dankeck reviewed The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr
Neither made me angry nor thrilled
3 stars
I'm glad Rohr wrote this book, and I hope it means a lot to some readers. It just didn't do a lot for me.
There were some opinions I already agreed with, such as his opposition to modern idolatry, individualism, escape theology, and determinism.
But I like when a book convinces me of (or at least makes me consider) something new. I didn't get that with this book. I suppose the closest was his intriguing argument that the walking on water miracle was misplaced, and actually took place after Jesus's resurrection rather than before. Interesting idea but not particularly important.
Maybe it's my lack of understanding, but Rohr seems to take words—such as Christ, universe, incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection—and have them mean something else, not metaphorically but literally. I guess that's part of the mysticism of the book, but it didn't feel satisfying to me.
Also sometimes the book seemed to …
I'm glad Rohr wrote this book, and I hope it means a lot to some readers. It just didn't do a lot for me.
There were some opinions I already agreed with, such as his opposition to modern idolatry, individualism, escape theology, and determinism.
But I like when a book convinces me of (or at least makes me consider) something new. I didn't get that with this book. I suppose the closest was his intriguing argument that the walking on water miracle was misplaced, and actually took place after Jesus's resurrection rather than before. Interesting idea but not particularly important.
Maybe it's my lack of understanding, but Rohr seems to take words—such as Christ, universe, incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection—and have them mean something else, not metaphorically but literally. I guess that's part of the mysticism of the book, but it didn't feel satisfying to me.
Also sometimes the book seemed to be an advertisement for a think tank he runs. And he throws in references to pop psychology stuff like Enneagram and Myers-Briggs, that give the book an unfortunate self-helpy sheen.
But different books work for different people. If this book inspires someone to stay Christian, to try to bring God's kingdom by loving all their neighbors, to act justly and love mercy and walk humbly, then thanks to Rohr for writing it!
