Practice
The Church in an Age of Secular Mysticisms Why Spiritualities without God Fail to Transform Us Andrew Root MINISTRY IN A SECULAR AGE We are flooded with spiritualities that appeal to human desires for nonreligious personal transformation. But many fail to deliver because they fall into the trap of the self. In the last book of the Ministry in a Secular Age series, Andrew Root shows the differences between these spiritualities and authentic Christian transformation. He explores the dangers of following or adapting these reigning mysticisms and explains why the self has become so important yet so burdened with guilt. To help us under- stand our confusing cultural landscape, he maps spiritualities using twenty of the best memoirs from 2015 to 2020 in which “secular mystics” promote their mystical and transformational pathways. Root concludes with a more excellent way—even a mysticism—cen- tered on the theology of the cross that pastors and leaders can use to form their own imaginations and practices. “A theological gem. This thought-provoking book is an important read that challenges mainline pastors and congregations striving for relevance in the secular age.” —KERMIT MOSS, Lutheran Theo- logical Southern Seminary “Root’s final book of the Ministry in a Secular Age series is like a good farewell speech: full of reflective storytelling and festive comments on the past—here in the form of memoirs. Most importantly, the book passes on a legacy: the mystery of how a theology of the cross paradoxically offers a path for transformation of the self.” —BÅRD NORHEIM, NLA University College, Norway; coauthor of The Four Speeches Every Leader Has to Know “A balm for those guilted by Instagram and self-help, Root’s book is both illuminating intellectual history and an essential guide for spiritual leaders navigating secular mysticisms.” —ERIN RAFFETY, Princeton University and Princeton Theological Seminary “Ministry leaders seeking to understand and connect with the youth and adults they serve will benefit greatly from Root’s practical wisdom.” —ANGELA REED, Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University
OCTOBER 2023 • 288 pp. • paper • $28.99 • 9781540966735
Andrew Root (PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary) is Carrie Olson Baalson Professor of Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary. He is the author of more than twenty books, including the Ministry in a Secular Age project, and is the coauthor (with Kenda Creasy Dean) of The Theological Turn in Youth Ministry . Root is a frequent speaker and hosts the When Church Stops Working podcast.
49
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease