A highly readable book that will allow those who harbor doubts regarding their faith to look at Christianity in a new light
599068
Borg starts the book with a call for a new way of thinking about Christianity.  He states "there is no single right way of understanding Christianity and no single right way of being a Christian."  If you disagree with his statement then you in Borg's terms an "Absolutist"; and you will find the book, well, heretical.  All others `doubting Thomasist' climb aboard.

The new paradigm, the new way to think, Borg writes, is about loving God and loving what God loves, rather than rigidly adhering to a specific set of beliefs.  His new paradigm of Christianity rejects that God is "out there", but `in', `with' and `around' us, and that God is speaking to us via our life.  Borg's jettisons `Supernatural Theism' and adopts a `Panentheistic' view of God.  Be aware that `panentheism' is not to be confused `pantheism'. For more on `panentheism' consider reading Sallie McFague's, `Life Abundant'.

Borg does crosses his wires and tangles himself up is when on one hand he professes that Jesus is: "the primary revelation of God", "the ultimate disclosure of God", and that, "God is defined by Jesus"; then, contradicts in a  latter section subtitled,"Age of Pluralism".  In "Age of Pluralism"  he states that, "each religion is a mediator of `the absolute'... and, the point is not to believe in Christianity (read Jesus Christ) as the only absolute and adequate revelation of God, but, to live within the Christian tradition as a sacrament of the sacred."  Hum.  To paraphrase the Old Testament in  Job 1:22:  "Borg gave, and Borg hath taken away".

Those who buy this book, hoping to understand the depth of Professor Borg's theology, will come away disappointed, this is not a serious theological work; but rather a remedial primer that is occassionally provocative and always informative.  "The Heart of Christianity" is written in a very understandable layperson's language, and would be a very good  text for a discussion group that wants to look anew at key Christian's doctrines (Faith, The Bible, God, Jesus, Sin, Salvation).  Recommended. 3.5stars
289307
Michael F. Bird. What Christians Ought to Believe: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine Through the Apostles Creed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016. 237 pp. $18.99

What Christians Ought to Believe by Michael F. Bird examines the Apostles Creed and guides readers step-by-step through this important document.
In chapters 1 and 2, the author highlights the importance of creeds. He notes, The creeds constitute an attempt to guide our reading of Scripture by setting out in advance the contents and concerns of Scripture itself. The creeds provide a kind of Idiots Guide to Christianity by briefly laying out the story, unity, coherence, and major themes of the Christian faith. In that sense, a creedal faith is crucial for a biblical faith and vice versa!

The author highly commends the Apostles Creed and notes that it contains the essential elements of the Christian faith: If you ask me, the Apostles Creed is probably the best syllabus ever devised for teaching basic Christian beliefs ... The Apostles Creed is basically a bullet-point summary of what Christians believe about God, Jesus, the church, and the life to come.

Michael Bird brilliantly not only sets for the case for the Apostles Creed; he does so in a winsome and understandable way. The author teaches the Creed, line by line, drawing the attention of the learner to our final standard of truth - sacred Scripture.
While much of the book is encouraging and worthy of commendation, the chapter which unveils the atonement is disappointing. Bird rightly introduces readers to the various views of the atonement and provides a basic definition for each view. However, he stumbles by not advocating penal substitutionary atonement. Bird writes, My exegetical-theological intuition is to gravitate toward the victory theory (Christus victor) as the integrative model for the atonement since it effectively combines the motifs of recapitulation, representation, ransom, sacrifice, and triumph. I urge readers to study Pierced For Our Transgressions, edited by Steve Jeffery, Michael Ovey, and Andrew Sach for a better look at this matter.

