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Kingdom Triangle: Recover the Christian Mind, Renovate the Soul, Restore the Spirit's Power |  | Author: J. P. Moreland
Publisher: Zondervan
Category: Book
List Price: $19.99
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Rating:  26 reviews
Sales Rank: 65651
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 240
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6.3 x 1
ISBN: 031027432X
Dewey Decimal Number: 230
EAN: 9780310274322
ASIN: 031027432X
Publication Date: May 5, 2007
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Product Description
Western society is in crisis, the result of our culture's embrace of naturalism and postmodernism. At the same time, the biblical worldview has been pushed to the margins. Christians have been strongl
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| Customer Reviews:
 Some Major Flaws But A Generally Good Read July 14, 2010
Ronald C. Payne
I have mixed feelings about this book because I diverge from the author on many points, although I am giving it four stars since I generally enjoyed the read despite my disagreements with the author.
The author opens with a great story about a missionary in Africa and her answer to prayer, asking the reader to choose between thinking of the happy ending to the story as either an answer to prayer by God, an interesting coincidence, or a `nice narrative,' which roughly corresponds to the Christian, naturalist and postmodernist responses. This is an interesting thought experiment and I found that for myself at least that I wanted to affirm the first response but discovered myself suspecting the second. I suppose this is where Moreland would say that I've fallen into the trap of the naturalist worldview but I'd just think that I'm being properly open-minded to all the possibilities. This is what underlies my problems with Moreland's analysis of our culture and what he assumes about the nature of Christianity.
Moreland takes the problem with our culture to be a primarily ideological one. That is, there are these other worldviews threatening or already dominating the Western ideological landscape and it is up to us Christians to make sure that it is our worldview that prevails in this struggle. This analysis is flawed because 1) It assumes that the problem is ideologically based and that 2) Christianity is an ideology. It is more biblical and in line with the Christian tradition to assert that the problems in our culture just as the problems with us as individuals are moral and spiritual, not having primarily to do with our beliefs. `Saving knowledge' is Gnostic, not Christian. Secondly, although Protestant Christianity assumes this, Christianity is not an ideology. It is best understood as part and parcel of the Incarnation of God in Jesus Christ through the Church which is his Body. Now, I do not pretend that this is easily explicable or anything less than a mystical belief but I do think it is truer than thinking that Christianity springs forth out of the propositional fount of the Scriptures and can be reconstituted in anyone's head through reading the Bible. Christianity is a way of life, indeed it was called "the Way" and is more of this combined with a mystical participation in Christ's body than it is a "worldview."
The second half of the book was much more interesting and edifying because Moreland moves from a common evangelical cultural analysis which I've a lot of before to his own prescriptions about how the Christian community in general should move forward. He mentions spiritual disciplines in his chapter on `Renovation of the Soul' which if practically implemented by Christians at large could prove very beneficial to bettering their relationship to God. His last chapter, `Restoration of the Kingdom's Miraculous Power' is the most fascinating part of the book. Moreland argues convincingly that the most faithful Christian position on miracles is that they have not ended with the closing of the apostolic age but continue down to our own day.
Although I have some major disagreements with Moreland, I find him intellectually honest and thought provoking.
 Commendable, but not without concern June 12, 2010
Mike Parks
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
J.P. Moreland has been on my list of top philosophers/apologist for a long time. After seeing him in several interviews regarding the Kingdom Triangle and describing it as his magnum opus, I highly anticipated the read. He is to be applauded for his contribution toward a holistic approach to the Christian life focusing on the mind, soul and Spirit. As with his other works, in Part 1 on "Assessing the crisis of our age" was mind riveting classic Moreland!
Moving into Part 2 was exciting to see from a philosopher who has spent so much time focusing on the mind. However, many of the book recommendations by Moreland surprised me. In an interview, I heard him express that those who love to defend the faith should branch out and read Foster... even if you do not agree with everything they say. This I can understand, but wonder why he would not promote more sound theologians regarding spiritual disciplines such as Don Whitney. Nonetheless, his appreciation of Foster seems to be in line with the section encouraging people to focus on their "physical heart muscle" during prayer. Foster encourages Christians to enter the lotus position while praying. Here are Moreland's own words on the topic...
"Focus the center of your attention on you physical heart muscle. Attend to the center of your chest where your heart is and stay there for about thirty seconds. The goal is to feel the area around your heart. There are two ways to help you in this. First, pretend you are breathing in and out of your heart, then the back surface followed by the right and then the left side of your heart."
