Why Big Tent Christianity?

August 23, 2010 by Philip Clayton

Continued from Page 1

A Challenge

Our challenge is simple: if there is any core faith, any shared Way, in Christianity, let's place it in the middle. Let's gather on a single stage -- from Pat Robertson to Bishop Spong, and everyone in between -- to say that unifying love comes first and that the disputes are secondary.

Join us September 8-9 in Raleigh, if you can. But if you can't, write, blog, and speak about unity over division. Remember that the "big tent" mindset begins at home; it's not an ideology, it's how you live. Perhaps what the church needs to hear is what Jesus said to his friend: "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary . . ." (Lk. 10:41f).

Philip Clayton is Professor of Theology at Claremont School of Theology and head of the TransformingTheology.org project. He made the journey from conservative evangelical to liberal before staking his tent with the emergent church. His most recent books are Adventures in the Spirit: God, World, Divine Action and Transforming Christian Theology. He blogs at Reimagining the Future of Faith.

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About Philip Clayton

Philip Clayton is a philosopher and theologian specializing in the entire range of issues that arise at the intersection between science and religion. Over the last several decades he has published and lectured extensively on all branches of this debate,...

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