Book Description
With over one million novels in print, New York Times best-selling author Joel C. Rosenberg has been called "eerily prophetic" and a "modern Nostradamus" for his uncanny ability to write political thrillers that come true. In his first nonfiction book, this evangelical Christian from an Orthodox Jewish heritage takes readers on an unforgettable journey through prophecy and current events into the future of Iraq after Saddam, Russia after Communism, Israel after Arafat, and Christianity after radical Islam. You won't want to miss Joel's exclusive interviews with Israeli, Palestinian, and Russian leaders, and previously classified CIA and White House documents. Similar to the approach Joel takes in his novels, his desire is to draw readers into stories, anecdotes, and predictions in a way that builds confidence that allows Joel to share his faith in Jesus Christ and the reliability of Scripture as a guide to understanding the past and the future. Drawing on his experience in Washington, his own exclusive interviews with world leaders, and his astute political acumen, Joel makes sense of the events surrounding the Middle East. He connects information in a way that will make you understand and really care about the world's most important events and how they impact your life--from gas prices to your bank account.Epicenter is about: Change--big changes, dramatic changes, changes that will transform the world as we know it. Answers--what the changes are underway in the world's most important countries. Insight--readers will understand the trajectory of world events by being taken inside the governments of Iran, Iraq, Russia, China, and more. Accessibility--aimed for a wide audience in both the general and Christian markets. Faith--Joel shares his faith in Jesus Christ and the reliability of Scripture. Epicenter will answer questions like: Will Iraq go from bad to worse? Will Israel and her Arab neighbors find peace, or is another major Middle East war just around the corner? If the new, post-Soviet Russia is our friend, why is the Kremlin creating a new class of thermonuclear weapons and building an alliance with radical Islam?
Customer Reviews:
A must listen to book.......2007-10-11
A very thought provoking book. Everyone needs to listen to this book or read the printed copy. Our national leaders should read/listen to this book.
Dot Connecting .......2007-10-11
I watched the documentary based on this book. Great production, solid historical facts, and then the conclusion: God will save Israel without the help of the EU, the UN or USA. God will do this miraculously while we stand around and watch in awe.
These are the same folks who brought us "Left Behind", the apocolyptic series based on the book of Revelation. (Remember the "rapture" craze of the 90's?) Same folks, different crisis. Only this one is based on the book of Ezekiel.
An excellent read for those interested Mid-Eastern philosophy & prophecy.......2007-10-05
If you are a student of Biblical prophecy and the current mid--eastern conflicts, you will be fascinated by the author's ability to tie past, present, and fututre events together. If this topic isn't your "cup of tea," this book could provide fodder to create an interest - definitely worth reading.
Very Interesting-Must Read For Jew & Gentile.......2007-09-29
I found this book to be very interesting if you like end of times prophecy.
Couldn't Put it Down!!.......2007-09-19
Honestly, one of the best books I have ever read. He does a fantastic job of juxtaposing todays headlines with scripture...amazing!
Book Description
“Thousands of people have written to tell me that I am wrong not to believe in God. The most hostile of these communications have come from Christians. This is ironic, as Christians generally imagine that no faith imparts the virtues of love and forgiveness more effectively than their own. The truth is that many who claim to be transformed by Christ’s love are deeply, even murderously, intolerant of criticism. While we may want to ascribe this to human nature, it is clear that such hatred draws considerable support from the Bible. How do I know this? The most disturbed of my correspondents always cite chapter and verse.”
So begins Letter to a Christian Nation…
www.samharris.org
Customer Reviews:
A good "starter book" for atheism.......2007-10-10
"Letter to a Christian Nation" is, as it says, a letter. To a nation. Of Christians. As someone who is already a confirmed atheist, I wasnt't really the target audience for this book. As such, I found it a little lacking in comparison to other works of atheist thought, such as The God Delusion (a very good book), and God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything (a decent, but not as good, book).
Sam Harris makes many of the same points in his book as Dawkins and Hitchens do in theirs, but he doesn't go into nearly the same level of detail as Dawkins or the same amount of polemic as Hitchens. He does make his points, but I felt there was more he could have done.
On the other hand, this is a very, very short book (only about 90 pages... about the same as, to my understanding, Common Sense (Penguin Classics), which I haven't read and should). Due to the length, I guess he wasn't able to go into too much detail. Of course, he could have simply written a longer book...
If you, like me, are someone who is already firmly in the atheist camp, this really isn't the book for you. If you're someone who can feel your faith wavering, and know that you're getting to the point where you're about to divcorce from god (and there's a term I love and will have to use elsewhere), then perhaps you might want to give this book a go. After all, what do you have to loose?
