More Thoughts from "How (Not) to Speak of God"

I'm about halfway through Peter Rollins' book, How (Not) to Speak of God, and am just totally enthralled. The basic tagline from the back of the book is that this book will help us to "explore the philosophical and theological underpinnings of the emerging church movement". It's heady stuff and there are some parts that I've had to stop and re-read for a moment to ensure that I grasped the flow but, all in all, it's a really good and insightful read. I particularly appreciate how Rollins deals with the paradoxical natures of Scripture, allowing for that type of dynamic tension that many times we just throw away with the bathwater and for our better "peace of mind". Anyway, I've shared one quote from the book on the blog already but, well, I'm going to share a few more. I'm up for discussion on this stuff if anyone wants to dialogue!

On the paradoxical nature of the Scriptures, i.e. God of war - God of peace, etc... - "Evidently such conflicts were not judged to be a problem but were accepted. Indeed, such fissures help to prevent us from forming an idolatrous image of God, ensuring that none of us can legitimately claim to understand God as God really is. Consequently the text bars any attempt at colonization by individuals or groups who claim to possess an insight into its true meaning."

From the chapter, "A/theology as Icon"... - "...it is precisely God's participation with us that allows us to understand that God is beyond understanding. Returning again to the analogy of a painting, those in the emerging conversation understand that what unites Christians is not that we somehow grasp the true meaning (another way of saying 'my meaning') of the painting, as if it can be reduced to a singular message, but that we are seduced and transformed by it."

On the virtue of doubt... - "Only a genuine faith can embrace doubt, for such a faith does not act because of a self-interested reason (such as fear of hell or desire for heaven) but acts simply because it must. A real follower of Jesus would commit to him before the crucifixion, between the crucifixion and the resurrection, and after the resurrection."

There's so much more but I don't want to infringe on any copyright laws. If you're even remotely interested, go out and get the book.