Days of Awe and Wonder: How to Be a Christian in the Twenty-first Century

by Marcus J. Borg

Showcasing some of his most enduring and insightful writings, including many previously unpublished works, a concise and illuminating introduction to Marcus J. Borg, the late spokesman for progressive Christianity and one of the most revered and influential theologians of our time.

In his acclaimed books, including classics such as Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time, The Heart of Christianity, Speaking Christian, and Convictions, Marcus J. Borg helped shape an enlightened modernist view of Christianity. A leading scholar of the historical Jesus acclaimed for his ability to speak about Christianity in the context of contemporary society, Borg offered profound wisdom and inspiration—a new way of seeing and living the Christian life—for believers, students, and lay readers. Ultimately, he taught us that by developing a deeper understanding of Jesus and the New Testament, we can discover a more authentic way of being. Yet Borg himself was always conscious of a greater truth beyond what he could the wonder of God.

Now, two years after the liberal theologian’s death, comes The Days of Awe and Wonder, a selection of his writing, including many never before published works, that explores the Christian faith and what it means to be a Christian in the twenty-first century. Provocative and uplifting, this anthology illuminates Borg’s explorations of the miraculous and wonderful, his understanding of conviction and fulfillment, and his contention that we must keep an open mind and question assumptions and certainties in all our religious journeys.

Genres: Christian, Religion, Christianity, Theology, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Essays

293 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 14, 2017

About the author

Borg was born into a Lutheran family of Swedish and Norwegian descent, the youngest of four children. He grew up in the 1940s in North Dakota and attended Concordia College, Moorhead, a small liberal arts school in Moorhead, Minnesota. While at Moorhead he was a columnist for the school paper and held forth as a conservative. After a close reading of the Book of Amos and its overt message of social equality he immediately began writing with an increasingly liberal stance and was eventually invited to discontinue writing his articles due to his new-found liberalism. He did graduate work at Union Theological Seminary and obtained masters and DPhil degrees at Oxford under G. B. Caird. Anglican bishop N.T. Wright had studied under the same professor and many years later Borg and Wright were to share in co-authoring The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions, an amicable study in contrast. Following a period of religious questioning in his mid-thirties, and numinous experiences similar to those described by Rudolf Otto, Borg became active in the Episcopal Church, in which his wife, the Reverend Canon Marianne Wells-Borg, serves as a priest and directs a spiritual development program at the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Portland, Oregon. On May 31, 2009, Borg was installed as the first canon theologian at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.

Marcus J. Borg is Canon Theologian at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, OR. Internationally known in both academic and church circles as a biblical and Jesus scholar, he was Hundere Chair of Religion and Culture in the Philosophy Department at Oregon State University until his retirement in 2007.

Described by The New York Times as "a leading figure in his generation of Jesus scholars," he has appeared on NBC's "Today Show" and “Dateline,” PBS's "Newshour," ABC’s “Evening News” and “Prime Time” with Peter Jennings, NPR’s “Fresh Air” with Terry Gross, and several National Geographic programs. A Fellow of the Jesus Seminar, he has been national chair of the Historical Jesus Section of the Society of Biblical Literature and co-chair of its International New Testament Program Committee, and is past president of the Anglican Association of Biblical Scholars. His work has been translated into eleven languages: German, Dutch, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Indonesian, Italian, Spanish, Portugese, Russian, and French. His doctor's degree is from Oxford University, and he has lectured widely overseas (England, Scotland, Austria, Germany, Belgium, Hungary, Israel and South Africa) and in North America, including the Chautauqua and Smithsonian Institutions.

Reviews

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. It felt a bit like Progressive Christianity 101. I sometimes wished that he would have gone a bit deeper theologically on some of the more “controversial” topics, like the divinity/humanity of Jesus, but perhaps this was not the intended purpose of the book. The afterword by Barbara Brown Taylor (the actual eulogy she presented at his memorial service in 2015) was worth the price of the book (to me personally in any case).

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Borg is one of the more fascinating theologians and scholars I've read. There are a lot of great things about this collection: I enjoyed the pastoral sincerity with which these writings motivate Christians to critically engage Scripture in crafting a sustainable theology; I did not find myself hating him, or thinking him stupid or ill-founded (all portrayals I have seen, even if they don't use the language I've used); I appreciated his presentation of Christian ethics as rooted in oneness with God, because God is a compassionate sustainer of all existence; and his presentations struck me as non-orthodox (in the sense of traditional Christian doctrine) without being unorthodox (completely antithetical to Christian theology) or purposefully contrarian.

