The Bad Christian's Manifesto: Reinventing God

by Dave Tomlinson

Dave Tomlinson's book How to Be a Bad Christian was written for all those who want God without the guff - revealing that being a 'bad' Christian is perfectly good enough, and that it's possible to ditch religion without losing the faith.

The Bad Christian's Manifesto continues the conversation, unpacking what spiritual intelligence - from an unapologetically Christian viewpoint - might look like for all the self-confessed bad Christians of the world. Join Dave as he explores how to befriend your inner sceptic, make a virtue of pleasure and find heaven in the ordinary things of life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christianity, Religion, Theology, Spirituality

240 pages, Hardcover

First published September 11, 2014

Reviews

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find Dave Tomlinson articulates everything I have been thinking for a long time. He gives hope to those who don't fit in neat evangelical boxes. I don't necessarily agree with all his conclusions and he is perhaps just a little too inclined to name drop and 'big up' his own church. Nevertheless his inclusive and warm approach is refreshing and inspirational.

[Nicholas Whyte · Rating 2 out of 5]

https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/the-bad-christians-manifesto-reinventing-god-and-other-modest-proposals-by-dave-tomlinson/

This is a book for Christians, especially those involved in ministry, and that basically means it is not a book for me. I appreciate the author’s efforts to advocate a more open, more generous and more inclusive Christianity, but it’s not my circus and not my monkeys, and I put it aside after fifty earnest pages.

[John Burgess · Rating 4 out of 5]

A re-read. A great book for anyone who thinks about the big questions, whether a believer, searcher or atheist. Dave Tomlinson takes the life and teaching of Jesus and rips them away from doctrines, creeds and institutional religion. Then shows how this same life and same teaching is being followed by people of all kinds of faith and none. As one person said after hearing Dave speak in a pub, "I came as an atheist and leave a an atheist but bizarrely I believe everything this man has said here tonight."

[Vic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grateful for Tomlinson's focus on human beings over and above their particular belief systems. A true champion of love and pleasure, his sequel to "How to be a Bad Christian... and a Better Human Being" is a refreshing take on religion and the gospel of grace that binds us all.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it a lot but how many funerals?

[David Robert Bloomer · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I take this right, when your religious and you want others to share in your thinking, you change the goal posts as to what religion is and what god is. According to this wishy washy outlook I am not an atheist as I have compassion for others and want to help them; no, an atheist is someone who doesn't believe in god, that is all. You can try and say a true atheist would be someone who would say "life has no depth, that life is shallow and empty"; you'd be wrong. Whether I am a 100% true atheist has no impact on that I do think this short span of consciousness has some meaning. Ultimately it doesn't but whilst I'm here it does. Yet I still say there is no god.
Then the explanation of god in this book. Well, what the good vicar is trying to say is that that feeling you get when you see a beautiful sunset or experience a moment of wonder at eating a great meal is god. What? Those are pleasurable experiences, what does the notion of god have to do with them. Its more like he is using the explanation of the dharmakaya from buddhism to try and explain god to. The intrinsic nature of reality and its interconnectedness, rather than god.
The book is all very, hey we're all the same isn't it great. No, it's an immature and unrealistic view of the world. Religion can be washed down as much as the author wants but it still ends the same way, a crutch for people who cannot accept the random and cruel nature of life.

[Mattie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I don't agree with everything Dave Tomlinson proposes in this book, I got a lot out of reading it. I appreciated the many anecdotes presented, which helped to demonstrate Dave's points and provide interesting and relevant stories.

I did find the book to be reasonably repetitive and certain ideas were reinforced over and over. Clearly, these are the issues that Dave wants to highlight, but I found myself skipping parts that had already been covered.

I sometimes struggled to understand Dave's perspective on certain issues; however, this may be due to my beliefs differing from his.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and thinking about the ideas it presents. The anecdotal style keeps the reader interested and provides entertainment, as well as something to think about.

[Sheila Pritchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent read for those who no longer fit the "conservative evangelical" model of Christianity.
Tomlinson is a Vicar at St Luke's Anglican Church in England. He writes with intelligence, humour and a passion for Christianity that is inclusive and welcoming of ALL people - as Jesus was!

