Download or read book Pagan Christianity written by Frank Viola and published by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. This book was released on 2010-09-30 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Have you ever wondered why we Christians do what we do for church every Sunday morning? Why do we “dress up” for church? Why does the pastor preach a sermon each week? Why do we have pews, steeples, and choirs? This ground-breaking book, now in affordable softcover, makes an unsettling proposal: most of what Christians do in present-day churches is rooted, not in the New Testament, but in pagan culture and rituals developed long after the death of the apostles. Coauthors Frank Viola and George Barna support their thesis with compelling historical evidence and extensive footnotes that document the origins of modern Christian church practices. In the process, the authors uncover the problems that emerge when the church functions more like a business organization than the living organism it was created to be. As you reconsider Christ's revolutionary plan for his church—to be the head of a fully functioning body in which all believers play an active role—you'll be challenged to decide whether you can ever do church the same way again.

Download or read book The Pagan in the Pulpit written by D. S. Carroll and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2012-02-21 with total page 528 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Pagan in the Pulpit pits a gifted atheist against a formidable fundamentalist. The prize for which they mount an epic battle is the atheists wife, a captivating but elusive woman driven toward rebellion by her husbands lack of faith. Rob Fairly is the atheist filled with passion for his wife and virtuoso talents as a writer. Todd Holyfield (also known as Todd Almighty) is the madly smitten pastor who pursues the enigmatic wife. The wife is Lisa Fairly, who considers him the perfect pastor to replace the saintly but monotonous sermonizer fired from her church. As Lisa grows more hypnotized with Todd, her husband has his own temptations. One of them is Kim, an irresistible Confucian, and the other one is Valerie, an inspiring Wiccan. Blending satire with a search for deeper faith, The Pagan in the Pulpit trains a laser-like psychology on fundamentalism. Aiming at a rampant problem in America and worldwide, Rob uses his ingenious talents to oppose the pastors fundamentalism and prevent his wifes seduction. Showing greater sympathy than her husband, Lisa finds a wiser tolerance than she expected in her search for faith while battling with herself, her husband, and her pastor to preserve her marriage. Rich in wit and irony, elegant style, and searing love, the novel makes the battle of its central characters a microcosm of our modern world. In summary, The Pagan in the Pulpit uses its irreverence to honor faith while freeing what we love from fundamentalism and seduction.

Download or read book From Pulpit to Pagan written by Dhungarvn the Grey and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2008-09 with total page 150 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: After teaching and ministering twenty two years as a Christian pastor and evangelist, author Dhungarvn the Grey became disillusioned with the self-righteous membership and church politics. He left the ministry and began searching for the truth. In his re-evaluation of his concept of God and prayer, he reconnected with nature and the idea of nature-based spirituality. His soul stirred with a yearning toward paganism. From Pulpit to Pagan is the story of Dhungarvn the Grey's journey from Christianity to paganism and his quest for truth. Horus, Mithra, Krishna, and Jesus all told their followers, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." The truth about Christianity frees the pagan of the guilt-trips inflicted by well-meaning family members. It frees them from the tendency to credit Christianity, the Bible, and Jesus with more truth than is valid. It frees them from the missionary traps and ignorant attacks by evangelicals. Dhungarvn suspects that many in the pagan community are programmed by their family experience and Christian upbringing; they hold onto the Bible and Jesus out of unconscious fear and guilt. From Pulpit to Pagan details Dhungarvn's struggles, but also provides hope for other pagans to become truly free.

Download or read book Pagans in the Pews written by Peter Jones and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Straightforward discussion about how the new spirituality, or paganism, is creeping into the Church, & how to stand firm in Biblical Christianity.

