Download or read book What Bothers Me Most about Christianity written by Ed Gungor and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2009-06-02 with total page 257 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: New York Times bestselling author ed Gungor offers a provocative look at the questions that bother not only opponents of Christianity but dedicated believers as well. with candor and good will, Gungor joins the discussion generated by the multitude of atheistic books currently in the market and offers a thoughtful, reasonable response. In What Bothers Me Most about Christianity, Pastor Ed Gungor owns up to the valid criticism that affronts Christianity. With his trademark sense of humor and unabashed honesty, Gungor explores the ten most troublesome aspects of Christianity, addressing questions such as:Why does a loving God allow evil to exist in His world? If the Christian church is so good, then why have so many horrible acts been committed in its name? Why was God so harsh to His children in the Old Testament? Maintaining that having faith is not intellectual suicide and that mystery is an essential quality of the Christian belief, What Bothers Me Most about Christianity opens up the forum for amicable discussion between thinking people on both sides of the debate, from aggressive atheists to unswerving Christian believers. Gungor maintains that balancing faith and reason is indeed possible and that devoted Christ followers need not shy away from asking the tough questions. As he guides readers through these fundamental issues, they will find that their honest wrestling will actually bring them to a deeper, more mature understanding of faith.
Download or read book The Book of Job written by Gilbert Keith Chesterton and published by Jazzybee Verlag. This book was released on with total page 69 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Book of Job is among the other Old Testament Books both a philosophical riddle and a historical riddle. Controversy has long raged about which parts of this epic belong to its original scheme and which are interpolations of considerably later date. The doctors disagree, as it is the business of doctors to do; but upon the whole the trend of investigation has always been in the direction of maintaining that the parts interpolated, if any, were the prose prologue and epilogue and possibly the speech of the young man who comes in with an apology at the end. This work contains Chesterton's assumptions and thoughts on this mysterious scripture.
Download or read book Oprah s Jesus written by Kurt D. Bruner and published by Destiny Image Publishers. This book was released on 2010-08-01 with total page 555 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When it comes to religion the most respected voice of the past decade is not a pastor, evangelist, priest or rabbi. She is a warm, articulate woman whose presence dominates daytime television and grocery store checkout stands. Her influence has propelled little known authors into best-selling millionaires and spawned a media empire worth billions. Oprah's name and image are instantly recognized by millions of adoring fans who view her as a long term friend and trusted spiritual mentor. But many have become troubled that Oprah seems less and less tolerant of her childhood faith and has begun celebrating a Jesus very different than the God-Man of her Sunday school lessons. Oprah's Jesus leverages the enormous popularity of Oprah Winfrey to explore the rise of generic spirituality rooted in personal preference versus transcendent beliefs rooted in historic Christian orthodoxy.
Download or read book Religion and Sport in North America written by Jeffrey Scholes and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2022-09-13 with total page 271 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From athletes praising God to pastors using sport metaphors in the pulpit, the association between sport and religion in North America is often considered incidental. Yet religion and sport have been tightly intertwined for millennia and continue to inform, shape, and critique one another. Moreover, sport, rather than being a solely secular activity, is one of the most important sites for debates over gender, race, capitalism, the media, and civil religion. Traditionally, scholarly writings on religion and sport have focused on the question of whether sport is a religion, using historical, philosophical, theological, and sociological insights to argue this matter. While these efforts sought to answer an important question, contemporary issues related to sports were neglected, such as globalization, commercialization, feminism, masculinity, critical race theory, and the ethics of doping. This volume contains lively, up-to-date essays from leading figures in the field to fill this scholarly gap. It treats religion as an indispensable prism through which to view sports, and vice versa. This book is ideal for students approaching the topic of religion and sport. It will also be of interest to scholars studying sociology of religion, sociology of sport, religion and race, religion and gender, religion and politics, and sport in general.
Download or read book Christian No More written by Jeffrey Mark and published by Jeffrey Mark. This book was released on 2008-08 with total page 286 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Mark explores the deeper truths behind the Bible while discovering science, logic, and reason--and ultimately revealing Christianity for what it really is.
