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Reviews, Interviews, News, Commentaries, Excerpts, My Top 5 Books, Wilson's Bookmarks, Book AwardsTen Theology Books for Your Beach Bag
Shake up your summer selections with these new releases.
[ posted 6/15/2009 10:37AM ]
Typical beach reading is heavy on novels and narrative non-fiction. But if you want to shake up your summer selections, consider picking up one or more of these newly released, theologically informed books.
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Big Truths for Young Hearts: Teaching and Learning the Greatness of God |
Your beach companions will think you're prepping for Sunday school or family devotions. You'll actually be learning plenty yourself from an unusually gifted theologian equally adept at teaching seminary students and young children.
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Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church |
Maybe you should wait to read this book on a rainy day when you can't go to the beach. Horton, a discerning and clear-thinking theologian, diagnoses what ills American believers, including consumerism, individualism, and nationalism.
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Fearless Pilgrim: The Life and Times of John Bunyan |
Biographies make for a quick, engaging read. Cook explores the times that gave us Bunyan, the pastor and prisoner whose best-selling The Pilgrim's Progress brought theology to the masses.
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The New Shape of World Christianity: How American Experience Reflects Global Faith |
Venerable historian Noll expands on the contributions of missiologist Andrew Walls to show how American Christianity has shaped the rapidly expanding global church.
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Politics for the Greatest Good: The Case for Prudence in the Public Square |
The senior counsel for Americans United for Life advocates the neglected virtue of prudence for fighting abortion. His timing is impeccable for Christians dealing with the ramifications of George Tiller's murder.
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When Athens Met Jerusalem: An Introduction to Classical and Christian Thought |
Theology has always confronted and conformed to the intellectual trends of its cultural context. Like some early Christian apologists, Reynolds draws connections between Hebrew theology and the Greek philosophy so popular in ancient Rome. He even dares to recommend cooperation between faith and reason in order to save Western civilization.
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Justification: God's Plan and Paul's Vision |
Read for yourself what all the fuss is about. Bring along the handy chart from the June issue of Christianity Today to compare Wright with his chief critic, John Piper. Justification is too important to be left to professional theologians, so bring your Bible, too, and trace the sometimes-complex arguments.
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Why We Love the Church: In Praise of Institutions and Organized Religion |
The authors of the award-winning Why We're Not Emergent return to tackle another set of theological innovators. Whether committed, disgruntled, waffling, or disconnected from the local church, this book will help you love the bride of Christ.
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Predestination: The American Career of a Contentious Doctrine |
Want to celebrate the summer of John Calvin's 500th birthday? Then read about the history of the doctrine most closely associated with him. You'll see just how far theology can stretch over space and time.
The 'Handicap Icon' Gets New Life
New York’s revamped accessibility symbol began at a Christian college.
Sidelining the Stigma of Mental Illness
Amy Simpson challenges the church to step up its ministry to a vulnerable population.
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Bright Walton
You forgot one: http://yrif.org/book/
Jason
Thanks, Brad. We do need more Christian-less beaches.
Mike Green
A few months ago I read an annual report as to the state of a large mainline denomination that was troubling to me. The leader, a female bishop, seemed to be suggesting that all the church (denomination) needed was their vision and love for each other. Anything that was written, including the Bible and the Guiding Principles (Doctrine & Theology), were becoming less important and were probably not necessary to maintaining the health of the organization. CHRISTLESS CHRISTIANITY looks like a prophetic word to our times. Thanks.
Matt Stephens
I've got four biographies in my beach bag, which I will be taking with me on our Caribbean cruise (leaving in three days!). I'll save the theology for another day. ;-)
David L
I recommend listening to C.S. Lewis who said for every modern book we should read an ancient one. One of the first I would recommend is "On The Incarnation" by Athanasius. He is used as an authoritative witness to which books make up the New Testament, so why ignore his theological writings. I'll warn you though, it may challenge your previously held understanding of the God and humanity, especially for Roman Catholics and Evangelicals. But don't let that scare you. Athanasius is a friend to evangelicals, a model of sorts. He held scripture very highly just like my evangelical brothers and sisters. Some of those books look quite interesting, I will have to pick at least two of them up.