Best Religious Studies & Reference
Lewis, the most important writer of the 20th century, explores the common ground upon which all of those of Christian faith stand together. In 1943 Great Britain, when hope and the moral fabric of society were threatened by the relentless inhumanity of global war, an Oxford don was invited to give a series of radio lectures addressing the central issues of Christianity. He describes those doctrines that the four major denominations in Britain (Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic) would have in common, e.g., original sin, the transcendent Creator God, and the divinity of Jesus as well as his atonement and bodily resurrection.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It is a timeless classic that is as true today as when it was originally penned by Lewis as a series of talks given in London over the BBC during the challenging days of WW2. As you work through this great book take some time to digest the material in each chapter and reflect upon the material that Lewis covers and the thoroughness of his argument and perspectives."
"He expertly (and extensively) uses metaphor to help mere humans understand the incomprehensible facts about God. Lewis's explanation of Christian doctrine from the ground up helps the Christian fill in the blank parts of their theological understanding."
"This book is a very interesting read for Christians, regardless of your religious background."
"Rereading it now I see that this is still an excellent and relevant book for those who are exploring, or new to, following Christ today."
"His insight cuts right to the core of the matter, and he is able to share his insights in a simple and accessible style. He presents a rational argument for his belief in Christianity, and while it may not convert the most stalwart atheists, I do believe it would help them to understand the fundamental belief system shared by most mainstream Christian denominations."
"This book has helped me tremendously on my journey."
"A must read."
"Mere Christianity is a GREAT book, but DO NOT BUY THIS VERSION."
When the prophecy later fell into the hands of New York Times bestsellers Don and Mary Colbert, God used this new team of passionate individuals to lead the nation into a fervent prayer chain that would accomplish one of the most incredible miracles our country has ever seen. In THE TRUMP PROPHECIES readers will discover: *How the Lord can and will use anyone regardless of education, background, or health to communicate His message to the Church of Christ. *What led to the miracle of the 2016 election, the role of we the people for the will of God in the future, and what the Body of Christ needs to do to keep His blessing on our nation. *How the enemy has utilized techniques of distraction to keep the Body's focus off of God and onto internal, demoralizing disputes and how this can be overcome. *Astounding, world-altering changes in our US government Mark sees on the horizon. *The positive message of hope and encouragement that points to fresh methods of spreading the Gospel to the lost.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I especially liked the part about her organizing a "telephone prayer chain" that would take place every day at 9 AM from Labor Day until election day. PS - I'm ready for the next 2 phases of the prophecies, which are (1) Some of these high-profile crooks (Obama, ALL 3 CLINTONS, Lynch, Rice, Comey, etc) going to jail, and (2) corrupt judges and justices being replaced by men & women of God. Can't wait for President Trump to appoint 4 more Supreme Court justices."
"While I knew about the prophecies, I was interested in hearing the background about the messenger."
"When I heard that Mark was publishing a book about his experience on receiving the Trump prophecy, the avid reader in me NEEDED to get my hands on it like now! I have never trusted YouTube prophets, but I make an exception for Mark Taylor because he truly did hear from God on April 28th, 2011."
"This was a book I walked around reading, and read through immediately."
"Thanks to both Mary Colbert and Mark Taylor for their transparency in sharing their journey."
"I have sincerely felt in my spirit a deep conviction that God has chosen this unusual man, Donald Trump for the purpose of restoring America to her greatness so we can again influence the world for Jesus."
"I cannot save enough about how encouraging this book is."
"Thouroughly enjoyed the book."
In Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, now expanded with bonus content, Nabeel Qureshi describes his dramatic journey from Islam to Christianity, complete with friendships, investigations, and supernatural dreams along the way. -- Mark Gabriel, , Author and former lecturer, University of Cairo. Fresh, striking, highly illuminating, and sometimes heartbreaking, Qureshi’s story is worth a thousand textbooks. His quest brought together several exceptional features: a very bright mind, extraordinary sincerity, original research, and a willingness to follow the evidence trail wherever it took him. This book gives westerners a glimpse of the richness of family and love in a devout Muslim home; it is an enviable picture of respect, devotion, and society. But Christians and Muslims alike are told stories about their religions when they are young, while few have ever personally researched the writings of their founding fathers to assess the validity that undergirds their respective faiths. But it is also a deeply personal heart-wrenching and tear-evoking saga of the life of a young Muslim growing up in the West, a gripping biography that is impossible to put down. We are introduced to the depth of spirituality, the love and honor of family, and the way a person “sees” and “feels” in a devout Muslim home. It reaches both East and West, teaching Christians about Islam from an insider’s perspective and helping Muslims understand the love and truth of Jesus. Nabeel Qureshi masterfully argues for the Gospel while painting a beautiful portrait of Muslim families and heritage, avoiding the fear-mongering and finger-pointing that are all too pervasive in today’s sensationalist world.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"For myself, I was reliving the search I had pursued forty five years ago, when my embrace of existentialism had left me so empty and purposeless that I had to reconsider the claims of Christ, just in case they might be true. I found myself anticipating each next step in Nabeel's intellectual journey, as each critical aspect of the truth of Christianity was substantiated by his investigations. I even experienced to a degree Nabeel's family conflicts, though for me it was my mother's amazement and bitter disappointment with my choice after college of seminary instead of medical school."
"The dedication at the beginning of the book, read by the author himself, had me bawling like a baby. I was unaware of how much disagreement about doctrine that there is within different Muslim beliefs and Qureshi walks through them carefully and respectfully."
"I have to say that as a Christian, before reading this book, I had very little knowledge of the Muslim faith and how Muslim children are raised."
"Nabeel’s testimony, the description of his journey in life as a young Muslim and the crisis of faith he experienced all impacted me strongly."
"He pursues the documented evidence with the commitment that whatever he finds he will believe in the God that is truth - even if he finds that the teaching that was a part of his life since birth may or may not be truth."
Best Religious Antiquities & Archaeology
The world-renowned classic that has enthralled and delighted millions of readers with its timeless tales of gods and heroes. Fans of Greek mythology will find all the great stories and characters here--Perseus, Hercules, and Odysseus--each discussed in generous detail by the voice of an impressively knowledgeable and engaging (with occasional lapses) narrator.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Excellent book, scholarly and timeless, succinctly portrays the psychology and principles of the short lived Greek democratic republic."
"My introduction to mythology happened more than 50 years ago when my librarian Aunt Louise gave me The Golden Treasury of Myths and Legends by Anne Terry White and Alice and Martin Provensen (a classic itself). I moved on to an early 60s edition of Edith Hamilton's Mythology, entranced with the family trees of the gods and using her description of the Underworld to make a model when I took Latin."
"This book will make you love mythology again, or will serve as an excellent introduction for those who are unfamiliar."
"In The Roman Way she looks at the exemplary writers and forms who have had a lasting impact on western culture, and she never wavers from the view that understanding the Romans is key to making sense of modern public and private life. Obviously, in an introductory text like this, not every writer can have his due; those to whom she pays the most attention are Plautus, Terence, Cicero, Horace, Catallus, Juvenal, Virgil and Seneca. Through them, she reveals the Caesars, the Claudii, the Stoics, the art, the bloody warfare, the greed, the corruption, gender relations, class structure, the political intrigues and paradoxes, and the empire's demise."
"This book gives you details about the gods that you didn't know you wanted to know!"
"This was actually a disappointment."
"I got this for my son to go along with his Percy Jackson books."
Best Christian Literature & Art
Lewis, the most important writer of the 20th century, explores the common ground upon which all of those of Christian faith stand together. In 1943 Great Britain, when hope and the moral fabric of society were threatened by the relentless inhumanity of global war, an Oxford don was invited to give a series of radio lectures addressing the central issues of Christianity. He describes those doctrines that the four major denominations in Britain (Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic) would have in common, e.g., original sin, the transcendent Creator God, and the divinity of Jesus as well as his atonement and bodily resurrection.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It is a timeless classic that is as true today as when it was originally penned by Lewis as a series of talks given in London over the BBC during the challenging days of WW2. As you work through this great book take some time to digest the material in each chapter and reflect upon the material that Lewis covers and the thoroughness of his argument and perspectives."
"He expertly (and extensively) uses metaphor to help mere humans understand the incomprehensible facts about God. Lewis's explanation of Christian doctrine from the ground up helps the Christian fill in the blank parts of their theological understanding."
"Dr. Lewis covers important Christian teachings and avoids getting bogged down with controversies and esoteric theological language."
"Lewis wrote this book, he was oblivious to how couples behaved /dealt with each other as he had not been in a serious relationship or marriage."
"Lewis reaches the real world of the believer in spite of the horrid and disgusting false facade that institutions, organizations and the "so called" smear over the faith."
"This book is a very interesting read for Christians, regardless of your religious background."
"A health issue, which was misdiagnosed, made reading nearly impossible for the last twenty five years, though life has it's own way of taking up time in any case. I didn't know if these were novels, theological texts, apologetic tomes, or... just what to expect."
"Mere Christianity is a GREAT book, but DO NOT BUY THIS VERSION."
Best Religious Studies - Church & State
This well-researched examination of human moral impulses will appeal to liberals and conservatives alike following the 2016 presidential campaign and election. That's what makes The Righteous Mind well worth hearing...a landmark contribution to humanity's understanding of itself.― -New York Times Book Review “Haidt is looking for more than victory. That’s what makes The Righteous Mind well worth reading…a landmark contribution to humanity’s understanding of itself.” – New York Times Book Review “Jonathan Haidt is one of smartest and most creative psychologists alive, and his newest book, The Righteous Mind, is a tour de force—a brave, brilliant and eloquent exploration of the most important issues of our time. This penetrating yet accessible book will help readers understand the righteous minds that inhabit politics.” —Larry Sabato, University of Virginia, author of A More Perfect Constitution “A remarkable and original synthesis of social psychology, political analysis, and moral reasoning that reflects the best of sciences in these fields and adds evidence that we are innately capable of the decency and righteousness needed for societies to survive.” —Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor Emeritus, Harvard University. “[Haidt’s] framework for the different moral universes of liberals and conservatives struck me as a brilliant breakthrough… The Righteous Mind provides an invaluable road map.” –Miller-McCune.com. “A much-needed voice of moral sanity.” – Booklist "An important and timely book…His ideas are controversial but they make you think…Haidt has made his reputation as a social psychologist at the University of Virginia, where he and his colleagues explore reason and intuition, why people disagree so passionately and how the moral mind works."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Haidt's understanding of human morality and the science of communication and decision making are weaved together into an approachable, beautiful and potentially life changing symphony. You can probably imagine how frustrated I felt when I was consistently unable to win arguments about out-there, government's coming for us-so buy some guns, conspiracy discussions. One of the foundational pieces discussed in the book is the fact that we, as humans, make decisions in the parts of our brain that aren't subject to critical thinking. If you want to sway someones opinion, Haidt suggests, you must first appeal to their elephant (the emotional part of their brain or "why they feel the way they do"). I only wish everyone could read this book, understand their natural decision making process and be aware of what's happening to them when they have disagreements or strong opinions on a subject."
"This book was stressful for me to read because I really wanted to keep not liking the people I don't agree with."
"I lean toward "liberal" idealogies, but this book made me realize the value of a more diverse perspective for the survival of the human race and how my anti-religious viewpoints had incorporated "sacred" elements of their own."
""The Righteous Mind" is an extended attack on the usefulness of the harm principle as the sole way to understand and justify human morality, combined with detailed explanations of the much broader ways in which people can and do view morality. The first part of the book contains what is perhaps Haidt’s most counter-intuitive claim, on which the entire book rests—that the majority of moral reasoning is intuitive and pre-rational, and that the rational side of each person participates primarily to justify a conclusion already reached, which reasoning is “useful to further our social agendas.” Haidt uses the metaphor of an elephant (intuition) and rider (reason)—mostly, the rider does what the elephant says, although sometimes the rider can guide the elephant, or at least influence him. In the 1960s through the 1990s, it was believed, following Jean Piaget and Lawrence Kohlberg, that children had no inborn moral impulses, but figured out morality for themselves through their interactions, so-called “rationalism.” This theory believed that as children become able to see the world as others saw it, they come to understand that fairness is everything, and build their morality around metrics of equal treatment. As Haidt notes, these researchers’ conclusion, that morality’s chief aim is reducing harm and creating fairness, and that any other moral judgment is imposed arbitrarily from without by societies and cultures, dovetailed precisely with the then-rising American liberal (i.e., progressive) consensus, of maximizing personal freedom without limitation or end. Haidt relates how he personally started with the same beliefs that were popular at the time (in the 1990s), but when he started reading Richard Shweder, an expert in Indian moral psychology, and went to India for some time, immersing himself in the culture in a non-judgmental way, he began to understand that people there viewed the world very, very differently. Beginning to see this, Haidt spent the next years conducting ever larger studies, among a variety of cultures and classes, to see what the moral views were of people in hypothetical scenarios, some of which involved harm, and some of which involved other possible moral principles, such as loyalty and purity. Haidt notes how in the mid-twentieth century, the idea that there was any native, or inherent, element to human nature became toxic, leading to the demand that all right thinking people reject that human nature exists, with the necessary conclusion that morality is purely the result of reasoning, with no innate component. “Moral reasoning was mostly just a post hoc search for reasons to justify the judgments people had already made.” We “see-that” before “reasoning-why.” We do this not to tell ourselves why we believe something, but, for evolutionary reasons, to “find the best possible reasons why somebody else ought to join us in our judgment.” It is important to realize that intuitions are not irrational, they are a type of cognition, not inherently of less worth than abstract reasoning. Finally, in this section, Haidt demonstrates through the results of experiments that many of the reasons we state for believing as we do are social in nature—designed to enhance our popularity, justify ourselves to others, justify ourselves to ourselves, engage in confirmation bias, and, critically, find reasons that result in actions benefiting not just us but our group—all just like a politician, although here Haidt is not making specific political claims. More specifically, he sets out to prove that, given that morality is largely based on intuition, that those intuitions are much more, and much broader, than the harm and fairness intuitions that are the sole focus of “modern secular Western morality.” Haidt’s objection is not that the harm principle, in particular, is unjust or wrong, but that any moral theory resting on a single principle is not in keeping with how people really view morality, and therefore both largely useless as an explanation and overly constraining as a hortatory method. “Modern secular Western morality” is what Haidt also calls (following a group of cultural psychologists), WEIRD morality, where the acronym stands for “Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic.” “WEIRD people are statistical outliers; they are the least typical, least representative people you could study if you want to make generalizations about human nature.” They “see a world full of separate objects, rather than relationships.” In other words—most people, and nearly all of the rest of the world, have totally different moral intuitions, and therefore moral concerns, from what we are told by the dominant voices in the West are universal intuitions and concerns. When he realized this, Haidt had a “red pill moment,” where he “stepped out of the matrix.” He realized, of himself and his fellow liberals, “We never considered the possibility that there were alternative moral worlds in which reducing harm (by helping victims) and increasing fairness (by pursuing group-based equality) were not the main goals.” The remainder of this long section is devoted to expanding the foundations of moral judgments beyond harm and fairness (clarified as pairs of opposites, “care/harm” and “fairness/cheating”) to include four others: “loyalty/betrayal”; “authority/subversion”; “sanctity/degradation”; and “liberty/oppression.” Again, it is hard to do justice to the incisive and insightful nature of this analysis. Suffice it to say that Haidt is correct, and once you view questions of morality, and of individuals’ views of morality, through this framework, rather than being confined in the straitjacket of mere harm and fairness, you understand what drives people much more than you did before. “We [Shweder and Haidt] believe that moral monism—the attempt to ground all of morality on a single principle—leads to societies that are unsatisfying to most people and at high risk of becoming inhumane because they ignore so many other moral principles.”