Download or read book The Book of Longings written by Sue Monk Kidd and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2020-04-21 with total page 434 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “An extraordinary novel . . . a triumph of insight and storytelling.” —Associated Press “A true masterpiece.” —Glennon Doyle, author of Untamed An extraordinary story set in the first century about a woman who finds her voice and her destiny, from the celebrated number one New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Life of Bees and The Invention of Wings In her mesmerizing fourth work of fiction, Sue Monk Kidd takes an audacious approach to history and brings her acclaimed narrative gifts to imagine the story of a young woman named Ana. Raised in a wealthy family with ties to the ruler of Galilee, she is rebellious and ambitious, with a brilliant mind and a daring spirit. She engages in furtive scholarly pursuits and writes narratives about neglected and silenced women. Ana is expected to marry an older widower, a prospect that horrifies her. An encounter with eighteen-year-old Jesus changes everything. Their marriage evolves with love and conflict, humor and pathos in Nazareth, where Ana makes a home with Jesus, his brothers, and their mother, Mary. Ana's pent-up longings intensify amid the turbulent resistance to Rome's occupation of Israel, partially led by her brother, Judas. She is sustained by her fearless aunt Yaltha, who harbors a compelling secret. When Ana commits a brazen act that puts her in peril, she flees to Alexandria, where startling revelations and greater dangers unfold, and she finds refuge in unexpected surroundings. Ana determines her fate during a stunning convergence of events considered among the most impactful in human history. Grounded in meticulous research and written with a reverential approach to Jesus's life that focuses on his humanity, The Book of Longings is an inspiring, unforgettable account of one woman's bold struggle to realize the passion and potential inside her, while living in a time, place and culture devised to silence her. It is a triumph of storytelling both timely and timeless, from a masterful writer at the height of her powers.
Download or read book Why God written by Margaret Cupit-Link and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2015-03-04 with total page 173 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A nineteen-year-old chemistry major at Rhodes College is selected to spend the summer after her freshman year doing research at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Instead, she finds herself a patient there, fighting a life-threatening form of pediatric cancer and suffering through a year of aggressive chemotherapy and surgery. Refusing to believe what many tell her--that the cancer was all part of "God's plan"--she finds solace in journaling and begins a discussion with her grandfather, a university professor specializing in philosophy of religion. Through her experiences and writing about them, the student discovers that she may be a person of faith after all--just not in the way she expected. Her grandfather has selected and arranged the journal entries and their faith conversation and has commented on them in order to bring out the spiritual dimensions of her experience. He learns from his granddaughter that faith comes more through experience than through ideas. The coauthors hope the book will help other sufferers recognize the presence of a loving God in the midst of pain, uncertainty and death.
Download or read book I Love the Church I Hate the Church written by Robert R. LaRochelle and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2022-02-03 with total page 146 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Is it possible to both love and hate the church at one and the same time? Bob LaRochelle has had a lot of experience with different churches. Raised a Roman Catholic, he was ordained a Permanent Deacon in that church. After a period of intense soul-searching, he left the Catholic Church and embarked on a career in ordained Protestant ministry, serving congregations in both the United Church of Christ and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Through most of the same time, he also worked in the field of education, first as a teacher, and, for most of his career, as a counselor. Balancing personal experience with historical and theological background and reflection, I Love the Church, I Hate the Church combines factual information, theological analysis, and deep-seated personal feelings, all inviting the reader to take a look at the church, perhaps in ways that she or he never has before!
Download or read book Because I Think I Believe written by Donald R. Wilson and published by American Book Publishing. This book was released on 2010 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book God Without Dogma written by Hugo Fruehauf and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2004-06-30 with total page 324 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is in the personal growth and spiritual self-help category. It is all about the ills of religious dogma and how a believer in God can be freed from it. More often than not, when fervent believers become disenchanted with their religious group, chucking it all is the response. These disillusions usually have very justifiable reasons, but because of the believers lack of knowledge, feelings of guilt, and the pressure from faithful peers, the separation is traumatic. However, this life-changing period can be turned into a rewarding spiritual experience and this is where this book comes in. It analyzes religious dogma, how it begins, what perpetuates it, and demonstrates how dogma is the result of man-made religious procedures that in time become God. The outcome of all the analysis is a path for the troubled believer to embrace a new and spiritual walk with God, one not imposed by others.
Download or read book Find More Money written by Art Rainer and published by B&H Publishing Group. This book was released on 2020-02-04 with total page 165 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What do you do when cutting your budget no longer cuts it? From pastors in the pulpit to people in the pews, many people have cut and cut, but still find themselves struggling to pay the bills. Their full-time job is giving them barely enough to get by; how could they even begin to think about eliminating debt, saving, and living generously? Financial expert and author Art Rainer (The Money Challenge; The Marriage Challenge) helps answer these questions in Find More Money by pointing readers to the reality of the gig economy. When a full-time job doesn’t provide what you need, finding a “gig” may be the answer to your problems. Find More Money is not just about financial stewardship, but about stewarding your talents, time, and abilities—not so you can get rich, but so you can live generously on mission for the kingdom.
Download or read book Daisy in a Gun Barrel written by Penelope Fox and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2012-01-13 with total page 721 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: DAISY IN A GUN BARREL PEACE AND FREEDOM, LOVE AND WAR, ROCK AND ROLL THE 1960s ~ Penelope Fox If you happen to be an “American Idol” fan, recognize Eric Clapton or Bob Dylan in television commercials, listen to classic rock, or follow the clash of conservatives and liberals in Congress, you know that the 1960s remain with us, even fifty years after the impact of the era. The dilemmas of that decade continue to confound us as we grapple with the ideologies that entered the consciousness of the nation during those years. A cascade of front page news marks the period: the election of youthful, progressive, President John F. Kennedy and the fear-mongering, strangle-hold of the CIA and FBI; peace movements versus military efforts; marijuana-smoking, long haired Hippies in loose fashions clashing with strait-laced, buttoned up, conservative law enforcement; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and civil rights, followed by women’s rights, workers’ rights and everyone wondering what was right. More incongruities arose from international oil production and giant factory output clashing with breakthrough biological science and environmental concerns. Satellite communication battled with censorship in broadcasting. Youthful interest in the Third World, especially Asia, was shattered by a horrific, undeclared war that lasted for fifteen years and created a generational divide that has never been breached. A background of iconic music continues to remind us of the colorful history of the 60s. But what about the everyday lives of young people thrust into that psychedelic and political maelstrom? What was it like for the individuals trying to be heard over the roar of questionable politics? One answer lies in the collective voice of music that framed a lyrical diary of their experiences. “Daisy in a Gun Barrel” is the story of Dianna, a teacher, and Randall, a musician, who find romance in college, and shortly thereafter are torn apart by war and circumstances. It is a story of people coming to terms with personal and political beliefs, only to find that society clashes with their viewpoints at every turn. Theirs is a generation determined to change the world into a better, kinder, more democratic place. Little did they know the impact of their ideals, or the real and metaphorical ammunition that would be leveled against the beliefs they viewed as right, moral, and constitutional. Rock and roll with Dianna and Randall through the tumultuous and exciting years of 1962 through 1970, and consider the impact of their generation. Smile at their optimism, weep with their losses, and celebrate the memorable songs that grace the years. Join the characters as they encounter turning points and question authority. This is history, alive and kicking, with a strong appeal to the curious young, who were not there, and to the post flower children who would like to remember. Light the incense, slip into something tie-dyed, and revel in the events that illuminate this carefully researched and truly American story, before time and historians erase the vibrant, human essence of this powerful decade. You must be the change you wish to see in the world. ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Download or read book Letters to the Lord written by Don Reeves and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2012-11-27 with total page 155 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: War would be wonderful if for the sake of Global Safety and Security in the 21st Century we could, collectively, learn to fight with timely tactics of Constructive Self- Criticism and Creative Caring. But current strategies Miss the Mark! We must develop the New Heart-Ware and train to explode Missiles of Meaning filled with Soul-Searching Shrapnel that effectively counters: Ego-Centered Thinking, Self-Destructive Fears, and Lack of Combat with Corporate Myths, Earth-Shaking Political Pot-Holes, Raging Religious Ruminations, and Mangled/Simplistic Presumptions that money-making-greed is the Way-to-Wonder in a Word of Wars! Chaplain/Colonel Don Reeves, USAFR (Ret.)
Download or read book Hope for This Present Crisis The Seven Step Path to Restoring a World Gone Mad written by Michael Youssef and published by Frontline. This book was released on 2021-03-02 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Our culture has lost its mind. Now, we are waging a bigger fight--a war for our soul. Is it possible our world has gone mad? We are under siege and the war is not from without; it is from within. The collapse of the Roman Empire occurred in a single generation and was not so much the result of invasions by their enemies but the result of moral decay and internal corruption. Similar patterns are emerging in America. We neglected or abandoned our traditional institutions long ago, but now it's time to take them back. Today, forces are at work to strip the principles and precepts of faith from public venues or minimize their significance. Many progressive leaders are convinced that when Christianity disintegrates it will create peace on earth. But the loss of our heritage will merely create a spiritual vacuum that will be filled with folly, crammed with chaos, or invaded by Islam. The reality is: Western civilization will become so decadent and reckless that America will collapse like a house of cards. In Hope for This Present Crisis, Dr. Youssef provides a diagnosis of the insanity of the current culture and a seven-step prescription for restoring sanity to a world gone mad. Here's the seven-step path to restoring a world gone mad: Remember the Truth - Stand firm on the truth of the gospel. Restore the Soul - Seek God's approval─ not the approval of other people. Revitalize theFamily - Guard your children from the horrors of the Internet. Reestablish the Classroom - Support conscientious, caring public school teachers. Respect our Freedoms - Know your rights. Reform our Society - Morally and spiritually purify yourself. Revive the Church - Demonstrate the forgiving love of Jesus at all times. This book will teach you how to stand up to attacks on your faith, and defend Christianity as a meaningful contribution to society.