I do find his conception of God (e.g. a "more than" panentheistic spirit that is in all things, but that the sum of all things does not contain) outside the "norm" of biblical idiom--whether for good or bad. Still, though I think this, it does not mean the Borg is wrong--just outside the "norm" and in need of further investigation. I am still not convinced by Borg's distinctions between Pre-Easter and Post-Easter Jesus, but I've not read everything by him to get the fullest sense of how he conceived this distinction. My rub comes from a difficulty I have with seeing the Gospels as metaphor. Borg seems to me, in all the places I've read him, unhelpfully vague on what parts are/aren't metaphor and what these metaphors mean for the historical Jesus in whom Christians have faith. I also have trouble with Borg's presentation of Christianity vis-a-vis other world religions, because I'm convinced 1st Century Judaism, in which Jesus operated, was remarkably exclusivist (e.g. YHWH is the only being of his kind and the Jews have the fullest revelation of him). I have a hard time thinking Jesus would not have had that same categoric exclusivist mentality.

Still, for the few difficulties I have, this collection is very provocative and worthy of anyone's time reading. Borg is thoroughly consistent in his convictions, and reading him has been a delight as I wrestle with my faith and what it means to be a Christian today.

[Ezechel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't agree with half of what the book says, but it was still an interesting read from the point of view that sheds light on some of the reasoning behind progressive Christianity I wasn't really aware of until now, and somehow explains how a pantheist-universalist-syncretistic theologian who sees the spiritual world no different than any new age guru would, and who denies not only the divinity of Jesus but also his uniqueness among "mystics" , can still in good faith call himself a Christian. Spoiler alert: main reason is because Christianity "feels like home". Of course it does, I would add, since it has nice cozy buildings, a wealth of art and culture that inspires the educated pretentious mind, and above all it pays a salary.
I guess until I've read this book I thought I was some kind of "almost progressive" Christian, just because I rejected some of the fundamentalist values and my evangelical friends often accuse me of being a "liberal". Now I see I am nowhere near to being a "progressive Christian" if this book is a faithful representation of what progressive Christianity is, and I'll probably never be one. That's fine, there's enough room in the middle for people who don't feel the pressure to fall in line on either side.

[Robert D. Cornwall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marcus Borg is one of the best known religious writers of recent decades. Whether one agreed with him or not, he offered gracious and thoughtful responses to important questions of the faith. Now in death comes this book. It is a collection of pieces, some from early books and others from sermons and speeches, revealing his vision of the Christian faith. There isn't really anything new hear, but if you've not read Borg before, then this might be a good place to start. It covers most areas of concern, including his vision of Jesus.

While I might disagree at a number of points with him theologically, I appreciate his recognition that it is important to find a path. He challenges the idea that it is sufficient to be spiritual without being religious, and by that he means embracing a tradition -- not in an exclusive way, but recognizing that there is value in following a specific tradition. For him, that is Jesus and thus Christianity.

I give it three stars, not because I'm ambivalent about the book, but simply because I've read much of his work, and thus this was review not new. But for others, this might be new and thus helpful.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I appreciate Borg more in monograph form. Some of these selections seemed redundant--e.g., quite a few of them discussed Jesus' identity as a Jewish mystic, which certainly adds to our understanding of Jesus, but I felt sorta beaten over the head with it. It would have been nice for the selections to each have some introductory text that explained why they were included and what the editors felt they add to the Borg oeuvre.

To me the most valuable bit was a response Borg gave to a Q&A: "Student: I don't get the transforming thing. It isn't just learning and trying to be good or like Jesus, Allah, Buddha, or is it? What is this transformation? I don't have it." Borg's response includes, "The way our relationship to God is nourished is through the very simple act, if you will, of paying attention to that relationship....That can take so many forms [prayer, worship, dream work, journaling]....It's not about trying to be good--it's about seeking to become more and more centered in the reality we name God." (BBT's marvelous afterword reminds us that giving our hearts away is often a byproduct or result of paying attention to that holy relationship.)

