Coming Back to Earth
Discussion Questions

Chapter 2 — handout

1. What historical event does Geering see as marking the beginning of the end of traditional Christianity? Why does he so characterize it?
2. What subsequent developments have produced the present crisis in Christianity?
3. Why does Geering consider the concept of “culture” to be important? How is culture related to religion?
4. What three transformative lessons does he say we have learned over the last five centuries?
5. How are these lessons related to the argument of the previous chapter?
6. List the several discontinuities that Geering sees as defining the two Axial Ages—and the less-noticed but equally important continuities.