Nice bit of Wittgenstein with which to wrap up your contribution.

Barth is just as much a child of his time as you say Tomlinson (though not quite in the same league) is of his. Barth’s target, against which he took aim, was historical criticism: the meaning of a text can only be found in thorough historical/archaeological investigation performed by the experts. Bring back timeless revelation. But that’s another story.

I do take issue with some of Tomlinson’s reaction against evangelical (not fundamentalist) biblical interpretation (and practice). But I think the value of what Tomlinson does is at least twofold: to locate spiritual experience in the everyday life which most of us inhabit; and to reconnect the Christian faith with a great deal of the culture and spirituality around us - which it has often been all too prone to condemn.

Also, I think Tomlinson is striking a chord when he addresses the issue of ‘disenchantment’ with much contemporary expression of the Christian faith. I find his own alternative attractive because it doesn’t (on the whole) dismiss 2000 years of theology and tradition; it does maintain Spirit as a key ingredient of any attractive faith; and it does come with all kinds of practical illustrations and examples from his own experience.

But it’s obviously not for everyone. Which alternative do you lean towards, Herr Silentio?