Rollins starts off the chapter talking about desire — desire for things, desire for people. He makes a fundamental distinction between desire for things, including experiences such as vacations and promotions, and desire for those whom we love. “Beloved” in his terminology. It’s not so much a matter of degree (wanting the beloved more than those other things), but rather the desire for the beloved allows all of those other desires to exist. I can see that, though he then makes what to me seems a rather sudden leap — that it’s the desire of our beloved for us that we really desire. While I think there’s probably a lot of truth in this, I found his leap a little jarring as I was reading it.

Be that as it may, he uses that to explain our desire for a relationship with a God who loves us eternally and unconditionally, quoting Voltaire:

If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him.

The bulk of this section of the book seems to be oriented toward breaking down belief. He speaks of God as “deus ex machina,” meaning something inserted into life to arbitrarily resolve problems, rather than having anything to do with reality. The problem here, from Rollins point of view, is that of the meaning of life, or rather its lack thereof.

Having said all of that, Robbins finishes the chapter with a way forward. He rejects “pat answers” to questions, but encourages movement into doubt and ambiguity. Anyone who has read some of Rollins’ other works will recognize this as a theme of his. That doubt and ambiguity is very uncomfortable, but, he believe, essential. I tend to agree.

Back to table of contents

In the introduction to “Insurrection” Rollins states his premise that the church has undergone several radical transformations over its history. The first of these was over the question of the circumcision of new believers found in the book of Acts. He mentions others in passing, such as the protestant reformation, but he focuses on that first debate. His claim is that each of these milestone events is an example of taking the old beliefs of what is required to worship God, and burn away the chaff to get to the true heart of worship and believe.

Given that there have been several such events throughout history, the implication of course is that we’re coming closer and closer to “true” belief. Rollins believes that we are in another such transition time now, and that the thing that is being “burned away” is religion itself. He quotes Bonhoeffer referring to something called “religionless Christianity” as at the core of the transition. “Insurrection” is Rollins attempt

… to outline what this radical expression of a faith beyond religion might look like and how it has the power to give birth to a radically new form of Church

My hope with these series of posts is that I’ll examine his position, as well as my own beliefs, hopefully coming out with a solid, mature understanding of my own faith, as well as where the church is heading.

back to table of contents

The theologian Peter Rollins seems to be one who is speaking to me recently. Starting with “How (Not) to Speak of God” I’ve found myself drawn to his iconoclastic approach. His newest book is “Insurrection.” I’ve just completed reading it. I now want to go back through it, chapter by chapter, and write my thoughts. I’m doing this not so much for any one else to read as much as I am as something of a spiritual discipline for myself. My goal is do do one chapter every other day or so. I’d like to say a chapter a day, but I’m afraid that if I set too ambitious a schedule, then I’ll fall away and not do it at all.

This post will act as a table of contents to the posts on each chapter. I’ll update the links below as posts are written.

Introduction: There Is a Fire in the Building; Please Step Inside

Part One: Crucifixion
Chapter One: I’m a Christian! I’m a Christian!
Chapter Two: To Believe Is Human; To Doubt, Divine
Chapter Three: “I’m Not Religious” And Other Religious Sayings
Chapter Four: I Don’t Have To Believe; My Pastor Does That For Me

Part Two: Resurrection
Chapter Five: Story Crime
Chapter Six: We Are Destiny
Chapter Seven: I Believe In the Insurrection
Chapter Eight: Neither Christian Nor Non-Christian