Well, aside from your religion...
thin volume that should be required reading.......2007-10-10
The author doesn't belabor any points - but rather is concise and crisp. I wish I had written it.
Concise, articulate and enlightening.......2007-10-09
Bravo to Mr. Harris. This is a must-read for anyone with children who might consider placing them in religious schools. Mr Harris makes the point that religion is propagating fairy tales (at best) and training our children to be scientifically illiterate (at worse). Personally, I couldn't agree more. Between my graduation from a Christian high school to my PhD in Neuroscience, I had to overcome all the illusions taught in my Christian high school and learn how to think critically. Critical thought has led me on a slow but steady journey away from Christian indoctrination and on to free-thinking athesism. Where I have at times struggled to articulate my doubts, questions, rationale and reasons to 'true-believers' (or my parents for that matter) this book does so in remarkable clarity and brevity. Similar to Dawkins "The God Delusion", this book provides excellent tools to fend off the specious arguments of religious people, but it does so with a bit more tact and grace. While I absolutely loved the God Delusion, I would not recommend it to a Christian, as it is certain to offend their sensibilities from the start. Harris's book may actually get through to them (one can hope!).
Quality.......2007-10-08
This is a good, concise response to the many outlandish complaints against the member of society who have no interest in fabricating a diety to explain away their problems. Some points could have used flushing out, but then it wouldn't have been very concise. I recommend this book.
A solid overview of the problems caused by religion and faith.......2007-10-06
Sam Harris' Letter to a Christian Nation is an excellent overview of some of the major reasons why religion (he talks about Christianity for the most part) is negatively impacting American society. People of all faiths I believe will enjoy this terse review of the problems religion causes on all levels of practice, whether you be an extremist or moderate or not a believer at all. Harris does a good job getting to the point and making concepts easy to understand so that even a six year old might be able to follow - it's even comical at times.
I would recommend this book be read by anyone interested in religion or philosophy in any degree, whether you want to just get a preview of some of the topics being thrown around today between religious peoples and atheists, or as a primer that will prepare you for more in-depth books on religion such as Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion.
Book Description
There are more than one billion Catholics in the world, and each one has a similar set of basic beliefs and practices that he or she follows. Some of the teachings of Catholicism are thousands of years old, while others are more recent. So what is the Catholic culture like and what do they believe? Catholicism For Dummies answers these and many other questions.
Whether you’re a Catholic or not, you may be totally clueless or just unaware of some aspects of Catholic traditions, history, doctrine, worship, devotion, or culture. No sweat. Regardless of whether you’re engaged, married, related to a Catholic, or just curious about what Catholics really do believe, this book is for you.
Catholicism For Dummies is not a catechism or religious textbook, but a casual, down-to-earth introduction for non-Catholics and reintroduction for Catholics. It gives commonsense explanations so that the next time you’re invited to a Catholic wedding, Baptism, funeral, Confirmation, or First Communion, you won’t be totally confused. You’ll also discover other important topics that can help you better understand the Catholic culture—from morality and devotions to worship and liturgy. This book will familiarize you with Catholicism by showing you:
- What it means to be a Catholic: traditions, prayers, beliefs, and holidays
- Who is who in the Catholic hierarchy
- How Catholics worship
- What the Seven Sacraments and Ten Commandments are
- The book regarded as the holiest to Catholics: The Bible
- The Church’s stand on some sticky issues
Catholicism For Dummies presents a rich tapestry and history of the Catholic faith—from devotions to doctrines. This intelligent and faithful look at Catholicism will open your eyes to this religion and answer many of the questions you may have about it.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful Reference.......2007-08-25
My husband is in RCIA and this has been his "text book" ! Very informative, well written. Highly Recommended!
Read this..........2007-05-15
They bilk the parishioners, as the priest live in a lap of luxury surrounded by gold. Everyone knows the Vatican has Billions of dollars, but keeps it's book secret so we can not know how many billions they have. Meanwhile, in the churches where the victims want justice, they just throw up their hands and say "we are bankrupt". The Bible says that a Priest or "Bishop" MUST be a married man. The people who let these pedophile priest jump from parish to parish to get fresh kids should also be thrown in jail. The most serious problem however, is that the Catholic church has people fooled into believing it is a "Christian Church", it is far from it. They call their own shots calling themselves "Infallible", meaning whatever they say or do can't be wrong. I am somewhat puzzled by the people who still attend there. They rape kids, then covered it up, why are you still a part of that organization? You should never confess to a priest, that is putting someone between you and Jesus. Jesus is the only mediator, if you read the real bible KJV, it will tell you the truth. The catholic Manuscripts were created by the Alexandrians, another cult found in Egypt. To top things off, the current Pope even swore in before as a Hitler Nazi Oath as a youth. This church isn't Christian, it just pays "lip service" to let everyone think they are. The priest are living in the lap of Luxury, while the victims live without reparations. My heart goes out to all the victims of the Catholic Church. Please stand up for the victims, and do not continue to look the other way because you are also guilty of association if you say and do nothing.