There is no description in scripture for practices such as these and Moreland does not refer to Scripture himself to back the practice. This is a small section of the book, but a disturbing recommendation. When focusing on the power of the Spirit, he provides several stories that will warm you toward the power of the Spirit. Moreland also recommends several authors from the third wave movement who "push the envelope" and require a significant amount of discernment prior to reading. All and all you can and will learn from this book. Much is commendable, but enough error exists that I am not willing to promote it, which is something I never thought I would say about any book written from JP Moreland.
 An Honest Evaluation of Our Current Situation May 11, 2010
Maxon A. Bruno (State College PA)
I was acquainted with Dr. J.P. Moreland after reading his book "Scaling the Secular City". I was very impressed with that book and decided to try this book out. At first I was hesitant because this book wasn't a full blown apologetics book, but I realized that I needed to take a break from all the deep philosophy that I'm used to reading all the time. So I bought it (very cheap mind you).
The first half of the book discusses the problem we face in this country. Two main worldviews are competing with Christianity: naturalism and postmodernism. As a college student I can definitely vouch for the claims that the author makes. Our universities are in grave danger of becoming fully postmodern or naturalistic. As a student, I find myself being questioned for believing in Christianity as the absolute truth. Most students cannot comprehend having a worldview that has a particular set of duties. Instead, they are used to a fully relative worldview that is almost passive in its nature. No longer do you have students standing up for their worldview with discussions and debate. Instead, intellectual conversations end abruptly by the phrase "Well, that is your opinion" or "That is my opinion! Nobody is wrong!" Yet, these are the same students who complain that they are not happy.
This is just one of many topics that J.P. Moreland discusses in this book that I will not get into in this review. The book will take you about a solid week to read, because he asks you to reflect many times throughout the book in order for you to be honest with yourself. Also, I found the discussion questions at the end of the chapters very helpful in grasping the material.
Finally, if you are interested in apologetics then you will find this book very usefull. It may not be a book about arguments but it is a book that helps you understand your opponents alot more. Many of the stories he tells took my breath away and made me embrace the supernatural alot more, something I would have been hesitant about before reading this.
Overall, this book will impact you in some way, shape, or form. I think it is impossible to read this book and not get something out of it. Moreover, you can't beat the price!
Biblical Perspective March 17, 2010
C. Lewton (USA)
JP Moreland is a very intelligent writer. It demonstrates a solid biblical look at the current world thought, its problems, its consequences and how to recover the biblical mind. It is difficult to read with scientific jargon that may not be a basic primer for people, more for people who have already done some reading on the material. It does come with a study guide and a great bibliography and the book is short, and well worth the time.
-CSL
The Resurrection of Drama - A Review of Kingdom Triangle by Moreland February 6, 2010
Henry Imler (Columbia, MO)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
In this wildly ambitious work, Moreland seeks to cure Christianity from the malaise that plagues - the death of drama; he is mostly successful, though not for the reasons he would give. Written for a popular audience, the Kingdom Triangle is divided into two sections; the first attempts to show us the "crisis of our age," attacking Naturalism and Postmodernism as the destroyers of drama. The second part is more hopeful, and is Moreland's attempt to construct a solution to the problem by means of three foci: knowledge, the soul and supernaturalism. With his insistence upon objectivity and reluctance to engage the best of Christian postmodern thought, readers risk being more entrenched against any other approach to knowledge and theology. However, the other parts of the work shine in comparison. When Moreland is attacking naturalism and working to instill drama he is much more effective. This combination of strengths and weaknesses make this book a minefield for the lay reader. There is much good to be had, but one can easily get the impression that all postmodern and emerging Christians are to just as feared and protected against as the Catholic Church.[1]
Drama for your mamma (and the rest of the Body of Christ)
The chief contribution of this work is Moreland's drive to instill drama in our lives. Moreland's use of drama is interesting and is the most important theme in the book. Moreland sets it up as the life full of meaning and purpose contrasting it with the drabness of everyday life. His awareness of the hunger for drama is startling and speaks to a need which likely resonates with much of his readership. Wise are the ways Moreland suggests Christians resurrect drama and acute are the causes he identifies for its crucifixion. He identifies the narcissism, individualism, passivity, and immaturity of the self that our popular culture produces;[2] and advocates the flourishing of the self, which includes the development of self-denial, character, and the spiritual disciplines.
Don't, Stop, Manifesting the Spirit...
