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    Disunity in Christ: Uncovering the Hidden Forces that Keep Us Apart
    Unavailable
    Disunity in Christ: Uncovering the Hidden Forces that Keep Us Apart
    Unavailable
    Disunity in Christ: Uncovering the Hidden Forces that Keep Us Apart
    Ebook308 pages3 hours

    Disunity in Christ: Uncovering the Hidden Forces that Keep Us Apart

    By Christena Cleveland

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    Leadership Journal Book Award
    Readers' Choice Awards Honorable Mention

    Despite Jesus' prayer that all Christians "be one," divisions have been epidemic in the body of Christ from the beginning to the present. We cluster in theological groups, gender groups, age groups, ethnic groups, educational and economic groups. We criticize freely those who disagree with us, don't look like us, don't act like us and don't even like what we like.

    Though we may think we know why this happens, Christena Cleveland says we probably don't. In this eye-opening book, learn the hidden reasons behind conflict and divisions. Learn:

    • Why I think all my friends are unique but those in other groups are all the same
    • Why little differences often become big sources of conflict
    • Why categorizing others is often automatic and helpful but can also have sinister side effects
    • Why we are so often victims of groupthink and how we can avoid it
    • Why women think men are judging them more negatively than men actually are, and vice versa
    • Why choices of language can actually affect unity

    With a personal touch and the trained eye of a social psychologist, Cleveland brings to bear the latest studies and research on the unseen dynamics at work that tend to separate us from others. Learn why Christians who have a heart for unity have such a hard time actually uniting. The author provides real insight for ministry leaders who have attempted to build bridges across boundaries.

    Here are the tools we need to understand how we can overcome the hidden forces that divide us.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherIVP Books
    Release dateOct 4, 2013
    ISBN9780830864959
    Author

    Christena Cleveland

    Christena Cleveland Ph.D. is a social psychologist, public theologian, author, and activist. She is the founder and director of the Center for Justice + Renewal as well as its sister organization, Sacred Folk, which creates resources to stimulate people’s spiritual imaginations and support their journeys toward liberation. An award-winning researcher and. A former professor at Duke University’s Divinity School, Christena’s work has appeared in magazines ranging from Essence to Christianity Today. She lives in Boston, Massachusetts. 

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    Reviews for Disunity in Christ

    4/5

    19 ratings3 reviews

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    • 4/5
      This book uncovers the forces that disrupt unity. They are difficult to overcome, but well worth the effort. One of the greatest threats to Christianity is disunity. Overcoming it will require reaching out of our comfort bubbles, and maintaining an open mind and heart.
    • 4/5
      Good reading, humorous, informative, and thought provoking. Nice to learn some diverse viewpoints.
    • 5/5
      Cleveland is an American Christian academic who writes in a very accessible way, about issues that are relevant worldwide, and in almost every context of life. The book revolves around the idea of ‘ingroups’ and ‘outgroups’, showing that we all classify other people in various ways. In some instances this may be useful; but in many cases generalisations are negative, often based on stereotypes or bad experiences. The writing is excellent and well-researched; I found every chapter thought-provoking. It’s relevant for church leaders and members, and indeed anyone who tends to stereotype ‘outgroups’, whether related to diet, or education, or skin colour, or nationality or religion, or anything else that separates people. If nothing else I’m now aware of ways in which I and those around me tend to see ‘outgroups’, and as the author points out, just the awareness can lead to putting aside some prejudices. Very highly recommended to all.