The Meaning of Jesus : Two Visions N T Wright and Marcus Borg
Who really was Jesus? What did he see his role as? What does that mean for us? These and other related questions Wright and Borg debate in The Meaning of Jesus. Borg presents a rough approximation of the mainline scholarly opinion on Jesus: Jesus was a remarkable man who taught all men to love each other and oppose social injustice (although I'm simplifying a little). We, then, should do the same in honor of his remarkable insights.
On the other hand, Wright presents more of the historical orthodox view of Jesus, augmented by recent scholarship on the Jewish and Hellenistic culture of Jesus' time. Wright argues that Jesus really did see himself as fulfilling God's purposes for Israel and humanity in general by undoing the effects of sin and death through his own death on the cross.
Consequently the resurrection was not, as Borg maintains, some inner spiritual insight that early Christians gained upon fuller contemplation of Jesus' teachings, but was an actual historical event that served as God's vindication of Jesus as the messiah. Since Jesus has been vindicated and exalted, we are to submit ourselves to his lordship, worship him, and then share his love with the rest of the world.
My own sympathies are much more with Wright than Borg. Still, I was surprised by the contrast. Wright presents a vision that is grounded in very good scholarship and that has remarkable implications. Borg is faced with the task of continually denying the validity of his primary sources and continually reading back modern prejudices into the historical record ("well, we as enlightened moderns aren't comfortable with salvific exclusivism, so therefore Jesus must not have actually believed it"). The result is a picture that is quite droll, to be honest. What one is left in Borg's theology is a God that never intervenes, and thus will never actually undo evil and destruction, and a Jesus that taught things anyone can learn from Oprah.
Worldly Saints Leland Ryken
Worldly Saints is a fair, but charitable discussion of the Puritans. Ryken cuts through much of the mythos concerning the Puritans using extensive quotations from primary sources. In doing so, he shows much of the Puritans' insights and wisdom, with an eye towards practical use for today.
At the same time, Ryken is also honest about the Puritans' failings. He devotes an entire chapter to it, in fact, describing their overly contentious spirit and tendencies towards legalism, for example.
Personally, I found Ryken's book helpful and enjoyable to read. Both my respect for the Puritans and awareness of their faults increased. His chapter on the Puritans' view of family was particularly useful. My only quibble with Ryken is that I wished he had used Scripture to back up his criticisms of the Puritans, rather than just our modern standpoint.
Calvinism in the Las Vegas Airport Richard J. Mouw
Towards a kinder, gentler Calvinism.
Mouw's task is to persuade both Calvinists and non-Calvinists that Calvinism does not have to be as nasty as it has in the past. Specifically, he encourages Calvinists to relate to other Christians better by appropriating and appreciating insights from other traditions and to relate to non-Christians better by both respective, humble, and caring, rather than just expounding on TULIP to all passers-by.
His overall point is, I think, good. Calvinists have definitely demonstrated a great deal of arrogance, and this is a good corrective. I also appreciated his usage of historical catechisms, such as the Heidelberg, and figures such as as Spurgeon, to show modern Calvinists how far out of line they actually are.
Two critiques. First, it is too short. Particularly his last chapters I wish he had fleshed out more.
Second, I think he is to willing to delegate some aspects of calvinistic theology to the "shelf-level," as he calls it. Many of the core doctrines within Calvinism, if understood correctly, I think can be used for the means that he wants to accomplish. Granted, that is nowhere near as easy as it seems, but its a project worth trying.