When four religious leaders walk across the road, it’s not the beginning of a joke. It’s the start of one of the most important conversations in today’s world.

Can you be a committed Christian without having to condemn or convert people of other faiths? Is it possible to affirm other religious traditions without watering down your own?

In his most important book yet, widely acclaimed author and speaker Brian McLaren proposes a new faith alternative, one built on “benevolence and solidarity rather than rivalry and hostility.” This way of being Christian is strong but doesn’t strong-arm anyone, going beyond mere tolerance to vigorous hospitality toward, interest in, and collaboration with the other.

Blending history, narrative, and brilliant insight, McLaren shows readers step-by-step how to reclaim this strong-benevolent faith, challenging us to stop creating barriers in the name of God and learn how affirming other religions can strengthen our commitment to our own. And in doing so, he invites Christians to become more Christ-like than ever before.

Reviews
“…An essential life lesson about loving our neighbors and tolerating their differences…For Christians on the fence about whether to accept others and their faiths or to insist that only Christianity can adequately serve, this book provides important insights.”―Booklist Online

“…Worth reading, lively and passionate at translating progressive theology into a popular idiom.”
―Publishers Weekly

“…Important and extraordinarily timely…a soothing balm for the searing pain of our times…”―Huffington Post

“Provocative…Even those who don’t agree will be bettered by engaging its ideas.”―Relevant Magazine

“This is a major work in every sense of the word–so major, in fact, that it would be impossible to exaggerate either its importance or its worth to the current conversation about religion and religions.”―Phyllis Tickle, Lecturer on Religion in America and Author of Emergence Christianity: What it Is, Where it is Going, and Why it Matters

“Helpful, timely, and really, really inspiring.”―Rob Bell, author of Love Wins

“This is a book to cherish, to read over and over, a book that sheds light and warmth on one of the most difficult questions of our era.”―Eboo Patel, Founder and President, Interfaith Youth Core, Author of Acts of Faith and Sacred Ground