Download or read book The Pagan in the Pulpit written by D Carroll and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2012-02-18 with total page 528 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Who is Your Covering written by Frank A Viola and published by . This book was released on 2002-08-01 with total page 127 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Jesus Through Pagan Eyes written by Mark Townsend and published by Llewellyn Worldwide. This book was released on 2012-06-08 with total page 204 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For Pagans and Christians alike, Jesus Through Pagan Eyes offers a provocative portrait ofJesus—as a compassionate, life-affirming, nature-inspired spiritual teacher, freed from the limiting ideology of the Church. Rev. Mark Townsend sets the stage by exploring the historical evidence of who Jesus was as a human being before delving into the realm of metaphor and mythology, the notion of Christ, and the Church's conception of Jesus as Christ. The heart of this unique book lies in the thoughtful and deeply moving collection of stories, essays, and interviews about Jesus from today's most respected Pagan, Wiccan, and Druidic leaders. Contributors such as Maxine Sanders, Christopher Penczak, Janet Farrar, Diana Paxson, Philip Carr-Gomm, Oberon Zell-Ravenheart, John Michael Greer, Selena Fox, and Raven Grimassi explore the historical figure of Jesus in relation to Witchcraft, the tarot, goddess worship, and shamanism—while illustrating how this god of the Christian church blesses and inspires those who embrace non-traditional spiritual paths. Whether you envision Jesus as an ascended master, a human teacher, or a mythic god-man, this remarkable book will introduce you to a Jesus who fits fully into the Pagan imagination. Praise: "Townsend uses Jesus to initiate dialogue, and he does so in way that is accepting and inclusive of many understandings and interpretations of Jesus, his purpose, and his relevance (or irrelevance) in the religious practices of contemporary Pagans."—Huffington Post "This work admirably promotes understanding between belief systems that have a sometimes uneasy relationship."—Publishers Weekly

Download or read book Unmasking the Pagan Christ written by Stanley E. Porter and published by Clements Publishing Group. This book was released on 2006 with total page 169 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Rabbi or Messiah? Prophet or the Son of God? People have debated the identity of Jesus of Nazareth since the first century. But what if there was no Jesus? What if there was no Mary or Joseph, no twelve apostles? What if the story of Jesus was no more than a myth to convey spiritual truth? These claims have been around for hundreds of years and have become more prominent with well-known religion columnist Tom Harpur's recent book, The Pagan Christ. Harpur claims that Jesus was not a historical figure, but was one version of an ancient myth that can be traced from ancient Egyptian religion to the Roman mystery cults. Stanley Porter and Stephen Bedard tackle this radical claim by looking at the roots of the "pagan Christ idea," examining the supposed pagan parallels and presenting the evidence for the historical Jesus. The authors demonstrate that the suggestion of pagan origins for the Gospel story is not based on historical or textual evidence, but rather on a desire to create a universalistic spirituality revolving around a "Cosmic Christ" within each person. A fair examination of both the mythological and biblical texts reveal that the traditional understanding of an actual historical figure known as Jesus of Nazareth appearing two thousand years ago is indeed the only logical conclusion. Stanley E. Porter is President and Dean, and Professor of New Testament at McMaster Divinity College, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Porter has M.A. degrees from Claremont Graduate School and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and the Ph.D. from the University of Sheffield. He has written widely on issues of concern in study of the New Testament, such as Jesus, Paul, the book of Acts, and John. He has a passion for education in the church, and preaches and teaches regularly. Stephen J. Bedard is the pastor of Woodford Baptist Church and First Baptist Church, Meaford, Ontario, Canada. He holds the M.Div. and M.Th. degrees from McMaster Divinity College, and is actively engaged in further graduate study. Bedard is an advocate of informed preaching and teaching, and is devoted to the ministry of the local church.

Download or read book The Open Church written by James H. Rutz and published by Christian Books Publishing House. This book was released on 1992-01-01 with total page 182 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The goal is to enable everyone to be a participant, not just a spectator. The chuch can quickly be restored to everyone because, contray to popular belief, laypersons are eager to share their hearts, take active roles in worship, and resume the work of God.

Download or read book Abortion and the Early Church written by Michael J. Gorman and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 1998-10-26 with total page 119 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What is abortion? A convenience to society? A legal offense? Murder? The twentieth century is not the first to face these questions. Abortion was a common practice two thousand years ago. The young Christian church, growing up in influential centers of Greco-Roman culture, could not ignore the practice. How would church leaders define abortion? Gorman examines Christian documents in their Greco-Roman context, concluding that Christians held a consistent position throughout the church's first four hundred years.

