What do you think?
Rate this book
Rob Bell and a New American Christianity
In a wildly fluctuating religious landscape, one key figure is emerging, who is challenging the face/language/politics of Christian Rob Bell. This book helps readers to understand this new religious landscape and its key figure, Rob Bell, by bringing a reasoned voice to the conversation and shedding light on the story, directions, and emotional power-and future--of the figure Andy Crouch claims will be the main influence on Christians in this generation.
161 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2012
5 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 15, 2024
I had no clue who Rob Bell was.
The author seemed to have not known Rob Bell either before writing a book on him and a “New American Christianity.” Being GENEROUS, 2 Stars. Also do not agree fully with some of this books material.
I have no clue who Rob Bell is.
The author seemed to have not known Rob Bell either before writing a book on him and a “New American Christianity.” Being GENEROUS, 2 Stars. Also do not agree fully with some of this books material.
I have no clue who Rob Bell is.
October 10, 2013
I read this book in a day and I need to read it again and again.
Wellman does a fantastic job of highlighting the rise of Rob Bell and his controversy while also commenting on American Christianity.
There is no doubt that Rob Bell is a superstar. His Nooma videos are selling like hotcakes and his books are just as hot. Not only are people consuming his thoughts on Jesus but he's not at a loss for his critics.
Wellman divides this book into seven chapters, each touching on a certain description placed on Bell while the last one highlights where Bell is going:
1. Mystery
2. Subversion
3. Charisma
4. Canvas
5. Radical
6. Heretic
7. A Beautiful Jesus
You'll follow Bell on his rise to megachurch pastor status and how he never fit the bill of Conservative Evangelicalism while not subscribing to Liberalism either. Wellman takes us inside the mind of Bell while he forms a band in college, and how a meningitis scare puts the brakes on a possible indie-band future. This leads him to seminary and apprenticing under Ed Dobson.
Wellman explains the place Bell is whenever he writes one of his books. And how the real trouble started around the time he wrote Jesus Wants To Save Christians. It is with this book, Wellman says, that Bell moved from subtle questions to outright criticism of America and the strong ties Conservative Evangelism has with patriotism. (He even moved his family into a former crack house because he didn't want to be hypocritical...they stayed in that house for only two years)
This caused many people to leave his church (another thousand left when Bell preached a critique of the Iraq War). Following that book, Bell asked for a leave of absence from pastoring and spent some time in Ireland. From this time away Bell penned the ultra-controversial Love Wins.
It is after the controversy surrounding Love Wins, which surprised Bell, that he resigned from his church and traveled to LA. His show idea never got the pilot pick up and now he's trying to start a new talk tv show.
This book is fantastic. I couldn't put it down, even when I tried to. Wellman explores everything about this pastor and why he has such a connection to the younger generation. The way he preaches and uses performance to enhance sermons, to the fact that he brings out the Jewish aspects of Scripture that so many Mainline and Evangelical churches have omitted give so much aura to the man.
This book attempts to connect Rob Bell's journey with that of Christianity in America: one that embraces science and desires questions that may not have a concrete answer.
If you follow Bell or have enjoyed his books, this book will be another one for your shelf. I need to stop writing about it and read it again.
This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Abingdon Press.
Wellman does a fantastic job of highlighting the rise of Rob Bell and his controversy while also commenting on American Christianity.
There is no doubt that Rob Bell is a superstar. His Nooma videos are selling like hotcakes and his books are just as hot. Not only are people consuming his thoughts on Jesus but he's not at a loss for his critics.
Wellman divides this book into seven chapters, each touching on a certain description placed on Bell while the last one highlights where Bell is going:
1. Mystery
2. Subversion
3. Charisma
4. Canvas
5. Radical
6. Heretic
7. A Beautiful Jesus
You'll follow Bell on his rise to megachurch pastor status and how he never fit the bill of Conservative Evangelicalism while not subscribing to Liberalism either. Wellman takes us inside the mind of Bell while he forms a band in college, and how a meningitis scare puts the brakes on a possible indie-band future. This leads him to seminary and apprenticing under Ed Dobson.
Wellman explains the place Bell is whenever he writes one of his books. And how the real trouble started around the time he wrote Jesus Wants To Save Christians. It is with this book, Wellman says, that Bell moved from subtle questions to outright criticism of America and the strong ties Conservative Evangelism has with patriotism. (He even moved his family into a former crack house because he didn't want to be hypocritical...they stayed in that house for only two years)
This caused many people to leave his church (another thousand left when Bell preached a critique of the Iraq War). Following that book, Bell asked for a leave of absence from pastoring and spent some time in Ireland. From this time away Bell penned the ultra-controversial Love Wins.
