"In our ‘post-Christian’
world of radical pluralism, Liechty is committed to a
free church perspective. He believes it is less bound to
the authoritarian structures of institutional religion.
It is thus ideally suited to respond to the deep
spiritual needs of people." "A call for the end of theology so
as to clear space for a new kind of theological thought .
. . with strong emphasis on the priority of ethics over
dogma, of pacifist sensibilities . . . and a strong sense
of the tragic. . . . Readers should not expect old
orthodoxies in modernized dress. This is theology in a
‘post-Christian’ key. . . . Liechty writes in a
reflective, almost pastoral mood. His prose is clear and
simple; the presentation is ‘inclusive’ in
style to enable as many people as possible to read and
understand it. This is exactly what one hopes will
happen." "Because Daniel Liechty’s topic, 'reflecting on faith in a post-Christian time,' is a 'living issue' that deserves serious discussion and an examination of various ways Christians understand such agenda, Liechty’s book fits the Living Issues Discussion Series. To set the conversation in motion, typically books in the series include a vigorous statement of position regarding an issue or set of issues sometimes controversial in faith circles. Then, after a book’s main text, a Responses chapter provides affirming and critical commentary followed by discussion resources. "The result in this case is a fascinating blend. First, as the core of the book, Liechty testifies to his understanding of which elements of Christianity are likely to do more harm than good in a post-Christian time, and which still contribute to a meaningful faith rooted in and shaping what is so needed in our era—nonviolent thinking and living. "Then four respondents, Christian Early, Marlin Jeschke, Michele Hershberger, and Brian McLaren, ponder carefully and often with passion to rival Liechty’s how Liechty’s convictions fit—or not—their understanding of Christian faith. Each assesses what elements such faith requires if it is to remain linked to historic Christian affirmations and sufficiently robust to meet the challenges of our era. Each sees merit in Liechty’s proposals and each also, particularly the first three, raises concerns. "Perhaps especially in light of
the intensity of some of the challenges the respondents
pose, it should be emphasized that they were specifically
invited to go beyond the glowing-affirmations-only
evaluations which tend to ensue when publishers request
advance comment on books. Rather, they were to feel free
to articulate both affirmation and criticism of
Liechty’s views. The result, from my point of view
as series editor, was precisely what was hoped for: a
variety of insightful interactions with Liechty that set
in motion already within the pages of Reflecting on Faith
in a Post-Christian Era a dynamic dialogue." Excerpts from the
Responses chapter "Liechty’s voice struck me
with an extraordinary ring of authority . . . persuasive
because he is not shouting to persuade, instructive
because he is not pushing to instruct, delightful because
he is not striving to delight. Rather, what he is trying
to do is simply to reflect . . . his own personal musings
and readings and reasonings and intuitions." "Liechty, by his analysis of sin
and by his Christology, leaves us basically with
ourselves and our own human strivings. . . . "We will need to leave it to time
to tell whether the ethical commitment of Liechty’s
theology has the power to produce and sustain an ethical
community on the model of Jesus or whether such an ethic
needs the roots of a more biblical faith." "Liechty refrains from talking in
terms of truth concerning our reflections of God and this
creates a problem. . . . Christians cannot afford to
accept this conclusion. . . . We . . . ought to have the
courage to engage in the quest for truth (again) in
matters transcendent." Reflecting on Faith in a Post-Christian Time orders:
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