Christianity Today gave Dr. Brian G. Edgar’s The God Who Plays: A Playful Approach to Theology and Spirituality an Award of Merit in the Spiritual Formation category in this year’s book awards. Each year a panel of scholars, pastors and informed readers evaluate outstanding books of special interest for the Christian community.

“I was surprised to receive the award given that there are so many other wonderful Christian books being published,” Edgar said. “But I greatly appreciate Christianity Today’s recognition of “The God Who Plays,” and see it as an affirmation of the importance of the basic theme that the Christian life involves joy and playfulness in relationship with God as much as service and sacrifice.”

The God Who Plays provides a correction to the work-focused faith in Western Christianity that often results in anxiety, perfectionism and exhaustion. In his book, Edgar discusses play as a virtue, emphasizing that we are first children of God. His book also explores Aquinas’ warning against the sin of not playing enough and Bonhoeffer’s claim that in a world of pain it is only the Christian who can truly play. The God Who Plays is available for purchase on Amazon.

Dr. Brian Edgar is Professor of Theological Studies and has been a full-time faculty member at Asbury Theological Seminary since July 2007. He is an ordained minister of the Word in the Uniting Church in Australia and has pastored several churches.

He is a Fellow of the Institute for the Study of Christianity in an Age of Science and Technology, a Fellow of the Australasian Wesley Research Centre, and a board member of Ethos: EA Centre for Christianity and Society – Australia, and  Crucible: an on-line, peer-reviewed journal of ministry and theology.

He has received two Templeton awards for teaching on science and faith and one writing award for a journal article on scientific and theological notions of immortality. He has written a number of books, the major ones being The Message of the Trinity (IVP) and God is Friendship: A Theology of Spirituality, Community and Society (Seedbed).

He and his wife Barbara have two adult children and live in Australia.