Overall, however, this work is a wonderful look at the Apostles Creed and should be welcomed by evangelicals. Teachers will find this resource to be a helpful tool in the classroom and parents are encouraged to use this book in discipleship for budding disciples.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
3155510
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  "I'd like to believe in Jesus, But.." is clearly written by a man who has spent a lot of time discussing and debating religion and  Christianity with the university crowd.  The questions asked and answered  in Mr. Siegel's book are those that are asked by real people with genuine  concerns about the various claims on truth that Christianity makes.  Mr.  Siegel not only answers the questions posed, but he often goes on to  address the unstated question that is really being asked by the seeker.
Mr. Siegel does an excellent job of putting Christian principles and  faith on a sound intellectual footing without getting too esoteric.
If  you are a person who really has some intellectual objections to  Christianity and are willing to consider some good challenging answers --  this is the book for you.
If you are a Christian who finds yourself  frustrated by some of the more intellectual objections to Christianity,  this book can give you a fresh perspective in how to address many of the  issues brought up in the course of a discussion on Christianity and the  person of Jesus.
737078
This work and presentation offers great insight into a number of areas that challenge the Christian Church today and the individual Christian in presenting the Good News of Jesus Christ in this postmodern society in a manner that enables people to listen and give a genuine hearing of the Gospel.
The book is enjoyable to read and should be readily understood by those who are taking a first look at the discussion of the Gospel
of Jesus Christ, the Christian Church, Christian denominations and the like in what is described quite commonly as a postmodern society.  However, it offers much to those who have been involved in the study and discussion of this matter for some time or in great depth.
So whether one is reading it for their own personal edification or reading it as one involved in a group study and ministry I believe the reader will discover it to have been very worthwhile to have read this work.
2400120
This is a book about the essence of the Christian faith and what it means to be a 21st century follower of Jesus Christ. In a day and age when the church is either conspicuously silent or obnoxiously loud and misrepresentative of Christ, we need to rediscover and live the call that Christ placed on the lives of his first followers. In "Too Christian - Too Pagan", Dick Staub offers a clear, engaging, balanced and practical exposition of what it means to be in the world but not of it. This book is theologically sound and full of life - Staub has lived the call he passes on to his readers. His anecdotes and experiences are riveting. Those struggling to understand how to relate faith to real life will find the book to be thought-provoking and even life-changing.
I'm recommending this book everywhere I go. Thanks Dick, for reminding us who were called to be!
1801461
This wonderful little book is eminently accessible yet also manages to be quite profound.  Mathewes-Green has several important things to say to Christians unfamiliar with the Eastern Orthodox tradition and relates many excellent thoughts about the difference, in basic points of theology, between the early church and modern, western Christianity.  For western Christians, Mathewes-Green offers a startlingly fresh perspective on issues such as the transformative act of conversion, authority within the church, the meaning of repentance and forgiveness, and the purpose of prayer.  The chapter on "The Jesus Prayer" is reason enough for reading the book.  The later chapters, "Dealing with Others : The Smaller Circle" and "Dealing with Others : The Larger Circle" make for important and humbling reading and could be taken together, for great benefit, with C.S. Lewis' sermon "The Weight of Glory"; however, the second of these chapters should be read and carefully weighed in balance with I Corinthians 5--an often neglected passage dealing with the ideas of "judgment" and of forgiveness within the church.
401009
It should be easy to spot people who really believe that God exists and Jesus was who he claimed to be, because they should be acting as if God is an ever-present part of their reality, and yet surveys tend to show that there is very little difference in the way people who claim to be Christians behave when compared to others. Craig Groeschel explores why this is so in this book.

The book examines a number of ways in which Christians fail to act consistently with their stated beliefs: not really knowing God, remaining ashamed of your past, being unsure of God's love for you, not believing in prayer, not trusting that God is fair, failing to forgive, not believing that you can change, clinging to worry, pursuing happiness at any cost, trusting more in money than in God, not sharing your faith, and not being part of the church.

The book demonstrates that a lack of faith can be manifested in many different ways, and it points out what are likely to be some key areas of sin in the reader's life, although it does this in a non-judgemental way because the author confesses that he commits the same sins. This is a very well-written book which anyone who claims to be a Christian would benefit from reading.
58298
For those of us tired of mainstream religion, tired of what passes for Christianity, tired of the crap, "Undiluted" offers a breath of fresh air. Ben Corey shows seekers how searching for an authentic faith - undiluted, as it were, by modern religion, is a worthwhile quest. Peppered with his own experiences, and based solidly on the story of Christ, it's an engrossing, thought-provoking read. Enjoy.
3420051
The author has created an interesting and thoroughly researched manuscript.  As befits a man with scientific training his research work is thorough, methodical and complete.  His work exposes conflicting details and contradictions and is based on impartial analysis of verifiable facts, including from primary sources.

