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Rethinking
Worldview:
Learning to Think, Live, and Speak in This World
Everybody
has a worldview, a perspective on life, and sometimes we're forced
to re-think. The world can surprise and overwhelm us, and when that
happens, it helps to know what's really important in life. Rethinking
Worldview explores some essential questions from a Christian
perspective, starting with what "worldviews" really are,
how they are formed and how they change. It's a chronicle of one
man's intellectual journey, written to encourage fellow travelers
along the way. The book will be released in October 2007 by Crossway
Publishers. In the meantime, this page will keep you updated on
its progress. (JMB)
MAY
2007
The
Amazon.com listing for Rethinking Worldview is now online.
The cover art hasn't posted yet. At Amazon, you can pre-order the
book, which retails for $16.99, for just $11.55, a savings of $5.44.
I have been told that having pre-orders is a good thing, so if you
feel so inclined, please follow the link and order a copy.
UPDATE:
APRIL 9, 2007
Two more endorsements have arrived
from Marvin Olasky, editor-in-chief of World magazine,
and Leland Ryken, professor of English at Wheaton College and editor
of the amazing anthology The Christian Imagination. They
have both been more than generous!
"Rethinking
Worldview throws off sparks able to light the dry tinder
that many Sunday school classes and seminary seminars have become.
J. Mark Bertrand’s four worldview pillars, his explanation
of how to move from consumer to critic to contributor, his discussion
of personal unity and diversity within the Trinity, and much besides
makes this book worth having and giving."
MARVIN
OLASKY
Editor-in-Chief, World
Magazine
"The strength of Bertrand’s book is its comprehensiveness,
as the author turns the prism of worldview until every angle has
been illuminated. Bertrand maintains our interest throughout his
long discussion with an incipient narrative thread in which his
understanding of worldview is told as the sum of his own discoveries
and experiences in relation to worldview. The book actually has
the quality of a suspense story in which the reader is led to
wonder what Bertrand discovered next in regard to worldview."
LELAND
RYKEN
Clyde S. Kilby Professor of English, Wheaton
College
APRIL
2007
The book is now online
at Crossway's site, and apparently available for pre-order.
If you follow the link, you can see the cover. Here's the description
from Crossway:
Everyone
has a worldview. How did we get it? How is it formed? Is it possible
by persuasion and logic to change one’s worldview?
In
Rethinking Worldview, writer and worldview teacher J.
Mark Bertrand has a threefold aim. First, he seeks to capture
a more complex, nuanced appreciation of what worldviews really
are. Then he situates worldviews in the larger context of a lived
faith. Finally, he explores the organic connections between worldview
and wisdom and how they are expressed in witness.
Bertrand’s
work reads like a conversation, peppered with anecdotes and thought-provoking
questions that push readers to continue thinking and talking long
after they have put the book down. Thoughtful readers interested
in theology, philosophy, and culture will be motivated to rethink
their own perspectives on the nature of reality, as well as to
rethink the concept of worldviews itself.
Also,
another endorsement has come in: this time from Dr. David Naugle,
author of Worldview: The History of a Concept. Dr. Naugle's
book is the go-to guide for people who want to understand the theological
and philosophical foundations of the concept. Here's what he says
about Rethinking Worldview:
For
those of you suffering from “worldview fatigue,” or
who think it's a theologically unhelpful concept, or who are new
to the notion altogether, read this book. It's like a satisfying
draught of ice-cold, refreshing water on a hot summer day! It
offers reinvigorating approaches to the priceless Christian worldview
concept, properly focuses our attention on its wisdom-giving properties,
and propels us to full-bodied Christian witness and cultural engagement
on its basis. Bertrand's book is a rich gift to serious citizens
of the kingdom of God.
DAVID NAUGLE
Professor of philosophy at Dallas
Baptist University and author of Worldview:The
History of a Concept (Eerdmans 2002).
MARCH
2007
As the official announcement gets closer, things begin
to come together. I've had a look at some of the cover ideas and
given my feedback. Now, endorsements are beginning to arrive:
J.
Mark Bertrand has written a book on worldviews that is inviting
to people who read novels. It is rich in reference to Scripture
and literature, winsomely anecdotal, finely crafted, and clear
in style. Rethinking Worldview invites us on a journey
of discovery about the world in which we live, and equips us with
the navigational tools necessary for that journey. I will be recommending
it to my friends -- especially to the passionate and tough-minded
young adults I am encountering on college and university campuses.
GIDEON
STRAUSS
Editor of the journal Comment
Rethinking
Worldview is an engagingly written work to strengthen believers
in their efforts to engage the world in a winsome and effective
manner. Built around the themes of worldview, wisdom, and witness,
this excellent book provides an illuminating and thoughtful way
forward for the 21st century Church to think, live, speak, and
worship. Mark Bertrand has made a splendid contribution to the
ongoing conversation regarding Christian worldview thinking. After
reading this book I wanted to shout "Yes, and Amen!"
I heartily commend this book and trust that it will receive a
wide readership.
DAVID
S. DOCKERY
President, Union University
I'm
very grateful that such busy people have taken time out of their
schedules not only to read the manuscript but to offer endorsements.
I'll post more as they become available.
JANUARY
2007
The title of the book has been decided, and it will be
(drumroll) Rethinking Worldview: Leaning to Think, Live, and
Speak in This World. I proposed a few alternatives, but in
the end, the committee at Crossway decided to stick with the original.
The current plan is for the book to be announced in the new catalog
this spring, and released in the fall. Obviously, I will post more
details as those milestones approach.
DECEMBER
2006
Now
it's official. I've signed a contract with Crossway to publish Rethinking
Worldview. The manuscript will be turned in early next year,
but I have no estimates to offer on publication date. I'm guessing
the book will appear in 2008. I'll post more information once it
is available.
And
I should point out that, while I've been calling the book Rethinking
Worldview, that's a tentative title. It may very well change
between now and publication.
OCTOBER
2006
For several years now, I've been working on a book based on my experience
teaching Christian theology and worldview. The working title is
Rethinking Worldview: Learning to Think, Live and Speak in This
World. A lot of people are writing and talking about this topic,
but for a variety of reasons my approach is a little different.
I can't count the number of times people have approached me after
a lecture and said, "I've never heard it explained that way
before. Do you have a book I can buy to read more?" And I've
been forced to shrug and answer, "One day . . . "
Well,
the time has come. I've been approached by a publisher who is interested
in bringing Rethinking Worldview to the marketplace. The
details are still being worked out, so for now let me just state
that 2007 is going to be a busy and exciting year.
More
to come!
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