Convictions How I Learned What Matters Most

On the occasion of his seventieth birthday, the renowned scholar Marcus J. Borg shares how he formed his bedrock religious beliefs, contending that Christians in America are at their best when they focus on hope and transformation and so shows how we can return to what really matters most. The result is a manifesto for all progressive Christians who seek the best path for following Jesus today.

With each chapter embodying a distinct conviction, Borg writes provocatively and compellingly on the beliefs that can deeply ground us and guide us, such as: God is real and a mystery; salvation is more about this life than an afterlife; the Bible can be true without being literally true; Jesus's death on the cross matters-but not because he paid for our sins; God is passionate about justice and the poor; and to love God is to love like God.

Borg calls all American Christians to reject divisiveness and exclusivity and create communities that celebrate joy, possibility, and renewal. Throughout, he reflects on what matters most, bringing to earth the kingdom of God Jesus talked about and transforming our relationships with one another. Rich in wisdom and insight, Convictions is sure to become a classic of contemporary Christianity.

How can Christians move beyond division to a faith of hope and transformation?

• Faith as a Journey: Follow Borg's personal path from conventional faith to a progressive Christianity grounded in his “memories, conversions, and convictions.”
• A New Biblical Interpretation: Discover how the Bible can be true without being literally true, offering a way to embrace scripture with intellectual honesty.
• Rethinking the Cross: Move beyond the idea of “payment for sin” to understand why Jesus's death matters for our lives today, not just an afterlife.
• A Passion for Justice: Explore why God's dream for the world is one of economic fairness and peace, calling Christians to challenge the systems that create poverty and division.