It is after the controversy surrounding Love Wins, which surprised Bell, that he resigned from his church and traveled to LA. His show idea never got the pilot pick up and now he's trying to start a new talk tv show.
This book is fantastic. I couldn't put it down, even when I tried to. Wellman explores everything about this pastor and why he has such a connection to the younger generation. The way he preaches and uses performance to enhance sermons, to the fact that he brings out the Jewish aspects of Scripture that so many Mainline and Evangelical churches have omitted give so much aura to the man.
This book attempts to connect Rob Bell's journey with that of Christianity in America: one that embraces science and desires questions that may not have a concrete answer.
If you follow Bell or have enjoyed his books, this book will be another one for your shelf. I need to stop writing about it and read it again.
This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Abingdon Press.
April 6, 2013
As one of Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” Rob Bell is a name that is now known well beyond the confines of his megachurch in Grandville, Michigan or within evangelical circles. Bell has been at the forefront of contemporary Christian movements in America and is situated in a unique liminal space where he refuses to be defined. In a new book, Rob Bell and A New American Christianity (Abingdon Press, 2012), James Wellman, Jr., Associate Professor of Religion at the University of Washington, probes Bell’s life and examines how he can serve as a lens for understanding the shifting boundaries of the American religious landscape.
For Wellman, the enthusiasm and success of congregations like Bell’s Mars Hill Church is indicative of the failure of fundamentalism in American Christianity. The refusal to be labeled by a particular interpretive framework reflects the growing American population’s self-identity as “nones.” This might be why many from the “Spiritual but not Religious” persuasion are attracted to Bell. In fact, after the publication of Bell’s most recent book, Love Wins (2011), he has been charged with being a universalist who is amending the gospel. So what does Rob Bell reveal about American religious culture? How is it changing? And where is it headed? In my conversation with Wellman, we discuss the role of performance, charisma, media, the artistry of the sermon, the relationship between the secular and sacred, gender inclusion, experience over belief, discipleship for here and now, and the importance of media competency.
http://newbooksinreligion.com/2013/03...
For Wellman, the enthusiasm and success of congregations like Bell’s Mars Hill Church is indicative of the failure of fundamentalism in American Christianity. The refusal to be labeled by a particular interpretive framework reflects the growing American population’s self-identity as “nones.” This might be why many from the “Spiritual but not Religious” persuasion are attracted to Bell. In fact, after the publication of Bell’s most recent book, Love Wins (2011), he has been charged with being a universalist who is amending the gospel. So what does Rob Bell reveal about American religious culture? How is it changing? And where is it headed? In my conversation with Wellman, we discuss the role of performance, charisma, media, the artistry of the sermon, the relationship between the secular and sacred, gender inclusion, experience over belief, discipleship for here and now, and the importance of media competency.
http://newbooksinreligion.com/2013/03...
December 21, 2012
Wellman's book is an excellent introduction to the career - thus far - of Rob Bell and is particularly interesting for the parallels it draws between Bell's more notable ventures and his life experiences, providing useful context for Bell's life and thought. One of the greatest weaknesses of the book is that there is far too little exploration of how Bell's expression of a "new American Christianity" finds parallels throughout American Christian culture, an exploration that seems promised early in the book. It would have been useful, for instance, to touch on works such as Gabe Lyons' The Next Christians and/or David Kinnaman's You Lost Me. As it is, Wellman may be correct that Bell represents a proxy expression of the faith of many American Christians today, but his book is worthwhile more for a contextual examination of the rise of Bell's popularity than anything else.
September 20, 2013
This is a very interesting and well written book and well worth the read of anyone concerned to understand a significant piece of what is happening in the American religious landscape. Regardless of what you think of Rob Bell, there is no denying he is a compelling figure. His interpretation of the faith with regard to what if means to actually follow Jesus in this world is something of a barometer indicative of a growing number of people often termed "spiritual but not religious." Beyond that, the author does a nice job of tracing the development of Bell's thought and work. Fascinating stuff.
January 4, 2019
i think it is a powerful book that describes the need for a shift in church perspective. the need to build the people and also how to send the message of Christianity in an effective way.
February 8, 2015
Consider it a study in NOOMAtology...
James K. Wellman presents us with an intriguing and highly sympathetic presentation of Rob Bell. Wellman offers a brief biographical sketch of Bell while spending most of the book discussing Bell's changing theology and his emphasis on praxis.