Perhaps the most controversial part of the book for the target audience is Moreland's insistence that we recover the activity of the Spirit in our daily lives. He calls this "being naturally supernatural"[3] and attacks Cessationists. In great contrast to his dealings with Postmodernist Christians and Catholics, he advocates love and charity towards people on different places on the continuum of the Spirit's activities.[4] This advice is much needed in the North American Church today. He primarily challenges Cessationists by appealing to personal stories and the numbers of Charismatics in the world. Oddly enough, Moreland does not use Scripture to challenge Cessationists. Given his high view of and condemnations by means of Scripture, one would have expected the same here. Ultimately, his wisdom, gentleness, and honesty are instructive in this section.
I refute him thus!
"I refute him thus!" was Samuel Johnson's exclamation as he broke his foot upon a rock in an attempt to refute Berkley's idealism.[5] It is also method of attack Moreland employs in his critiques of Naturalism and Postmodernity.[6] Moreland's treatment of Postmodernism is the chief disappointment Kingdom Triangle. Moreland, the unapologetic modernist, [7] constructs the frailest version of postmodernism possible for the purposes of rendering asunder with the mighty blows of the three-sentence-proof. Moreland goes so far as to dismiss and critique of his characterization of postmodernism by saying: "For one thing, my description of postmodernism is an accurate account that fairly captures and understanding of postmodernism ... [so] I can hardly be accused of offering a caricature of the movement."[8] This rather grumpy, defensive, and dismissive tone is found throughout his discussion of Naturalism, Postmodernism, and Knowledge. Moreland unfortunately, for one of Evangelical Christianity's most highly regarded philosophers, reduces all of postmodernity into a "synonym for deconstructive relativism."[9] Too often Moreland attacks his constructed postmodernism[10] with simplistic proofs which bypass the real issues at hand. An excellent example of this is his discussion of objectivity and language.[11]
This seems like a rhetorical strategy to appeal to the value of common sense and anti-intellectualism of his intended audience. This, combined with a lack of real engagement of the best of Christina postmodern theory will hinder the intellectual development of his readers in the wake of Modernity's decline. It reeks of entrenchment rather than engagement.
The Gentle Curmudgeon
One final criticism of Kingdom Triangle is the bipolar writing style that Moreland employs. When attacking Naturalism and Postmodernism and constructing a theory of knowledge, Moreland writes in a grouchy, dismissive, and immature tone. He repeatedly deems things "sad" and uses brute force to argue his claims (see his listing to all the verse in the Bible that contain the word knowledge).[12] This is contrasted with the genuine love and concern from which he writes his other chapters.
Conclusion
Ultimately this book is a mix of the best and worst from Moreland. Moreland argues for the best possible modernist/foundationalist Christianity, and attacks the worst postmodern secularism, which he ties to all Christian postmodern thought. However, With the exception of the chapter on Knowledge, Christians would be wise to heed his words concerning the resurrection of drama. I would modify Moreland's argument (that Naturalism and Postmodernism have caused the death of drama) to the Church's acceptance of Modernism and lack of a response to its death have caused and sustained the death of drama. It is a shame this was not a two-volume work.
Notes:
[1] Moreland is deeply skeptical in this work about the orthodoxy of the Catholic Church , warning evangelical Christians to steer clear of their spiritual development classes (p.159).
[2] Moreland, Kingdom Triangle, 142-145.
[3] Ibid., 182.
[4] Ibid., 178-179.
[5] For more on this, see Dinesh D'Souza, What's so great about Christianity (Regnery Publishing, 2007), 171.
[6] While Moreland and I agree on the perils of Naturalism, Moreland has a too narrow of a definition of postmodernism, see notes 12 and 13.
[7] See his infatuation with the self and objectivity, and unquestionable support of the correspondence theory of truth in Moreland, Kingdom Triangle, 78-88. and dismissal of critiques of modernity, such as the role of language creating worlds rather than nakedly describing them in Ibid., 85, 87.
[8] Ibid., 87.
[9] Franke, Character of Theology, The, 21.
[10] It is difficult to construct a positive definition of the varied modes of postmodernist theory. I follow Franke in maintaining that Postmodernism is best defined minimally as the critique of Modernity which requires "radical surgery." See Ibid.
[11] Compare Moreland, Kingdom Triangle, 86. with Stanley J. Grenz, A Primer on Postmodernism (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1996), sec. The Problem of Language.
[12] Moreland, Kingdom Triangle, 114-120. Moreland opts for the brute-force technique for arguing that our knowledge must be certain (by his criteria and his criteria only, which happens to be foundationalist in nature).
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