Brian McLaren at Perkins April 9, 2-4 pm

Brian McLaren, popular author, speaker, and activist, will present a lecture at Perkins on Saturday, April 9, 2011. McLaren will be speaking on themes from his new book, “Naked Spirituality: A Life with God in 12 Simple Words,” along with a book signing. The event, sponsored by the Center for Missional Wisdom at Perkins School of Theology, will be in the Great Hall of Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Hall from 2:00 – 4:00 pm.

McLaren, who describes himself as a networker among innovative Christian leaders, thinkers, and activists, suggests in his new book, released on March 15, 2011 by HarperOne, that a transparent encounter with God is what most spiritual people are seeking – and that this encounter is too often missing from organized religion. “Religion, by its etymology,” he writes, “is about connecting us together again.  In this light true religion and naked spirituality are two names for the same thing: seeking vital connection.  So if religion is experienced as promoting selfishness rather than otherliness, as prioritizing one’s own personal salvation and religiosity over the well-being of others, then religion becomes anti—religious. Maybe if we name this kind of unspiritual phenomenon ‘de-ligion’ instead of ‘religion,’ we can save the latter word for the traditions that enhance and support naked spirituality.”

The lecture and book signing is free and open to the public. Parking for this event is available on the SMU campus in the Airline and Binkley parking garages. For a campus map, visit smu.edu/maps. For more information, contact Rev. Dr. Elaine Heath, McCreless Associate Professor of Evangelism and director of the Center for Missional Wisdom at Perkins School of Theology, at eheath@smu.edu or 214.768.2167.