Out of the question...into the mystery

Leonard Sweet is recognized as a theologian/philosopher. Theologians are noted for dealing in rules and details, and philosophers for playing with theories and ideas, but Sweet doesn't live in that box. In Out of the question, Sweet very quickly makes it very clear that he is disenchanted with rules-based- or theoretical religion:

"...we need something more biblical than higher standards. We need higher relationships. We need less to be 'true to our principles' and much more to be true to our relationships...Our problem...is that we've made rules more important than relationships." (pg 2-3)

This theme continues as he looks at how religion has so often been used to excuse or justify horrible behaviours:

"There is a world of difference between superficial obedience and substantive relationship, between obeying orders and doing the rught thing. You can do the right thing in a strictly ethical or juridicial sense and still be wrong...Sometimes obedience is an abdication of moral responsibility, as the German church discovered through the lessons of World War II." (pg 53)

This is not a new theme. We're hearing it all over the place these days. What makes this book stand out is where Sweet goes once he's made his case for change. Most of this book is spent in deep examination of how we relate to each other in contrast to how we could be relating to each other. There's no denial that relating to people is difficult. Sweet at times describes relationships as chaos, porcupine-like, full of conflict, misunderstandings, and tension, and just plain hard work but the bottom line is, it's all worthwhile.

This is not a "Seven easy steps to..." workbook. We're not talking about patching up a few cracks on the surface. Being a philosopher, Sweet digs, exposing the roots of why we do what we do and shows us what changes in our foundational beliefs are needed to truly bring about change in our day-to-day interactions with others around us. Digging down deep is not easy but the change that results is genuine.

Out of the question...into the mystery : getting lost in the Godlife relationship. Written by Leonard Sweet. Published in 2004 by Waterbrook Press. ISBN: 978-1578566471.