The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical

[Amazing Rando]

Hey- anybody out there read this book (http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=266301&netp_id=417974&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW), by Shane Claiborne?

He's one of the founders and key luminaries of the New Monasticism (http://www.newmonasticism.org/) movement of urban Christians, and was featured on the cover of the September 2005 dition of Christianity Today in this article (http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/009/16.38.html).

Here's the publisher's description of the book:

Description: During college, a professor remarked, "Being a Christian is about choosing Jesus and deciding to do something incredibly daring with your life." Taking up that challenge, Shane's faith led him to dress the wounds of lepers with Mother Teresa, visit families in Iraq amidst bombings, and dump $10,000 on Wall Street to redistribute wealth. In The Irresistible Revolution, you'll be challenged by a radical Christianity passionate for peace, social justice, and alleviating the suffering found in the local neighborhood and distant reaches of the world. Live out your faith with little acts of radical love as you join the movement of God's Spirit into a broken world.

Has anyone out there read the book? I'd really like to hear your thoughts on the book, or on what you've heard or read of Claiborne's take on Christianity.

[Amazing Rando]

Here's a link to the Christian community that Claiborne is a member of- the simple way:

http://www.thesimpleway.org/

[Xavier]

Yes, I have met Bro. Shane and was not all the impressed. Saw him at a Youth Conference for the Holston Conference of the UMC. Didn't connect with the Youth very well and most certainly didn't sell his monasticism very well either. Nor was impressed by any particular case for his calling to monsticism

[Amazing Rando]

Yes, I have met Bro. Shane and was not all the impressed. Saw him at a Youth Conference for the Holston Conference of the UMC. Didn't connect with the Youth very well and most certainly didn't sell his monasticism very well either. Nor was impressed by any particular case for his calling to monsticism

I too got to meet him when he came to EMU last year. He spoke at the undergraduate chapel forum (which I attended out of interest) and also at my seminary chapel worship. I don't think his call was for all Christians everywhere to live in this radical Christian community, but only those that feel called by God.

He received a much more receptive welcome at EMU than it sounds like he did at Holston Conference- lots of folks here took his thoughts as a challenge for how we might apply Christ to our entire lives.

Personally for me, the idea of living in Christian community with others has a very strong appeal. I've been feeling a nagging pull in that direction for a few years now.


Did you get a chance to check out his book? I haven't yet read it, but I'm very interested.

[Xavier]

[...] I don't think his call was for all Christians everywhere to live in this radical Christian community, but only those that feel called by God.

I agree with you on that...


lots of folks here took his thoughts as a challenge for how we might apply Christ to our entire lives.

I think that if he would have ever rolled his speaking in that direction he might have recieved a bit better response. However, going in and telling a bunch of rich white folk that brand names are of the devil was probably not the best way of going about it.

It's been several years since I've seen him, so perhaps he is more effective in his presentation now. All I remember about the response from our youth afterward was that I heard the phrase "Communism for Christ" several times. I think that would miss the point of what Shane is trying to present.


Personally for me, the idea of living in Christian community with others has a very strong appeal. I've been feeling a nagging pull in that direction for a few years now.

Well, duh... The Body is a community. Your church should be a community. However, I think you mean a Christian commune. In which case, I agree. It requires a firm calling.


Did you get a chance to check out his book? I haven't yet read it, but I'm very interested.

I've heard of it in passing in the past, but never have seen it lying around. My previous experience with him would have disinclinded me to reading his book.

[aardvarkcore]

Has anyone out there read the book? I'd really like to hear your thoughts on the book, or on what you've heard or read of Claiborne's take on Christianity.

I read the book and found it truly inspiring.

He has very strong world views which he bases on fact. I have a feeling a lot of people wouldn't like what he has to say because after all, ignorance is bliss.

[YoungOne]

I read the book and agree the call isn't for everyone. It was fun read and challenging at points but the lifestyle he lives isn't for everybody.