Catholicism for Dummies.......2007-05-12
bought as a gift. The person just love the book has thanked me several times.
Catholocism for Dummies.......2007-05-07
This is a good book for looking up anything pertaining to our Catholic Faith. It is easy to find the topics and explains it well. I have bought several of these books as gifts and a few for our Parish Library. Highly recommend.
Just the facts.......2007-04-25
A well-communicated summary of Roman Catholic doctrine and tradition. A good start for anyone interested in getting past the basics in preparation for further serious study. A handy resource for those who simply want a basic understanding of Catholic doctrine and practice. The approach seems to be one of simply reporting the facts without much emotional attachment by the authors and in that respect it seemed to be lacking some of the impact it might otherwise have. But such an approach may be exactly what most readers are looking for in this genre.
Book Description
In this provocative book, author, consultant, and church leadership developer Reggie McNeal debunks these and other old assumptions and provides an overall strategy to help church leaders move forward in an entirely different and much more effective way. In The Present Future, McNeal identifies the six most important realities that church leaders must address including: recapturing the spirit of Christianity and replacing "church growth" with a wider vision of kingdom growth; developing disciples instead of church members; fostering the rise of a new apostolic leadership; focusing on spiritual formation rather than church programs; and shifting from prediction and planning to preparation for the challenges of an uncertain world. McNeal contends that by changing the questions church leaders ask themselves about their congregations and their plans, they can frame the core issues and approach the future with new eyes, new purpose, and new ideas.
Also available: The Present Future DVD Collection (978-0-7879-8673-5), Reggie McNeal's DVD presentation of the ideas and insights featured in his best-selling book.
Customer Reviews:
The New Church.......2007-09-11
Excellent book which speaks to the problems the modern church faces. Gives specific information and direction to deal with current issues. I have found this work tremendously useful in advocating change for the church I serve as pastor.
One that must be read........2007-07-25
This book explores the emergent church culture. The book's focus is on missional living within a ever changing culture. The books deals with the changing paradigm of modernism to postmodernism. Some church leaders would consider this book radical, but this book is helpful in providing a proper perspective on reaching out in faith. It is a plea to change churchianity into Christianity. Because of the influence of mega-church culture, we have been seduced into selling Christianity like a product on the open market, the book presents a way to authentically change the community for Christ.
Church Transformation.......2007-05-24
While many will be turned off by the author's strong language and seeming 'over stating' of the case; most of what McNeal says and recommends rings true. The church in North America is dying and dying rather fast as seem by the exodus of members and churches from the major denominations. If you are a leader - and especially a pastor - in a church you need to study this book (preferable with the rest of your team) and seriously consider what and how you are going to respond to the new world order. Unlike the Boomer Generation who have `grown up' and for the most part taken their responsible position in leadership in the ministries of the church, this current last generation (Millenniest or Matrix) are not likely to do that. They are looking for something better and God may indeed pass by the North American Church to accomplish His purpose in reaching the entire world with the Love of Jesus for the Glory of God.
The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church.......2007-05-15
Excellent book! SO HELPFUL!
Thought Provoking.......2007-05-13
This book will challenge you as it unfolds the truth of many churches in North America. At times you will want to stop reading and toss it to the side. Other times you find yourself in total agreement. Reggie demonstrates great courage as he asks questions most Christians don't want to ask about their church. The DVD series is even better as it presents the same tough questions through the caring style of Reggie McNeal.
Book Description
Thomas Aquinas' best-known work is the Summa Theologica. As the title indicates, the Summa is a "summing up" of all that can be known about Christian theology.
Customer Reviews:
A great resource for theological research.......2007-09-28
I purchased this Five-volume set after taking a couple of philosophy courses, which I feel like I should recommend to anyone starting to dive into this hefty text. If you don't feel like taking a class, perhaps some of the secondary texts written by philosophers about Aquinas will help in reading this fantastic set of info.
Aquinas forms his arguments in a way that is almost flawless. I am not Catholic, yet I find this to be an explanation of Catholic doctrine that makes me almost want to convert. For anyone from the atheist to the devout catholic, this text is a window into one of the greateast natural and revealed theologians to ever document his thoughts. Footnotes are aplenty to send you on your way to other documents, especially Augistine, so be prepared for an obsession.