. Of course, as will be obvious upon a moment’s reflection, and as Haidt explains, liberals draw their conclusions by relying on only three of these foundations (care, fairness and liberty), and often only two (fairness easily gives way to liberty, if oppression is thought to be present). He is Haidt’s exemplar of a conservative fully realized in the sense of relying on all six of Haidt’s foundations of moral judgment, and Durkheim reappears repeatedly in the second half of the book. The much more usual moral judgment of “care/harm” is that of the Roman dictator Sulla, who wrote as his epitaph, “No friend ever served me, and no enemy ever wronged me, whom I have not repaid in full.” This suggests that Haidt’s project of reclaiming some agreement on moral issues through better understanding others is doomed, since if it is true that what understanding we have relies largely or wholly on latent Christianity, as that disappears what agreement we have is likely to disagree as well. Her book is an extended attack on any moral judgment that cannot be justified adequately to Nussbaum on the exclusive ground of Mill’s harm principle, and most especially on any moral judgment that depends in any way on a decision regarding sanctity or purity (i.e., in her mind, on moral judgments that are the opposite of “Humanity”). Nussbaum further discovers a Constitutional imperative to enshrine in law her beliefs and way of looking at morality, which would have surprised any American jurist prior to 1950, and something Haidt, with his plea to understand and value all the different bases for moral judgments, doubtless finds troubling. Presumably somewhere in her work Nussbaum enunciates why she believes the harm principle is the only moral criterion that can be permitted to exist; no doubt, her argument relies on assertions that only it is “rational.” But as Haidt shows, this is just the result of a parched inability to understand human beings, and a rejection of the cognitive function of intuition—which is why Nussbaum and her many allies are, though they don’t realize it, on the wrong side of history. The third part of the book focuses on why these intuitions developed from a Darwinian perspective, and in particular on “group selection”—behaviors in groups, especially moral behaviors, and why Haidt believes they developed, namely in order to confer evolutionary advantage on a group level. Haidt’s ultimate evolutionary conclusion is that humans are a unique combination of mostly chimpanzee with a little bee—we are mostly self-interested individuals willing to form groups, but sometimes willing to be “ultrasocial” (his term for human eusociality) and make sacrifices for the group as a whole, in ways chimpanzees never would (apparently chimpanzees can’t even agree to carry a log together, not ever, or engage in any other behaviors Haidt calls “shared intentionality”). He offers two conclusions unpalatable to liberals—that conservatives are stronger politically, because as noted above their political offerings resonate with the moral frames of more people, and that conservatives are mostly right in their approach to human nature and its political implications. Haidt says that liberals, in fact, to their detriment typically are unable to understand conservatives, because their own moral framework is relatively limited, such that they retreat, when confronted with incomprehensible opposing beliefs, into the belief that conservatives are inherently evil. Haidt clearly struggles with his own self-image as a progressive, with being forced by his scientific analysis to admit the possibility that “conservatives [might] have a better formula for how to create a healthy, happy society.” This is probably why he has been accused of being a crypto-conservative—not only because he attacks liberal pieties that traditionally go wholly unchallenged, but he goes even farther and seems to substantively edge toward endorsing actual conservative beliefs, openly praising Durkheim, Burke, and the accretion of “moral capital.” In his point-counterpoint, it’s conservatives who have something to offer everyone, and liberals/libertarians who have a pinched, unproductive, unrealistic view of the world. Then Haidt offers “conservative wisdom” that is vastly broader and more generally applicable: “You can’t help the bees by destroying the hive,” in which Haidt offers a full-throated defense of Burkean “little platoons” in opposition to emancipation of the individual, and of “Durkeheimian utilitarianism,” exemplified by when “Adam Smith argued similarly [to Burke] that patriotism and parochialism are good things because they lead people to exert themselves to improve the things they can improve.” These are vastly broader propositions than modest regulation and corporate controls; they are entire visions of the good and human society, and if this is “conservative wisdom,” it is of massively greater import than the “liberal wisdom” Haidt offers. Haidt, of course, doesn’t claim that his framework answers all moral questions—his claim is much more limited, that people approach moral questions in a definable way with certain common characteristics among all people, but with key differences as well, and that understanding this truth makes it possible both to discuss political matters with others and to, up to a point, attempt to influence them in more productive ways than might otherwise be possible. Haidt begins this book by quoting Rodney King, “Can we all get along?” Since he wrote this book, in 2012, Haidt has become perhaps the most prominent liberal voice today in America calling for the both a concerted effort to increase civility in political discourse, by using the frames he presents in this book, and also calling for the toleration of conservatives in the academic world."
Best Religious Studies - Comparative Religion
In Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, now expanded with bonus content, Nabeel Qureshi describes his dramatic journey from Islam to Christianity, complete with friendships, investigations, and supernatural dreams along the way. -- Mark Gabriel, , Author and former lecturer, University of Cairo. Fresh, striking, highly illuminating, and sometimes heartbreaking, Qureshi’s story is worth a thousand textbooks. His quest brought together several exceptional features: a very bright mind, extraordinary sincerity, original research, and a willingness to follow the evidence trail wherever it took him. This book gives westerners a glimpse of the richness of family and love in a devout Muslim home; it is an enviable picture of respect, devotion, and society. But Christians and Muslims alike are told stories about their religions when they are young, while few have ever personally researched the writings of their founding fathers to assess the validity that undergirds their respective faiths. But it is also a deeply personal heart-wrenching and tear-evoking saga of the life of a young Muslim growing up in the West, a gripping biography that is impossible to put down. We are introduced to the depth of spirituality, the love and honor of family, and the way a person “sees” and “feels” in a devout Muslim home. It reaches both East and West, teaching Christians about Islam from an insider’s perspective and helping Muslims understand the love and truth of Jesus. Nabeel Qureshi masterfully argues for the Gospel while painting a beautiful portrait of Muslim families and heritage, avoiding the fear-mongering and finger-pointing that are all too pervasive in today’s sensationalist world.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"For myself, I was reliving the search I had pursued forty five years ago, when my embrace of existentialism had left me so empty and purposeless that I had to reconsider the claims of Christ, just in case they might be true. I found myself anticipating each next step in Nabeel's intellectual journey, as each critical aspect of the truth of Christianity was substantiated by his investigations. I even experienced to a degree Nabeel's family conflicts, though for me it was my mother's amazement and bitter disappointment with my choice after college of seminary instead of medical school."
"The dedication at the beginning of the book, read by the author himself, had me bawling like a baby. I was unaware of how much disagreement about doctrine that there is within different Muslim beliefs and Qureshi walks through them carefully and respectfully."
"I have to say that as a Christian, before reading this book, I had very little knowledge of the Muslim faith and how Muslim children are raised."
Best Controversial Religious Knowledge
His quest takes him on a detective journey from the stunningly beautiful painted caves of prehistoric France, Spain, and Italy to rock shelters in the mountains of South Africa, where he finds extraordinary Stone Age art. He uncovers clues that lead him to the depths of the Amazon rainforest to drink the powerful hallucinogen Ayahuasca with shamans, whose paintings contain images of "supernatural beings" identical to the animal-human hybrids depicted in prehistoric caves. "Graham Hancock is no stranger to controversy.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The first book since I was a child that I couldn't put down, a must read for anyone that is into this type of information.."
"Not one of his best written books but Love the Theory."
"Very thought provoking book Graham is good about presenting stories and events without necessarily trying to make you believe they are the factual answers."
"While I enjoyed the research and was fascinated by the conclusions that Graham drew, I was a bit ticked off that he left the book in a cliffhanger."
