During his years of studying theology, including the works of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s “Letters from Prison,” and “Cost of Discipleship,” Sam Gould began to write about the beauty of Christianity as well as the conflict within himself.  

This month, Gould, who lives in Divide, released his third book “An Open Christianity,” where he delivers a punch in the introduction – “Christianity is in trouble. The trouble didn’t materialize overnight.”

A faith where more than 90% identified as Christians declined to 63% in 2021, he writes. In part, Gould blames geopolitical, technology and social events that came together to cause a “perfect storm” for Christianity.  

“One reason people are leaving is in the church’s control, and that is updating the way the church speaks about God and Jesus and the human being,” he said. 

In the book, Gould takes an open systems approach to Christianity.

“It’s not building guardrails around a belief system but focusing on the greatest commandments and subordinating everything to that,” he said. “The test becomes for becoming a Christian is not so much of what you believe as how you behave.”

The book is his third in the study of Christianity. The common theme in his works is the exploration of faith vs. belief.

“The two are used interchangeably and it’s difficult to parse them,” he said. “In my perspective, faith is part of the core of who you are. Belief is something external.”

Belief is transactional, Gould said, meaning what one fears, or hopes, may happen.

“Faith is more transcendental; it’s yourself becoming more than just taking care of yourself but for the common good,” he said.

The second section is about Martin Luther and his break from Catholicism in the late 15h and early 16^th centuries. 

“The Protestants really started splintering into all kinds of different denominations,” he said. “With that, the denominations had to distinguish themselves with their own brand.”

The challenge to be more Christian, Gould said, is existential.

“It’s about who we become and how we reach beyond ourselves, our fears, our desires,” he said. “It’s using our imaginations and talents to further the common good which Jesus called the Kingdom of God.”

The book is available by searching “Sam Gould,” on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A Million, Thriftbooks or websites for local bookstores.

Gould is Dean Emeritus, School of Business Administration, University of Dayton. He is a co-founder of Community Partnership Family Resource Center in Woodland Park.