Lauren Winner on Love Wins
Rob Bell’s Love Wins is not making its way onto my reading list because I’ve read a few of his previous books and his style is not my style. But I’ve wasted enough time reading tweets about it the last couple of months that I did want to at least read a review. So how nice that the New York Times had Lauren Winner write up a little something this past Sunday. If there is one Christian writer I will article-stalk until I find everything she’s ever written, it’s Ms. Winner. I like her dependably smart, historically well read, and cheerful approach.
As for the future heaven, Bell does indeed question the teaching that only a select few will get there. He imagines a woman sitting in church crying because she realizes that “if what the pastor is saying about heaven is true, she will be separated from her mother and father, brothers and sisters . . . forever, with no chance of any reunion, ever.” Against that vision, Bell suggests “an exclusivity on the other side of inclusivity.”
5 Comments
Allie
When you say his “style is not your style,” what exactly do you mean?
Rachael
good question. I’m not really talking about his theology, though I could be because I don’t agree most of his approach. Disagreeing wouldn’t keep me from reading though. I’m talking about his writing style which is a little relaxed/lazy for me. I think he thrives on jumping from one mental image to another with a focus on making unexpected connections and suggesting news ways for jaded Christian readers to think about things. He writes books based on theories that he thinks are fun or good to think about, which I don’t really have time for. But I understand why that approach is exactly what some people have been waiting for and find refreshing. Are you reading Love Wins?
Allie
Ah makes sense. I can go back and forth. Sometimes I enjoy a relaxed, more “blog” style of writing and sometimes it can’t keep my attention long enough for an entire book.
Of his books I’ve read Velvet Elvis, Sex God and Jesus Wants to Save Christians. I’m not sure of his others–maybe that’s it? Velvet Elvis didn’t stick out to me (read in high school) and after reading Jesus Wants to Save Christians, it brought my attention to a lot of smaller issues. Sex God was what really impacted me.
I’ll probably read Love Wins if I get my hands on a copy. I actually rarely read Christian authors so it’s never up on my book reading list.
Rachael
That’s how I feel–if someone handed me a copy, I would read it. I read Velvet Elvis and Sex God, although not completely. Interesting how few of us read Christian authors.
PKS
Ditto on all counts, particularly Ms. Winner. I would not-entirely-secretly like to convince her and Tina Fey to hang out with me.