Mike Yandell
Summa is supreme.......2007-05-13
Probably the best sys theo work ever. Oh, that more fellow Protestants would pour over this text!
Good Theology, Good Philosophy.......2007-01-12
These volumes have withstood the test of time in the worlds of religion and philosophy. Reading the words of one of the greatest minds in history is both entertaining and educational. This set is a must have for anyone who likes to study philosophy. For a beginner, it may be beneficial to get one of the many Aquinas readers or help texts, but it doesn't take very long to catch on and soon you will find yourself just reading at your own pace, making your own ideas about what Aquinas is all about.
Great Work, Good Translation.......2006-11-08
The Summa Theologica of Saint Thomas is without doubt one of the greatest works in the history of the Christian faith. The logical order and progression is simply amazing and the scope of the work monumental.
This translation is generally very close to the sense of the Latin original, although in a few cases I have noticed some strange differences. For example, in Pt. 1 Q.1 A. 4. The Dominican Fathers translate the Latin (which reads "Magis tamen est speculativa quam practica") as ". . . speculative rather than practical" although the Latin reads ". . . speculative MORE than practical." This is a substantial change in the meaning which ends up creating confusion in the next article when Thomas says that theology is ". . . partly speculative and partly practical". There are other variations from the Latin throughout the rest of the work, some more and less important.
I urge those who are interested in a serious study of Saint Thomas to use this text as an aid to a deeper study with the Latin. If this is not possible for you, this translation will nevertheless give you a good introduction and tool for an introductory and intermediate understanding of Saint Thomas's thought.
St. Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologica (5 volume set) .......2006-11-05
This set of books is very good for religious studies majors or anyone pursuing a higher education in theological studies. This series addresses in detail, the myriad questions pertaining to Christian theological doctrines through philosophical reasoning.
Book Description
The presence of the Catholic Church in the United States reaches back to the founding days of our country through the leadership of Archbishop John Carroll, the first Catholic bishop in the United States. His story like the stories at the start of each chapter in the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults give us a glimpse into the lives of Catholics who lived out their faith throughout our country's history.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent tool to better know the Catholic faith.......2007-09-28
This book is a more appropriate instrument for an average adult to learn about the Catholic faith than the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). The book is an outstanding resource for RCIA. It is a handy reference for adult education. Organized much like the CCC, it includes a reference to a Catholic saint in each chapter, mostly from the Americas. It has a cultural application, illustrating how Catholic teaching sheds light on issues of today. It has discussion questions. It concludes each chapter with a prayer drawn from scripture, from tradition, or from the saints. I enthusiastically recommend this work as a basic work for any Catholic household.
What a Wonderfully Refreshing Book!.......2007-09-26
United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
My mother had heard about this latest publication at Church and asked me to see if I could find it for her. Of course, I found it right away through Amazon, ordered and quickly received it for her. She has been so happy with the stories, the format, the subjects, issues, and Catholic ideology covered, that it amazed me. Now, her copy went home with my oldest sister who was visiting recently, and it's time to re-order. My sister's husband of 42 years recently passed of lung cancer -- they were best friends -- and she's been searching for spiritual peace. There was a section in this book on Extreme Unction that, upon her reading, brought her peace. She said she could not have described the experience in more perfect words than the description in this new Catechism. They both love the stories, and everything about the book. I'm no longer a practicing Catholic, and I enjoyed thumbing through this Catechism, and am ordering one for myself as well.
Adults need Catechism too!.......2007-09-13
We are using this book for our Adult Catechism class. Since most of the classes are an hour, I suggest that you don't just read it in class. It really is more important to get what you can from this book and not just rush through it. If you read it in class, only read part and then discuss what you have read. It can get quite deep and complicated. It is a wonderful part of the experience to share with others and in turn reap the benefits of enlightenment.
Great for Everyone.......2007-09-08
This book is filled with such great information and is not to technical. It is so much easier to understand than the other versions, and even has some questions to ask yourself and prayer.
Uunited States Catholic Cathechism for Adults.......2007-09-06
awesome book for RCIA as well as Adult Education programs and even Family Programs.........great stories, prayer and meditations.
Average customer rating:
- A very reliable companion
- A very useful book
- You will never read the New Testament the same way again!