I am rather sorry that the cover and title make it look as if this is quite a simplistic and/or flippant book. It most certainly is not!

[Sam Ige · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read that will challenge people's view on what healthy 'Christianity' is, whether you are 'religious' or not, and shows the reader how being a 'Christian' is not about rules on what to do/not do, but on following the example of God and living a life in that stem, which is far from the typical rules/values that most people associate with Christianity or any religion in all honesty

[Philip Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plenty to make you think and challenge preconceptions. Also what the rest of the world might see the church as

[Martyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tomlinson has such a gift for reducing things down to the core elements that actually matter. A great book for those tired of things being made more complicated than they really are.

[Brigitte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I identify as a bad Christian. Dave Tomlinson's relatable stories and writing gives me hope that there's still a place for me in my Father's house.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book for my quest to find a home for my unorthodox soul.

[Ian Bramley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book which I would encourage everyone to read to the end - it is a book that will challenge along the way. Dave Tomlinson has a passion for church to be relevant to the people it is meant to serve - the whole world and all people. This passion comes across in his writing. I didn't agree with everything he wrote, but that isn't the point; this is a book about how to have the debate and be inclusive, not a book about theological dogma. There are some amazing principles in here that we should apply in our relationships, our communication and our church life.

In reading the book I can see that he has grappled with some of the theological challenges that would no-doubt be raised to his thoughts: there is no real attempt to resolve some of these and I think this may leave some readers feeling slightly bereft. This is why I gave the book 4 stars and not 5

He concludes his book with the Bad Christian's manifesto:

* To follow the way of Jesus rather than rules or conventions
* To doubt and question WITHOUT fear, and never be daunted by orthodoxies and authority figures
* To make a priority of kindness and compassion, and to pursue justice for all people
* To embrace messiness and imperfection while aspiring to be all that we can be
* To live courageously, and resist being motivated by guilt and fear
* To love the world and honour it as God's body
* To have parties, laugh often, enjoy friends and welcome strangers
* To resist passing judgement, and befriend people in the margins
* To look for God in every person and situation

There is nothing I could disagree with in here.

[Hugh Dunnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much of this book I readily agree with and would jump to affirm. Yet a great deal is just a little too ‘liberal’ (horrible word) and universalistic to completely mesh with my personal theology.
But every chapter of it is challenging in a very positive way, and the author’s views are obviously very genuinely held. It is hard to fully disagree with a sincere expression of faith and belief rather than simply an academic exposition of a theoretical viewpoint.
He means it, believes it and is passionate about living it. I can disagree with the finer points of the author’s theology but ultimately it would appear that he (and his church) are very definitely living the gospel and this book is a challenge to all of us to demonstrate that we are making an attempt to do similar.

[Anderson Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Dave Tomlinson’s latest book ‘The Bad Christian’s manifesto’ was like a breath of fresh air, Dave has written many things which have been on my mind and heart for many years, so it was great to see these things out in the open and ready for others to explore, question or ignore, my prayer would be that this book enables those seeking for a deeper relationship with God without all the baggage of the established church would find their first footing with this amazing book.

If Carlsberg made priests then I’m sure they would have made Dave Tomlinson, he’s one great guy

[Malcolm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like Dave's. books - he allows faith space to breathe and grow. Sometimes though I think he lets himself down by posing a fight/debate no-one is having. Or he dismisses something with a sweeping generalisation that is great polemic but doesn't necessarily progress the argument
But having said all that I welcome his generosity of vision, his lightness of touch without being trivial and the permission he implicitly gives for us to think in fresh ways and push boundaries

[Peter Tickler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dave is at his best when telling stories from his life and ministry and he makes a strong case that we should rethink our attitudes to God, the church, Christianity and truth. It is hard not to be swept along by his enthusiasm. As someone who had plenty of doubts, I found this very encouraging.

[R · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dave has a really interesting perspective on alot of heavy Christian topics, but he leans toward a wishy washy everything goes ideology. Most importantly, I think he leans too far towards pantheism. I didn't agree with everything he said, I found this to be an interesting read.