I just finished Pete Rollins book How (Not) To Speak Of God which will surely prove to be an important work for those engaged in the Emering/Emergent Church Conversation. Tony Jones has state he won’t speak to anyone about the issues if they haven’t read this book (paraphrase) and McLaren says he is a “raving fan of [this] book” (which I assume he means in this vein).
The book is formed in two sections. The first section focuses upon the theological/philosophical issues surrounding the emerging churches contribution to God talk and the second section takes it cue from actual gatherings of a community called Ikon. The book is extremely valuable, frustrating, confusing, and helpful at the same time (which I think was his goal). I really appreciated the second half with it’s picturing of what these concepts look like in real life. But I also recognize that I need to re-read the book to gain a better grasp of what he is trying to communicate.
Pete Rollins is a young thinker and will surely provide much philosophical and theological insight for those in the emergent conversation. This is actually one of the reasons I think Jones and McLaren appreciate the book so, he is putting a voice to the movement (just my opinion).
If you’re interested or engaged in the conversation this is surely a must read. It’s short but, in my opinion, not an easy read, maybe due to the inherent paradoxical way of writing and thinking.