"Graham Hancock is not only one of the most original thinkers of our age, he is truly the model for what scientists need to be in our new era - open to new concepts and ideas, able to challenge previously accepted dogma, and able to shift his preconcieved notions when presented with better data."
"Though this book doesn't cover the topic of the lost civilization that Graham is infamously known for, it's highly enjoyable."
"I am still reading this fascinating factual assessment into the drug and sensory trip or trips into the supernatural... Graham Hancock has never failed to put all the cards on the table when researching the accessibility. to the supernatural."
Best Ecumenism Christian Theology
Evangelical churches emphasize the importance of Scripture and preaching. As the church navigates the unique global challenges of pluralism, secularism, and fundamentalism, the need for an integrated vision of the community as evangelical, sacramental, and pentecostal becomes ever more pressing. (Glen G. Scorgie, professor of theology and ethics, Bethel Seminary San Diego). "In Evangelical, Sacramental, and Pentecostal , Gordon Smith is a constructive provocateur. Evangelical, Sacramental, and Pentecostal is a wise and thoughtful invitation, accompanied by concrete suggestions, for churches to enter more fully into the grace that is found in union with Christ." In this timely pastoral appeal to overcome historical and theological divisions, Gordon T. Smith invites believers to be drawn into the fullness of life―fellowship with the living God―by embracing the divinely appointed means of grace." This kind of perspective is absolutely in tune with what the church in post-Christendom needs in these days when we are redefining our identity as God's people and need resources to help guide us in that important work." He is an ordained minister with the Christian and Missionary Alliance and a teaching fellow at Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"While it is a shorter work, it is power packed and full of dynamic concepts needed for the church of today."
"Smith showcases how being all three of these will protect the church from some of the excesses and traps of the others, therefore giving the Church the ability to be a well-rounded worship community."
"Smith's words help us to find appropriate godly unity for the church if we will humble ourselves enough to embrace it."
"The title says it well: why the the church needs to be all three, Evangelical with its emphasis on the Word of God, Sacramental emphasizing baptism and the Lord's Supper, and Pentecostal emphasizing the presence and power of the Spirit."
"His analysis teaches a sense of unity through openness to learn the rich blessings God has gifted to each tradition."
"Smith offers great insight into the three major streams of faith throughout church history, and he powerfully calls the Church to re-engage with each, demonstrating the importance of the Word, the sacraments, and the Spirit in the life of the church and the life of all Christians."
"Excellent concept and way to re-think church."
"Excellent book!"
Best Religious Studies - Education
2) This Bible further benefits from a fully interactive Table of Contents which allow users to select specific books AND chapters in BOTH the Old and New Testaments. The Authorized King James Version Holy Bible for Kindle Edition offers readers the full, unabridged text of the King James Version in an exceptionally clear, LARGE PRINT and readable type in a single, easy-to-carry download. Masterfully edited with a facsimile illustration of the original opening page of the King James Version, the economical price of this Authorized King James Version Holy Bible for Kindle represents truly exceptional value. The Authorized King James Version Holy Bible for Kindle Edition offers reader special Kindle enabled features, including interactive table of contents, MasterLink(tm) Technology, text-to-speech capabilities which enable audiobook features, as well as words that can be looked up on the Kindle supplied built in dictionary. ABS has a number of "firsts" in its record books: the first Bibles in hotels, the first pocket Bibles for soldiers (during the Civil war), and the first Bibles provided for the U.S. Military in 1817. The Society extends its outreach internationally through the United Bible Societies (UBS), a fellowship of 126 international Bible societies, and was instrumental in founding this global fellowship in the interest of greater ministry impact and efficiency.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I give this bible 5 stars cause it exposes that the bible has been tampered with... All bible believers must have this bible in their collection..."
"good for daily Bible reading, needed the old King James, but this one is good."
"Had one of these given to me years ago and it was starting to come apart."
"A beautiful Bible with lovely Kincaid works and bible passages and large print - easy to read!"
"I read the bible on my I-pad and it is easy to read."
"Our twelve year old son really likes this Bible."
"something it may take time but lettering a bit small."
"Difficult to use."
Best Eschatology
Thousands of people have had them, but many in the scientific community have argued that they are impossible. A highly trained neurosurgeon who had operated on thousands of brains in the course of his career, Alexander knew that what people of faith call the “soul” is really a product of brain chemistry. NDEs, he would have been the first to explain, might feel real to the people having them, but in truth they are simply fantasies produced by brains under extreme stress. Today he is a doctor who believes that true health can be achieved only when we realize that God and the soul are real and that death is not the end of personal existence but only a transition. He writes that he attended his Episcopal church even as he questioned how God, heaven, and an afterlife could exist, yet the heaven he describes seeing certainly seems like a biblical one; a typical line is, “the visual beauty of the silvery bodies of those scintillating beings above.” His story includes interesting asides about past struggles with alcohol and with adoption. It ends with a request to support Eternea, Alexander’s nonprofit that has as its mission, “increasing global acceptance of the reality of our eternal spiritual existence . --Karen Springen "Eben Alexander brings a unique perspective to the sacred world combining a glorious, personal vision of spiritual consciousness with patient, insightful scientific inquiry. His honest struggle to make sense of this unforgettable journey is a gripping story, unique in the literature of spiritual experiences, that may well change how we understand our role in the universe."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Sometimes when I tell my story, the reactions are good and sometimes people just think the brain is reacting to the death process! To feel totally immersed in LOVE, cannot be put into the languages of this world - I've tried and failed. I really stopped caring if people believed me or not, however, when they want to know what I experienced - I'm always happy to tell them what happened to me - as best I can - with the limitations that language can express! Rather you are a believer or not, Religious or Attheist, Agnostic, or what ever you are, at the very least you will come away with questions, that will at least make you wonder!!!"
"I've read a couple of other near death experience stories, this one has credibility and a genuine feel to it."
"It gives hope."
"I really loved this book."
"Very interesting book with as good of scientific research as could be done with this subject matter."
"I would expect it is difficult to relate something this mind blowing to the average human in this plane, but this adventure is so extraordinary that more elaboration would have been good. In the end the author of this book discovered what I would expect (or hope to expect) and that is that we are all connected with God, (we may even be God in little bits, and combined we are All That Is)."
"The author does a great job of bringing science into his discussion of a topic that is truly beyond modern science."
"Still reading it, but the book is very interesting."
Best Religious Essays
From the #1 New York Times best-selling author of God Is Not Great , a provocative and entertaining guided tour of atheist and agnostic thought through the ages--with never-before-published pieces by Salman Rushdie, Ian McEwan, and Ayaan Hirsi Ali.Christopher Hitchens continues to make the case for a splendidly godless universe in this first-ever gathering of the influential voices--past and present--that have shaped his side of the current (and raging) God/no-god debate. "Religion invents a problem where none exists by describing the wicked as also made in the image of god and the sexually nonconformist as existing in a state of incurable mortal sin that can incidentally cause floods and earthquakes." All are enjoyable to read and will make even religious believers envious of the talent gathered for this anthology.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Power-packed collection of timeless works, both modern and classics."
"Essential reading, in my opinion, is an understatement!"
"The lengthy introduction will be familiar to those who have read other works by Hitchens and seen his lectures and debates."
"Marshalled in one volume on the issue of divinity and why it matters.My view is that as we learn more about the world around us that we will rely less on a divinity that creats miracles ,intervenes in our lives,and punishes us.But the human need to believe in the supernatural continues."
"It would, on the other hand, present a great challenge for anyone to read who insists upon clinging to the cherished beliefs and primitive superstitions offered by religion."
"Creationists and theists would gain a lot of food for thought here, but I rarely encounter one who believes in God being open minded enough to allow any challenge to their faith, however steeped in logic, reason and common sense that challenge may be."
"dont be deceived by the title."
