Described by Cornel West as "a towering public intellectual and the leading universalist philosopher of his generation," Forrest Church was one of the preeminent liberal theologians of our time. His final gift, The Cathedral of the World, draws from the entire span of Church's life's work to leave behind a clear statement of his universalist theology and liberal faith. Giving new voice to the power of liberal religion, Church invites all seekers to enter the Cathedral of the World, home to many windows but only one Light.
Praise for The Cathedral of the World:
"An essential read for anyone interested in liberal religion."
—Publishers Weekly
"[Church] reminds us in so many words how lucky he and we are to be in the hands of a lovingly liberal God . . . This [book] feels like a swinging wide open of the doors of a dusty house and a letting in of sunshine and fresh air."
—Booklist
"Church challenges us to see the light shining through the many windows of the cathedral of the world and to be receptive to the mysteries which abound in our lives . . . [A] fine compilation."
—Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
"Church has been called the most important UU theologian of his generation, but none of these essays uses academic language. Instead, he expresses his theological insights as a preacher, using extended metaphors, aphorisms, and anecdotes to make his points. . . . Church's religion invites people into a renewed sense of awe and gratitude for each other and for the world, his beloved cathedral."
—Christopher L. Walton, UU World
"Forrest Church is a towering public intellectual and the leading universalist philosopher of his generation. This last testament to his prophetic thought and witness is a gift of faith, hope, and love to us all!"
—Cornel West, author of Race Matters
"How we depend on Forrest Church for guidance, instruction, and inspiration, and this book does not disappoint. He is at his best. He makes theology interesting, relevant, and even fun."
—Peter J. Gomes, author of The Scandalous Gospel of Jesus
"The Cathedral of the World sums up in a dramatic and powerful way the work of one of America's most gifted clergymen. Forrest Church has lived his theology as well as proclaimed it. Ours is a better world because he did."
—Bishop John Shelby Spong, author of Jesus for the Non-Religious
"One can only be grateful that Forrest Church has chosen to revise and re-imagine the major themes of his writing and preaching career. I am nourished by his passion and his eloquence."
—Rabbi Harold S. Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People
"Forrest Church, a leading pastor and American religious historian, is also the leading Unitarian Universalist theologian of our time. But he has never pulled together the pieces of his luminous universalist theology, until the gift of this book. The Cathedral of the World is a jewel of theological and grace-filled imagination."
—Gary Dorrien, author of The Making of American Liberal Theology
"A complete expression of [Church's] liberal theology."
—William Grimes, New York Times