[Katharina Manassis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marcus Borg is one of the clearest writers on progressive Christian thought, and spent a lifetime articulating the values, experiences, and actions which form the heart of Christian living. This posthumous book, however, reads a bit like a "greatest hits" album. I always preferred "Rumors" to Fleetwood Mac's greatest hits and "The Joshua Tree" to U2s greatest hits. Why? Because sometimes greatest hits collections do not follow their themes in the same coherent, integrated manner that the original albums did, and that's certainly true of this collection of Borg's essays. The fact that they jump from his early writings to his more recent ones and back again (i.e., are not chronological) adds to the disjointed feeling of the book, as one cannot follow the progression of Borg's ideas over time. Still, the individual chapters are masterfully written, so even this "greatest hits" mash-up gets 4 out of 5 in my opinion.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read many books by Marcus Borg and this is another excellent book on Christianity. If I ever have a clear understanding of Christianity it will be because of Borg. In this book, he asks us to get rid of our "flat tire" theology and move on to what is important. Borg tells us to listen to our lives and listen to what happens to to us. It is through what happens to us that God speaks. In the end, to be a Christian, we must center in God, be compassionate, and seek justice.

[Thomas Christianson · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book I could only recommend as a cautionary tale.

I feel that the author was attempting to respond to postmodern thought, and as a result he decoupled from the core of the gospels; instead replacing it with his own rational capacities. His intellect is unquestionably sharp, but I believe he only created an easy bridge for anyone to journey across from being a follower of Jesus to embracing therapeutic moralistic deism centered around subjective thought.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of sermons, interviews, and thoughts from the late theologian, Marcus J. Borg. As I wrestle with different circumstances in my own life and faith, I found some of his words inspiring and helpful. Other things he said, I’m still working through whether or not it’s what I believe.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Marcus Borg. I don't trust his Christology. His strong division and lack of correlation between the Pre-Easter Jesus and the Post-Resurrection Christ, and his denial of the Trinity makes his theology deeply flawed, and I still find myself in the same pool with the orthodox Christians. And yet, I like Marcus Borg and have never been bored by reading his books and he illuminates some stuff for me. I appreciate that he wants to look at the historical Jesus, that he saw Jesus as a Spirit person, stamped by the Divine, that he held up Jesus' social concern for the marginalized, and his openness to mystical faith. So well there is so much that he says which I can't go along with, I also find myself impressed and drawn in by aspects of Borg's Christianity.

This book was published posthumously and is a patch work of previously published works (in books, blogposts, interviews, sermons, and lectures)

[Lisa Lewton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed these lectures and writings from Borg. It is a broad glimpse at his work, ending with beautiful words from Barbara Brown Taylor. He pushes back against a complacent or intellectual Christianity and invites us deeper into relationship with Christ; a relationship of paying attention.

[Keri Frisch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a revelation for me.

[Joe Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marcus Borg died January 21, 2015, of a disease that typically takes its victims within a few years. Days of Awe and Wonder: How to Be a Christian in the Twenty-First Century is copyright 2017 (published posthumously). Foreword is written by Marianne Borg, his wife, and I expect she was a principal force in organizing the book and getting it published. It is a collection of previously published writings (including three chapter selections from Jesus, A New Vision), selected sermons, lectures, and articles. You might call it a "Marcus Borg reader."

His last (before he died) book is Convictions: How I Learned What Matters Most, c. 2014. I suspect he knew his prognosis--that his time was limited--and Convictions was his magnum opus; it is also an excellent tour of his thought and exposure to his spirit--his testimony, if you will. I think the book would be an excellent choice for a group study...should stimulate some deep conversation.

The Marcus J Borg Foundation was formed (apparently) also in 2017, the same year as copyright for this book, Days of Awe and Wonder. You can find a number of videos there which will give you the opportunity to hear his voice as well as what he has to say. I recommend you listen to at least one to get an appreciation for his gentle, welcoming, engaging spirit, and one video I might recommend is "What is God?" ( https://marcusjborg.org/category/vide...)

For more bio on Borg, including photo, see https://marcusjborg.org/about-us/.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I already loved Marcus Borg from having read a few of his books. This book was like getting to know him. With each chapter I felt like I was there with him speaking to me. The chapters consist of excerpts from books and more from his sermons and lectures. I felt his love for those he was speaking to, and for me. He shares his experience and not doctrine, though he does tell us about doctrine, just that doctrine is not Christianity. There is a lot of repetition in the book, though it is presented differently each time. Here might be a good place to get the main ideas and personality of Borg. At the end is a eulogy given by Barbara Brown Taylor. She sums up much of who he was and what he said in her own witty, wonderful way. I highly recommend this book, maybe especially to those who want to understand more of Jesus without someone trying to convert them.