"I particularly liked the long chapter from the book, Why I Am not a Muslim by Ibn Warraq, the chapter on Chapman Cohen (Christopher Hitchens' favorite) and his views on monism and religion and on the Virgin birth, Michael Shermer's satiric piece on Genesis (Michael Shermer was the first single author who set me on this whole path of reading books by the likes of Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, etc.)."
Best Religious Studies - Ethics
Lewis, one of the most renowned Christian authors and thinkers, examines a universally applicable question within the human condition: “If God is good and all-powerful, why does he allow his creatures to suffer pain?” With his signature wealth of compassion and insight, C.S. "Love, in its own nature, demands the perfecting of the beloved; that the mere 'kindness' which tolerates anything except suffering in its object is, in that respect at the opposite pole from Love." The mind is expanded, God is magnified, and the reader is reminded that he is not the center of the universe as Lewis carefully rolls through the dissertation that suffering is God's will in preparing the believer for heaven and for the full weight of glory that awaits him there. It says so many things which seem to me to need saying today.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Great book."
"Wonderful book charged with Christ and Grace."
"How can one not love C. S. Lewis?"
"Lewis is a powerful theologian with an engaging style."
"Gives clarity as to why we sin and how we changed after the the sin in the garden."
Best Religious Fundamentalism
The Christian church has a long tradition of systematic theology, that is, studying theology and doctrine organized around fairly standard categories such as the Word of God, redemption, and Jesus Christ. His Systematic Theology provides the core theology content for all my classes and most of the other undergraduate theology courses at the University. No other theology text combines readability, range of views, and the ever-essential quality of reinforcing our systematic theologies with scripture… Each chapter closes with application questions, special terms, additional bibliography, a cross-section of other systematic texts with page numbers, a passage for memory, and a hymn…all centered on the theology of that chapter.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"arrived in great condition, completely satisfied with the purchase."
Best Gnosticism
The compilation of ancient manuscripts that constitute The Nag Hammadi Scriptures is a discovery that challenges everything we thought we knew about the early Christian church, ancient Judaism, and Greco-Roman religions. It includes the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Mary, and the recently discovered Gospel of Judas, as well as other Gnostic gospels and sacred texts.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I realize that there are other approaches to translation - but this is the one that I feel best serves both the original author and the reader. It is clear from the introduction - and on every following page - that Dr. Meyer's primary commitment was to making the Nag Hammadi library palatable to modern readers - rather than presenting the text accurately. This is demonstrated throughout - and, to give credit, and least Dr. Meyer and the other translators make no excuses for their choices. Putting in something that isn't there, based on a sense of the "spirit" of a text is, by definition compromising accuracy. To give credit - again - where deserved - many notes to mention that the translators have changed the clear meaning of the text. But, too often, the notes are simply Dr. Meyer's digressions on other similar mythologies which may or may not have any relevance to the text. But, since it was published before Gnosticism became hip - and profitable - the original translation demonstrates a clear and consistent commitment to the text."
"When they delve into either a rehash of what the text covers, or an exposition of what school of theology this text appears to come from, I find that a distraction and would rather read it after reading the translation itself. Regardless, for me, I would have appreciated have a brief overview of facts or assumptions about the age and authorship at the front of each text and have the translators' analysis of the text follow after."
"Perhaps it is the lesser quality paper they use to keep costs down that prevents the use of darker ink. Note about the content: This book will revise your beliefs on everything you thought you knew."
"enjoyed what I have read so far."
"it should be enough to say it is an interesting read."
"Enthralling and fascinating reading."
Best Religious Studies - History
Millions of readers have thrilled to bestselling authors Bill O'Reilly and historian Martin Dugard's Killing Kennedy and Killing Lincoln , page-turning works of nonfiction that have changed the way we read history. “O'Reilly is the natural choice to narrate this work… he carries the work along and the audiobook is a good introduction to the Synoptic Gospels.” ― AudioFile Magazine Bill O'Reilly is the anchor of "The O'Reilly Factor," the highest-rated cable news show in the country.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"There is no writing concerning the actual miracles attributed to Jesus, but they are mentioned in the text as news of them spread into the surrounding area, so the authors appear to make no claim to any authenticity. After that, it's once again news of post death appearances spread by supposed eyewitnesses, with no attempt to state any author belief in whether or not these events actually occurred. Lest I be accused of being some type of sceptic or unbeliever, let me state that, like the authors, I am a practicing Roman Catholic and truly believe that Jesus is who he said he is and that, if I do what is right, he will greet me when I die. I know that there are many people out there who do not like O'Reilly for his political views and will allow that mind set to lead them to give this book a bad review, even though many of them will not have read it."
"While this book is written in the dry detective-like style and non-religious manner, it presents certain historical information of the area and era that add to what you would read in the Bible."
"The details of the physical affects of the crucifixion were tough to get through but at the same time it increased my appreciation of the suffering that Jesus endured."
"Extremely well written and engaging."
"I just finished the book Killing Jesus by Bill O'Riley."
"Throughly enjoyed this book.The history came alive with the facts presented."
"Their meticulous research brings to life the people and customs of Jesus' time and explains the human side of Jesus, his disciples, his followers, and his enemies. O'Reilly took some criticism for not putting more emphasis on the spiritual side of Jesus, but he made it plain early on that this book is a history of Jesus the man, not a companion piece to the Bible."
Best Religious Leadership
Visioneering, according to bestselling author Andy Stanley, is “a clear mental picture of what could be, fueled by the conviction that it should be.” With warm, down-to-earth practicality, Andy Stanley explores the ordinary life of Nehemiah and his God-given vision for accomplishing the extraordinary. Whether you’re a parent with a vision for your children or a CEO pursuing a corporate vision, Visioneering is the perfect tool to help you develop and maintain God’s unique purpose for your life. Andy Stanley is a pastor, communicator, author, and the founder of North Point Ministries (NPM). Andy and his wife, Sandra, live in Alpharetta, Georgia, and have three children. On December 17, 1903, at 10:35 a.m., Orville Wright secured his place in history by executing the first powered and sustained flight from level ground. For twelve gravity-defying seconds he flew 120 feet along the dunes of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. But what most children abandon to the domain of fantasy, Orville and Wilbur Wright seized upon as potential reality. Wilbur described the birth of their vision this way: Our personal interest in it [aviation] dates from our childhood days. Late in the autumn of 1878, our father came into the house one evening with some object partly concealed in his hands, and before we could see what it was, he tossed it into the air. It was a little toy, known to scientists as a “hélicoptère,” but which we, with sublime disregard for science, at once dubbed a “bat.”. It was a light frame of cork and bamboo, covered with paper, which formed two screws, driven in opposite directions by rubber bands under torsion. A toy so delicate lasted only a short time in the hands of small boys, but its memory was abiding. This childhood experience sparked in the boys an insatiable desire to fly. In doing so, they stumbled upon the principles of physics that would pave the way to their first successful manned flight. If I were to boil it down to a formula, it would look something like this: VISIONEERING = INSPIRATION + CONVICTION +. ACTION + DETERMINATION + COMPLETION Destinations Life is a journey. Where you will end up in the various roles you play; what you will accomplish personally, professionally, domestically, and spiritually. A clear vision, along with the courage to follow through, dramatically increases your chances of coming to the end of your life, looking back with a deep abiding satisfaction, and thinking, I did it. Without a clear vision, odds are you will come to the end of your life and wonder. And let’s face it, much of what we do doesn’t appear to matter much when evaluated apart from some larger context or purpose. But take the minutia of this very day, drop it into the cauldron of a God-ordained vision, stir them around, and suddenly there is purpose! It is the difference between filling bags with dirt and building a dike in order to save a town. Building a dike gives meaning to the chore of filling bags with dirt. Too many times the routines of life begin to feel like shoveling dirt. Specifically, vision weaves four things into the fabric of our daily experience. The thing that makes daydreaming so enjoyable is the emotion that piggybacks on those mind’s-eye images. When we allow our thoughts to wander outside the walls of reality, our feelings are quick to follow. A clear, focused vision actually allows us to experience ahead of time the emotions associated with our anticipated future. Even the most lifeless, meaningless task or routine can begin to “feel” good when it is attached to a vision. Through the avenue of vision, the feelings reserved for tomorrow are channeled back into our present reality. Being the preacher’s son, my primary realm of influence (and acceptance) was church. So I would put up with the traffic, the gas bills, and even leaving their houses early enough to be home by curfew. I was committed to what could be (being on the other side of Atlanta) as opposed to what was (sitting at home in Tucker). The details, chores, and routines of life become a worthwhile means to a planned-for end. Find me a man or woman who lacks motivation and I’ll show you someone with little or no vision. Vision is a big part of the reason you completed college or graduate school. Think of all the seemingly wasted hours of study and class time. Even then