- The Gold Standard Greek Lexicon
- over-rated and not worth the $
|
A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature
Walter Bauer
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
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Similar Items:
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The Greek New Testament: Bonded Leather
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Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics
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Basics of Biblical Greek Workbook
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Basics of Biblical Greek Grammar
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Lexical Aids for Students of New Testament Greek,
ASIN: 0226039331 |
Book Description
Described as an "invaluable reference work" (Classical Philology) and "a tool indispensable for the study of early Christian literature" (Religious Studies Review) in its previous edition, this new updated American edition of Walter Bauer's Wörterbuch zu den Schriften des Neuen Testaments builds on its predecessor's staggering deposit of extraordinary erudition relating to Greek literature from all periods. Including entries for many more words, the new edition also lists more than 25,000 additional references to classical, intertestamental, Early Christian, and modern literature.
In this edition, Frederick W. Danker's broad knowledge of Greco-Roman literature, as well as papyri and epigraphs, provides a more panoramic view of the world of Jesus and the New Testament. Danker has also introduced a more consistent mode of reference citation, and has provided a composite list of abbreviations to facilitate easy access to this wealth of information.
Perhaps the single most important lexical innovation of Danker's edition is its inclusion of extended definitions for Greek terms. For instance, a key meaning of "episkopos" was defined in the second American edition as overseer; Danker defines it as "one who has the responsibility of safeguarding or seeing to it that something is done in the correct way, guardian." Such extended definitions give a fuller sense of the word in question, which will help avoid both anachronisms and confusion among users of the lexicon who may not be native speakers of English.
Danker's edition of Bauer's Wörterbuch will be an indispensable guide for Biblical and classical scholars, ministers, seminarians, and translators.
Customer Reviews:
A very reliable companion.......2007-07-21
This is a very reliable companion to the Greek text of the New Testament &c. Lucidly written, systematic and easy to use.
A very useful book.......2007-07-21
As an older student of Greek and only recently feeling at ease with the Greek New Testament I am finding this book very useful. I do agree with those who say that the large Liddell and Scott (LSJ) is also very useful. My study so far has been in ancient Greek generally (from Homer to Koine) and I have used LSJ (and the abridged editions) extensively; it a good tool to give New Testament readers a wider view of particular meanings.
So if you can afford it I say buy Danker and LSJ, and if you don't know your Greek accents, get a good book on that too (such as the one by Probert).
You will never read the New Testament the same way again!.......2007-01-04
Walter Bauer spent five hours every day of his scholarly career working on this invaluable lexicon. This lexicon will open up the world of New Testament Greek to even the beginning scholar. With only a little help and looking through the introduction to the lexicon, this volume will unpack the meaning of all the words in the New Testament and other Early Christian texts. If you are a seminarian, pastor, or interested person, this is a must have volume for your shelves.
The Gold Standard Greek Lexicon.......2006-12-26
This is indispensable. Proper Greek study and exegesis CANNOT be done without this resource. The down side? A bit pricy. But it more than pays for itself. WARNING: Pick up the most recent edition (the third, I believe); the changes are staggering and affect meaning.
over-rated and not worth the $.......2006-08-03
For much less than the price of this lexicon, one can purchase a copy of Thayer's, AND Trenchard's vocabulary guide AND a Greek concordance. Academic snobs make a big deal about how Thayer's lexicon is out of date because he did not have access to the papyri, but for 99% of New Testament words and meanings this is not an issue. Trenchard's book is actually MORE helpful, in my opinion, than this or any lexicon because he simply lists every possible meaning of each word. One way to get to the essence of a word's meaning is to look at the cognates, and Trenchard lists them all. A Greek concordance will actually print all the NT uses of a word in Greek. Bauer's lexicon is just not that helpful and is too wordy.
Book Description
Many people today, especially among emerging generations, don't resonate with the church and organized Christianity. Some are leaving the church and others were never part of the church in the first place. Sometimes it's because of misperceptions about the church. Yet often they are still spiritually open and fascinated with Jesus. This is a ministry resource book exploring six of the most common objects and misunderstandings emerging generations have about the church and Christianity. The objections come from conversations and interviews the church has had with unchurched twenty and thirty-somethings at coffee houses. Each chapter raises the objection using a conversational approach, provides the biblical answers to that objection, gives examples of how churches are addressing this objection, and concludes with follow-through projection suggestions, discussion questions, and resource listings.
Customer Reviews:
DVD Curriculum on it's way.......2007-10-10
For anyone that liked the book there is a DVD based curriculum for churches and small groups that will be available in early 2008.
Great insight!.......2007-09-29
This book opened my eyes to seeing how the emerging generation views the church. Being raised in the church seems to be a definite handicap when thinking of how to reach those outside its walls. Church people think differently than unchurched people. Add to that the fact that the emergent generation views Christians and you have a group that is fast becoming irrelevant to the culture. Worse yet, that is the group holding the secret to the kingdom of heaven.
