Postkiwi Duncan Macleod

Christopher C Walker has just published his book, “Living life to the FULL”, an autobiographical exploration of spirituality and theology for today’s baby boomers, published by Open Book, August 2005.

Christopher is a minister of the Uniting Church in Australia. He has ministered in congregations in New South Wales, served as an evangelism consultant for the Synod of Queensland, was principal of Parkin-Wesley College in South Australia, and is now mission consultant for the Parramatta-Nepean Presbytery in New South Wales. His previous books are Connecting with the Spirit of Christ: Evangelism for a secular age (Discipleship Resources, 1988), Jesus Christ More Than a Man, and Seeking Relevant Churches for the 21st Century.

In his introduction Christopher introduces generational differences, focusing on the distinctive features of the baby boomer generation, drawing mostly on Hugh Mackay and Craig Kennet Miller. He then goes on to describe his own experience of growing up as a Baby Boomer. He writes about the experience of turning fifty and turning attention to questions of spiritual capital usually associated with the end of life.

God as Mystery

Chapter 1 is dedicated to an exploration of theology that takes seriously the mystery and enigma of life on earth. Christopher writes on the paradoxes found in a suffering turbulent yet beautiful world. He outlines the impact of Sigmund Freud on the world view of Baby Boomers. Jean Paul Sartre and Albert Camus are used to represent a twentieth century atheistic perspective. Einstein’s theory of relativity, along with ‘uncertainty principle’ of quantum mechanics, is tied together with Baby Boomer relativism. Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution and Karl Marx’s materialism are presented as foundations for an agnostic approach to religion.

Christopher goes on to present a Christian interpretation of the human condition, outlining the distinctive nature of humanity, in terms of capacity for transcendence as well as sin. He goes on to present a theology in which the nature of God is the mystery of the world.

Jesus as Model of Humanity

Chaper 2 is Christopher’s section on Christology, written in the context of the Baby Boomer interest in fulfilled humanity. He begins with a consideration of Baby Boomer idols and ideals, with a focus on James Bond for men and the intelligent attractive woman who can assert her equality in the workplace and also manage children and family. He presents Jesus as a role model for Boomers in their mid life years – his approach to family, career, his purpose in life, enjoyment of life, relationships, spirituality and how he faced suffering and death.

Spirit of God

Chapter 3 is dedicated to a theology of the Spirit of God – the Activity and Energy of God’s Spirit. In the context of Baby Boomer interest in the paranormal and non-rational Christopher launches into a consideration of Biblical teaching on the Spirit. Having outlined a conventional Evangelical theology of the Spirit he makes it clear that Boomers can only experience the Holy Spirit as they acknowledge that the Spirit was living in Jesus in a way that did not happen with anyone else. In his section on grace Christopher writes about the prevenient work of the Holy Spirit. He explores the process of conversion as a work of the Holy Spirit.

Companions for the Journey

Chapter 4 is Christopher’s thesis on the connection between the Biblical narratives and the Baby Boomer interest in community. Having gone from creation through to the end of the New Testament he turns his attention to the history of the church, covering the development of Christendom and Reformation. He acknowledges the valid reasons that many Boomers have for staying away from the church. He attempts to outline what the church should and could be, as the true expression of the community of Christ. He points to the example of Aberfoyle Uniting Church in Adelaide as an example of a church that effectively reaches Boomers without losing integrity. Christopher goes on to give an autobiographical account of the people with whom he has travelled through life.

A Spirituality to Sustain Us

Chapter 5 is Christopher’s connection between Biblical spirituality and the spiritual quest of stressed Baby Boomers. He takes his readers through the spiritualities of Abraham, Moses, Isaiah and Jeremiah. Perserverance and spirituality go together, he concludes. He goes on to an exploration of Psalm 16, 19, 51, and 73. Jesus is presented as the model of prayerful resistance to temptation. Paul’s spirituality is described in terms of action, boldness and freedom. Christopher points Boomers to the lessons learned from the spirituality of Antony of Egypt, Saint Brigid of Ireland, (celtic spirituality), John Calvin (mystical union with Christ), the Wesleys, (private and public disciplines). He finishes with a connection between the Myers Briggs personality typology and spirituality, outlining his own personal approach to spiritual disciplines.

My Initial Response

So how does this rate as a resource for Baby Boomers considering spirituality for life?

It’s certainly interesting reading Christopher’s experience of growing up in the Baby Boom era. But the theology is not what I would call engaging.

I think it’s a matter of genre. It’s not clear who Christopher is writing for. If he’s writing for Baby Boomers considering spirituality, he’s gone over their heads. He’s making sweeping generalisations about Baby Boomers rather than appealing to them. For a book designed for the Baby Boomer audience, spirituality appears far too late in the plot. Perhaps it’s a theology textbook, designed to help people connect sociology and theological texts and Biblical narrative.

It seems to me that this book would benefit from a healthy edit. The chapters seem to go on too long without section breaks. The book would be much more interesting with the addition of photographs. Perhaps the book would come alive with the comments of other Baby Boomers engaging with Chris’ theological assertion.