you knew that much of what you were memorizing for tests was a waste of time and effort. long years you endured science labs, European history, research papers, and lectures. Like most serious musicians, I accumulated quite a collection of gear: recording equipment, guitars, keyboards, drum machines, and several miles of cable. When Sandra and I were married, she allowed me the luxury of setting up a small studio in the basement of our condominium. It was not unusual for me to retreat to my studio after dinner and emerge just in time for breakfast. As Andrew began to look less like a baby and more like a little boy, I started to give serious thought to my relationship with my children. Having spent ten years working with teenagers, I had a frighteningly clear picture of what could be and what should not be! My vision for my family dictated that I put musical pursuits on hold. There was no way I would be able to develop the relationship I envisioned with my children while pursuing my musical aspirations. A clear vision has the power to bring what’s most important to the surface of your schedule and lifestyle. A clear vision makes it easy to weed out of your life those things that stand in the way of achieving what matters most. A vision makes you an important link between current reality and the future. The Divine Element Granted, you have probably heard or read this type of stuff before. Honoring God involves discovering his picture or vision of what our lives could and should be. With that in mind, rethink the implications of this familiar verse: For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. And through Christ he has brought about, and continues to bring about, changes in you in accordance with his picture of what you could and should be. More to This Life All that to say, as Christians, we do not have a right to take our talents, abilities, experiences, opportunities, and education and run off in any direction we please. Missing out on God’s plan for our lives must be the greatest tragedy this side of eternity. Granted, this world offers a truckload of options when it comes to possible visions to pursue. But you were tailor-made, carefully crafted, minutely detailed for a selected divine agenda. His individual vision for your life is a small part of a plan he envisioned and put in motion long before you or I came on the scene—but now I’m jumping ahead. Without God’s vision, you may find yourself in the all too common position of looking back on a life that was given to accumulating green pieces of paper with pictures of dead presidents on them. But let’s face it, at each milestone in your pursuit of more stuff, you feel like you did as a kid after all the presents were opened on Christmas morning. This is why it is imperative that you discover and participate in God’s multifaceted vision for your life. Your uniqueness and individuality will reach its pinnacle in the context of your pursuit of God’s plan for your life. _ _ _ In the pages that follow, you will encounter several features that will assist you in establishing or clarifying God’s vision for your life. Here is where you can start laying down the details of a plan that will insure activation of your vision. Finally, at the end of the book is a small group discussion guide. A small group will help you sharpen your vision and provide accountability as you pursue God’s plan for your life. Let’s face it, if we could heal at will, part the Red Sea with the flick of a wrist, or walk on water, it would make the process of accomplishing our goals much simpler. Vision is born in the soul of a man or woman who is consumed with the tension between what is and what could be. It is this element that catapults men and women out of the realm of passive concern and into action. Vision requires visionaries, people who have allowed their minds and hearts to wander outside the artificial boundaries imposed by the world as it is. Once upon a Time… Around 587 BC, the Babylonians invaded Judah and destroyed the city of Jerusalem, along with Solomon’s temple. On all three occasions the Babylonians took a number of Israelites as captives and resettled them in Babylon. Under the leadership of a man named Zerubbabel, these exiled Jews returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt the temple. But the people refused to turn away from. the very sins God had judged their ancestors for in the days of Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar. The Jews continued to adopt the religious practices and culture of the surrounding nations. By the time our story begins, the political, social, and spiritual conditions in Jerusalem were deplorable. Meanwhile, back in Persia, a Jewish fellow named Nehemiah heard about the plight of his homeland—and he felt something. Little did he know these deep feelings were the initial birth pains of a vision that people would be reading about thousands of years later. In fact, for anyone trying to clarify the right vision to pursue, a good question to ask is simply this: “What breaks my heart?” Most social reform movements that have made a positive impact in the world began with a broken-hearted leader. I think of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his heart for the oppressed in black America. Every significant nonprofit organization that has positively impacted this world began with a brokenhearted leader. He then went on to found World Vision so the same kind of help could be offered to needy children around the globe. But neither did he allow his daily responsibilities to distract him from the burden that had gripped his heart. Developing or discovering a vision for a particular area of our lives takes time. But it is a process that yields a product worth every bit of the agony along the way. Revving our vision engines at the starting line feels like a waste of time. This sense of “time is awasting” is the very thing that compels people To move out too soon. Time allows us to distinguish between good ideas and visions worth throwing the weight of our life behind. Waiting gives us a chance to examine our emotions and sort our minor concerns from major ones. Knowing these guys as well as I did, I’m sure that if they had had the opportunity to sign up and ship out on the day they sensed God’s call on their lives, they would have both headed for the airport. During the process of finishing college, Chip slowly began to lose interest. But Chip followed through with that vision and became active in his local church and effective in the ministry of lifestyle evangelism. Let’s face it, a good motivational speaker can cast such a compelling vision that before you know it you feel like it is your own. As we wait, God will shape and mature ideas into visions that can survive in the real world. If you saw The Empire Strikes Back, you remember the scene in which Luke wants to go rescue his friends before he has finished his Jedi Knight training. They are my friends; I must help them.”. Yoda finally issues a dire warning, “If you leave now, help them you could, but you will destroy all for which they have fought and suffered.”. But Luke is determined to go. In the case of a divinely ordered vision God goes to work in you to prepare you for what he knows lies ahead. Maybe that’s why he inspired the apostle to write the next phrase: “Do all things without grumbling or disputing” (verse 14). My guess is that without a vision, our willingness to allow God to prepare us would be greatly diminished. Who would suffer the headache of college or graduate school without the vision of job opportunities? Now I don’t know if he actually sat down and calculated how long it would take to deliver Israel by killing one Egyptian at a time. It took Moses forty years to grow into the vision God had designed for him. Meanwhile, back in Egypt, another generation or two dies at the hands of Egyptian taskmasters. As the story unfolds, it becomes evident his service to the king of Persia was in fact his desert experience. For this was a man with immense leadership ability who awoke every day to do a job that tapped little or none of those skills. Do you wake up every day to circumstances that have absolutely nothing remotely to do with the vision you sense God is developing in you? David, the teenage king, spent years hiding in caves. And Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the very king whose ancestors had destroyed the city he longed to rebuild! But from what I read in the Scriptures, I would guess the time required for God to grow you into his vision for your life will be somewhere between four months and forty years. There seems to be a correlation between the preparation time and the magnitude of the task to which we are called. Leading God’s people out of four hundred years of slavery required more than a four-year degree. In the case of a divinely ordered vision, God is working behind the scenes to prepare the way. Ultimately, we are taking part in a massive assault that began one dark afternoon on a hill just outside of Jerusalem. Apart from his intervention and preparation, you and I are incapable of pulling off even our small part of the operation. And he knew that apart from divine intervention there was no way in the world he would be able to take part in the reconstruction of Jerusalem. In fact, as we will see in the next chapter, he went so far as to think through exactly what it would take to pull off a project of that magnitude. Once they feel their idea is from God, they assume all systems are go and they need to quit their jobs, step out on faith, and begin. But the story of Nehemiah, along with numerous other biblical accounts, illustrates the truth that a clear vision does not necessarily indicate a green light to begin. In fact, I have witnessed a good many people with what seemed to be God-ordained visions charge out of the starting gates too early. As a pastor I have counseled with dozens of men and women who were in the process of determining the source of a concern or burden they carried. While developing the material for this book I interviewed several Christian men and women who have visioneered ideas into successful enterprises. If it is God who has begun painting a picture of what could and should be on the canvas of your heart, over time you will begin to sense that not to follow through would be tantamount to an act of disobedience. Time allows your heavenly Father to transition what begins as an idea into a moral compulsion. A second indicator is that there will always be alignment between a divinely originated vision and God’s master plan for this age. As we said at the outset, at Calvary we lost our right to devise our own plans and pursue our own agendas. All divinely inspired visions are in some way tied into God’s master plan. Whether it is loving your wife, investing in your kids, witnessing to your neighbor, launching a ministry, or starting a company, every divinely placed burden has a link to a bigger picture. It was Israel’s strategic role in God’s plan that made Nehemiah’s vision so compelling. Visions are often born in the soul of a man or woman who is gripped by a tension between what is and what should be.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Andy Stanley has done a masterful job sharing how an ordinary man like Nehemiah, and me for that matter, can lead courageously in a way that honors God."
