Dave Tomlinson

Evangelicalism was great--for its time.For a growing number of Christians weaned on modern evangelicalism, the subculture and absolutism that accompany the dogma no longer fit. When asked, 'Are you a Christian?' we find ourselves responding, 'That depends on what you mean by ‘Christian.’' Dave Tomlinson, a rather 'outside-the-box' Anglican priest in London, caused a major stir in the UK in 1995 with the release of The Post-Evangelical. We North Americans weren’t ready for his book then. But now, almost a decade later, large numbers of North American believers are finding it increasingly difficult to classify our faith, especially into terms like 'evangelical,' ' liberal,' or 'conservative.' Could there be something else? Something new? This is not about a cloaked move to liberalism. Or a full-frontal dive into relativism. Instead, The Post-Evangelical actually represents a step toward, rather than away, from one’s evangelical roots, exploring controversial topics such as:· Inerrancy of Scripture: Looking at the Bible as God’s story · Truth: How do we know it, or can we know it? · The World: Can we actually enjoy ourselves while down here? · Liberal vs. Conservative: Getting beyond labelsFor some, this will come as a dangerous threat--proof that we’re surely on that clichéd 'slippery slope.'. For others, the many who’ve been wondering if there’s a version of Christianity to which they can still ascribe, these words will come as a refreshing and potentially surprising relief--an 'I’m not alone' oasis. Either way, the thoughts on these pages will bring about feisty discussion and reflective thought.

The Post-Evangelical

Welcome to the bad Christian's manifesto, an argument for · keeping faith with scepticism · making a virtue of pleasure · & finding heaven in the ordinary things of life Dave Tomlinson, author of How to be a bad Christian, thinks that a lot of our overly religious, formal ideas of God need to be reinvented - and a lot of our spirituality, too. What does it look like to live well and die happy - from an unapologetically generous Christian point of view? Join Dave as he considers virtues, vices, friendship, morality, mortality - and how to make a sacrament of anything from cigars to chocolate. This book will change the way you think about God - and the way you live your life.

How to Reinvent God (and Other Modest Proposals)

The Bad Christian's Manifesto

In the course of his work as a vicar, Dave Tomlinson meets lots of people who describe themselves as 'not good enough' to be a Christian, thinking that faith involves going to church a lot, or believing in a list of strange things, or following certain rules. But being a Christian isn't about any of that - and actually, following Jesus is a lot easier, and more fun, than most people think...In this handbook to Christianity for people who describe themselves as spiritual but not necessarily religious, Dave sketches out some key practices for how to be a 'bad' Christian, including how to talk to God without worrying about prayer, how to read the Bible without turning off your brain, and how to think with your soul rather than trying to follow rules. With beautiful illustrations from artist Rob Pepper, this is an accessible, light-hearted book, but one with a powerful invitation: to be the person you've always wanted to be, following a God you've always hoped is on your side.

... And a Better Human Being

How to Be a Bad Christian

Black Sheep & Prodigals is aimed primarily at people who are on the edges or outside of mainstream religion - those who reject, question, or have little interest in the tenets of traditional faith. It sets out to present a more contemporary and more humane approach to faith, drawing on honest doubt, common sense and spiritual experience. Using no religious jargon, chapter by chapter, it opens up fresh discussion about the meaning of faith in today's world, inviting readers to arrive at their own conclusions.

An Antidote to Black and White Religion

Black Sheep and Prodigals

For the die-hard followers of Leeds United, the last twenty years have brought far too few reasons to be cheerful. Far more prominent are the depressing lows. 'Doing a Leeds' is the lazy strapline that is trotted out whenever a club over-reaches itself financially and comes a cropper with the financials heading south. The lot of the United fan is not a happy one, but still they come, week in and week out, with their fervent chants of 'Marching on Together' and 'Champions of Europe', hoping that this will finally be the year, but recognising the improbability of that dream. Mistakes were made along the way, and this could have been a very different tale if a wiser course had been followed. But that would have been far, far too simple for the many-headed beast that is Leeds United Football Club! This book tells the tale of the last two decades, the hopes and dreams of one of the most committed sets of fans in Europe and the men who let them down and abused their trust. It is a story that simply must be read, whether you're a fan of the Whites or not.

Twenty Years of Hurt, 23 Mistakes and the Tale of Toma ...

Leeds, Money, and Misery Me

Despite widespread biblical illiteracy, many people--Christians and the non-religious alike--can still recite Psalm 23. Frequently heard at funerals and in movies, it is a source of comfort in times of grief or fear. But there is more to it than that, asserts author Dave Tomlinson. In Still Waters and Skyscrapers, Tomlinson creatively reintroduces us to a passage of Scripture we only thought we knew. Far more than just words to speak during trials, Psalm 23 is a song of life that "teaches us about the nature of faith in every situation." This fresh take on the best-known psalm takes biblical study, personal stories and anecdotes, and links to popular culture and weaves them together to give readers a new perspective.

The 23rd Psalm for the 21st Century

Still Waters and Skyscrapers

Dave Tomlinson's book How to Be a Bad Christian was written for all those who want God without the guff - revealing that being a 'bad' Christian is perfectly good enough, and that it's possible to ditch religion without losing the faith. The Bad Christian's Manifesto continues the conversation, unpacking what spiritual intelligence - from an unapologetically Christian viewpoint - might look like for all the self-confessed bad Christians of the world. Join Dave as he explores how to befriend your inner sceptic, make a virtue of pleasure and find heaven in the ordinary things of life.

Reinventing God (and other modest proposals)

Ground-breaking and hugely controversial on first publication in 1995, this classic text pre-empted the emerging church movement, questioning whether the certainties of evangelical orthodoxy could survive in a postmodern world

Dave Tomlinson

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