Novus Summa Theologica
A Humble Tractate from the Renewed Minds of Some Christ-Honoring Souls
Novus Summa Theologica: A Humble Tractate from the Renewed Minds of Some Christ-Honoring Souls presents a theological philosophy written from a fulfilled, post-religious perspective centered on direct access to the Spirit of Christ outside of objective material and institutional constraint. The book examines God, Christ, scripture, faith, liberty, and maturity by engaging historical theology while rejecting coercive doctrine, hierarchy, and religious authority. Its purpose is not to establish orthodoxy, but to articulate a coherent framework for Christ-honoring belief rooted in subjectivity, humility, and lived spiritual reality.
This book is structured as a modern theological summa that revisits classical Christian questions through the lens of fulfillment, liberty, and subjective faith. It addresses topics such as the nature of God, the role of Christ, the purpose of scripture, and the limits of religious systems without appealing to ecclesiastical power or dogmatic certainty. Written as a collective tractate rather than a personal manifesto, it invites readers to examine belief with honesty, restraint, and responsibility.
*Out of limited resources, this book is raw and unedited. We look forward to polishing and editing in the future; for now, enjoy Shawn's unadulterated writing!
Sample: Introduction: Novus Summa Theologica
After nearly forty years of “testing all things and holding fast to what is good” (1st Thessalonians 5:21) and refusing to compromise to religious traditions, social pressures or personal gain, I, along with my daughter, Delaney McCraney-Norris, my partner in ministry and the administrator and leader thereof now and in the future, submit the following theological observations in the spirit of humility as if before our Maker, God and King.
Our findings are entirely suppositional, subject to modification, and represent observational “realizations” based on a foundation of the sacred biblical text rather than dogmatic demands or revelatory absolutes. We do so without any religious authority and in the hope that our findings are in harmony with Him and the Spirit of Truth. May the Spirit guide each reader as they consult with the written scripture to substantiate or refuse our claims.
Every reader may choose to see the contents of this book in some of the following ways – as truth, potentialities, possibilities, probabilities or impossibilities – and will react accordingly. We maintain that acceptance of the following insights depend on each individual’s ability to hear the Spirit of Christ given them along with their contextual understanding of the entire biblical narrative. We suggest that every and all genuine seekers of truth are on a very personal and subjective journey, that the Spirit of Christ meets us all along our path according to our ability to hear, receive and believe. We also suggest that further investigation into how we arrived at the following realizations may be found at thegreatnewsnetwork.com and that by and through considering that massive body of work a greater understanding of our positions may be obtained and considered.
We pray these humble observations will serve to enhance the human understanding of God and His Son, of the ancient scripture, and of what expectations remain for believers in this, the age of the reigning Spirit of Christ. May love, unity and peace abound among all believers and non and God moves the world forward to a brighter and brighter day spiritually, and then in every material expression as humanity is willing to surrender over to Him alone.