Recommended religious/spiritual books
2008-July to December
Sponsored link.
The current month's recommendation is located elsewhere.
"20 Compelling Evidences That God Exists:
Discover Why
Believing In God Makes So Much Sense"
by Kenneth D. Boa and Robert M., Jr. Bowman
Review / order it
In case you feel that we are promoting Theism as opposed to Atheism and
Agnosticism, please be aware that another selection presented 50 reasons why people believe in God, each with a description of why
each
belief
is invalid.
Amazon.com's book Description
"Is it Reasonable to Believe?"
"Remarkably, even though millions upon millions of us do
believe in God, when we are asked why we have such faith, we become tongue-tied
and struggle to give a reason for our hope. No wonder those who don't believe
God exists remain unconvinced—there's too few of us ready to speak on God's
behalf!"
"Ken Boa and Robert Bowman, have provided a resource that
tackles the most profound arguments from philosophy, science, sociology,
psychology, and history ... and presents twenty clear, concise, and compelling
evidences that show that faith in God—and specifically Jesus Christ—is
reasonable."
About the authors:
Kenneth Boa is engaged in a ministry of relational evangelism and
discipleship, teaching, writing, and speaking. He holds a B.S. from Case
Institute of Technology, a Th.M. From Dallas Theological Seminary,
a Ph.D. from New York University, and a D.Phil. from the University
of Oxford in England.
Dr. Boa is the President of Reflections Ministries, an organization
that seeks to provide safe places for people to consider the claims of Christ
and to help them mature and bear fruit in their relationship with Him. He is
also President of Trinity House Publishers, a publishing company that
is dedicated to the creation of tools that will help people manifest eternal
values in a temporal arena by drawing them to intimacy with God and a better
understanding of the culture in which they live.
Recent publications by Dr. Boa include Faith Has its Reasons, Conformed
to His Image, An Unchanging Faith in a Changing World; Face to Face; Pursuing
Wisdom; The Art of Living Well; Wisdom at Work, Living what You Believe,
and Sacred Readings. He is a contributing editor to The Open Bible,
the Promise Keeper's Men's Study Bible, The Leadership Bible, the
consulting editor of the Zondervan NASB Study Bible, and the
Editor-in-Chief of The Life Promises Bible.
Robert M. Bowman Jr. teaches in the Christian apologetics program at
Biola University, and is the president of Apologetics.com, Inc.,
based in Pasadena, California. Previously he served as a researcher and editor
for the Christian Research Institute, the Atlanta Christian
Apologetics Project, and Watchman Fellowship.
Book data:
Title: "20 Compelling Evidences That God Exists: Discover Why
Believing In God Makes So Much Sense "
Format: Paperback.
Publisher: David C. Cook
ISBN-10: 0781443067
ISBN-13: 978-0781443067
Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x ½ inches
Release date: 2005
Pages: 222
Cost: List: U.S. $14.99. Amazon.com sells it at 32% off for $10.19. They also often sell used copies at a very low
price.
Review / order it
Rating by 33 Amazon.com customers: 3.5 out of 5 stars. As is normal with
religious books, most customers found the book either excellent (4 or 5 stars)
or very poor (1). None were lukewarm (2 or 3 stars).
"The New Testament: A historical introduction to the
early Christian Writings,"
by Bart Ehrman.
Review / order it
This book is rather expensive. However, inexpensive used
copies are often available through
Amazon Marketplace.
