Confession: I’m a big fan of Peter Rollins. Actually, I am a big fan of both Peter Rollins.
Maybe I should explain. There seem to be two Peter Rollins
- the mesmerizing author and speaker credited with such wondrous works as How (Not) to Speak of God, The Orthodox Heretic, and now Insurrection, who helps people’s faith by relieving them of their superfluous religious facades.
- the suspicious and sinister author and speaker who mystifies critics with his ability to deconstruct (ie. deceive) and entertain (ie. trick) people into asking Slovoj Zizek into their heart – and thus agreeing to go to hell.
As you can see there are two distinct Peter Rollins. And here is the thing, I like them both.
I like what Peter Rollins is up to and I like what people think that he is up to.
I buy books for my nephews and nieces. The favorites are Donald Miller, Shane Claiborne and Peter Rollins. These books challenge their hearts, expand their minds, and help their faith. They would have one view of Peter Rollins.
I often listen to MDiv and other students at Christian Colleges and Seminaries go after Peter Rollins like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. They accuse him of masking deceptive A/theistic trickery under the guise of deconstruction and post-structural poetics. The accusation is that he is importing some sort of hollow, empty, nihilistic slight-of-hand with a sweet & seductive Irish lilt.
- I like the guy who helps the young people in my family and youth group to think through their inherited faith and mean the things they say, even if it is a bit more humbly.
- I also like the guy who is subverting and undermining the grotesque bloated corpse of Christendom and its related classicist theology.
I like that I can give his book to almost anyone.
I like that educated evangelical christians think he is up to something.
I am a big fan of both Peter Rollins.
the new podcast of his Insurrection is here.