Download or read book Christianity Uncovered written by Hugh Fogelman and published by AuthorHouse. This book was released on 2012-05-29 with total page 525 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many Christians have told me to quit being so nit-picking and let by-gone be be-gones, that what happened in the past was then, and now is now and things have changed. But, that is not true. Christians still read from their so-called NEW testament that is full of Jew-bashing, so subliminal that most Christians overlook it. It is not my desire to claim Christianity is wrong and that you should not believe in your god but I want people to think. Perhaps what you have been led to believe is wrong? Think Why is it wrong for a Christian to deny the divinity of Jesus yet why do Christians turn their blind eye to Christians Missionaries trying to convert Jews against the basic tenants of Judaism? Why is it that most all pictures of the different characters in Christianity have a sun-disk above their heads? The Church made its own spin on this calling them halos, but didnt the Church change Sabbath to Sunday, the day of the sun? Who actually wrote the Christian bible that Christians all over the world swear it? The Church admits they really dont know for sure and only guessed. Did Jesus write anything in the NEW testament, or was his thoughts written by men who thought they knew? Why did it take 2,000 years before the Pope acknowledged the Christian hatred towards Jews and the need for Christians to repent? Why all of a sudden were the Church wrong and the Jews right?
Download or read book Jesus Religion written by Jefferson Bethke and published by HarperChristian + ORM. This book was released on 2013-10-14 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Abandon dead, dry, religious rule-keeping and embrace the promise of being truly known and deeply loved. Jefferson Bethke burst into the cultural conversation with a passionate, provocative poem titled "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus." The 4-minute video became an overnight sensation, with 7 million YouTube views in its first 48 hours (and 23+ million in a year). Bethke's message clearly struck a chord with believers and nonbelievers alike, triggering an avalanche of responses running the gamut from encouraged to enraged. In his New York Times bestseller Jesus > Religion, Bethke unpacks similar contrasts that he drew in the poem--highlighting the difference between teeth gritting and grace, law and love, performance and peace, despair, and hope. With refreshing candor, he delves into the motivation behind his message, beginning with the unvarnished tale of his own plunge from the pinnacle of a works-based, fake-smile existence that sapped his strength and led him down a path of destructive behavior. Along the way, Bethke gives you the tools you need to: Humbly and prayerfully open your mind Understand Jesus for all that he is View the church from a brand-new perspective Bethke is quick to acknowledge that he's not a pastor or theologian, but simply an ordinary, twenty-something who cried out for a life greater than the one for which he had settled. On this journey, Bethke discovered the real Jesus, who beckoned him with love beyond the props of false religion. Praise for Jesus > Religion: "Jeff's book will make you stop and listen to a voice in your heart that may have been drowned out by the noise of religion. Listen to that voice, then follow it--right to the feet of Jesus." --Bob Goff, author of New York Times bestsellers Love Does and Everybody, Always "The book you hold in your hands is Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz meets C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity meets Augustine's Confessions. This book is going to awaken an entire generation to Jesus and His grace." --Derwin L. Gray, lead pastor of Transformation Church, author of Limitless Life: Breaking Free from the Labels That Hold You Back
Download or read book Revisiting the Bible written by Anonymous Christian and published by Anonymous Christian. This book was released on 2024-02-14 with total page 3725 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Revisiting the Bible is a free book about the Book of Revelation, artificial super intelligence, fulfilled prophecy, bad apologetics and various insights. This book is rather long with some two-hundred chapters and because of this fact it cannot be easily summarized. That said the foremost purpose of this book is a detailed commentary on the Book of Revelation to explain the nature of the beast, or the antichrist, and the mysteries of God. Although given the length of the commentary there is more theology than talk about the beast or artificial super intelligence. The book is also available as a completely free download on my website.