Editorial reviews:
 | "An outstanding introduction. Blends contemporary scholarship, the early
Christian world, and attention to the needs of students most skillfully. The
best introduction currently available." Francis J. Moloney, The Catholic
University of America |
| "Ehrman's historical introduction to the New Testament is written more
clearly than any other I have used; it situates Christianity more honestly
in the ancient Greco-Roman world. It does not limit the picture of
Christianity to the New Testament but draws on other early Christian
writings. Lavishly illustrated." John L. White, Loyola University |
Amazon.com product description:
This new edition of Bart Ehrman's highly successful introduction approaches
the New Testament from a consistently historical and comparative perspective,
emphasizing the rich diversity of the earliest Christian literature. Rather than
shying away from the critical problems presented by these books, Ehrman
addresses the historical and literary challenges they pose and shows why
scholars continue to argue over such significant issues as how the books of the
New Testament came into being, what they mean, how they relate to contemporary
Christian and non-Christian literature, and how they came to be collected into a
canon of Scripture. Distinctive to this study is its emphasis on the historical,
literary, and religious milieu of the Greco-Roman world, including early
Judaism. As part of its historical orientation, this text also discusses works
by other Christian writers who were roughly contemporary with the New Testament,
such as the Gospel of Thomas, the Apocalypse of Peter, and the letters of
Ignatius. The volume is enhanced by two color inserts, one on illuminated
manuscripts and the other on archaeology.
New to this edition:
Additional material on archaeology, including a new eight-page color insert
"What to Expect" and "At a Glance" boxes that provide summaries of the material
covered in each chapter
A Website Study Guide at http://www.oup.com/us/ehrman, offering chapter
summaries, glossary terms, guides for reading, and self-quizzes for students.
Several new "Something to Think About" and "Some More Information" boxes
More extensive treatments of Judaism and of the role of women in the history of
early Christianity
Nine new illustrations
An Instructor's Manual containing chapter summaries, discussion questions, and
possible examination questions
Ideal for undergraduate and seminary classes in the New Testament, Biblical
Studies, and Christian Origins, The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to
the Early Christian Writings, 3/e, is an accessible, clearly written
introduction that encourages students to consider the historical issues
surrounding these writings.
Book data:
Title: "The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings "
Format: Paperback.
Publisher: Oxford University Press USA
ISBN-10: 0195154622
ISBN-13: 978-0195154627
Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 1 inches
Release date: 2003; 3rd edition
Pages: 560
Cost: List: U.S. $57.95. Amazon.com often sells used copies at a very low
price.
Review / order it
Rating by 33 Amazon.com customers: 4 out of 5 stars. As is normal with
religious books, most customers found the book either excellent (4 or 5 stars)
or very poor (1). Few are lukewarm.
"With or without God: Why the way we live is more
important that what we believe"
by Gretta Vosper
This book promotes a progressive view of
Christianity that might just reverse the gradual decline of mainline
Christianity into irrelevance. It is a best seller in Canada. Unfortunately, as
of 2008-AUG-01, it is listed by neither Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com. See
Amazon's Canadian outlet at
Amazon.ca for a description.
Amazon.ca Book Description:
"God does not answer our prayers. Jesus is not the savior who saved the
world by dying for our sins. Simply put, Christianity is “love one
another.” Gretta Vosper, founder of the Canadian Centre for
Progressive Christianity and a minister in Toronto, believes that
the church, as we have built it and known it, has outlived its
viability. What she proposes in the provocative With or Without God
is a radical change that lies at the heart of faith. The new church she
envisions will play a viable and transformative role in the shaping of a
future society. What will save the church from certain demise, Vosper
argues, is a new emphasis on just and compassionate living. Without this
reform, the church as we know it faces extinction. ..."
In a
thoughtful and passionate discourse that speaks to a wide audience,
Vosper tackles the issue that concerns so many of us today: how to find
spiritual fulfillment, comfort and connection in the here and now. In
the vein of Tom Harpur’s The Pagan Christ, this is a book that dares to
discard old doctrines but does so with respect and dignity. Vosper
imagines a new church that leads in ethics—fostering relationships,
meaning and values that are solidly rooted in our own best selves.
Comment by the book's author:
"You have before you a confrontation. I hope it challenges you. I hope it
disturbs you. I hope it changes something in you and gives you the
permission to let go of some of the things you’ve always thought you were
supposed to hang on to. . . . I know this book is difficult. I know it will
cost you much. But I hope you agree that the price is not too high if, in
exchange for your losses, you help build a church that can inspire the world
of tomorrow with beauty, justice, integrity and a constant yearning after
truth."
