Living the Questions - by David Felten & Jeff Procter-Murphy (Paperback)

About the Book

Two ministers with more than 40 years of combined experience, along with an all-star cast of Bible scholars and top church teachers, provide a primer to a church movement that encourages people to "live the questions" instead of "forcing the answers."

Book Synopsis

Ministers David Felten and Jeff Procter-Murphy, along with an all-star cast of Bible scholars and top church teachers, provide a primer to a church movement that encourages every Christian to "live the questions" instead of "forcing the answers." Based on the bestselling DVD course of the same name, Living the Questions: The Wisdom of Progressive Christianity includes commentary from such bestselling authors as Diana Butler Bass, John Shelby Spong, Marcus Borg, John Dominic Crossan, Brian McLaren, and others. Tackling issues of faith and controversial subjects such as the church's position on homosexuality, Living the Questions is the most comprehensive, indeed the only survey of progressive Christianity in existence today.

From the Back Cover

Bringing together the voices of top Bible scholars and church leaders --including Marcus Borg, Diana Butler Bass, John Dominic Crossan, Helen Prejean, and John Shelby Spong--pastors David Felten and Jeff Procter-Murphy present a lively and stimulating tour of what it means to be a "progressive" Christian. Based on the bestselling DVD course of the same name, Living the Questions explores matters many churches are afraid to address including the humanity of Jesus and homosexuality, and examines in a new light traditional faith topics such as the Bible, atonement, salvation, the rapture, and more.

Review Quotes

"Calls Progressive Christians to live out their authentic mix of faith and doubt, to practice nonviolence, to stand in solidarity with the poor, to eschew the idolatry of wealth, and to seek 'justice and inclusivity in a culture dominated by suspicion and fear.'" - Spirituality and Practice

"Felten and Proctor-Murphy salute the mystics of the past and some of the present moment who help us to be more open to the Divine, to let go of our clinging to ancient dogmas about God and Jesus, and to surrender to 'not knowing' all the answers." - Spirituality and Practice

"Progressive Christianity is about embracing mystery. There is always more to God and us than we can fathom. Accordingly, the authors believe that the necessary incompleteness of our theology is an invitation to ongoing creative transformation. . . . Living the Questions is an excellent introduction to progressive theology." - The Christian Century

"Progressive Christianity is about embracing mystery. ... Accordingly, the authors believe that the necessary incompleteness of our theology is an invitation to ongoing creative transformation. . . . Living the Questions is an excellent introduction to progressive theology." - The Christian Century

"Amidst the sea of religious books designed to give the impression that Christianity has an unchanging, singular vision of the world, Living the Questions tears back the curtain, showing us how the Christian tradition actually involves a rich, dynamic and diverse conversation where critical reflection, differing opinions, and honest engagement with the biggest questions is happening under the very nose of the dogmatists." - Peter Rollins, author of The Idolotry of God

"Amidst the impression that Christianity has an unchanging, singular vision of the world, this book shows how the Christian tradition actually involves a rich, dynamic and diverse conversation where critical reflection, differing opinions and honest engagement with the biggest questions is happening under the very nose of the dogmatists." - Peter Rollins, author of The Idolotry of God

"A welcome book that is bold (without being contentious) and courageous (without needing to be triumphant), Felten and Procter-Murphy give voice to a faith that provides a profound alternative to the dominant ideology of 'American Christianity.' Attention should be paid!" - Walter Brueggemann, professor emeritus, Columbia Theological Seminary

"Most of us in church grew up listening to people who claimed to have all the answers. Who knew that the questions were a lot more interesting, and that 'living' them is true faithfulness. David Felten and Jeff Procter-Murphy have done a wonderful thing with this book and their lives. They have made it cool to study again, and given the class such superb resources that no one is in a hurry to graduate." - Dr. Robin R. Meyers, Senior Minister, Mayflower Congregational UCC Church; Professor of Rhetoric, Oklahoma City University

"Most people in church grew up listening to those who claimed to have all the answers. Who knew that the questions were more interesting, that 'living' them is true faithfulness. Felten and Procter-Murphy have given the class such superb resources that no one is in a hurry to graduate." - Dr. Robin R. Meyers, Senior Minister, Mayflower Congregational UCC Church; Professor of Rhetoric, Oklahoma City University

"'You can't be a Christian if you believe in evolution. You can't be a Christian if you accept women as leaders, or gay people as equals, or other religions as having value. You can't be a Christian unless you are a literalist, an inerrantist, and a social and theological conservative.' Or so say a lot of self-appointed gatekeepers out there. That's why I'm so grateful for Living the Questions. As you'll see in this book, there are other voices who offer less rigid and more expansive approaches to Christian faith. These progressive voices make room for people who practice critical thinking and question the gatekeepers. In fact, they help us see that questioning the gatekeepers is exactly what Jesus was all about." - Brian McLaren, author of A New Kind of Christianity

"I'm so grateful for Living the Questions. These progressive voices offer less rigid and more expansive approaches to Christian faith, and make room for people who practice critical thinking and question the gatekeepers. They help us see that questioning the gatekeepers is exactly what Jesus was all about." - Brian McLaren, author of A New Kind of Christianity

"Calls Progressive Christians to live out their authentic mix of faith and doubt, to practice nonviolence, to stand in solidarity with the poor, to eschew the idolatry of wealth, and to seek 'justice and inclusivity in a culture dominated by suspicion and fear.' Felten and Proctor-Murphy salute the mystics of the past and some of the present moment who help us to be more open to the Divine, to let go of our clinging to ancient dogmas about God and Jesus, and to surrender to 'not knowing' all the answers." - Spirituality and Practice

"This book has been sorely needed for years. In a clear and masterful way Felten and Procter-Murphy provide an unusual clarity about the issues that commonly confuse and divide people in our churches today and then open up a pathway to a more vital and even exciting way to approach the Christian faith in the 21st century." - Fred C. Plumer, President, Progressive Christianity.org

"This has been sorely needed for years. Felten and Procter-Murphy provide an unusual clarity about the issues that commonly confuse and divide people in our churches today and then open a pathway to a more vital and even exciting way to approach the Christian faith in the 21st century." - Fred C. Plumer, President, Progressive Christianity.org

"A rich, wise, helpful and important book--virtually a manifesto of progressive Christianity." - Marcus Borg, author of Evolution of the Word

"Among the most dynamic and talented clergy in the world, David Felten and Jeff Procter-Murphy speak with high levels of credibility to the deep and abiding human hunger that yearns for a Christian future." - John Shelby Spong, author of Re-Claiming the Bible for a Non-Religious World