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Spiritual and Religious
‘I’m spiritual, but not religious.’
It’s an expression that people often use to explain why, although they don’t go to church, they believe that life has some transcendent meaning.
But what does this ‘spirituality’ consist of? In Spiritual and Religious Tom Wright argues that, whether they realize it or not, people are often simply indulging in forms of ancient paganism – forms that are very similar to those that surrounded the first Christians.
With his characteristic verve and incisiveness, Wright traces the parallels between the paganisms of the first and twenty-first centuries, and shows how a better understanding of God as Trinity can breathe fresh life into our understanding and communication of the gospel today.
He concludes with a call to all Christians to make a choice:
‘Are we . . . to water down the distinctives of Christian faith in order to make it more palatable? . . . Or are we to worship the God who is Father, Son and Spirit, and to find in that worship a renewed courage, a renewed sense of direction and a renewed hope for the future?’
It’s an expression that people often use to explain why, although they don’t go to church, they believe that life has some transcendent meaning.
But what does this ‘spirituality’ consist of? In Spiritual and Religious Tom Wright argues that, whether they realize it or not, people are often simply indulging in forms of ancient paganism – forms that are very similar to those that surrounded the first Christians.
With his characteristic verve and incisiveness, Wright traces the parallels between the paganisms of the first and twenty-first centuries, and shows how a better understanding of God as Trinity can breathe fresh life into our understanding and communication of the gospel today.
He concludes with a call to all Christians to make a choice:
‘Are we . . . to water down the distinctives of Christian faith in order to make it more palatable? . . . Or are we to worship the God who is Father, Son and Spirit, and to find in that worship a renewed courage, a renewed sense of direction and a renewed hope for the future?’
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
21 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Tom Wright
119 books242 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
He also publishes under N.T. Wright.
He also publishes under N.T. Wright.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 30, 2019
I've written so many Tom Wright reviews (aka NT Wright) that I hardly know what to say anymore. I like his style, his straight-to-the point analysis of scripture and his very British anecdotes which seem off topic at first but then catch me off guard and show me something very surprising and relevant. What makes this book stand out from the first?
Well, first of all, it is shorter than many of his books and also more accessible than some of the longer, more academic texts. (I think it took me a year to get through one of the last books I started by him. I would start, get confused, set it aside for something easier and then go back and start all over. It was worth it because explores tough topics and his analysis of scripture compels me to study it in new ways. And yet . . .)
So there's that. This book had short focused chapters which included analysis of scripture but were at the same time very application based. For those of us who believe Jesus is real, he is God, and the Kingdom of Heaven was established on the cross, there's always the question of, so now what? How do we live out the Lord's prayer, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven? And that's a big deal, I think. What's that look like? What did Jesus say about the Kingdom? How do we engage now and not just wait until we die? What does the Good News look like for the world? (It had better be good news and not just condemnation.)
Each chapter closed with questions to be explored with a group. I wish I had been able to do that, and I hope to go through the book again with a group and wrestle through some of these questions.
The book was designed to be done as a Lenten study, before and after Easter, but honestly, I didn't see that it mattered.
I'm sorry to see this book end, but there are more books to read.
Well, first of all, it is shorter than many of his books and also more accessible than some of the longer, more academic texts. (I think it took me a year to get through one of the last books I started by him. I would start, get confused, set it aside for something easier and then go back and start all over. It was worth it because explores tough topics and his analysis of scripture compels me to study it in new ways. And yet . . .)
So there's that. This book had short focused chapters which included analysis of scripture but were at the same time very application based. For those of us who believe Jesus is real, he is God, and the Kingdom of Heaven was established on the cross, there's always the question of, so now what? How do we live out the Lord's prayer, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven? And that's a big deal, I think. What's that look like? What did Jesus say about the Kingdom? How do we engage now and not just wait until we die? What does the Good News look like for the world? (It had better be good news and not just condemnation.)
Each chapter closed with questions to be explored with a group. I wish I had been able to do that, and I hope to go through the book again with a group and wrestle through some of these questions.
The book was designed to be done as a Lenten study, before and after Easter, but honestly, I didn't see that it mattered.
I'm sorry to see this book end, but there are more books to read.
March 7, 2018
This is an excellent book, which is surprisingly accessible and quite practical as well. While I greatly appreciate NT Wright, it is unusual for his books to be so, and as a result I would recommend this book widely (I normally don’t with his books). This book is one that I wish I could convince all the pastors that I know to read. In the book Wright identifies the way that the church has taken on aspects of paganism and challenges the church to instead oppose these trends. There are two main ways that that paganism filters into the church. First, by watering it down so that what ends up is a blend of Christianity with the world. This is often considered the easiest to spot, if one highlights so-called liberal trends. But there are other ways as well, such as the way that materialism has infected the western church. Secondly, paganism infects the church by making it follow gnostic trends in thinking that the only things that matter are spiritual. I see this far too often in churches near me, which is continually frustrating and depressing. Wright challenges us (or, the church) to think Christianly in connecting our faith in all aspects of life and making a difference in all aspects of life as one whole. We shouldn’t think about acting in the physical realm as well as the spiritual realm as that already means we are thinking in a gnostic pagan manner. Rather, we need to recognise that all we do has ramification that are both spiritual and physical without separation. The Kingdom of God is advancing and we need to be part of it, not hiding away in a “Christian commune”.
March 7, 2019
An incisive and provocative analysis of the gospel and culture. There is a great challenge here to see both the deep-rooted and far-reaching effects of sin on our world and the glorious power of the Lord Jesus in confronting and dethroning those powers.