About the author:
Gretta Vosper is the minister of the
Westhill United Church in Toronto, ON, Canada, and founder of the
Canadian Centre for Progressive
Christianity. She received her master of divinity from
Queen’s Theological College in Kingston ON Canada during 1990 and was ordained
in 1992. Vosper is a widely sought-after speaker and is regularly interviewed in
the national media.
Amazon customers' reviews:
| By Dom Smith, Calgary, Canada:
This is not a book for
someone who's "comfortable" with their traditional
understanding of church, God, Jesus and Christianity. ...
For those of us who are NOT "comfortable" with the
traditional understandings of these things this is an
amazing book. For those of us who are still active in church
it is challenging, even to those who might consider
themselves liberal or progressive (as I do).
Vosper
builds on the work of recent scholars and theologians such
as Spong, Borg, Crossan, and Geering, to boldly state not
only what most liberal Christians believe/doubt (God is not
a being, there is no heaven or hell, the Bible is not
inerrant - it has good, bad and ugly bits, Jesus was not
God, Jesus was not a blood sacrifice to wash away sin,
etc...) but to challenge us to envision what a "faith" could
look like once it jettisons all the "unnecessary" dogmatic
and institutional baggage we've accumulated on our 2,000
year journey.
Some of this "baggage" is as
comforting as Linus' "security blanket" and will be just as
hard for some people to live without! Can we no longer pray
and expect God to respond? Can we no longer expect to go to
heaven and see our dog Fluffy and all our loved ones? Can we
no longer assume that we are the "one true" religion? Isn't
Jesus the saviour of the world??
Vosper's great
insight, in my opinion, which is perhaps not original to
her, but she expounds the principle well, is that things
like love, relationship, compassion, justice, and community
have intrinsic value of their own - they don't need divine
sanction to have worth. A group of humanists, working to
provide better access to government services for a
disadvantaged group is doing sacred work according to
Vosper. God IS compassion, not some gray-bearded man in the
sky.
Vosper goes way beyond where I thought
progressive Christianity could go in my lifetime, but that's
what separates the prophets from the rest of us.
This book is recommended for anyone who still holds out hope
for the human community and our ability to work together
"faithfully" holding to shared respect for common values
such as dignity, justice and integrity. When the Christian
church becomes such a community the "heaven on earth" world
envisioned by Jesus will be a step closer to reality.
|
| By M. Sciberras, Canada:
It's comforting to know that there are those within the
spiritual community who are willing to take risks.
Greta Vosper has taken one of the biggest risks a
Minister can by publishing a book that questions the
very foundations and viability of Christianity in
its present form. If you take into consideration the
group of people a Minister must contend with in
their work and day to day lives this makes Greta's
book even more profound. Religious Zealots and those
who would claim to be the protectors of age old and
sacred tradtions will find With or Without God a
hard pill to swallow, but it is this age old and
outdated mindset that will eventual erode the
foundation of Christianity. Humanity as a whole is
at crossroads between the cold wonder of
technological advancement and the warm comfort of
faith, but time moves mountains and with each new
generation the concept of God and all his trappings
slides further into background of family tradition.
Vosper's book shines a spotlight on the negatives
and positives of organized religion and uncovers
many of the oppositions one faces in trying to
introduce progressive ideas to a society of
followers unwilling to give up stuffy traditions and
stale beliefs.
|
Book data:
Title: "With or without God"
Format: Hardcover.
Publisher: HarperCollins Canada
ISBN-10: 1554682282
ISBN-13: 9781554682287
Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
Release date: 2008-MAR-12
Pages: 400
Cost: List: $18.87 CDN. ChaptersIndigo.ca sells it for $1976 plus postage,
for a saving of 34%.
Rating by 71 Chapters/Indigo customers: 4 out of 5 stars. As is normal with
religious books, most customers found the book excellent (4 or 5 stars) while a
small minority rated it with the lowest possible rating (1 star). Nobody is luke
warm.
"Who Speaks For Islam?: What a Billion Muslims Really Think"
by John L. Esposito and Dalia Mogahed
Review / order it
Comments:
The western media does an excellent job promoting the views of
the radical, violent, extremist, intolerant wing of Islam by the simple
expedient of ignoring moderate and liberal Muslim voices. The views of
the vast majority of Muslims go largely unreported. This book uses polling data
across predominately Muslim countries to uncover the real beliefs and
aspirations of Muslims.
