Mysteries of Faith (New Church's Teaching Series (8))

by Mark McIntosh

In this volume of The New Church’s Teaching Series, Mark McIntosh introduces the great mysteries of the Christian the doctrines of creation, revelation, incarnation, salvation, and eschatology, which are all held together by the doctrine of the Trinity. To explain these beliefs for Christians today, particularly the Trinity, McIntosh begins with what we the language of relationship and mutuality, of friendship and family ties.The central theme of the book is our relationship with Jesus and our relationship with our neighbor, for such mutuality lies at the heart of every doctrine. McIntosh’s starting point is the fact that every one of us is a theologian, for we are all drawn to approach the mysteries of faith with attention and love. By drawing on our common experiences as members of a community of faith, particularly through the sacraments of baptism and eucharist, he helps us to explore these mysteries for ourselves and to see how we might live them in our daily lives.As with each book in The New Church’s Teaching Series, recommended resources for further reading and questions for discussion are included.

Genres: Theology, Religion, Nonfiction, Christian, Spirituality

202 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 25, 2000

Reviews

[Danielle Mccoy · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's finally over!!!!!!!!!

[Brett Roberts · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book for EfM, as many of the reviewers here have. The only reason I kept opening this book is because I had to discuss it each week. The writing style of the author is impossible to follow. By the third chapter I was merely skimming the first and last sentence of each paragraph. However, I found the sixth chapter on the Mystery of Salvation to actually be quite beautiful. The author’s confusing writing style came together to help me understand, or at least glimpse, the basic theology of salvation (why and how type things). My advice: skim the chapters leading up to chapter six only to understand his phrasing, read chapter six along with some deeper theological treatise on salvation, and then close the book.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for EfM. Some parts were quite thought-provoking, while others were disjointed and confusing. Because ogf this, I gave 3 stars.

[Janet Mahlum · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I read the first chapter, I thought, "Oh boy, I'm going to like this book." Each succeeding chapter I liked less and less. There were some good points so I gave it 2 stars instead of only 1, but unless you have to read it for a class, I wouldn't recommend it. The author goes round and round in circles like a dog chasing its tail and to what point? Another class memeber agreed with me that if I had to summarize what a chapter was about, I couldn't. Another class member got confused when he was talking about 2 extremes, e.g., Calvinism and Deism and thought he was advocating them rather that talking abou 2 extremes on a scale.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this for EfM. I did not enjoy it and I would have stopped reading if not required. I found the book convoluted and confusing without clear and organized examples of the points he was trying to make. This is another in a long line of EfM books written by long winded professors that do not write for general understanding. I would really like it if EfM would read books by the Presiding Bishop or other prominent Episcopalians like Diana Butler Bass.

[Katherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

No, sir, I didn't like it.

What a sad, dismal, narrow-minded view of the world and humanity this man has. While he does offer up some nice not particularly revelatory notions (such as we don't offer ourselves in love and giving as Jesus would have us do because we're afraid of getting hurt) I just could not connect with the way he thinks.

One: The first half of the book makes it implicitly clear he views normal life as getting married to a member of the opposite sex and having multiple children along with being a very social, extraverted creature. Probably because that's who he is and how his life went and since it's the social norm (especially at the time the book was written) he doesn't even see the assumptions he makes.

Two: His concept of personhood, of being a real Person, excludes a great many people. All those who are introverted or even don't particularly enjoy the extended company of others. All those who aren't currently Christian. Those who practice Christianity in remote places or who intentionally live as hermits. Every single human being who lived before the birth of Christ.

Also, the only place you can get community is at the institutional church which could lead you down a rabbit hole if you actually think about it. What church? Does he view some churches as not true community? Clearly he excludes non-Christians but what about the rest of our world? By which I mean we aren't all seminarians and can't spend every waking moment in church-related activities the way he suggests. So he's saying that the communities you participate in outside of church don't count? If we are supposed to give freely of ourselves wouldn't this extend to the other spheres we inhabit as members of a non-theocratic society? I can see taking the community you find through Christ out into the secular world but he doesn't say that. Are relationships outside of the church (and we are talking about the institutional church not Christianity; he confuses these two immensely) not important because they aren't Real?

Three: His view of the world. He compares humanity to poor players on a stage, badly acting out a drama created by someone else. Violent, greedy, grasping people shuffling through a hollow, empty world pretending at something we don't understand but really living meaningless lives, incapable of being True Persons. He puts this all in the present tense, too, making it clear to the reader that this is how he sees you. Sure he says we could become a true person through following Christ by giving yourself to the world but that's in some nebulous future and right now he's going to compare you to a screaming little child at a poorly-planned birthday party.

Four: Christ didn't die on the cross to forgive us our sins but it sure sounds like he believes in original sin.

