Thoughts on book review and background of Rob Bell's "What we talk about when we talk about God"

Thoughts on Brandon Robertson's book review of "What we talk about when we talk about God" by Rob Bell

I have read through the book review by Brandon Robertson. I think it is a fairly balanced review of the book, as the reviewer recognises that the book is "paradigm shifting", and he has rightly noted that "It will be wholly rejected by the conservative community (unfortunately). But none the less- it is still a thoroughly Christian work that can and will help countless people renew their faith in God."

 I also like the book reviewer's conclusion in his review here:

"It’s about time we rethought the notion of God. Not because we need something intrinsically new to say and believe- good luck finding that- but because we are so often blinded by our own lense with which we view the world. Rob Bell paints an image of God in this book that I am certain thousands upon thousands will find refreshing, revitalizing, and worshipful. I know I do. Rob makes it okay to believe in modern scientific discovery and hold a  robust faith in God. He makes it okay to doubt as a healthy and vital part of faith. He makes it okay to embrace paradox and unknowing. He does just what the early Christians themselves did- proclaims the mystery of our faith.
...
This book will offend those who are looking to be offended, inspire those who seek to be inspired, and will spark a new conversation about what we really talk about when we talk about God."

Yes, it reminds me of the four stages of spiritual growth in which a person's worldview changes and evolves as he or she matures in spiritual growth and learns to ask questions and look within oneself for inner guidance instead of depending on religious institutions and dogma, or on scientific theories alone.

The reviewer also rightly noted that his new book will offend who are looking to be offended, and inspire those who seek to be inspired. Indeed, we have witnessed how some people who have not even read his book for themselves have chosen to be offended and posted judgmental comments on Rob Bell's Facebook page. They are only projecting their own fears and insecurities through quoting bible verses out of context; in fact, the bible is a mirror - how people interpret the bible will reflect on the kind of person they are. Those who are mean and small-minded will see their god as mean and small-minded, and those who are loving and gracious will see their god as loving and gracious.

I think some of the detractors have also quoted 2 Timothy 4:3 out of context - from my understanding, Paul was exhorting Timothy to preach the word in season and out of season - and the word is concerning the mystery of Christ in us the hope of glory - that is to me sound doctrine. Contrary to what the followers in evangelical or fundamentalist christianity say, having "itching ears" is actually referring to desiring to listen to teachings and fables about the outdated, mean, violent and vengeful god that was thought to be separate from man, which is based on the illusion of separation and duality of knowledge of good and evil, and the rituals and sacrifices borrowed from pagan traditions. Such teachings and fables appeal to itching ears probably because they stroke the ego of those who like to feel they are exclusively handpicked for a certain heaven.

How Rob Bell deals with his critics

I was reading about a recent interview with Rob Bell during his talk at Mars Hill Bible Church last Sunday - apparently he is aware critics are already up and about busy bashing his book even before they have read it, and he questioned whether they are really serious Christians since they have spent a lot of time and energy criticising other people of faith when they could have made use of their time more productively such as addressing social issues.

The author of the bestselling and oft-demonized “Love Wins” also talked a bit with MLive and a Publishers Weekly reporter about criticism he gets from some fellow Christians.

“It’s just important to be about your work and, hopefully, it brings you great joy. And if somebody doesn’t respond well to it, OK, they have the freedom to spout off about that,” Bell said.

He went on to question how “people who would consider themselves serious Christians would have that kind of time and energy” to bash his teaching.

“What is there, 800 million people who don’t have access to clean drinking water? Or what is it, a million people committed suicide last year?" Bell said. "Like, if you’re a serious person of faith and you wake up in the morning and the best possible use of your energies is to shred other people of faith, I don’t know, that’s sort of losing the plot if you ask me.

"So I try to be about my work.”

(From "Watch Rob Bell 'Talk About God,' read how he responds to critics")

Why Rob Bell left Mars Hill Bible Church and wrote his new book

I have checked out this article in which Rob Bell has clarified the reason he left Mars Hill Bible Church - that he wanted to talk about the things that matter most and to create the space for that. I suppose he sensed that Southern California has many people who want to know about God they can believe in but do not want to connect with organised religions, hence he and his family decided to locate there "to pursue other ministry work and begin development of a talk show with Carlton Cuse, a former writer and producer of the popular show "Lost", as mentioned in this related article. 

According to the article:

"This is a book for people who can’t buy the traditional concept of a judgmental, thumbs-up-or-down God, or the new atheism that says the world you see is all there is. It’s for people who want to believe in a God they can believe in."

(From "Rob Bell's new book is for people who want 'a God they can believe in'")

 So, it looks like his book is targeted for mainly postmodern people and progressive thinkers who are not at stage 2 or are no longer at stage 2 of fundamentalism and are also ready to move on beyond stage 3 of atheism to embrace stage 4 of mysticism and mystery of the universe, if I may interpret this according to M Scott Peck's theory of the four stages of spiritual growth.