Spiritual Bankruptcy: A Prophetic Call to Action - Softcover

Secularization, as Cobb uses the term, has a prophetic function. It is a process by which religion is cleansed and refocused on mission and ministry rather than on otherworldly myths and concerns.

"A tour de force by one of the most powerful prophetic voices of our day. In clear and blunt language, John Cobb dispels the myth that we must choose between secularism and religion. His `secularizing Christianity' calls humanity back to humanistic and ecological values---values capable of reforming universities, economics, and religions `for the common good.' If you are tempted to think that there is no solution, no hope, and nothing you can do, pick up this book."---Philip Clayton, author of Transforming Christian Theology

"Arguing that secularism has been a disastrous experiment, Cobb calls Christians to break their habit of accommodating to it. The secularizing impulse remains important, however, as a prophetic voice to `religion.' Christians hoping to fulfill the gospel must return to ancient wisdom. Cobb offers an escape from the secularist stranglehold when he appeals to the vivacity of Christian theology and classic Christian disciplines. This book is an educational, diagnostic, and theological milestone in cultural criticism."---Thomas Jay Oord, Professor of Theology and Philosophy at Northwest Nazarene University

"Cobb's distinction of the `secular' from `secularism' cuts through the fog of contemporary religiopolitical confusion like a hawk. It undoes the futile polarization of religion and politics. His magisterial exposition of the major world Wisdoms as something more than and prior to `religion' calls to all of us---whatever our tradition---to embrace a wiser way into our future. A brilliant gift to the fresh current discussion of political theology, from one who shaped the very idea."---Catherine Keller, Professor of Constructive Theology, Drew Theological School, and author of on the Mystery and God and Power

John B. Cobb Jr. is Professor Emeritus of Theology at Claremont School of Theology in Claremont, California, and author of many books, including Becoming a Thinking Christian, also published by Abingdon Press.