This book is a dialogue between members of two Irish Churches. Although their communities in N. Ireland are divided the authors have worked together for over 40 years on issues of theology, conflict, reconciliation and the relevance of Christ in a pluralist society. The book starts with a fresh look at Christ's life and teaching in the Gospels, asking critically about its relevance to today's world. With this as a base they then engage in a critique of their own churches against the standard set by the Gospels: that Christian churches should reflect the love of the Three persons in God for God and for all human beings. They ask and suggest answers to the question why Churches are relevant to tough questions of conflict, politics and social issues. The book is of particular relevance to people who no longer accept soft theologies that ignore tough questions about the existence of God, or who can find no connections between churches and their own search for meaning, individually and communally. The book is written in popular language, but draws on a wealth of diverse experience and learning.

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Introduction
• SECTION 1: WHAT IS GOD LIKE?
  • Chapter 1: Images of God
    • Secularism
    • Bland God
  • Chapter 2: What Sort of Community Did Jesus Want?
    • The covenant community
    • The Kingdom of God
    • Idolatry
    • Sin
    • Temptations
    • Diversity
    • Justice and peace
    • Outcasts
    • Repentance
    • The cross and the failure of Christ’s mission
    • Conquering death
  • Chapter 3: How Did Our Lord Do All This?
    • By being immersed in the life of people
    • By spending long hours at meals with people
    • By healing the sick
    • By teaching
    • With humour and compassion
    • By searching, questioning and being challenged
    • With courage
    • By forgiving sinners
    • Through prayer and worship
    • Through offering people salvation
    • By focusing on where we are ultimately going
    • Through being the ‘human face of God’
• SECTION 2: CRITIQUE OF CHURCHES
  • Chapter 4: Overview
    • Underlying ideas
    • Covenant community, the Kingdom and idolatry
    • Tradition
    • Churches in a changing world
    • Certainty and uncertainty
    • Secularist challenges
    • Individualistic spirituality
  • Chapter 5: Our Experience of Our Churches
    • The role of the church in society
    • Church is community
    • A place of worship
    • A place for social and community activism
    • Individualistic culture
    • Symbol of the divine, yet incarnated
  • Chapter 6: Critique of the Roman Catholic Church (Brian Lennon)
    • Theological ideas, centralising power
    • Collegiality
    • Theological oversight
    • A people of God
    • Married clergy
    • Women’s ordination
    • Education
    • How will change come about?
    • An assembly of the Irish Church
    • Response (Tim Kinahan)
  • Chapter 7: Critique of the Church of Ireland (Tim Kinahan)
    • Bishops
    • Clerical
    • Busyness
    • Comfortable and unchallenging
    • Establishment
    • Divisions
    • Liturgy
    • Physically dominant
    • Signs of life
    • The Anglican Communion
    • Response (Brian Lennon)
  • Chapter 8: Issues facing both our churches
    • Diversity and outcasts
    • Healing, repentance, forgiving and prayer
    • Other signs of life
    • Ecumenism
    • Spreading and discovering the word
    • Conclusion
• SECTION 3: CHURCH AND SOCIETY
  • Chapter 9: Why Focus on Church and Society?
    • Discernment
    • Global concerns
    • Local concerns
  • Chapter 10: The Past
    • Violence
    • Republicans
    • Loyalists
    • Security forces
    • Disputed legitimacy of the state
    • Commemorations
    • Parades
  • Chapter 11: Responding To Those Who Suffered
    • ‘Innocent victims’
    • Victims or survivors?
    • Ways to respond to the past
    • No approach can bring justice
    • Peace and justice
    • Jesus and outcasts
  • Chapter 12: Making Peace
    • Dialogue
    • The Faith and Politics Group
    • Segregation
    • The need to support and to challenge
  • Chapter 13: Social Issues
    • Homelessness
    • Health
    • Refugees
  • Chapter 14: Solidarity
    • The European Community
    • Brexit
• Conclusion
  • Dreaming dreams
  • Does this stuff matter when life hurts? (Tim Kinahan)
  • Is Christ important today? (Brian Lennon)
• Endnotes