"We always hope of having 1 grand vision, but reality is that we have different normal visions in different areas of our lives."
"Having envisioned many possibilities, and had others look at me like was crazy, this book provides a sense of peace, meaning and how to endure if you believe in your vision."
"It was recommended to me by a mentor and business owners of a world renown aerospace technology company."
"The bible claims we have all been created for good works (Ephesians 2:10) and Andy Stanley helps us identify and pursue those good works with energy and passion."
"This book does a great job of helping you focus, develop and organize your vision in life."
"Thought provoking and insightful."
"A must read for everyone."
Best Religious Studies - Philosophy
A preeminent scientist -- and the world's most prominent atheist -- asserts the irrationality of belief in God and the grievous harm religion has inflicted on society, from the Crusades to 9/11. He says it's the scientist and humanist in him that makes him hostile to religions—fundamentalist Christianity and Islam come in for the most opprobrium—that close people's minds to scientific truth, oppress women and abuse children psychologically with the notion of eternal damnation. While Dawkins can be witty, even confirmed atheists who agree with his advocacy of science and vigorous rationalism may have trouble stomaching some of the rhetoric: the biblical Yahweh is "psychotic," Aquinas's proofs of God's existence are "fatuous" and religion generally is "nonsense." Richard Dawkins, in The God Delusion, tells of his exasperation with colleagues who try to play both sides of the street: looking to science for justification of their religious convictions while evading the most difficult implicationsthe existence of a prime mover sophisticated enough to create and run the universe, "to say nothing of mind reading millions of humans simultaneously."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I would highly recommend this book to any open minded religious person."
"Although Dawkins is widely reviled for his skewering of religion he supports his position with reason and evidence, unlike most of his attackers."
"Certainly evoked serious thinking of what we believe and why."
"Instead, he goes straight to the point and focuses on the logical inconsistency in religion and presents a scientific explanation and an alternative approach to religious faith. I would like to say that to complement this effort, any person interested in such topics should become acquainted with the reason why religious mythology is flawed and vague. But it helps us to understand and know the missing pieces from the main monotheistic religions in order for us to debate the die-hard believers who do not, themselves, know the answer to many questionable facts in the Bible and the Qur'an. If we ignore that for a moment, we still realize that there are so many gaps in the religious narrative, in the mythology, and in the beliefs as well. It's inconceivable that these societies, which were highly cultured and intelligent by every measure, couldn't have come up with a better narrative. Much more is discussed in the book God's Untold Story, which covers not just how monotheism remains largely polytheistic, but also sheds light on the many great gaps in the Biblical and Qur'anic narrative."
"Clinton Richard Dawkins (born 1941) is an English ethologist and evolutionary biologist, as well as an emeritus fellow of New College, Oxford. He has written some of the most creative and challenging defenses of evolutionary theory [e.g., The Blind Watchmaker: Why the Evidence of Evolution Reveals a Universe without Design,Climbing Mount Improbable] of anyone other than the late Stephen Jay Gould. He said in the Preface to this 2006 book, "I am sure... that there are lots of people out there who have been brought up in some religion or other, are unhappy in it, don't believe it... but just don't realize that leaving is an option. 46). He clarifies, "I shall define the God Hypothesis more defensibly: there exists a superhuman, supernatural intelligence who deliberately designed and created the universe and everything in it, including us. This book will advocate an alternative view: any creative intelligence, of sufficient complexity to design anything, comes into existence only as the end product of an extended process of gradual evolution." God, or any intelligent, decision-taking, calculating agent, would have to be highly improbable in the very same statistical sense as the entities he is supposed to explain. 148-149). He admits, "there's no denying that, from a moral point of view, Jesus is a huge improvement over the cruel ogre of the Old Testament."
"Dawkins is precise and systematic in his breakdown of religion and the perils that come with it."
Best Religious Studies - Psychology
This well-researched examination of human moral impulses will appeal to liberals and conservatives alike following the 2016 presidential campaign and election. That's what makes The Righteous Mind well worth hearing...a landmark contribution to humanity's understanding of itself.― -New York Times Book Review “Haidt is looking for more than victory. That’s what makes The Righteous Mind well worth reading…a landmark contribution to humanity’s understanding of itself.” – New York Times Book Review “Jonathan Haidt is one of smartest and most creative psychologists alive, and his newest book, The Righteous Mind, is a tour de force—a brave, brilliant and eloquent exploration of the most important issues of our time. This penetrating yet accessible book will help readers understand the righteous minds that inhabit politics.” —Larry Sabato, University of Virginia, author of A More Perfect Constitution “A remarkable and original synthesis of social psychology, political analysis, and moral reasoning that reflects the best of sciences in these fields and adds evidence that we are innately capable of the decency and righteousness needed for societies to survive.” —Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor Emeritus, Harvard University. “[Haidt’s] framework for the different moral universes of liberals and conservatives struck me as a brilliant breakthrough… The Righteous Mind provides an invaluable road map.” –Miller-McCune.com. “A much-needed voice of moral sanity.” – Booklist "An important and timely book…His ideas are controversial but they make you think…Haidt has made his reputation as a social psychologist at the University of Virginia, where he and his colleagues explore reason and intuition, why people disagree so passionately and how the moral mind works."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Haidt's understanding of human morality and the science of communication and decision making are weaved together into an approachable, beautiful and potentially life changing symphony. You can probably imagine how frustrated I felt when I was consistently unable to win arguments about out-there, government's coming for us-so buy some guns, conspiracy discussions. One of the foundational pieces discussed in the book is the fact that we, as humans, make decisions in the parts of our brain that aren't subject to critical thinking. If you want to sway someones opinion, Haidt suggests, you must first appeal to their elephant (the emotional part of their brain or "why they feel the way they do"). I only wish everyone could read this book, understand their natural decision making process and be aware of what's happening to them when they have disagreements or strong opinions on a subject."
"This book was stressful for me to read because I really wanted to keep not liking the people I don't agree with."
"I lean toward "liberal" idealogies, but this book made me realize the value of a more diverse perspective for the survival of the human race and how my anti-religious viewpoints had incorporated "sacred" elements of their own."
"The way that Haidt so clearly delineates and explains the differences between liberal and conservative thinking is simply incredible... and that's just ONE of the mind-blowing aspects of this book."
"It's an unusually readable academic product of mind-Opening scholarship and, I found, accurate analysis."
"I'm not through with it, but it's well written with sources cited."