Five: The generalities and absolutes. He writes a lot of "You believe this" and "You do that" and "When you say/do/think this" and I'm just like, don't speak for me. He sets up arguments like this - like in his example of who Christ was/is. Is he just a good man being held up as an example? Or is he the completely divine Son of God? He ascribes these views to his readers and then argues for a third way of thinking and I have no problem with the viewpoint he takes on the matter because it's the one I already held but I do take issue for setting up silly theories, assigning them to the reader, and then knocking them down like he's got some radical new idea. He does this quite a bit. I think it's to hide the fact that he doesn't have an original thought in his head.

He also presents what are essentially subjective things as facts. "We know this" he says about things we don't know at all. The lovely thing about the world God has created and our place in it is that we don't know almost anything at all. We're interpreting. We're searching and exploring and that requires a continual open-mindedness to what comes next that might just change how we think. He seems to have forgotten he doesn't have any answers because no one does. It's when we pin things down and codify them into rigid codes that we get into trouble.

Six: He can just generally be insulting. In his talking about prayer he says that we don't know how to pray or what to prayer for but we need to start somewhere and maybe the Trinity can help us pray for meaningful things. Okay, fine. But the examples he gives of the silly things we prayer for are "an ice cream cone or a bowl of popcorn". I'm not four. I'm not praying to God for dessert. I can buy it myself. We may pray for superficial things at times and I'm sure we pray for things we don't really need or that aren't in God's plan for us but this is just ridiculous. People pray for many things - health for sick loved ones, that a depressed friend find calm and peace, that they don't lose their house, that they get a job that allows them to pay bills, that their child makes friends in a new school, that you find a path in life that makes you comfortable or (dare we want this?) happy. Maybe these aren't things we should be praying for, I don't know. But to represent these human longings for an end to anxiety and fear with the prayer for a bowl of popcorn is demeaning and lacking in sympathy or experience.

All in all, he presents nothing new, his thoughts often meander, he picks things up only to drop them, and he lacks insight into people. Not Real Persons as he calls it but people. The seething mass of humanity he says are nothing but bad actors in a drama that is far above their understanding.

[Jim Rowley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a book we read as part of the Education for Ministry program. On balance, it was a good review of some of the most basic dogmatic issues of Church theology. It accomplished that.
On a tougher note, the author could use an editor. Except for the last chapter which offered many metaphors that clarified key points, much of the writing was dense and borderline, unintelligible. However, theological mystery often struggles for clarity so there is that.
The book did cause me to think deeply, especially on the Divinity of Christ. His discussion on our cosmic communion was well done and accessible.
Ultimately, all these truths point to the ineffability of God. The best approach was revealed when aligning ourselves with God Will. I would have appreciated a discussion of contemplative prayer as a useful tool for that.
In summary, I enjoyed the book and I am closer to the personhood we are called to.

[Margie Dorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a lot I liked about this book, in particular now and then there are flashes of inspired theology, and the way it draws one towards necessary re-examination of stagnant assumptions. I did not give it a higher rating because I also found it redundant and less accessible than it ought to be for most readers. I, for one, love to read, and love to read theology, but would be hesitant and unlikely to actually recommend this book, when there are so many other books that are more accessible and perhaps more worth our time. Especially when we have limited time available for reading books, why not read the best? My reaction is mine, but is also partly based on the reactions of students in my discussion groups. Perhaps a revision into a shorter form?

[Adafrog · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first few chapters had so much promise. They were very interesting, not a bad reading level, and made 'sense.'
After he introduced the trinity, however, he seemed to discuss everything in that light, and his audience shifted. It went from being fairly understandable for a non theologian to being pretty wordy, confusing, and foggy.
Also, he tended to really negative at times. One example was that he focused on you not being a person if you didn't have multiple relationships. Not being a person. Wow. Sucks if you're an introvert.
All in all, not unhappy that I read this book, but not impressed.

[Maya Senen · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an instructor, McIntosh is eloquent, relatable, and helpful. This book was strongest when guiding the reader in practice. When it comes to some of his argument in theology... less so. He reads more as an emotional of stream of consciousness than a systematic theology. There are some interesting nuggets throughout, but overall feels pretty disjointed and not well-supported.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't say I understood all this book, probably partly because I read it out of order for a class. But I think I liked it. I'm going to hang on to it so I can read it again someday; I think it's one of those books that needs several reads to be properly digested.

[Fawn Pender · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a love/hate relationship with this book. Parts were interesting, but most of the time it felt like the author was going in circles. It was thought-provoking, but I don't think I would encourage anyone to read it.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

EfM text. The author used many wonderful metaphors to describe theological concepts. Easy to read and understand and yet deep and challenging.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for EfM. Several of us felt that this is the reward for being year 4; lucid, eloquent writing about the mysteries of faith.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for EfM.

[Steven · Rating 2 out of 5]

After striving through 70 pages, I just couldn't get all the way through it. The writing was too convoluted and speculative. Perhaps all theology is like this?

[Kathy Bochonko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this for EFM. Loved every page.

[LNae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as part of my EFM class for year 4.