Download or read book The Essential Catholic Survival Guide written by Catholic Answers and published by Catholic Answers Press. This book was released on 2006-02 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Every Catholic will come face-to-face with anti-Catholic attacks that are launched against the Faith. Don't you owe it to yourself to make sure you have the very best in apologetic resources right at your fingertips? There's no better time to arm yourself with what we consider a must for every Catholic's home library. The Essential Catholic Survival Guide. By compiling seventy of our best apologetic tracts into one cohesive, comprehensive book that can be used by anyone, anytime, anywhere to defend the Catholic faith, we've created what many consider the "go-to" resource when it comes to answering questions about the Faith. Topics include: The Church and the papacy-Scripture and Tradition-Mary and the saints-The sacraments-Salvation-Last things-Morality and science-Anti-Catholicism-Non-Catholic churches and movements-Practical apologetics.

Download or read book Reimagining Church written by Frank Viola and published by David C Cook. This book was released on 2012-12-10 with total page 315 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Author Frank Viola gives readers language for all they knew was missing in their modern church experience. He believes that many of today's congregations have shifted from God's original intent for the church. As a prominent leader of the house church movement, Frank is at the forefront of a revolution sweeping through the body of Christ. A change that is challenging the spiritual status quo and redefining the very nature of church. A movement inspired by the divine design for authenticity community. A fresh concept rooted in ancient history and in God Himself. Join Frank as he shares God's original intent for the church, where the body of Christ is an organic, living, breathing organism. A church that is free of convention, formed by spiritual intimacy, and unbound by four walls.

Download or read book Paganism in the Papal Church written by William Joseph Wilkins and published by . This book was released on 1901 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Confessions of a Pagan Nun written by Kate Horsley and published by Shambhala Publications. This book was released on 2002-09-10 with total page 171 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A druid-turned-nun writes of faith, love, loss, and religion in this “beautifully written and thought-provoking book” set at the dawn of Ireland’s Christian era (Library Journal) Cloistered in a stone cell at the monastery of Saint Brigit, a sixth-century Irish nun secretly records the memories of her Pagan youth, interrupting her assigned task of transcribing Augustine and Patrick. She revisits her past, piece by piece—her fiercely independent mother, whose skill with healing plants and inner strength she inherited; her druid teacher, the brusque and magnetic Giannon, who introduced her to the mysteries of the written language. But disturbing events at the cloister keep intervening. As the monastery is rent by vague and fantastic accusations, Gwynneve's words become the one force that can save her from annihilation. “As a slant of sunlight illuminates jewels long buried, Kate Horsley's novel brings words to an ancient silence and a living, vivid presence to people who lived in that time of great changes and estrangements we call the Dark Ages.” —Ursula K. Le Guin

Download or read book Converts and Kingdoms How the written by Diane Moczar and published by Catholic Answers Press. This book was released on 2012-05 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Converts and Kingdoms, Professor Moczar tells the story of early Christianity's faith, courage, and cunning-chronicling the labors of missionaries and martyrs (with no small help from Providence) to spread the gospel and lay the foundation for the most magnificent culture human history has ever known. This stirring narrative reveals a young Church ardently occupied with the great work of conversion: with saints and generals, priests and kings alike filled with zeal to make disciples of all nations. You will encounter heroic tales of the nascent Faith, including: The emperor who put his trust in the one God rather than the sorcery of his predecessors- and changed the course of the world to come. The would-be hermit who became an accidental missionary- and helped birth the quintessential Catholic kingdom. Pious monarchs who repelled barbarian invaders. The former slave boy who returned to the land of his pagan captors- and turned it into an island of saints and scholars. The Marian miracle that scattered the demons of human sacrifice- and opened the door to a new Christian continent. You will discover not only the story of the Church's early missionary efforts but valuable lessons for re-evangelizing a modern West that has slipped into a new and insidious form of paganism.

Download or read book The Pagan Church written by David D. Smith and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on with total page 74 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Finding Organic Church written by Frank Viola and published by David C Cook. This book was released on 2009-09-15 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the bestselling author of Reimagining Church comes an essential guide that provides practical, effective tools for finding vibrant Christian communities. Driven by a passion for the body of Christ, Frank Viola has written some of today's most authoritative and celebrated works on the growing home, organic, and missional church movements. Now Viola shares practical keys to a healthy and successful church plant. Viola contends that many congregations today are struggling to survive, not because of bad planning, but poor planting. He presents an essential guide for starting and nourishing organic churches in any culture. Drawing from both Scripture and a wealth of experience, Viola offers real-world tools, insights, and practical suggestions so churches won't just grow, but thrive.