Andrew, Thanks for taking my comments to heart and thanks for not striking back as I’m sure you could have. I was more harsh than I needed to be. You always respond well to criticism here and I respect you for that.

To clarify a bit…

When I say “these people have thought this through” I mean a much more broad collective debate that has gone on even before our own lives began. I don’t think that everytime a person says “the gospel is about social justice” that they have to footnote the thousands of written debates that have taken place between liberal and conservative theologians. For many people the debate is over and liberals won so WE have moved past that (others would disagree). What I mean is that these arguments are old arguments and I’m not sure it is fruitful to have them any longer. I’ve only been having them for maybe 10 years and I’m already tired, but the truth is they have gone on for centuries.

Is it possible for you to embrace Samir and see the value created in his actions because of his different theology? I’m not asking you to agree with his theology, but recognize that his theology motivates actions in his life that your theology simply will not. That doesn’t mean yours is wrong. Your theology likely motivates certain actions in your life that his will not. That recognition and mutual respect for one another across a wide spectrum of theology is what these people (and myself) find hopeful.

The real HOPE found in this book is that in the next century people will move beyond arguments and the types of reactions found in your post. We all have hope that in the next century we can be united in the love of Christ rather than divided amoung doctrine. How many books were published even 50 years ago that had such a diverse collection of theological perspectives? That is amazing progress and it gives me hope. If you can, please try and see this larger “narrative” of the emergent church!

If you liked “The Last Week” then you may want to check out Crossan’s “God and Empire”. It is remarkable!