McIntosh's large view on faith is that this is a relationship and the Trinity is supposed to guide us in creating our relationship with G-d and modeling that relationship among Christians. There may be some heresy in this book - but I lack the vocabulary or the deep understanding of theology to truly point it out. McIntosh has a writing style that hides a lot of snark and opinion the first time reading each chapter.
“Death is final and puts to an end the voice of the dissident, making those who killed him or her seem decent and reasonable people: after all, one’s got to carry on living with them.” - Maybe it is because of the time period in which I am reading this book, but not since Arendt's 'banality of evil' as a line struck in me in regards to how a group allows wrongs to happen.
McIntosh has some very strong views and makes sure to quote from others as well, on the belief in an angry wrathful G-d " There is an underlying paganism in most of us that seeps into our Christian faith and infects it with the fear that G-d will punish us if we are too happy, or afflict us with AIDS or cancer or ulcerative colitis if we step out of line, or require us to bargain in degrees of suffering for the health of our children," both a challenge for me and a smack-down on Neo-Calvinism.

Where there parts of this book that I didn't get anything from, yes; it is a book on theology. There were also parts in which I felt called out by a dead man.

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like many others I read this as part of the Education for Ministry program, and while I have found many issues with the increasingly out of date curriculum, this book is not one of them. It is easy for me to see why Rev. Mark was chosen to write this volume on the theology and doctrine of the Episcopal church for the New Church's Teaching series (a series since supplanted by the even newer "Church's Teachings for a Changing World.")

In this book McIntosh lays out an understanding of God, the Trinity, creation, the Incarnation, salvation, and sin that is consistent with itself, orthodox Church beliefs, and the cultural growth that continues to effect how we understand the faith tradition we have inherited. He manages to present very esoteric ideas in as understandable way as possible without letting too much of the deeper meaning be obscured by simplicity.

I especially like the way the author implies that in order to participate in the salvific work of Christ and to heal our relationship with God, we have to participate in restoration of relationship with the rest of creation.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, but understand many have difficulty following g the author’s rambling style with metaphors/examples to prove his point. He doesn’t give answers but provides his thought process for unpacking complicated theological concepts. Not for the novice in reading g theology. I took copious notes in an outline style to define all the points he makes combining chapters about topics such as: God is … Jesus is …. Personhood is …. Salvation is ….

[Marian Wainwright · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book as part of a class, assigned to the final year students. Only few topics resonated with me. While the topics and overall concepts are thoughtful, the writing style of the author failed to keep my attention as I found the content bland and boring. The author’s major fault is the excessive use of analogy, and insipid analogy at that.

[Jean Marie Angelo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like almost all the other reviewers, I read this book for EfM. The topics covered are fascinating and worthy of exploration — creation, salvation, call. The writing was uneven, though. Some passages fly and are illustrated with spot-on passages from scripture. Some parts are just hard to decipher.

[Martha Myers · Rating 3 out of 5]

As others have said, there are nuggets of beauty and clarity in this book, but much that seemed lacking in cohesion or clear purpose. Overall it was a stretch for me to extract useful and actionable ideas.

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author has a cynical view of the world living in fear, deprivation and loneliness. The introductory chapters about the mystery of faith were good. Sometimes his writing is so convoluted that I couldn’t follow the meaning. He makes a lot of assumptions about his reader. Read for EFM.

[Gwen Gerety · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Beautiful Exposition on the Mysteries of Faith

This is a very readable theological book. I would like to read it again with a group to really mine its treasures!

[Riley Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read!

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A difficult read but worth it.

[Ashley McKenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read it for my EFM class. At times, I felt like I was being led in circles. The final two chapters were my favorite and spoke to me the most. The language is very flowery but it is a thought provoking book.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book stated a lot of what I believed but was not mainstream in the denomination I was raised in. Like most theology books, there are moments I felt the author could have cut out whole sections but, in this case, I did not feel that it was a waste of my time to have read them.

This is the second read for me. I am always amazed at the different emphasis in a second read. This time I adored much of it; last time, it was readable but not powerful to me. I also compared that the moments that hit hard were the same. One star off only because it is a book completely in the Christian language and I feel it would be difficult to be a teaching book for a new Christian or at least unpredictable when it will help or hinder, not much in between.

In third read, I was reading with EfM and the participant stated he does on tangents and really doesn't get to the point. I felt that this time! A lot of long winded analogies. Only really needs a few paragraphs, but then no book.

[Mardel Fehrenbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mysteries of Faith has been instrumental in cementing my own awareness of my thoughts on the meaning of life, on purpose, on God, and why we are all here, not so much because of what the author says, and I do sometimes think he becomes overwhelmingly circular in his arguments, but because of the way the author has started a conversation that has led me to think and question and formulate my own questions and answers. And I suppose that this is what the study of theology, at least from a lay position, is all about.

Read again in 2018 as a mentor to an EFM group. In this second reading I was able to put aside many of my objections and delve more deeply into theology. A book with hidden depths, well worth exploring again and again.