Heretic in the Pews

In today's often violent, prejudiced, and unforgiving world, Jesus's teachings ascribe value and dignity to every person, especially the disadvantaged, and encourage us to treat others with loving kindness, acceptance, forgiveness, and empathy. Unfortunately, the Christian church in the Western world is in trouble. Members and budgets are shrinking. Churches are closing. We may only have a few decades to save the church from becoming an inconsequential influence in the Western world. In a thoughtful examination of this decline, lifelong Christian John Mendham begins by addressing his concerns for the health of the church and then examines the influence of Jesus s teachings. With a focus on attracting younger members to the church, Mendham highlights the two church behaviors he believes are dragging it down (resistance to change and refusal to acknowledge science), ponders critical beliefs, and suggests new approaches that will be more appealing to the twenty-first century mind rather than those focused on the traditional story. Heretic in the Pews addresses the decline of the Christian church as well as the influence of Jesus s teachings and shares new approaches that may help save Christianity from oblivion.