Amazon.com's product description
"In a
post-9/11 world, many Americans conflate the mainstream Muslim majority with
the beliefs and actions of an extremist minority. But what do the world's
Muslims think about the West, or about democracy, or about extremism itself?
Who Speaks for Islam? spotlights this silenced majority. The book is the
product of a mammoth six-year study in which the Gallup Organization
conducted tens of thousands of hour-long, face-to-face interviews with
residents of more than 35 predominantly Muslim nations -- urban and rural,
young and old, men and women, educated and illiterate. It asks the questions
everyone is curious about: Why is the Muslim world so anti-American? Who are
the extremists? Is democracy something Muslims really want? What do Muslim
women want? The answers to these and other pertinent, provocative questions
are provided not by experts, extremists, or talking heads, but by empirical
evidence & the voices of a billion Muslims. "
Review by the publisher:
"In the wake of the terrorist attacks on 9/11, U.S. public
officials seemed to have no idea whether or not many Muslims supported the
bombings. This troubled Gallup Chairman and CEO Jim Clifton, who felt that
'no one in Washington had any idea what 1.3 billion Muslims were thinking,
and yet we were working on intricate strategies that were going to change
the world for all time.' Clifton commissioned his company to undertake the
enormous job. The result is Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims
Really Think, based on six years of research and more than 50,000 interviews
representing 1.3 billion Muslims who reside in more than 35 nations that are
predominantly Muslim or have sizable Muslim populations. Representing more
than 90% of the world's Muslim community, it makes this poll the largest,
most comprehensive study of its kind. What the data reveal and the authors
illuminate may surprise you:
|
Muslims and Americans are equally likely to reject
attacks on civilians as morally unjustifiable.
|
|
Large majorities of Muslims would guarantee free speech
if it were up to them to write a new constitution AND they say religious
leaders should have no direct role in drafting that constitution.
|
|
Muslims around the world say that what they LEAST admire
about the West is its perceived moral decay and breakdown of traditional
values -- the same answers that Americans themselves give when asked
this question.
|
|
When asked about their dreams for the future,
Muslims say they want better jobs and security, not conflict and
violence.
|
|
Muslims say the most important thing Westerners can do
to improve relations with their societies is to change their negative
views toward Muslims and respect Islam.
|
The research suggests that conflict between Muslims and the
West is NOT inevitable and, in fact, is more about policy than principles.
'However,' caution Esposito and Mogahed, 'until and unless decision makers
listen directly to the people and gain an accurate understanding of this
conflict, extremists on all sides will continue to gain ground.' Who
Speaks for Islam? is an important book that challenges conventional
wisdom and sheds greater light on what motivates Muslims worldwide. It is a
must-read for anyone committed to creating peace and security in our
lifetime."
About the author:
Bruce Chilton is the Bernard Iddings Bell Professor of Religion at Bard College
in Annandale-on-Hudson and Rector at the Church of St. John in Barrytown, New
York. He is the author of many scholarly articles and books, including the
acclaimed Rabbi Jesus and Mary Magdalene.
Book data:
Title: ""Who Speaks For Islam?: What a Billion Muslims Really
Think"."
Format: Hardcover.
Publisher: Gallup Press
ISBN-10: 1595620176
ISBN-13: 978-1595620170
Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
Release date: 2008-FEB-25
Pages: 230
Cost: List: U.S. $22.95. Amazon.com sells it for $15.61 plus postage,
for a saving of 32%. You can ask Amazon.com for free but slower shipping on most
orders of US $25.00 or more.
Review / order this book safely from the Amazon.com online book store
Rating by Amazon customers: 3.5 out of 5 stars. As is normal with
religious books, most customers found the book excellent (4 or 5 stars) while a
small minority rated it with the lowest possible rating (1 star).