At times, Kimball can get you discouraged because of the huge disconnect between the church and the world. But at other times, Kimball gets you excited because you just learned something that will help you connect better than ever. Doing that may be hard work for some. It requires laying aside almost all of the old, outdated methodology. That may be the hardest part for those inside the current church leadership. But after reading this book, it becomes obvious that it must be done in order to reach those outside the church.
Kimball's book is a "must read" book for anyone desiring to connect with people raised outside the church. In the immediate future, that is going to be almost everyone.
Not What I Expected.......2007-08-28
This turned out to be a conservative Christian approach to getting people to Jesus and the church. I had hoped it would be a broader look at how people might get connected with churches in a wide number of approaches to faith. But this was another narrow view of religion.
Becoming Missionaries .......2007-08-24
Anyone who is serious about sharing their faith with others in this generation and culture needs to read Dan Kimball's They Like Jesus But Not the Church. Not so that we can package a church that they will like, but so we will, like good missionaries, understand the culture and the spiritual climate in which we minister.
The book convicted me on the very second page when I realized that I had become so busy "doing ministry" that I had lost almost all contact with those outside the church. My prayer now is "get me back into the game."
Dan's tone is full of grace and understanding, but his words are straightforward and prophetic. Based on several years of interviews with folks outside the church, They Like Jesus But Not the Church highlights the reasons that emerging generations respect Jesus but are totally turned off by his bride. Many of the reasons are misperceptions; many are not. Some of the reasons that really jumped out to me included the following:
"The church is an organized religion with a political agenda."
"The church is judgmental and negative. It is known for what it is against more than for what it is for."
"The church is homophobic."
Dan is whole-heartedly committed to the truth of Scripture , and he shows us how we can uphold the authority of Scripture while stripping off some of the extraneous trappings we have picked up along the way. I love Dan's humility and transparency. He is fair and gracious to both sides of the conversation, and he offers hope to those in the church and those outside the church.
This is one of the best books I have read, and I believe all pastors need to read it. We need to understand the culture in which we minister. We need to understand the people we are trying to reach. We need to get outside the walls of our church office and get to know the people in our communities. And we need to think Biblically and critically about how we do church.
Know your Audience.......2007-07-20
I was very disappointed in this book, mostly because I realized too late that I was not Kimball's intended readership. Kimball is clearly writing for an audience older and more conservative than himself, and I am neither. As a member of the 'emerging generations' he claims to support, and as a pastor in a mainline denomination, I found this text insulting.
Kimball's main shortcoming is a failure to take seriously the concerns of the people he's interviewed, labeling their responses 'misperceptions' rather than just perceptions. Had he presented them as the latter, forced his readers to hear them as honest and relevant critique, he could have fostered dialogue about what the church must do to be *less* negatively political, male dominated, homophobic and so on. Instead, he only challenges that we should correct these 'misconceptions' and help people see the a better side of the church, when the true task ahead is to hear the hard truth that we have fallen short in our attempts to embody God's love and that we must examine our own beliefs and the voices of those outside the church as we continue to seek faithfulness as the Body of Christ on earth.
I think this is an important book for some folks to read, folks who will be challenged to hear what those outside the Christian subculture have to say. For those of us already there, however, it is a disappointing retrogression into old debates and a failure to accept that sometimes those on the outside see us better than we see ourselves. To use one of the book's chapter topics, if everyone around us thinks the church is homophobic, maybe the answer isn't that we try to convince them that we're 'a supportive community' and thus *appear* less homophobic; maybe the answer is that we take a good long look at ourselves and ask how we might *become* less homophobic.
Book Description
Katharine Jefferts Schori is a bishop on the move--she pilots her plane to remote parishes around the sprawling diocese of Nevada and shares her passionate message of reconciliation and peace. As the first female primate in the 500-year history of Anglicanism, she'll have the opportunity to speak to a far wider audience. This book will be the vehicle for introducing Bishop Jefferts Schori and her platform to the wider Church.
Customer Reviews:
Christianity for the rest of us.......2007-08-18
What a blessing to read a book that reveals a Christian faith based on Jesus' example of infinite love. In this day of many loud and forthright fundamentalist proclamations about who is going to be damned, who is not "right with the Lord", and who is just not as good as they should be, it is wonderful to read a clear and humble doctrine of love. None of us are as good as we should be, but the Reverend Schori seems to tell us some ways to try.
Hopefilled wings and prayers.......2007-05-29
The sermon/ meditations are moving and inspiring. They give great hope not only for the Episcopal Church but also for Christians and other people of faith. It would have been helpful to have scripture references with the chapter titles.