There is little to add to previous reviewers as most readers will concur with their reviews.  If a person has a bible on their bookshelf and their inherent intelligence causes them to challenge their indoctrinated blind faith in implausible tales, this book is the ideal companion volume that will help to understand and accept what Christianity really is, get over it and move on.
1024140
Pamela E. Hedrick takes me back into the classroom, with her debut book, Do You Now Believe? In this short, yet jam-packed gem, Hedrick schools us on the balance required between faith and reason.

Faith enables reason. But an uncritical faith  a credulity or an unthinking belief that clings to certitude at the expense of understanding  can undermine faith itself and at least slow down the response to the grace of ongoing conversion (p. 77).

What I garnered from reading this book is that many of us have preconceived notions about God and faith, that inhibit us from fully understanding what God wants us to know about Him. It is when we can search beyond our limitations that we position ourselves to understanding God better. It is through this growth of understanding that we experience a transcendence; a conversion. We move from the intellectual to the experiential. We grow in love for God.

Hedrick takes us through the Gospels of Mark and John, using scriptural passages, to prove her points. I found this book to be intellectually stimulating; very thought provoking. I began to look at the questions that Jesus asks in these Gospels, from a different perspective. Hedrick has opened my eyes to Scripture, in a way I have not looked at it before. In my opinion, that makes for one treasured professor of Theology, as well as an excellent writer too.

I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to better understand Scripture, from a theological understanding.
1024003
This is not a book you can skim through in an afternoon. It has substance. While the book is quite readable, the content requires you to stop and think about what you are reading. And that, of course, is what apologetics is all about - thinking about what you believe and why.

This book is a great introduction to some of the great issues of the Christian faith, and how we, as followers of Jesus, can stand firm on the Bible and what we believe to be true. It contains chapters on the reliability of the Bible, what Christians can do to stand against the challenges of postmodernism, Atheism, Islam, and other key apologetical issues (e.g., the problem of evil). Overall, the book did an excellent job of summarizing the Christian stance on these issues.

And best of all, the book has several chapters on how to incorporate truth into our lives. Living the truth is not about beating people over the head with it, but having the answers when the questions are raised in relationships that we have developed.
4923332
J. Warner Wallace has taken his talent and experience as a cold-case detective given a fresh and eye-opening view on Christianity, but especially the reliability of the New Testament. He uses his own stories from certain cold-cases to help the reader get a clearer picture of principles that can used as a Christian to understand Truth and the eye witness accounts of the New Testament. Not only can you use these principles in the topics that he shared, but you can also apply them to many other subjects and ideas that you may be struggling with at a Christian. Not only could this book be given to a Christian friend, but it can also be shared with any of your friends whether they believe in God or not. Since Wallace came from an atheist background, I think that it gives him a great witness and insight into the lives of those who have no grown up in the church and are atheist. I took exstensive notes, and I know I will definitely be reading the book again in the future.
2079774
Blurred Vision distills some of the basic tenants of the Christian faith, and Christian living, into accessible chunks of both biblical teaching and personal accounts. The approach is humble, and yet Pastor Woogy exhorts his readers to consider how they are, or are not practically living out the teachings of Christ- specifically in areas like Worship, Spiritual Warfare, Forgiveness, and Relationships. This small volume is very readable and great for readers of all ages, but will probably find its greatest appeal among millennials- yet, for many older readers this is a welcome and necessary exhortation to review the LORD's work in our lives, and renew our commitment to live for Him.
2618076
Barbara Brown Taylor shows the reader the results of a new revelation in her personal growth as a Christian witness in this new book. She uses personal experiences with fear of the dark as a foundation for tackling the subject of darkness and light in the context of religious terms and practices. Taylor does this expertly, in part, by suggesting that common use of and reactions to the term "darkness" are tied much too closely to sociological, human ideas and not always to that of the Divine. She uses Biblical Scripture to document instances where God accomplished miracles and a great deal of good in the dark, and therefore challenges the reader to make a paradigm shift to view darkness in new ways.  This is a courageous, self revealing and thoughtful book.
414230
For other young adults filled with thoughtful and compelling questions about faith and doubt, Andrea Palpant Dilley's first book will feel like fresh air. She recalls vivid tales of growing up as a young child in Africa in a medical missionary family, her sense of awkward displacement returning to American suburban life, countered by positive experiences in a healthy church communiy during adolescence. These provide the contrasting backdrop for her twenties when doubts rage. She wrestles with all she's been taught to believe with candor and keen intelligence. Chapters, with titles such as "Why can't God be more like Eric clapton" raise the significant theological questions that trouble her, like the silence of God. Her story also illustrates how important mentors prove to be.  Through them, she recognizes not only the suffering in the world, but the goodness she sees and experiences. Without needing complete answers to her questions, one senses she is a pilgrim on a living adventure of faith. I suspect this will the first of many books from an exceptional writer.
4512865
The number of Americans attending church is declining, most precipitously among youth who find the message from most pulpits to be irrelevant to their lives and contrary to their beliefs in rational thought and science. "A New Dawn for Christianity" tells the story of a group of college students looking for the answer to the simply question, "What is Christianity?" Through small group work with a theology professor, the young men and women are exposed to what has, for decades, been taught in seminaries but not, sadly, from the pulpit.

