Not Religion but Love: Practicing a Radical Spirituality of Compassion

Description: In his acclaimed book Christi-Anarchy, Dave Andrews explored the ugly ruins of Christian history, and outlined the radical vision of Jesus for personal and community renewal. In ’Not Religion but Love’ he shows how that vision can become a reality. With poignant, real-life stories drawn form his Brisbane backyard, Dave Andrews gives us a practical guide to working out Jesus’ agenda for love and justice in our own lives and neighborhoods. Complete with group exercises and an ample collection of extra resources for study, Not Religion but Love is a book to read at your own risk: it might change your life. Endorsements: ＂Very practical, compassionate, and empowering.＂ - Trevor Jordan, Dayspring. ＂There is a genius to this book in the way it has been written. If you are looking for quotes, the powerful punchlines come thick and fast. At the end of each chapter is a section for ideas, meditation, discussion, and action, which makes it a great tool for living prophetically as people of hope. It is not a book that compounds guilt, but it cleverly takes us to the point where action must follow obedience into ministry to a hurting society.＂ - John Uren, Target ＂This is one of the most easy to read, yet hard to read books. It is easy to read because it is written in a very easygoing style. It’s full of anecdotes, biblical examples, and real-life experiences. It is very hard to read because it challenges (our) values, (and) asks us to demonstrate Christ-like commitment to those in society that are hurting that’s personally costly.＂ - Peter Kaldor, On Being ＂Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Cost of Discipleship provides a powerful challenge to follow Christ in our world. Dave Andrews’ Not Religion but Love shows us how we can follow Christ in ways that serve the community.＂ - Charles Ringma, Professor Emeritus, Regent College, Vancouver, Canada ＂(This book) has a profound down-to-earthiness. It opens the door to effective care by the ordinary person with ordinary skills and a caring heart. The commitment to real care (it speaks of) is extremely powerful.＂ - Trevor Roper, The Daily Sun About the Contributor(s): Dave Andrews is an Australian Christian anarchist author, speaker, social activist, and community worker who, along with his wife, Ange, and their family have lived and worked in intentional communities with marginalized groups of people in Australia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India for over forty years. Along with friends, Dave and Ange started Aashiana, Sahara, and Sharan--three Christian community organizations working with slum dwellers, sex workers, and people with HIV/AIDS in India. He is also a part of Waiters Union, an inner-city Christian community network working with Indigenous Australians, refugees and people with disabilities in Australia. Dave is also an Elder for Servants to Asia’s Urban Poor, an educator for TEAR Australia, a Christian international aid and development agency, and a lecturer at the University of Queensland and Christian Heritage College.

Dave Andrews, his wife Ange, and their family, have lived and worked in intentional communities with marginalized groups of people in Australia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India for forty years. Dave is interested in radical spirituality, incarnational community and the dynamics of personal and social transformation. He is author of many books, including Not Religion, But Love, A Divine Society, People Of Compassion, Compassionate Community Work, the Plan Be series, Bismillah and Isa. Dave and Ange and their friends started Aashiana, Sahara, and Sharan, faith-based community organizations working with slum dwellers, sex workers, drug addicts, and people with HIV/AIDS in India; and they are now part of the Waiters Union, an inner city Christian community network that is working alongside people of other faiths with Aborigines, refugees and people with disabilities in Brisbane, Australia. Dave is a founder of the Waiters Union; an educator for TEAR Australia; an international aid agency; a trainer for Praxis Community Co-operative; a teacher at Christian Heritage College; an elder emeritus for Servants To Asia’s Urban Poor; and a member of AMARAH--Australian Muslim Advocates for the Rights of All Humanity.