My only frustration with the book is that it was a very short, introductory-level look at these issues, so some areas that intrigued me were not delved into as much as I would have wanted. Still, it is a great reminder that as a church we are to be captured by the love and grace of our triune God as we reach out to a world with the message of the victorious Jesus.
My only frustration with the book is that it was a very short, introductory-level look at these issues, so some areas that intrigued me were not delved into as much as I would have wanted. Still, it is a great reminder that as a church we are to be captured by the love and grace of our triune God as we reach out to a world with the message of the victorious Jesus.
January 17, 2018
This is straight-down-the-middle, popular-level NT Wright. It's wonderful.
Whenever I read (or listen to) Wright, I feel like I'm sitting at the feet of someone who has lived and breathed the scriptural narrative for so long that it oozes out of him, and I want to absorb as much as possible. He ties together so much in such a short space, particularly in the chapters that summarize Israel's story, that it bears multiple read-throughs. Generally, this short book speaks directly to something I've been pondering for quite some time: that we are all "god-worshippers," and the task of the Christian is to proclaim an alternate-worship of Jesus in the midst of a sea of idols. Wright unpacks this directly, and winsomely, in this volume. He gives more space to some ideas that were summarized in "Surprised by Scripture," so if you liked that volume there is more to love here.
Generally, if you are in ministry in the Western world right now (actually, I would expand that to: "if you want to be a thoughtful Christian in the Western world right now") then you owe it to yourself to read this man's work, and this is a great introduction to him.
Whenever I read (or listen to) Wright, I feel like I'm sitting at the feet of someone who has lived and breathed the scriptural narrative for so long that it oozes out of him, and I want to absorb as much as possible. He ties together so much in such a short space, particularly in the chapters that summarize Israel's story, that it bears multiple read-throughs. Generally, this short book speaks directly to something I've been pondering for quite some time: that we are all "god-worshippers," and the task of the Christian is to proclaim an alternate-worship of Jesus in the midst of a sea of idols. Wright unpacks this directly, and winsomely, in this volume. He gives more space to some ideas that were summarized in "Surprised by Scripture," so if you liked that volume there is more to love here.
Generally, if you are in ministry in the Western world right now (actually, I would expand that to: "if you want to be a thoughtful Christian in the Western world right now") then you owe it to yourself to read this man's work, and this is a great introduction to him.
January 8, 2019
In Spiritual and Religious, NT Wright takes aim on modern forms of pagans. We may not think that modern people (that is, post-Enlightment era people) worship the gods and goddesses, like Mammon, Gaia, and Mars. Wright argues that we do, but not in name. When we channel national funds into the war machine without seeking creative and peaceful options, we are serving Mars rather than Jesus. This paradigm shift would be a great help to pastors and is a helpful conversation partner in the discussion on the culture wars.
Readers familiar with Wright will not find a lot of new material here. One thing that Wright does well is demonstrate how a strong foundation in the Gospel and the Trinity (if they're separate concepts, but I digress) can speak to a plethora of issues. The book is split into two portions: the first covers the story of Jesus and how it addresses modern paganist ideologies while the second explores how the life of Jesus and the Church's life in the Spirit can be used as tools to dismantle the pagan ideologies.
Readers familiar with Wright will not find a lot of new material here. One thing that Wright does well is demonstrate how a strong foundation in the Gospel and the Trinity (if they're separate concepts, but I digress) can speak to a plethora of issues. The book is split into two portions: the first covers the story of Jesus and how it addresses modern paganist ideologies while the second explores how the life of Jesus and the Church's life in the Spirit can be used as tools to dismantle the pagan ideologies.
May 10, 2018
Absolutely fantastic. Wright does a really good job of laying out the basic theology relevant to the topic and then discussing specifically what that means for us. He writes charitably and acknowledges the good in all sorts of movements in the church, while also calling out idols in ever area of life. This is going to be be a go-to text for me for years to come.
October 15, 2019
This is an important, much-needed, timely, even necessary book. It’s rigorous and challenging yet beautiful and captivating. Anyone who desires to faithfully proclaim and live the Gospel of Jesus— in both personal life and the life of the Church— will do well do read carefully, study thoroughly, and live accordingly.
October 12, 2018
Really excellent second half
Wasn't enthralled by the first half of this book, I mean it wasn't bad to be reminded of but nothing revelatory for me. But the practical discussion in the second half is fantastic and very challenging, and on reflection the early chapters provide a solid theological underpinning for his arguments.
Wasn't enthralled by the first half of this book, I mean it wasn't bad to be reminded of but nothing revelatory for me. But the practical discussion in the second half is fantastic and very challenging, and on reflection the early chapters provide a solid theological underpinning for his arguments.
April 19, 2022
An interesting little volume from N. T. (Tom) Wright. I think it is really helpful as a pastoral volume, but needs a bit more meat on the bones to understand paganism. Strange Rites or Christians and Pagans in the City would be a helpful coupling given that oversight.
September 8, 2017
Really couldn't get into this one I am afraid, to long winded, rambling and repetitive for me. Not what I had been hoping for at all.
September 21, 2017
As always heart warming, mind stirring and spirit inspiring in describing the heart and soul of the Gospel and the God at its heart.
February 3, 2022
His take on paganism isn't very charitable. His suggestions for how to bear witness in our (dis)enchanted times is better. This isn't his best work for sure...
February 6, 2024
Excellent reading, clear and practical theology and directions to the church.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews