell and all the implications surrounding it. He takes no short cuts, no easy paths and at times I had to put the book down for a few hours whilst I processed what was being said.

I am convinced that there will be those out there who consider Brian and this series of books nothing more than liberal universalism (having of course read them with an open mind to see what's wrong with them!), but having been and still considering myself to be entirely convinced of the validity of the Bible for 'teaching, correcting and rebuking' I think these arguments hold little water for clear thinking mature readers.

This book will challenge your theology, your faith and most of all your love for your fellow man and for most Christians non of these will be a bad thing.

A fantastic, brave and remarkable book, but not for the faint hearted!