A Wing and a Prayer: A Message of Faith and Hope.......2007-04-09
The author is authentic and inspiring with real life spiritual experiences. I can certainly see why she became a Bishop! Her "feel" for the downtrodden transforms her readers into not only people of faith, but people of action. Her communication skills help differing views to come together as the Lord would have us do. I liked the book a lot!
True leadership for Episcopalians and other believers.......2007-04-07
Katherine Jefferts Schori has collected in this small volume an assortment of meditations, homilies, and thoughts challenging one to find ways be a Christian in today's world. Building on a person's Baptismal vows and our Lord's call to ministry, both lay and ordained, our Presiding Bishop reveals her deep faith and belief that the church is on the brink of many exciting new works, serving the world. Throughout the book is her belief in the total ministry of the whole church. Laced with illustrations from her personal experieces as an oceanographer, lay leader, priest, and bishop. she calls all Christians to roll up their sleeves and get involved serving the poor, needy, forgotten, and destitute. It is inspiring to find such down-to-earth love for the church and its Lord in a Presiding Bishop. I was reminded often of the passion and strength of John Hines while reading her call to faith and action. This little book deserves wide-spread study throughout the church by lay and clergy alike. It served me well as a Lenten book of meditation. My only suggestion would be to incorporate more Biblical chapter and verse where they are often missing.
Not what I expected........2007-03-24
I was disappointed. Not much break-through thinking from someone I admire.
Guess my expectations were too high.
Amazon.com
The Nag Hammadi Library was discovered in 1945 buried in a large stone jar in the desert outside the modern Egyptian city of Nag Hammadi. It is a collection of religious and philosophic texts gathered and translated into Coptic by fourth-century Gnostic Christians and translated into English by dozens of highly reputable experts. First published in 1978, this is the revised 1988 edition supported by illuminating introductions to each document. The library itself is a diverse collection of texts that the Gnostics considered to be related to their heretical philosophy in some way. There are 45 separate titles, including a Coptic translation from the Greek of two well-known works: the Gospel of Thomas, attributed to Jesus' brother Judas, and Plato's Republic. The word gnosis is defined as "the immediate knowledge of spiritual truth." This doomed radical sect believed in being here now--withdrawing from the contamination of society and materiality--and that heaven is an internal state, not some place above the clouds. That this collection has resurfaced at this historical juncture is more than likely no coincidence. --P. Randall Cohan
Book Description
This revised, expanded, and updated edition of The Nag Hammadi Library is the only complete, one-volume, modern language version of the renowned library of fourth-century manuscripts discovered in Egypt in 1945.
First published in 1978, The Nag Hammadi Library launched modern Gnostic studies and exposed a movement whose teachings are in many ways as relevant today as they were sixteen centuries ago.
James M. Robinson's updated introduction reflects ten years of additional research and editorial and critical work. An afterword by Richard Smith discusses the modern relevance of Gnosticism and its influence on such writers as Voltaire, Blake, Melville, Yeats, Kerouac, and Philip K. Dick.
Acclaimed by scholars and general readers alike, The Nag Hammadi Library is a work of major importance to everyone interested in the evolution of Christianity, the Bible, archaeology, and the story of Western civilization.
Customer Reviews:
Fascinating theology, but don't expect much historical Jesus.......2007-10-02
The Gnostic writings of Nag Hammadi are fascinating but badly misunderstood, thanks largely to sensationalist media reports and books like the Da Vinci Code.
On the whole, these writings aimed not to preserve history, but to reinterpret Jewish and Christian theology, often from the foundation up. So, for example, many Gnostics believed that this world was a horrible mistake created by a demigod who was too stupid to realize that he wasn't the real God.
The stories here of Jesus and the disciples (including Mary Magdalene) are fictional accounts used as vehicles for these theological views. To call them "fiction" is not a value judgment (many fictional elements are likely present in the Gospel of John as well), but simply an observation of how these thinkers (writing primarily in the second through fourth centuries) shared their ideas.
As a result, they don't, unfortuntately, tell us much about the historical Jesus. The Gospel of Thomas (included in this volume) may include some genuine sayings of Jesus, but this is hotly debated. And anyway, on the whole, Matthew, Mark, and Luke remain the best historical evidence that we have.
To be clear: those seeking to find historical dirt on the apostles, or accounts of Jesus marrying Mary Magdalene, will be disappointed. But if you don't mind wading through cryptic texts, buy this volume (or the newer volume of these texts called "The Nag Hammadi Scriptures"), and begin with the Apocryphon of John or the Hypostasis of the Archons. After several reads, a fascinating theological world emerges.
religion.......2007-09-17
A reference book on religious history. For those who are enlightened
and educated on Judaism and Christianity, because this is to deep for
the average lay person.
