Putting Away Childish Things: A Tale of Modern Faith

In"PuttingAwayChildishThings,"MarcusBorgweaveshisinsightfulteachingsonChristianityintoanewform--fiction.Inthiscompellingtale,wemeetKate--apopularreligionprofessorataliberalartscollegeinasmallmidwesterntownwhothinksherlifeisrightontrack.Shelovesherjob,ishappywithherpersonalandspirituallife,andherguiltypleasureconsistsofpassingherafternoonsatthelocalpubwithapintofGuinnessandacigarette.Lifeisgood.Kateisupfortenurewhenitallstartstogowrong.AcolleaguewarnsherthatherbooksaretooChristianandtoopopular.Sheisofferedavisitingprofessorjobataprestigiousseminary,whichsoundsliketheperfectsolutionexceptforonecomplication--itisthesameseminarythatemploystheprofessorshehadanaffairwithyearsago.Katenowhastofaceherpastandwatchastheramificationsunfoldinwayssheneverimagined.Intheclassroom,studentsaskforherviewsonJesus,theBible,andhomosexuality,controversialtopicsthatKatecandidlyaddressesuntiloutragedparentsstartcampaigningfortheschooltogetridofher.Throughitall,Katefacesthetoughestchallengeyet--acrisisoffaiththatleavesherquestioningwhatshebelievedsostronglybefore."PuttingAwayChildishThings"isanengagingwayforreaderstolearnabouttheimportantissuesdividingChristianstoday.Alongtheway,wejoinwiththecharacterstoaskthehardquestionssuchaswhatdoestheBiblereallyteach?WhoisJesus?Whatisthenatureoffaithtoday?Thisisastorythatpromisestoleaveusdifferentintheendthanwhenwestarted,aswelearnhoweveninthetwenty-firstcentury,Godworksinmysteriousways.