In 2007, Antje Jackelén adopted the motto "God is greater" from the First Letter of John 3:18-20 for her consecration as the bishop of the Diocese of Lund. Today, as the Lutheran archbishop of Sweden, Jackelén ministers by the same, ever-expanding belief: Of all the suffering, divisiveness, and hostility in the modern world's social and political climate, God is greater. Of the human search for understanding and all the questions left unanswered, God is greater. And even of the misunderstandings--the many places where humans' understanding of God, religion, and spirituality have gone horribly wrong--God is greater. For Jackelén, the belief "God is greater" does not negate the human need to seek answers. Rather, it encourages us to seek answers that expand, instead of simplify, our own understanding. In this revised edition of her 2011 book, translated from the original Swedish, Jackelén explores an ambitious range of topics, from the interplay between religion and science to the role of faith in seemingly secular landscapes, without settling for easy answers. In a time of rising political tension, where trite answers are a dime a dozen, Jackelén proposes a path forward: If we believe that God is greater--greater than our differences, our conflicts, our best achievements, and our worst failures--then we open up incredible space for advancement. It's in this space that communities of varying beliefs and traditions can come together through both dialogue and action to find greater meaning and greater good.
“In this time of increasing secularization in America, I’m grateful for Jackelén’s book. It’s an epistle from the future—a message of hope and clarity about what the church can be once we let go of what we thought we were.”
“In this insightful and challenging book, Jackelén draws us into a deeper exploration of the relationship between science and religion. Too often a bright line has been drawn between the two, forcing the false choice of placing absolute faith exclusively in one or the other. Instead, Jackelén invites us to consider another way—that science and religion are both ways of knowing—and gives the reader ‘a space where rationality and spirituality can grow together.’ God Is Greater gives us the language and framework to consider the ‘both/and’ in an ‘either/or’ world.”
“For both Christians and Muslims, God is greater than our most self-exalting thoughts and plans. Antje Jackelén reminds us eloquently that this realization should makes us humble, caring, and grateful for God’s grace.”