"Beyond Tolerance: Searching for Interfaith
Understanding in America,"
by Gustav Niebuhr
Review / order it
A note from the ReligiousTolerance.org webmaster:
The creation of this website was triggered in
1995 by news of the genocides in Bosnia Herzegovina, perpetrated mainly by
Bosnian Serb Christians against Muslims. Our goal at the time
was to encourage people to promote religious tolerance: i.e. to
accept the right of every individual -- within reasonable limits
-- to freely follow their own spiritual path, to change their
religion, and to proselytize.
We continue to feel that tolerance of people of other faiths
is infinitely better than exterminating or oppressing them. But we need to
go much further. Tolerance is merely the first step.
As Gustav
Niebuhr writes is this book:
"Mere toleration of differences can be a wonderful
alternative to mayhem. But it is not a stopping point in human
relations. It does little to educate people about one another.
That's an activity that demands a greater, more committed
effort." (Page xxvi)
We strongly recommend this book!
Editorial reviews:
From Publishers Weekly""True dialogue, as the title claims, means
moving beyond tolerance, approaching other religious traditions with a
desire to learn and, perhaps more important, to make friends. Niebuhr tells
memorable stories of people reaching across religious lines, from a group of
Cape Cod Congregationalists who gave a Jewish community a historic building,
some land and some money to create a synagogue to the energetic individuals
who founded Louisville's famous Festival of Faiths. Niebuhr beautifully
honors the commitment and care shown by those working on the front lines of
interreligious understanding." Review by Elie Wiesel:
"Gustav Niebuhr's remarkable and absorbing Beyond Tolerance comes at
a time when religious fanaticism, with its perversion and violence, has
emerged as a threat to civilization. Anyone involved or at least interested
in dialogue among individuals, communities, and nations, will benefit from
its wisdom and humanity." —Elie Wiesel Amazon.com review:
The United States is the most religiously diverse nation in the world and
the most religiously diverse collection of people in history. And even in
this age of increasing religious violence, there is a growing movement of
cooperation: thousands of devout worshippers who are willing to take a
gamble on people of radically different faiths. In this insightful,
deeply felt examination of the nature of community and religion, former
New York Times religion reporter Gustav Niebuhr traces the roots of
religious freedom in America and the setbacks and triumphs it has
encountered along the way. From Hindus and Quakers in Queens to Catholics
and Jews in Baltimore, to black Baptists and Catholics in Louisville, to
Catholics and Buddhists in Los Angeles, Niebuhr focuses on the ways people
build ties between groups. He looks at why this movement is a particularly
American endeavor and how it can save us all. Beyond Tolerance is a
handbook for religious cooperation in our fractured times.
Unitarian Universalist Association:
His book won the Unitarian Universalist Association's 2008 Melcher Book
Award.
" 'This book is important,' said Phyllis O'Connell, chair of the Melcher
Book Award Committee, 'because it tells a post-9/11 story that has been
ignored by the media, a story about the profound interfaith work
happening in neighborhoods throughout America. This spiritual work is
going on all around us, as Niebuhr says, 'beneath the public radar'."
"Niebuhr spent four years researching the book. Beyond Tolerance explores
communities where interreligious cooperation exceeds mere tolerance. He
describes Hindus and Quakers in Queens, New York.; Catholics and Jews in
Baltimore, Maryland; Baptists and Catholics in Louisville, Kentucky; and
Catholics and Buddhists in Los Angeles, California."
About the Author
Gustav Niebuhr is the former religion reporter for The
New York Times and is currently an associate professor at Syracuse University. He has
written for The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and The
Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He is a frequent commentator on NPR's
All Things Considered.
Book data:
Title: "Beyond Tolerance: Searching for Interfaith Understanding in
America."
Format: Hardcover.
Publisher: Viking USA
ISBN-10: 0670019569
ISBN-13: 978-0670019564
Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches or 20.8 x 14.4 x 2.8 cm
Release date: 2008-AUG-05
Pages: 256
Cost: List: U.S. $25.95. Amazon.com sells it for $17.13, a saving of 34%.
Rating by 2 Amazon.com customers: 3.5 out of 5 stars. As is normal with
religious books, most customers found the book either excellent (4 or 5 stars)
or poor (1 or 2 stars). Few are lukewarm.
