melissel Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 I'm nearing the end of the my first book for the 888 Challenge, and I want to go out of my typical depth for the next one, so I thought I'd ask all you smart, spiritual mamas (and a few dads :D) for some suggestions. I'm pretty sure I believe in a God of some sort, but beyond that, I don't know what I think, and I'm interested in learning more. Can anyone make any suggestions? I'm not necessarily looking to find a religion--I'm mainly looking to expand my horizons--but you never know what might happen! TIA! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitney in KY Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 This is by Josh McDowell. Good luck with your reading and learning. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryM Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 Well, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis is the first book that came to my mind when I read your question. He was basically an agnostic at the start! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue G in PA Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 The Case for Faith (it will really get you thinking!), The Case for Christ and I think he has one called the Case for A Creator although I'm not positive. It's new. Just search your library for Lee Strobel or Amazon or Barnes and Noble is having that 25% off sale now until the end of the wekk :) Also recommend another Josh McDowell book called More Than A Carpenter. AND, I love Max Lucado as well. Good luck with your searching...I was once where you are and it is an exciting place to be, really. Oh, and I found that simply reading the Bible was a good place to begin! Check out Answers in Genesis website for other resources and recommendations for books to aid your search! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PixieKris Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 Interesting question - I have seen Mere Christianity recommended frequently as a definition/explaination of Christianity that crosses Christian denominations. I loved Anne Lamont's "Traveling Mercies" (and then plan B), describing her own journey in a down to earth, non preachy fashion... but it doesn't get into what I think of as theology. And, this is probably not what you are looking for, but I recently enjoyed "Religion as a Natural Phenomenon." It looks at the cultural transmission of Religion, the belief in belief, etc... It sort of met me where I am right now in my quest... It is written by an athiest, and is more gentle than Dawkins' work. Good luck! Kris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissel Posted January 20, 2008 Author Share Posted January 20, 2008 Excellent, thank you everyone! These will beef up the category very nicely. How could I forget about CS Lewis? That will be my next pick, if the library has it handy. Interesting question - I have seen Mere Christianity recommended frequently as a definition/explaination of Christianity that crosses Christian denominations.I loved Anne Lamont's "Traveling Mercies" (and then plan B), describing her own journey in a down to earth, non preachy fashion... but it doesn't get into what I think of as theology. And, this is probably not what you are looking for, but I recently enjoyed "Religion as a Natural Phenomenon." It looks at the cultural transmission of Religion, the belief in belief, etc... It sort of met me where I am right now in my quest... It is written by an athiest, and is more gentle than Dawkins' work. Good luck! Kris Kris, thank you for the reminder about Anne Lamott as well. I love her nonfiction (Bird by Bird, Operating Instructions), and have often been curious about her route to faith, but I was never in a place to explore more. Now's the perfect time! In fact, she's speaking at a B&N near here in a few weeks, and I was dying to go. Maybe I'll buy a copy of Traveling Mercies and see if I can get her to sign it! And actually, that last book does sound right up my alley--I'm very interested in faith as a cultural phenomenon (it's just my nature as a researcher ;)), so that's a great reco as well. Thank you! I knew I could rely on you all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy in Ky Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 I'm nearing the end of the my first book for the 888 Challenge, and I want to go out of my typical depth for the next one, so I thought I'd ask all you smart, spiritual mamas (and a few dads :D) for some suggestions. Desiring God by John Piper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melinda in VT Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 I like Marcus Borg's books (Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time, Reading the Bible Again for the First Time, etc.). He represents a way of looking at Christianity that is different from the fundamentalist view that seems so dominant in America these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ack25 Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 I have heard good things about The Faith Club http://www.amazon.com/Faith-Club-Muslim-Christian-Understanding/dp/0743290488/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200868115&sr=8-1. In fact, the Presb. church that shares it's church with our buildingless synogogue is hosting a interreligous book discussion on the book. Dh's friend, Chris, has read some good atheist books. I'll let you know if I can recall the titles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PixieKris Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 The Faith Club was also really good - a nice overview of the three faiths that share the common root of Abraham, and a very "real" dialogue about religious stereotypes (both conscious and unconscious). It's what I'd consider a "light read" (easy and interesting and quick) that has the potential to be studied in depth if desired. A new book club I am in is using it as one of our first books, because all of our book choices are going to be around questions of spirituality. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melinda in VT Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 Kris, that book group sounds great. I read The Faith Club last year and really enjoyed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mx5 Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 Boring title, excellent book written not to bible scholars, but to real people like all the rest of us. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melora in NC Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 How about Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense, by N.T. Wright Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 I love anything by John Piper! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jlynn Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 "Spirituality of the Cross" by Gene E. Veith. He's also got an active blog at this site: http://www.geneveith.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PixieKris Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 I was just rereading parts of "Dark Night of the Soul" by May last night and thought of this thread again.... Dark Night of the Soul is by St. John of the Cross, but May's 'guide' is very modern, and interesting to reread... He revisits St. John's and St. Therese's work from a modern cultural and psychological understanding with some references to how it can be intrepreted across religions, though his grounding seems to be Christian. :) Kris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Desiring God by John Piper This was my first thought, too. John Piper is an excellent author. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dayle in Guatemala Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 but also, "Letters from a Skeptic" is really good too. Loved it when I read it. It's letters written from a son to his agnostic father and their exchange is so real, super good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Well, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis is the first book that came to my mind when I read your question. He was basically an agnostic at the start! Yes, this book by C.S. Lewis would be a good one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orangeblossom Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 .......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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