Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighbourhood Church is Transfo rming the Faith by Diana Butler Bass

Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighbourhood Church is Transfo rming the Faith by Diana Butler Bass

For decades the accepted wisdom has been that America's mainline Protestant churches are in decline, eclipsed by evangelical mega-churches. Church and religion expert Diana Butler Bass wondered if this was true, and this book is the result of her extensive, three-year study of centrist and progressive churches across the country. Her surprising findings reveal just the opposite--that many of the churches are flourishing, and they are doing so without resorting to mimicking the mega-church, evangelical style.

Christianity for the Rest of Us describes this phenomenon and offers a how-to approach for Protestants eager to remain faithful to their tradition while becoming a vital spiritual community. As Butler Bass delved into the rich spiritual life of various Episcopal, United Methodist, Disciples of Christ, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, and Lutheran churches, certain consistent practices--such as hospitality, contemplation, diversity, justice, discernment, and worship--emerged as core expressions of congregations seeking to rediscover authentic Christian faith and witness today.

This hopeful book, which includes a study guide for groups and individuals, reveals the practical steps that leaders and laypeople alike are taking to proclaim an alternative message about an emerging Christianity that strives for greater spiritual depth and proactively engages the needs of the world.

Christian After Religion, Christianity for the Rest of Us, and A People's History of Christianity are among Diana Butler Bass's eight books on American religion. She is a Ph.D. holder. He holds a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Duke University, has taught at the college and graduate levels, and is now a freelance scholar. She was a columnist for the New York Times Syndicate and blogs about religion, spirituality, and culture for the Huffington Post and the Washington Post. Bass is a well-known speaker who has been at conferences, schools and institutions, and churches all over North America.

Her husband, daughter, and dog live with her in Alexandria, Virginia. Her website is dianabutlerbass.com, and her Twitter handle is @dianabutlerbass.