Wellman gives us an astonishing account of how much Bell has changed from his first forays in ministry to now. Quoting him in early sermons, Wellman remarks he sounds more like Mark Driscoll than as a provocative postmodern preacher. But Bell's thought has dramatically changed since Mars Hill Bible Church was founded in 1999, being altered by his immersion in the Jewish world, custom and beliefs in which Jesus lived, by a pull towards social justice and liberation theology, by progressive views regarding women's ordination and the "priesthood of all believers" (Bell frequently declares "Ordain everybody! Every Christian is a missionary!") and by the conviction that the Kingdom of God is here and now, being made present in reality by the death and resurrection of Jesus. If THESE are reasons for evangelicalism to criticize Bell, then that criticism is entirely unwarranted. I found myself agreeing a lot with Bell.
Wellman portrays Bell as more in line with evangelicalism than I suspect he is (although I have not yet read "Love Wins" and I may very well be infected by the hermeneutic of suspicion that characterizes the evangelical blogosphere). In Wellman's telling, Bell is essentially evangelical with some progressive streaks (i.e. women's ordination). One gets the sense that "Love Wins" is basically the same as "Surprised By Hope" by N.T. Wright, which is discussed in ch. 6. Though published in 2012, Bell has surely since distanced himself even more from evangelicalism (while adamantly refusing any labeling of himself in general) by endorsing same-sex marriage. An interesting observation I gleaned from this book is how tied Francis Chan is to Bell. When Bell and Flannel, the production company behind NOOMA, parted ways, Flannel sought on Chan as a more conservative replacement and they made a series of videos called "BASIC" with Chan at the held. As well, after "Love Wins" was published, Chan wrote his own book about the afterlife in response to Bell (and his co-author, Preston Sprinkle, ironically, has since become an annihilationist).
Bell upholds praxis over doctrine and criticizes those churches that focus so much on theology without being the "hands" of Christ in the world. What stood out to me most about Bell was his brilliance as a communicator, evident by his wildly popular NOOMA series, his perpetual questioning style and the way he crafts his sermons. When evangelicalism first arose in North America through George Whitefield and the Wesleys, it represented a departure from the preacher-scholar to the preacher-actor and Bell embodies this style of preacher-actor as he uses an array of media and props to communicate the Gospel in a way that is understandable to contemporary audiences. The book alludes to Bell's move to Hollywood and the failure of "Stronger" to get the greenlight, but it does not cover as much of his post-pulpit life because it came out within months of his leaving Mars Hill.
James K. Wellman presents us with an intriguing and highly sympathetic presentation of Rob Bell. Wellman offers a brief biographical sketch of Bell while spending most of the book discussing Bell's changing theology and his emphasis on praxis.
Wellman gives us an astonishing account of how much Bell has changed from his first forays in ministry to now. Quoting him in early sermons, Wellman remarks he sounds more like Mark Driscoll than as a provocative postmodern preacher. But Bell's thought has dramatically changed since Mars Hill Bible Church was founded in 1999, being altered by his immersion in the Jewish world, custom and beliefs in which Jesus lived, by a pull towards social justice and liberation theology, by progressive views regarding women's ordination and the "priesthood of all believers" (Bell frequently declares "Ordain everybody! Every Christian is a missionary!") and by the conviction that the Kingdom of God is here and now, being made present in reality by the death and resurrection of Jesus. If THESE are reasons for evangelicalism to criticize Bell, then that criticism is entirely unwarranted. I found myself agreeing a lot with Bell.
Wellman portrays Bell as more in line with evangelicalism than I suspect he is (although I have not yet read "Love Wins" and I may very well be infected by the hermeneutic of suspicion that characterizes the evangelical blogosphere). In Wellman's telling, Bell is essentially evangelical with some progressive streaks (i.e. women's ordination). One gets the sense that "Love Wins" is basically the same as "Surprised By Hope" by N.T. Wright, which is discussed in ch. 6. Though published in 2012, Bell has surely since distanced himself even more from evangelicalism (while adamantly refusing any labeling of himself in general) by endorsing same-sex marriage. An interesting observation I gleaned from this book is how tied Francis Chan is to Bell. When Bell and Flannel, the production company behind NOOMA, parted ways, Flannel sought on Chan as a more conservative replacement and they made a series of videos called "BASIC" with Chan at the held. As well, after "Love Wins" was published, Chan wrote his own book about the afterlife in response to Bell (and his co-author, Preston Sprinkle, ironically, has since become an annihilationist).