"50 Reasons People Give for Believing in a God"
by Guy P.
Harrison
Review / order it
The title of this book is a little deceptive. The author
presents reasons why people believe in a god and then attempts to prove the reasons
invalid.
Amazon.com review:
"Many books that challenge religious belief from a skeptical point
of view take a combative tone that is almost guaranteed to alienate
believers, or they present complex philosophical or scientific
arguments that fail to reach the average reader. Guy P. Harrison
argues that this is an ineffective way of trying to encourage people
to develop critical thinking about religion. In this unique
approach, Harrison concisely presents fifty commonly heard reasons
that people often give for believing in a god. Then he raises
legitimate questions regarding these reasons, showing in each case
that there is much room for doubt."
"From religion as the foundation of morality to the authority of
sacred books, the compelling religious testimony of influential
people, near-death experiences, theories from intelligent design,
and much more, Harrison respectfully describes each rationale for
belief and then politely shows the deficiencies that any good
skeptic would point out. He also offers something in return--a
hopeful and optimistic view of science, the universe, and humanity
without the divisiveness, prejudice, and hatred caused by
conflicting religious doctrines."
"Drawing on his experiences as a nonbeliever and his extensive
travels around the world, Harrison makes poignant arguments that are
sure to inspire thought-provoking discussions. Whether you're a
believer, a complete skeptic, or somewhere in between, you'll find
his review of traditional and more recent arguments for the
existence of gods refreshing, approachable, and enlightening."
Editorial reviews:
Michael Shermer, Publisher of Skeptic magazine, monthly columnist at Scientific American, author of
Why Darwin Matters, wrote:
"There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but now Guy Harrison has given us 50
ways to believe in God, or not if you care to read this engaging and
enlightening book in light of what it says about the cultural and psychological
power of belief. If the number one predictor of which God someone believes in is
what culture and time period they happened to have been born in, what does that
say about the actual existence (or not) of a deity? Read this book to explore
the many and diverse reasons for belief."
Nick Wynne, PhD; Executive director of the Florida Historical Society, wrote:
"Guy P. Harrison has written a persuasive and frequently humorous book about an
important topic . . .This thoughtful work should be read by religious
practitioners, political leaders, and the general public and should be taught as
a foundation for explaining the role of religion in society. I recommend it heartily."
James A. Haught, author of 2,000 Years of Disbelief and editor of West Virginia's largest newspaper, The Charleston
Gazette, wrote:
"Deep wisdom and patient explanations fill this excellent book. The author--a
journalist with worldwide experience and thorough scientific knowledge--doesn't
ridicule supernatural beliefs. He seems fond of believers. But he quietly
employs logic to show that invisible gods, devils, heavens, hells, miracles and
the like belong in the superstitious past, and cannot be taken seriously by
educated modern people."
Frans de Waal, leading primatologist and author of "Our Inner Ape:
"Religion is as universal as language, which hints at
a biological basis. Why did our ancestors evolve an attraction to the
supernatural? The fundamental question is not whether this attraction is
rational or not - which is the subject of a dozen recent provocative
books -- but what exactly faith delivers to those who possess it. The
present book treats this question respectfully, listening to the answer
of the believers themselves, which seems an excellent place to start."
About the author:
Guy P. Harrison is an American journalist living in the Cayman
Islands. He is a graduate of the University of South Florida with
degrees in history and anthropology. Harrison is a past winner of the
Commonwealth Media Award for Excellence in Journalism. He has also won
international awards for his photography.
Book data:
Title: "50 reasons people give for believing in a god"
Format: Paperback.
Publisher: Prometheus Books
ISBN-10: 1591025672
ISBN-13: 978-1591025672
Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
Release date: 2008-JUN
Pages: 354
Cost: List: U.S. $17.98. Amazon.com sells it at 32% off for $12.23. They also often sell used copies at a
lower
price.
Review / order it
Rating by 22 Amazon.com customers: 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Copyright © 2008-2009 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Originally written: 2008-JUL-01
Latest update and review: 2009-MAR-30
Author: B.A. Robinson
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