Great book.......2007-03-08
This book is difficult to read, but seems to be very well written and researched. Like many ancient texts, it may take years to read and begin to understand.
The Nag Hammadi Library.......2007-02-22
I find this book to be very interesting. You can see why much of it was left out of the Bible. It gives you a different view of what might of gone on in the past.
2 or 3 interesting and inspiring tractates.......2007-02-19
i have not read all of the tractates (gnostic books/papyri) in this book carefully, though have skimmed most of it and find a pretty high degree of consistency in what the different tractates are saying.
from a gnostic angle there would seem to be the first thought or voice, which gave rise to father, mother and son, but the first thought can be reffered to as the Father with a capital F... however this father is 'she' who is the original force in this universe. there is talk of the womb. this form of 'christianity' would perhaps be more acceptable to a woman scared off from conventional patriarchal christianity. however certain aspects of the gnostic literature as just as patriarchal as those found in the bible. for example, in the Gospel of Thomas, a woman is encouraged to become a man, that she may be saved. no scripture in my opinion is ever going to be perfect, but all point us towards 'God', or the reality of that which is beyond, if one is averse to useing the word God.
some very interesting little snippets that caught my eye...
"how could virgin have conceived through holy spirit, when the holy spirit is female?"(paraphr.)
"Joseph was the carpenter that made the cross upon which his son was crucified".(paraphr.)
not that one should get caught up in these details, though im sure some people will.
i love the gospel of Thomas, though much of this material is probably parallel to and almost identical with the theoretical Q manuscript from which the four gospels drew source of jesus wisdom sayings, and many, or even most of the wise sayings in the gospel of thomas are found in the new testament, there are two or three significant sayings that arnt in the new testament.
there is a non-dualistic emphasis on making the high as the low and the inside as the outside (in gist, not literally). the passage which blew my mind comes near the beginning of this gospel, was...
"if you are told that the kingdom of heaven is in the sky, birds will be seen, but if you are told that the kingdom of heaven is in the sea, fish will be seen" this impeccable logic can be applied to jesus statement: "seek and ye shall find", he then goes on to say that there is an objective truth, saying something like "the kingdom of heaven is neither in sky nor sea, but within you."(paraphr.)
for me the Thomas Tractate was a highlight, we are lucky to have this copy of the gospel found in an egyptian rubbish tip in nag hamadi in the 1940s, as far as i am aware only one other copy of it existed prior to this find.
i enjoyed the trimorphic protennoia which is more overtly gnostic than Thomas, it is beautifully composed and speaks in female metaphores almost as much as maleness metaphores in relation to the divine, talk of jesus comes out in this tractate, though it would seem he is the 'first thought' given to the 'yaltaboth' in the image of his own son, whilst infact being the arch principle (thought/Father) in disguise.
i can see that there is probably much room for debate over terms and roles of persons in gnosticism, this is because there are simply so many complex and beautiful names and persons mentioned, total consistency with such complexity is nigh on impossible.
'thunder the perfect mind' is rather beautiful too, and expect that anyone calling himself a gnostic would love this piece of writing. it talks of the divine as both cruel and kind, lover and hater, mother and husband. some beautiful complexity and paradox in this tractate.
i cant remember what its called... i think something like exhortations of Jesus, but this though damaged is also very wise and its inspiring to think that here i might be reading the words of jesus and some of his teaching that never entered the bible. his exhortation to find the root of all things, is like that in the Tao to always seek out the ultimate in whatever one does (though one stopp just short of attaing it lest the blade become blunt.) "he who sees reveals"!
the "tripartite tractate" is long, though worth a more careful read, in order to gain some understanding of gnosticism.
there are various apocalypses and other books detailing how jesus has spoken (post resurection), but i was more interested in digging out the actual words of jesus prior to his death.
i have wondered where gnosticism came from whilst reading this, it is not the same as hermetic material in the corpus hermeticum and is pretty consistent with the teaching of a once major or popular belief. some of the material in the nag hamadi library refers to the valentinian sophia's (she who is the personification of wisdom) daughter Achamoth, valentinianism is one of the heracys that ireneus wrote against in his work 'heracys'(or it might have been 'against heracys'). funnily enough, had ireneus never written that work, we would possibly not know much about valentinianism today. among the guanche tribe of the canary islands, some still worship the mother 'achamoth', for some who have converted she has been replaced by veneration for mary, jesus' mother.
all in all, not light reading, but some interesting and lovely material in this ancient library if you wish to read it and have an interest in things of the distant past.
it would do many christians good to realize that the bible does not contain all the words of jesus, which were so many that even the whole world could not contain them!
love, flakey xxx
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- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
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- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
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