Quest For A Living God Summary

In chapter nine of ,Quest for a living God’ by Johnson we read over religious pluralism and some recurring trends in major religions. Johnson's accredits this phenomenon of recurring themes to God's grace actively existing in all humans. This is a main tenet of the kingdom of God according to Paul's letters. Paul's affirms faith is free given not earned. By this tenet it makes sense that the word Gods make its way through all traditions and people. Johnson uses this philosophy in defense of religious pluralism. Because of God's grace Johnson argues that we can find hints of God's aggregate message in all religions and schools of thought. This ideal is akin to the Jesuit ideal of finding God in all things. One recurring theme of God's kingdom that we will be examining in this blog post is religion's tendency toward kinosis. …show more content…
When looking at Jesus we can't help but notice that he came to this world in kenosis. When looking at the Buddha we notice his realization of the sunyata and his ability to be thoroughly empty. When we think of Nietzsche and the philosophy of the stoics we get the message that the way to self actualization is comfort in emptiness. Picking up this theme from so many different outlets makes it that much more undeniable. Johnson draws from these source in her question of what this means for faith. The implications are more obvious. They are the implications of why it is harder for a rich man to enter heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle and of Jesus’ work with the poor as well as countless other themes from the first few chapters of ‘Jesus Before christianity.’ One must be empty to enter into the kingdom of God. As far as answering the question at hand in PULSE (how should we be good?) the implications might be a bit more