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The Gospel According to Relativity
The Gospel According to Relativity uses the constant speed of light as a model for constant value in order to bridge the gap between traditional absolutism and today's uncommitted relativism.
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First published May 24, 2005
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September 4, 2007
Every rare once in a while a book comes to my attention that is extraordinary. The Gospel According to Relativity is one of these. In it James Geiger finds the response to what is post-postmodernity. By doing this he provides a perfect paradigm for the developing intellectual and spiritual climate.
Even more extraordinary is that he does this while being an entirely engaging and conversational writer.
His premise is, basically, that while science has advanced the accompanying philosophical traditions, which have longed followed the path of scientific thinking, have not advanced. This leaves us in a decidedly awkward state. Either we hold onto the traditional view of established dogma or we cut it all loose and become relativists, in which nothing can be certain and nothing can be measured according to ultimate worth.
For Christians this is seen in the battle over new forms of church. On one side there are the traditionalists who claim that as has been done for centuries so should it continue to be done, even as society around increasingly dismisses Christianity as being irrelevant or worse. On the other side are those in the emerging/missional camp, who are trying new approaches, yet are constantly charged with being relativists and abandoning firm anchors of Truth. As one increasingly in this latter movement I realize that the charges aren't exactly right but have struggled to come to terms with what is happening.
Geiger has given me imagery and guidance to understand, opening up a whole new pattern of thinking that helped clarify much of what has been vague and diffuse in my mind. He makes a distinction between relativism, in which there is no Truth, and relativity, in which everything is in motion, all observation is dependent on location, and reality is fluid. Relativity differs in that there is a constant, that of light. This constant provides the established anchor for consideration of everything else. This constant in our spirituality and lived lives is Christ.
Relativity brings both motion and constancy into focus, and provides a firm foundation as we venture past the errors of modernity and into something new. Geiger's superb discussion of this reality gives me new hope in explaining what is happening and guiding others as they embrace new works of the dynamic Spirit in their lives.
I see some of this discussion showing up in the very academic works of Moltmann, and Pannenberg, and Polkinghorne, as well as other theologians, all of which are stimulating thinkers, none of which are approachable to a broad audience.
The Gospel According to Relativity, however, is not only an insightful and thought provoking book. It is an approachable must-read for anyone who seeks to understand what is happening in our era in terms of church and thought.
I would love to get a copy of Geiger's work to every church leader in the nation.
Even more extraordinary is that he does this while being an entirely engaging and conversational writer.
His premise is, basically, that while science has advanced the accompanying philosophical traditions, which have longed followed the path of scientific thinking, have not advanced. This leaves us in a decidedly awkward state. Either we hold onto the traditional view of established dogma or we cut it all loose and become relativists, in which nothing can be certain and nothing can be measured according to ultimate worth.
For Christians this is seen in the battle over new forms of church. On one side there are the traditionalists who claim that as has been done for centuries so should it continue to be done, even as society around increasingly dismisses Christianity as being irrelevant or worse. On the other side are those in the emerging/missional camp, who are trying new approaches, yet are constantly charged with being relativists and abandoning firm anchors of Truth. As one increasingly in this latter movement I realize that the charges aren't exactly right but have struggled to come to terms with what is happening.
Geiger has given me imagery and guidance to understand, opening up a whole new pattern of thinking that helped clarify much of what has been vague and diffuse in my mind. He makes a distinction between relativism, in which there is no Truth, and relativity, in which everything is in motion, all observation is dependent on location, and reality is fluid. Relativity differs in that there is a constant, that of light. This constant provides the established anchor for consideration of everything else. This constant in our spirituality and lived lives is Christ.
Relativity brings both motion and constancy into focus, and provides a firm foundation as we venture past the errors of modernity and into something new. Geiger's superb discussion of this reality gives me new hope in explaining what is happening and guiding others as they embrace new works of the dynamic Spirit in their lives.
I see some of this discussion showing up in the very academic works of Moltmann, and Pannenberg, and Polkinghorne, as well as other theologians, all of which are stimulating thinkers, none of which are approachable to a broad audience.
The Gospel According to Relativity, however, is not only an insightful and thought provoking book. It is an approachable must-read for anyone who seeks to understand what is happening in our era in terms of church and thought.
I would love to get a copy of Geiger's work to every church leader in the nation.
Displaying 1 of 1 review