[Suzanne Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Borg's writings (and here his collected sermons) show us a man who has searched for a relationship with Gody in a very open and honest way. I see much that is true and ovely in what he says, but I can't go as far as to say that all religions lead to God because the Gods of all religions are not the same. How can the many Gods of Hinduism be the same as the one God of Christianity or the "no God" of Buddism? I understand that all religions search for similar things and that all share some elements of truth, but if no single truth exists God becomes a vague and untenable conglomaerate in our imaginations.
I do love Borg's idea that we have misunderstood righteousness as a personal issue rather than a seeking for social justice and compassion. The best thing, for me, about Borg, is that he shows how one can be a person of faith without believing in inerrancy.

[William Westmoreland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awe and Wonder

Marcus Borg is a Wonder. His awe filled faith haas shaped a generation of believers setting us free from the things that would bind us, opening the way to deeper, awe-filled faith in the ground of our being, God. His candor and reasoning resonate with faith and understanding, igniting us to come and feast on the living word, the word revealed in Scripture and in the divine revelation that we know as Jesus, the Messiah, the messenger, the incarnate word. I give this last collection of sermons and essays 5 Stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Francine Apollo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read any of Borg in a few years but something in my last book, by Barbara Brown Taylor, suggested him to me again.

Always refreshing, I loved reading this book when I could grab a few minutes to do so. Taylor's eulogy at the end was wonderful.

Reading this book, I found another I want to read. That's how it goes when you read great writers.
Borg was a treasure and his work, praise God, lives on.

Highly recommended.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve been intrigued by Marcus for quite some time. The title of this book is pretty misleading. I wasn’t experiencing awe and wonder at all. This book was interesting at worst and provoking at best.

There was much of the book that wasn’t my cup of tea theologically. If you’re looking for an interesting read, this is one. Not one I’d particularly recommend to anyone.

[Frodo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book by Marcus Borg in connection with our Sunday Morning Class at church. This has been a marvelous reading experience because of all the conversations it has provided us. While I don't agree with everything Dr. Borg has presented, I am deeply affected by his commentary and continue to wrestle with some of his ideas regarding God's activity and presence.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not really into this book at first - it is a compilation of some of Borg's sermons and previous thoughts - HOWEVER, the last 2 chapters are life-changing and PROFOUND - I am SO GRATEFUL I DID NOT STOP READING THIS ONE!!!!!

ALL FOLLOWERS OF GOD AND JESUS MUST READ AND UNDERSTAND THE LAST 2 CHAPTERS

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a compilation of Borg's sermons, speeches and excerpts from books that was published after his death. It concludes with the eulogy delivered Barbara Brown Taylor. There's nothing new here but it's always refreshing to revist Borg's views. This might be a good introduction to Borg if you've never read anything by him.

[Kent Dickerson · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book has nothing to do with Christianity. The author applied Eastern mysticism and philosophy to his faith after rejecting real Christianity. Do not be deceived, Eastern religious thought and meditation have no place in the Christian faith and will lead you down the wrong path of rejecting the real Jesus.

[Georgianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Marcus Borg's writing and insights, and turn to him again and again to verbalize what I often can't. Although this book is a wonderful collection it's not my favorite (which was Convictions). He's always worth reading, though. I read a little each day.

[Merritt Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful summary of some of the best of Borg

I am so thankful for this scholar and teacher. He has opened my mind to see the real meaning of Jesus and what it means to live the kingdom of God life. I only wish I had known him when I began my ministry 53 years ago.

[Jackie St Hilaire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful selection of the late author's views on theology and leading a Christian life.

Simple and to the point, pretty much like Jesus taught.

By no means "a walk in the park" Jesus challenges us to leave everything behind and follow him.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Borg's final memoir before he recent passing. Some of the chapters are from previous books or articles but altogether a worthy read to truly understand Marcus Borg and the legacy he has left on the study of theology and the human life of Jesus! Highly recommend

[Stephen Mortland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was a little afraid it would be just a rehash of Borgs other work and while there are chapter taken from previous works (which felt like old friends rather than leftovers) the various lectures and articles made the book a unique combination of comfort and challenge.

[Glauber Ribeiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marcus Borg became the best explainer of Jesus and the Christian Way to this culture and generation. He left us way too soon. This posthumous collection of articles and sermons is excellent. The eulogy by Barbara Brown Taylor, which concludes it, is a masterpiece.

Infinite stars. ✨

[I'm a Soft-serve Ice Cream Cone · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read a couple other of his books, this one is just a collection of sermons, not a streamlined book. I got 1-2 things out of it, but it was a really difficult and boring read for the most part for me personally.

[Bob Buice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of Marcus Borg's sermons, compiled by his widow. His work is always inspiring.