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Resources Diana Butler Bass Strength for the Journey
Resources Diana Butler Bass Strength for the Journey
| Strength for the Journey |
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Diana Butler Bass It would be relatively easy to read her works as another research thesis spawning a series of books for its author. But underlying the research work of Butler Bass is a remarkable life story, a journey of change , challenge, and continual conversion., described for us in Strength for the Journey : A Pilgrimage of Faith in Community. From strong evangelical leanings, grounded in the life (particularly the worship and sacramental life) of the Episcopal Church, Butler Bass takes us with her on her pilgrimage through nine different church communities. She describes in remarkable detail the life of each congregation that shaped her journey and she reveals with frankness the events that challenged and changed her. There were times in the early chapters of the book when I could have given up on reading further. Butler Bass’ descriptions of the history of the congregations almost overwhelmed her own story. And there were times, when the reader wants to urge her on, to see what is beginning to shape her. But towards the end, the book picks up pace, as Butler Bass does indeed make some significant changes to her theological views and subsequently to her own journey of life as a practicing Christian. The fact that it takes so long in her journey to get there is testimony to the strength of her faith and her unwillingness to let go lightly those things that she holds to be vital to faith. You don’t need to read this book to appreciate and learn from Butler Bass’ research. But reading Strength for the Journey will take you into the life-story of this woman and help you understand why she felt led to undertake the research in the first place and why she is so passionate about the discoveries she makes about the renewal of the church. Rob Stoner January 2009 |