"Assumes some group or beehive behavior is evolving within our genes and the rest is unconscious, conditioned behavior."
"I recommend several reads of this book to anyone wanting to better understand their fellow human beings."
Best Religious Reference
Wiccans celebrate and share many of the same beliefs our ancestors held, with practices that honor the old ways while being compatible with contemporary life. The divine is worshipped as both masculine and feminine, with a focus on balance and harmony with Nature, and a recognition of the magical power inherent in the Universe as well as in ourselves. Whether you're just looking to learn more about the Wiccan way of life, or you want to start practicing Wicca yourself, you will have a solid understanding of the essence of Wicca after reading this book: The history of Wicca: its modern foundations as well as its ancient inspirations An introduction to the God and Goddess and their multiple aspects The Wiccan holidays of the Wheel of the Year: the Sabbats and the Esbats Core elements of Wiccan ritual, including an overview of ritual tools Principles of magic—both ancient and modern An overview of Wiccan covens, circles, and solitary practice Example ritual and spellwork suitable for beginners Sample tables of correspondence identifying the magical properties of selected colors, crystals, herbs and oils. Lisa is very unbiased, and uses a very practical approach in her books, which I absolutely love! -- Amazon Customer "Lisa's style is easy to read, packed with information that is usable and actionable. My sister and I love Chamberlain's books and recommend them to any beginner searching for knowledge!!" Although I am no longer a beginner, I still learned a great deal from this book and I really love how the author kept reinforcing how personal and flexible this path is." -- Jessica Kruzinski, Good Reads "As a fledgling Wiccan/Witch, I found Lisa's book to be very concise and simple. The author provides straightforward descriptions of the major points of Wicca, while making it absolutely clear that there is no one true way."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A great start for an amazing journey."
"This book was amazing I am the type that hasn’t picked up a book in a very long time."
"As I commented ive always been curious about Wiccan."
"This was a very useful tool to help me understand the basics."
"Great book alot of information."
"Good beginner Wiccan book, but pretty much the same as all other Wicca for beginners books."
"As a true beginner following the Pagan path it was well worth reading this book cover to cover."
Best Religious Studies - Science & Religion
Thousands of people have had them, but many in the scientific community have argued that they are impossible. A highly trained neurosurgeon who had operated on thousands of brains in the course of his career, Alexander knew that what people of faith call the “soul” is really a product of brain chemistry. NDEs, he would have been the first to explain, might feel real to the people having them, but in truth they are simply fantasies produced by brains under extreme stress. Today he is a doctor who believes that true health can be achieved only when we realize that God and the soul are real and that death is not the end of personal existence but only a transition. He writes that he attended his Episcopal church even as he questioned how God, heaven, and an afterlife could exist, yet the heaven he describes seeing certainly seems like a biblical one; a typical line is, “the visual beauty of the silvery bodies of those scintillating beings above.” His story includes interesting asides about past struggles with alcohol and with adoption. It ends with a request to support Eternea, Alexander’s nonprofit that has as its mission, “increasing global acceptance of the reality of our eternal spiritual existence . --Karen Springen "Eben Alexander brings a unique perspective to the sacred world combining a glorious, personal vision of spiritual consciousness with patient, insightful scientific inquiry. His honest struggle to make sense of this unforgettable journey is a gripping story, unique in the literature of spiritual experiences, that may well change how we understand our role in the universe."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Sometimes when I tell my story, the reactions are good and sometimes people just think the brain is reacting to the death process! To feel totally immersed in LOVE, cannot be put into the languages of this world - I've tried and failed. I really stopped caring if people believed me or not, however, when they want to know what I experienced - I'm always happy to tell them what happened to me - as best I can - with the limitations that language can express! Rather you are a believer or not, Religious or Attheist, Agnostic, or what ever you are, at the very least you will come away with questions, that will at least make you wonder!!!"
"Excellent book!"
"This book makes one think there is an after life after all."
"Excellent book!"
"I loved this book!"
"I definitely recommend the book and admit that I shed a few tears reading the poem towards the end of the book."
"Great price, great shipping, great book!"
Best Religious Studies - Sociology
This extraordinary work of investigative journalism takes readers inside America’s isolated Mormon Fundamentalist communities, where some 40,000 people still practice polygamy. --John Moe Using as a focal point the chilling story of offshoot Mormon fundamentalist brothers Dan and Ron Lafferty, who in 1984 brutally butchered their sister-in-law and 15-month-old niece in the name of a divine revelation, Krakauer explores what he sees as the nature of radical Mormon sects with Svengali-like leaders. Through interviews with family members and an unremorseful Dan Lafferty (who is currently serving a life sentence), Krakauer chronologically tracks what led to the double murder, from the brothers' theological misgivings about the Mormon church to starting their own fundamentalist sect that relies on their direct communications with God to guide their actions. According to Dan's chilling step-by-step account, when their new religion led to Ron's divorce and both men's excommunication from the Mormon church, the brothers followed divine revelations and sought to kill, starting with their sister-in-law, those who stood in the way of their new beliefs.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My book group discussed this book and we all agreed we learned more about the Mormon faith than we ever wanted to know."
"This time around I was stuck how regional some religions are."
"One of the most shocking accounts of the development of a major denomination I can imagine."
"It's so disturbing that such inappropriate, illegal and immoral behavior hides behind the guise of religion and is therefore ignored and allowed to continue."
"This is one of the best books I've ever read in my life."
"taking care of each other, protecting families, the visiting teachers (yawn), and so forth. I was also surprised to learn of the political machinations of the leaders when disguising aspects of Mormonism that they knew would repulse other Christians (and those of other faiths, as well, to be fair) and which would lead to military interference into their affairs. With Mormonism being powerful enough to have a man running for President (which was Joseph Smith's ambition, after all) there is a need for information on it. This book is likely to take it's place in the pantheon and fill the empty niche which was waiting for a modern interpretation of these beliefs."
"I was raised without any religious beliefs. Then as an adult I joined the main Mormon religion."
"This book is fine if you really like to have a detailed history lesson leading up to the main story."
Best Theology
Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale defend the absolute claims of Christ against modern belief in the "secular gods" of atheism, scientism, relativism, and more. ― Tim Keller, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York City RAVI ZACHARIAS is the founder and president of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with additional offices in Canada, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Austria, South Africa, Spain, and Turkey. DR. VINCE VITALE, born in NYC and raised in a family one generation removed from Mafia heritage, went to study philosophy at Princeton University and then took an unexpected journey that led him to God.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Since graduating from college a few years ago, I’ve been looking for books that would help me develop cultural awareness, lead me in my spiritual path, yet still challenge me intellectually. I’m a huge fan of the Ravi Zacharias & Vince Vitale collaboration, having read their book "Why Suffering?" Not only did it help to learn the fine-tuning argument in the beginning of the chapter, but Vitale made it click* of how a God who fine-tunes the world could fine-tune the humans that he (or she?). Most of my professors/peers/coworkers had/have a worldview defined by Atheism, Scientism, Humanism, Pluralism, Relativism, and Hedonism, and it’s so fascinating to see these different perspectives examined in a gracious manner."
"The authors are not only great scholars with immense knowledge within philosophy, worldview's and other topics, but are also frequently meeting real people who hold different positions which the book describes."
"Perfectly pitched for the thinking reader of all faiths and no faith, Jesus Among Secular Gods is a must-read for anyone honestly searching for answers to life’s biggest questions and is willing to follow the evidence where it leads."
"Dr.'s Vitale and Zacharias are as always, on point in their discussion of secularism, multiculturalism, and their deadly impact on society."
"Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale's new book 'Jesus among secular gods,' is written with great thought and in such a way that it does not dismiss the objections raised from atheistic and pluralistic philosophies but instead highlights the differences between the Christian worldview in comparison to a few other religious beliefs and especially that of the secular worldviews."