Bell upholds praxis over doctrine and criticizes those churches that focus so much on theology without being the "hands" of Christ in the world. What stood out to me most about Bell was his brilliance as a communicator, evident by his wildly popular NOOMA series, his perpetual questioning style and the way he crafts his sermons. When evangelicalism first arose in North America through George Whitefield and the Wesleys, it represented a departure from the preacher-scholar to the preacher-actor and Bell embodies this style of preacher-actor as he uses an array of media and props to communicate the Gospel in a way that is understandable to contemporary audiences. The book alludes to Bell's move to Hollywood and the failure of "Stronger" to get the greenlight, but it does not cover as much of his post-pulpit life because it came out within months of his leaving Mars Hill.
January 13, 2013
Living in Ontario, I've been following Bell off and on for years, and he's one of the best preachers I've heard. Mesmerizing even. Now University of Washington sociologist James Wellman has penned a short but sharp book examining Bell's still young career.
Wellman argues that Bell's "story and life function as a leading indicator of what it means to be a Christian in the changing modern American religious landscape." What that means develops through the book: a Christianity that challenges some of the taken-for-granted norms of evangelicalism with an artistic and prophetic flair.
The book reads fast, and I didn't put it down for a rest until the 5th chapter. Drawing on over ten hours of exclusive interviews with Bell, Wellman offers a quick run down on some of the seminal moments in Bell's life--conservative Michigan upbringing, Wheaton and Fuller education, then back to Michigan. Wellman places all these events in light of Bell's future style and passion.
Central to the book is Wellman's exploration of Bell's charisma: "His capacity for intimacy with his hearers is related to his ability to articulate the emotional dilemma of those listening and then speak to their concerns with a perspicuity that is jarring, but also with a boldness and certitude that flow from a kind of youthful naiveté."
All Bell's books follow the pattern of this charisma. Wellman skips over _Sexgod: Exploring the Endless Questions Between Sexuality and Spirituality_ (2007), where Bell leads the reader from shyness to celebration of human sensuality. Instead, Wellman moves on to two other books that were much more controversial and paved the way for Bell's exit from his church and transition to Hollywood: _Jesus Wants to Save Christians_ (2008) and _Love Wins_ (2011). Wellman give the tensions some good colour by voicing different sides of the debates.
"Did Bell go too far?" asks Wellman, ambiguously. "Does the gospel go too far?" This is Wellman's style: asking directed questions but not laying his own opinions too heavily on the reader.
One small quibble: Wellman shows repeatedly how Bell reacted against the "strict and restrictive" TULIP Calvinism that surrounded him in Michigan, but doesn't show how the creation-based, culture-engaging Calvinism resonated positively with Bell. I find it hard to believe that one stream of Reformed Michigan touched Bell but not the other. Calvin College is too close (and too many Calvin students attended Mars Hill) to not at least consider some influence on his "all the world is sacred" theme.
In sum, Wellman does well to describe the multiple versions of Bell: evangelical, rock star, subversive, wit, artist, prophet. If you like Rob Bell, you'll find the book insightful, fair, and informative. If you don't know much about Bell, this book gives you an important, succinct, introduction to his contribution to American Christianity.
Wellman argues that Bell's "story and life function as a leading indicator of what it means to be a Christian in the changing modern American religious landscape." What that means develops through the book: a Christianity that challenges some of the taken-for-granted norms of evangelicalism with an artistic and prophetic flair.
The book reads fast, and I didn't put it down for a rest until the 5th chapter. Drawing on over ten hours of exclusive interviews with Bell, Wellman offers a quick run down on some of the seminal moments in Bell's life--conservative Michigan upbringing, Wheaton and Fuller education, then back to Michigan. Wellman places all these events in light of Bell's future style and passion.
Central to the book is Wellman's exploration of Bell's charisma: "His capacity for intimacy with his hearers is related to his ability to articulate the emotional dilemma of those listening and then speak to their concerns with a perspicuity that is jarring, but also with a boldness and certitude that flow from a kind of youthful naiveté."
All Bell's books follow the pattern of this charisma. Wellman skips over _Sexgod: Exploring the Endless Questions Between Sexuality and Spirituality_ (2007), where Bell leads the reader from shyness to celebration of human sensuality. Instead, Wellman moves on to two other books that were much more controversial and paved the way for Bell's exit from his church and transition to Hollywood: _Jesus Wants to Save Christians_ (2008) and _Love Wins_ (2011). Wellman give the tensions some good colour by voicing different sides of the debates.
"Did Bell go too far?" asks Wellman, ambiguously. "Does the gospel go too far?" This is Wellman's style: asking directed questions but not laying his own opinions too heavily on the reader.