Included in the book are sample sermons introducing readers (and hopefully clergy) to theologically honest ways to present the meaning of Christianity  to their congregations. The primer on Progressive Christianity is well laid out and easy to read and adapt.

The book draws on the works of many of today's progressive thinkers including Karen Armstrong, Marcus Borg, Bart Ehrman, Fred Plumer and John Shelby Spong among others. It is a great way to become familiar with Progressive Christianity so that the word can be spread that honesty from the pulpit may be the only way to rescue Christianity from the dustbin of history.
2437354
What a great well done book this is!

My thanks to Dan Barker for this personal, logical, commonsense look at what Christianity is and what it isn't. This book will be ideal for anyone not sure what to believe about the claims of the Jesus sellers. Oh, yes, they want you to agree with them-- they want to reinforce their own doubts by getting another vote [you] in their favor. They want so desperately for this mind-virus, Christianity, to be a true and good thing. They want to feel superior to those heathens in outer darkness who just can not see the light.

Let's face it; Christianity is a cult. To be sure it is one of the longest lived and most successful cults in all of known human history but-- cult it is.
It works as a mind virus, passed on from person to person, playing on the natural fears and insecurities the mortal thinking animal naturally feels. Those promoting the cult are deeply embedded. They can not even think clearly in a context outside of what Christianity claims: You have the choice of eternal bliss or eternal damnation--oh, sinner, what will you do when the stars begin to fall?

Doesn't it seem extremely odd, challenging the absolute limits of creditability that the 'one eternal god of the universe' can't leave behind any clear record of his earthly life or his instructions for our way to live. Of course, the true believers will vigorously insist that there is good history and clear instructions aplenty for those willing to see the real truth. Many of us disagree with that: actual honest investigation will show extremely little evidence that the famous Jesus character ever even existed. The so-called book of instructions, the Bible, is a mishmash of contradictory stories and instructions. And even if it were true, it's not, but if it were-- why follow up that little flurry of godly intervention in human history by absolutely no additional contact from 'the god' for going on two millennia now? According to the 'bible' [bible simply means book] Jesus claimed he would be returning 'in glory' before his audience that day would themselves die. Over 1900 years later--still waiting. What's the holdup?  I can't see how any one can be taken in by the Christian mind-virus at all if they are even reasonably intelligent and have made an honest reasonable investigation of all the facts, and lack thereof.

Dan Barker in an honest man, forced by his own integrity and love of truth to abandon his Christian ministry. Now as a self proclaimed atheist he works tirelessly to help those trapped by religious insanity to break free from that bondage of irrational belief. He likes to debate and is extremely good at it. I for one refuse to debate because the experience of many such encounters has proven over and over that the Christian arguer has no regard for common sense, facts, logic, reason, or truth. The cult is all and they will lie and ignore real arguments in favor of some non sequitur argument for their own preferred point of view.  So, no, I won't waste my time debating with the true believers.

Let each and everyone decide for themselves what belief positions they want to hold. This wonderful book makes it plain you DO NOT need to believe in a pack of lies and illogical arguments to save your 'soul.'  You are good and free and may choose to live that way. That's my way for sure and this book will help the confused searcher to find freedom and dignity, too.