If you missed Part I, please go back and review yesterday's post.
Now that we have a better idea what psychological anthropology does, let's dig into this book.
Luhrmann, with the permission of her church, closely examined how people were discipled in Prayer, Theology and Bible. Specifically, these people were taught:
- How to put on our belief in an invisible God.
- How to remain sure of these beliefs in a growing susceptible world.
- And, most importantly, how to have a personal, intimate relationship with God through prayer, Bible exploration and works of compassion.
What makes this book unique is that it is written for "outsiders" who sincerely want to know how evangelicals could possibly come to believe these things.
I think these questions sum up her quest:
"So in the face of doubt and uncertainty, does God become real for someone? Particularly in our modern - or postmodern or late modern- American society, with all its exposure to scientific explanation, where the supernatural is often treated as entertaining fantasy, how does someone become confident that there is a supernatural God present in the everyday world? How does a living God become real to modern people?"
The book is filled with stories from people the author interviewed....people from all walks of life who all gave testimony to a vital, meaningful life of faith. Between stories the author offeres psychological observations.
This book is raw, honest and the author is respectful, even though I doubt if she would consider herself an evangelical.
I recommend this book for anyone who is not satisfied with accepting "evangelical assumptions" about God, the Church, Prayer and the Bible.
Let's go with a 4.9% out of 5%.
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