Open Christianity: Home by Another Road

Rating:
Summary: Great Main Idea, Too Much Other Stuff
Review:

Burklo's primary thesis is right on target, and generally well presented -- I would recommend this book to others, especially those uncertain about their own relation to Christianity. If he'd left well enough alone after the first two sections, I'd have probably given the book five stars (I consider three the default/average, and any more have to be earned, so by giving it four I'm still saying this is good stuff).

Unfortunately, this book does not leave well enough alone. Instead, Burklo adds a lot of unneeded baggage. While the primary thesis, that Christianity should be centered on Christ as God and God as love, and that doctrines and dogmas are not what maters, the book doesn't stop there. Instead, a lot of new doctrines are invented, in an apparent attempt to answer common questions in a way that would make religion more appealing to a newer generation. Unfortunately, I found these to be empty, unsatisfying, and contrived in many case; for example, there's a chapter that tries to reconcile science and religion (or separate them, there some double talk on this), but all he really accomplishes is showing a lack of real understanding of the subject at hand. Worse, he often take on an accusing tone toward those who prefer the more traditional views that is nearly as annoying as that of the fundamentalists whose view he is apposing. Basically, the book starts with a profound and important message, but then ends up spending most of the total text on unneeded baggage.

All things considered, though, this book has an important message to all Christians -- a call to return to the REAL fundamentals of Christian Love and the experience of God.

Rating:
Summary: revealing
Review: Rev. Burklo's book is revealing not only for Christians but for people who belongs to other religious traditions, showing deep spiritual insights of Christianism, and demonstrating how Chirstianism substantially overlaps with other faiths. Although the book deals with old discussions of spiritual Christianism, it puts them together in a very clear, elucidating and transparent fashion accesible for all readers. In my opinion, the final quality of the chapters is uneven, but most of them are very solid and the book as a whole invites for more than one reading. A fascinating and challeging chapter is "the theology of enough", which is more than theology, but ethics, ecology and spirituality together.

Rating:
Summary: Courageous and enlightening!
Review: This book is a clear account of an honest, faithful, soul searching journey into the heart of Christian faith. Jim Burklo shares the questions, concerns, and struggles that many of us face when we are authentically challenging our beliefs and striving to broaden our faith walk. Jim encourages readers to be willing to supercede mere reason rather than abandoning it, and gives the reader a solid strarting point for a transformative spiritual journey. Jim's book opens the way for both traditional Christian disciples and seekers from a variety of spiritual backgrounds to explore the Christ path with open minds and open hearts.