Diana Butler Bass
Encyclopedia
Diana Butler Bass, an independent commentator on American religion, is a leader in Mainline (Protestant) and Progressive Christianity
. She is the author of six books on American religion, three of which have won research or writing awards. She earned a Ph.D. in religious studies from Duke University
in 1991, with an emphasis on American church history where she studied under George Marsden
. From 1995–2000, she wrote a weekly column on religion and culture for the New York Times Syndicate that appeared in more than seventy newspapers nationwide. Currently, she is a blogger for the God’s Politics blog with Jim Wallis
at Beliefnet and is a Red-Letter Christian
.
, where she earned a master’s degree in church history. Her spiritual memoir, Strength for the Journey, records her growing dissatisfaction with conservative evangelical religion. She is now a member of the Episcopal Church. For a decade, she worked primarily as a college professor before becoming an independent scholar. In 2002, the Lilly Endowment
awarded Bass a major grant to support her research on mainline Protestant churches.
Bass’s books range from a study of nineteenth-century evangelicalism (Standing Against the Whirlwind) to a contemporary ethnography of mainline Protestantism (Christianity for the Rest of Us). Throughout her work, she displays an interest in the role of religion in cultural and social change. Her theories of postmodernism, tradition, and Christian practice to renew congregations have proved influential with mainline Protestant church leaders. She eschews programmatic spirituality and leadership in favor of encouraging Christians to seriously practice their faith as a way to reform American churches and political life.
Two of her books, Strength for the Journey and Christianity for the Rest of Us have been named among the best books of the year by Publishers Weekly. Christianity for the Rest of Us was named Book of the Year by the Academy of Parish Clergy. Standing against the Whirlwind was awarded the Frank S. and Elizabeth D. Brewer Prize by the American Society of Church History.
Although Bass is considered a leader in progressive Christianity because of her criticism of the religious right, she is ultimately difficult to classify. Her work combines elements of liberal theology, progressive spirituality, classical evangelicalism, mystical awareness, feminist concerns, and Christian tradition to create an inclusive and transformative vision of Christianity.
Her work has been written about by USA Today, US News and World Report, Newsweek, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and other papers, including the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. She has appeared on Religion & Ethics Newsweekly
and is, along with Martin E. Marty
, one of two scholars chosen to represent Mainline Protestantism in The Life of Meaning: Reflections on Faith, Doubt, and Repairing the World, a book edited by the show's host, Bob Abernethy
.
Progressive Christianity
Progressive Christianity is the name given to a movement within contemporary Christianity characterized by willingness to question tradition, acceptance of human diversity with a strong emphasis on social justice or care for the poor and the oppressed and environmental stewardship of the Earth...
. She is the author of six books on American religion, three of which have won research or writing awards. She earned a Ph.D. in religious studies from Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
in 1991, with an emphasis on American church history where she studied under George Marsden
George Marsden
George M. Marsden is an historian who has written extensively on the interaction between Christianity and American culture, particularly on Christianity in American higher education and on American Evangelicalism...
. From 1995–2000, she wrote a weekly column on religion and culture for the New York Times Syndicate that appeared in more than seventy newspapers nationwide. Currently, she is a blogger for the God’s Politics blog with Jim Wallis
Jim Wallis
Jim Wallis is an American evangelical Christian writer and political activist. He is best known as the founder and editor of Sojourners magazine, and of the Washington, D.C.-based Christian community of the same name....
at Beliefnet and is a Red-Letter Christian
Red-Letter Christian
Red-Letter Christians constitute a movement within Christianity. They believe that Evangelicalism has been exploited by both right-wing and left-wing political movements, and they endeavor to create an Evangelical movement that focuses on the teachings of Jesus Christ, particularly in regard to...
.
Early life & Career
Born in 1959 in Baltimore, Maryland, as Diana Hochstedt, she grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona. Raised a United Methodist, she became an evangelical Christian. She attended Westmont College, a Christian college in Santa Barbara, California, and Gordon-Conwell Theological SeminaryGordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Gordon–Conwell Theological Seminary is an evangelical theological seminary whose main campus is based in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, with three other campuses in Boston, Charlotte, North Carolina and Jacksonville. The current president of Gordon-Conwell is Dennis Hollinger...
, where she earned a master’s degree in church history. Her spiritual memoir, Strength for the Journey, records her growing dissatisfaction with conservative evangelical religion. She is now a member of the Episcopal Church. For a decade, she worked primarily as a college professor before becoming an independent scholar. In 2002, the Lilly Endowment
Lilly Endowment
Lilly Endowment Inc., headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana is one of the world's largest private philanthropic foundations and is among the ten largest such endowments in the United States....
awarded Bass a major grant to support her research on mainline Protestant churches.
Bass’s books range from a study of nineteenth-century evangelicalism (Standing Against the Whirlwind) to a contemporary ethnography of mainline Protestantism (Christianity for the Rest of Us). Throughout her work, she displays an interest in the role of religion in cultural and social change. Her theories of postmodernism, tradition, and Christian practice to renew congregations have proved influential with mainline Protestant church leaders. She eschews programmatic spirituality and leadership in favor of encouraging Christians to seriously practice their faith as a way to reform American churches and political life.
Two of her books, Strength for the Journey and Christianity for the Rest of Us have been named among the best books of the year by Publishers Weekly. Christianity for the Rest of Us was named Book of the Year by the Academy of Parish Clergy. Standing against the Whirlwind was awarded the Frank S. and Elizabeth D. Brewer Prize by the American Society of Church History.
Although Bass is considered a leader in progressive Christianity because of her criticism of the religious right, she is ultimately difficult to classify. Her work combines elements of liberal theology, progressive spirituality, classical evangelicalism, mystical awareness, feminist concerns, and Christian tradition to create an inclusive and transformative vision of Christianity.
Her work has been written about by USA Today, US News and World Report, Newsweek, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and other papers, including the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. She has appeared on Religion & Ethics Newsweekly
Religion & Ethics Newsweekly
Religion & Ethics Newsweekly is an American weekly television news-magazine program which airs on PBS-History and content:Premièring in 1997, it is the only television program devoted entirely to the news of religion and spirituality, along with major ethical issues...
and is, along with Martin E. Marty
Martin E. Marty
Martin Emil Marty is an American Lutheran religious scholar who has written extensively on 19th century and 20th century American religion. He received a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1956, and served as a Lutheran pastor from 1952 to 1962 in the suburbs of Chicago...
, one of two scholars chosen to represent Mainline Protestantism in The Life of Meaning: Reflections on Faith, Doubt, and Repairing the World, a book edited by the show's host, Bob Abernethy
Bob Abernethy
Bob Abernethy is a former NBC News correspondent. Since 1997, Abernethy has served as the executive editor and host of Religion & Ethics Newsweekly, which airs on PBS....
.