A Future For American Evangelicalism [Hardcover]

This book proposes that participation in God's Project of Reconciliation is the Center that can hold evangelical Christians together in the midst of great diversity in belief and ecclesiastical practices. The author envisions a vibrant future for the Evangelical movement if professing evangelicals can model that rare combination of deep commitment to their own beliefs; openness to listening to the beliefs of others; and willingness to engage in respectful conversation with those who disagree with them in place of the combativeness that has characterized too much of Evangelicalism in the recent past. The book models this type of conversation on such controversial issues as the exclusivity of Christianity, the inerrancy of the bible, Evangelicalism and morality, Evangelicalism and politics, scientific models on humanity, cosmic and human origins, and the future of evangelical higher education. Harold Heie is an admirable leader in advocating that evangelicals should combine their firm commitments with Christian virtues such as generosity, respect, and humility toward those who differ from them. That has been the premise of his valuable 'Respectful Conversations' website from which many of the insights in this book are drawn. Anyone who wants to know the state of the conversation about American evangelicalism will find this volume to be an excellent resource. --George Marsden, Emeritus Professor of History, University of Notre Dame This stimulating and hopeful book features the best kind of respectful conversations among American evangelical believers. Harold Heie is convinced that actually communicating with others who hold slightly different--or very different--convictions about what evangelical Christianity should be creates the best path into the future. This book puts that conviction into practice. As it takes up issues that often divide evangelicals into angry sub-camps, the result is a welcome promotion of civility, balance, and humility--all of whlã3