The Phoenix Affirmations: A New Vision for the Future of Christianity

The Phoenix Affirmations focus on Jesus' naming of the two greatest commandments --To love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. When we think about loving our neighbor in the same way that we love ourselves, if we are honest, we have to recognize that in caring for ourselves, we provide ourselves a job and a livable income, comfortable shelter, clothing, food, friendships and a sense of community and belonging and acceptancem, as well as ways to grow and better ourselves. We seek time for leisure and re-creation (which we need to renew ourselves). So...when we are trying to carry out Jesus' charge to "love our neighbor as ourself," we need to care whether every other person we know has access to the basic things that help us to balance our own lives. If we see people who don't have access to these basics, those of us who "have plenty" need to help insure that people who don't have plenty, have ways to balance their lives. Whether that means that we work to help them learn job skills, or learn how to be good parents...whatever skills we can share. The Phoenix Affirmations speak to the shared humanity of all people, and the ways in which we can work to understand each other's human condition and share in empowering each other. As a Christian minister, I believe that this movement is on target for today's societal challenges. Jesus taught that we are all equal, and that there are many paths to God's Heaven. We need to work together to share the good news of God's love, and to decrease prejudice and exclusion and the sense of superiority and "choseness" that some religious groups purvey. Rev. E. B. Johnson United Church of Christ Minnesota, USA

Each page of this book is an inspiration. I've read, and re-read "The Phoenix Affirmations" and each time I get new insight from it. Thank you for being inspired to put this message down on paper. Keep on walking.

This is a thoughtful statement of principles that has given me insight into the beliefs of Christians in America. As a European, I have seen how American Christians are often viewed as intolerant fundamentalists. The author is rightly concerned that the religion is identified with some of its most narrow-minded practitioners and persuasively reclaims it as the faith based on Jesus' two great commandments. The book is successful on several levels: as an argument for an inclusive, compassionate church; as a guide for living a life inspired by Jesus' acts and teaching; and as an overview of liberal Christian thinking (with a definite American tinge) today. Readers (whether religious or not) will find many points for discussion and reflection. The book is written in a straightforward, conversational style and is well worth exploring.

Many thanks to Dr. Elnes for this clearly and beautifully stated set of principles that makes it easy for us progressive Christians to identify and talk about our beliefs. As someone who had previously lost all faith in God, and who has become more and more alarmed in recent years at our nation's apparent swing toward fundamentalism, this book speaks to me eloquently in so many ways --- and it's all based on something so simple: loving God, loving your neighbor, and loving yourself. Seems obvious, doesn't it? I strongly urge progressive Christians to read this book, and to recommend it to their not-so-progressive friends in the hope that they, too, can become more accepting of their fellow men and, especially, that they might come to know our all-loving God.

I have been looking forward to reading this book ever since I heard about it several weeks ago. When I finally did get hold of a copy, I had it read within a few days. The book is about, of course, the 12 Phoenix Affirmations developed by the book's author Rev. Eric Elnes and several others. The affirmations provide a set of guidelines for a more progressive Christianity...a path that is scripture-based, to be sure, but also one that I think will resonate with the beliefs of many Christians turned off by the harshness of many of today's extreme messages. It did for me, anyway. While the path described in Dr. Elnes' book will be an easier one for most Christians to reconcile with their most personal beliefs, it is not an easier path in the sense that it won't take work to follow. It recommends frequent prayer and a thoughtful understanding of the scriptures, so you don't get off easy. But, surprisingly, for the first time, I feel like I understand why prayer and Bible study are important. And, frankly, that's says a lot, in my mind.