One small quibble: Wellman shows repeatedly how Bell reacted against the "strict and restrictive" TULIP Calvinism that surrounded him in Michigan, but doesn't show how the creation-based, culture-engaging Calvinism resonated positively with Bell. I find it hard to believe that one stream of Reformed Michigan touched Bell but not the other. Calvin College is too close (and too many Calvin students attended Mars Hill) to not at least consider some influence on his "all the world is sacred" theme.
In sum, Wellman does well to describe the multiple versions of Bell: evangelical, rock star, subversive, wit, artist, prophet. If you like Rob Bell, you'll find the book insightful, fair, and informative. If you don't know much about Bell, this book gives you an important, succinct, introduction to his contribution to American Christianity.
Read
December 13, 2016"This country is truly the home of heretics."
The author has a point -- only in America do people get fed up with an ideology and start their own church.
This book was... interesting. It contained minor tidbits about Bell, his life, and different controversies, including statements from his 'enemies' (detractors? Bell has no enemies he considers to BE enemies), but if you're familiar with Bell's extensive body of work, you'll know much of the theological content already. It's a bit like reading a book about scuba diving instead of doing it.
Bell alarms people, for good reason, and this book is a decent introspective on why. He challenges all the old traditions and established ideals, sometimes with naive intentions. To him, it's great fun. Though a walking contradiction in and of himself, the questions he asks leaves a void behind -- in the absence of hell, establishment, and challenging everything -- what's left?
And some people are deeply uncomfortable with voids.
The author has a point -- only in America do people get fed up with an ideology and start their own church.
This book was... interesting. It contained minor tidbits about Bell, his life, and different controversies, including statements from his 'enemies' (detractors? Bell has no enemies he considers to BE enemies), but if you're familiar with Bell's extensive body of work, you'll know much of the theological content already. It's a bit like reading a book about scuba diving instead of doing it.
Bell alarms people, for good reason, and this book is a decent introspective on why. He challenges all the old traditions and established ideals, sometimes with naive intentions. To him, it's great fun. Though a walking contradiction in and of himself, the questions he asks leaves a void behind -- in the absence of hell, establishment, and challenging everything -- what's left?
And some people are deeply uncomfortable with voids.
December 10, 2012
It was interesting reading an outsider's perspective on a guy I have been listening to, watching and reading for 7 years (the author had not heard of Rob until a publisher asked if he wanted to write a book about him). I found myself shaking my head and at the same time proud of myself for finding a few minor errors the author makes. How often am I more familiar with a book's subject than a well-researched author? Not often. Let me gloat.
There was no new information here for people familiar with all things Rob, and for any newcomer I'm not even sure it's the best place to start. Towards the end of the book I found myself thinking how much better it would be to just read Velvet Elvis or listen to a couple of Rob's teachings if you really want to get a feel for the guy. Call me crazy, but if you can go straight to the source, go straight to the source.
But if you're bored and like Rob Bell, this book will occupy you for an afternoon or two.
There was no new information here for people familiar with all things Rob, and for any newcomer I'm not even sure it's the best place to start. Towards the end of the book I found myself thinking how much better it would be to just read Velvet Elvis or listen to a couple of Rob's teachings if you really want to get a feel for the guy. Call me crazy, but if you can go straight to the source, go straight to the source.
But if you're bored and like Rob Bell, this book will occupy you for an afternoon or two.
July 23, 2015
After seeing Rob Bell in person for the first time this week I revisited Wellman's book to help me process what I witnessed. Wellman provides helpful context for Bell's ministry and a credible analysis of his theology. I think he succeeds in portraying Bell as an embodiment of the shifts in American religion Diana Butler Bass describes in Christianity After Religion: The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening. I'm also intrigued by Wellman's suggestion that Bell's work and thought is paralleled by Gianni Vattimo. I haven't read Vattimo but certainly intend to now.
August 12, 2014
This is a pretty good book. I find myself feeling a bit squeamish that it's an "authorized" biography, since that might make one soft-pedal any difficulties with Bell's philosophy. Still, the author does a good job of placing Bell's theology/philosophy in the context of a changing ritual culture. It's a bit jarring to have Victor Turner thrown in there as a reference, but it works! I don't know just how "new and different" Bell's theology is. It's pretty much mainline Protestantism, as much as he tries to deny that linkage. Most likely, being raised in evangelicalism, he just doesn't quite understand the mainline. I do love the combination of evangelical passion with mainline thinking. He has reinvented the wheel, and he's delighted himself, and is capable of delighting others, with its reinvention!
December 8, 2012
Excellent, sympathetic treatment of Rob Bell and the role he has played in the church in America.
August 16, 2013
Really appreciated learning more about Rob Bell and the things that keep him awake.
March 23, 2013
An interesting book about an interesting guy.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews