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September 01
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Pat
marked as to-read:
Christian Spirituality: Five Views of Sanctification (Paperback)
by Donald L. Alexander
bookshelves:
to-read
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Pat
marked as to-read:
Biblical Spirituality (Paperback)
by David L. Larsen
bookshelves:
to-read
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Pat
gave
to:
Jesus Creed: Loving God, Loving Others (Paperback)
by Scot McKnight
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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recommended to Pat by:
Saw it advertised on Paraclete Press
recommended for: Anyone
read in September, 2008
Pat said:
"Excellent book that I highly recommend. It will inspire and challenge readers to flesh out what it really means to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbors as ourself. It also has a companion guide...more
Excellent book that I highly recommend. It will inspire and challenge readers to flesh out what it really means to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbors as ourself. It also has a companion guide to be used for small group or individual study. ...less
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August 30
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Pat
gave
to:
Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America (Paperback)
by Michael O. Emerson, Christian Smith
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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recommended to Pat by:
Saw it referenced in The Jesus Creed
recommended for: Any Christian interested in race relations
read in August, 2008
Pat said:
"An excellent study on the issue of racism (and the racialization of our country) and the evangelical church. Unfortunately, it would appear that when it comes to race, many evangelicals are directed more by their social structures and beliefs, such ...more
An excellent study on the issue of racism (and the racialization of our country) and the evangelical church. Unfortunately, it would appear that when it comes to race, many evangelicals are directed more by their social structures and beliefs, such as individualism, than their religious convictions. Many white evangelicals interviewed for the study blame the race problem on "individual sin" rather than social structures that lend themselves to racialization. Thus, racism is a problem of individuals who complain too much or who exaggerate the race problem and the solution is for these individuals to stop being lazy. This however undercuts much that is reality in the United States such as "the racialized patterns that transcend and encompass individuals, and are therefore often institutional and systemic" (p. 90).
While integrating congregations sounds like one of the obvious answers to ending racialization, the authors point out that people tend to be drawn to groups in which they can find meaning and are often drawn to groups that are most like them or what the authors call "internally homogenous congregations". They even cite a case study in which a mixed congregation with a black pastor lost many of its white members over time as they did not identify with the pastor's preaching style, the music and other factors. I found this striking as I worship at a predominantly white church and have chosen to look at beyond certain things. But the authors point is well made. It's human nature to join groups in which one feels a sense of belonging and sometimes in groups in which that feeling is not present, a person may not always be comfortable, no matter how hard they try and ultimately they will leave and look for that which does meet their need. Ever the utopian-minded one, I hope for a day when there can be more racially integrated congregations. Until then, I see what a complex issue this is. The one thing that could be a step in the right direction (integrated congregations) doesn't always work and in fact sometimes works against the goal that is in mind.
While all of this may sound discouraging, there is hope. It lies in "educated, sacrificial, realistic efforts made in faith across racial lines" (p. 172). And I say, it is an effort worth pursuing. I highly recommend this book as it offers much food for thought. ...less
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August 04
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Pat
read and liked
Jeremiah's
review of The Shack:
"It seems as though there has been a lot of buzz surrounding this book lately. I picked it up and read through it in a couple of days and found that it invoked several different perceptions. The first was that the author seemed to be trying to teach m...more
It seems as though there has been a lot of buzz surrounding this book lately. I picked it up and read through it in a couple of days and found that it invoked several different perceptions. The first was that the author seemed to be trying to teach me something through the story. I have since heard that many people think the events of the book are true. Had I not known that this was pure fiction, (he wrote the story for his children) I may have thought the same. As a result, it was difficult at times to read it as fiction. Secondly, the middle section of the book, which is primarily dialogue, seems to flow rather poorly- and reads as thought the author is using the character Mack to plant deliberate and leading theological questions, which are summarily answered through Papa, Jesus, and Saraya. For me, it was a little disruptive to the storyline. As far as the overall body of the book, I enjoyed reading it. It caused a measure of self-reflection, and seemed to draw me into the emotions of the characters, particularly Mack.
There is one thing that stood out to me above all else, and that is the necessity of thinking carefully when reading this book. The way that it is written seemed to posit a particular worldview, especially concerning God. While I believe the book can be a great conversation starter, I would not accept all the views of the author as truth without first measuring them against the revealed truth of Scripture. The reader must remember that it is the opinion and view of the author, not necessarily what is communicated about God in the Bible. Therefore, it is my opinion that one must read this book carefully- judging the ideas and thoughts of the author's worldview against the revealed and objective truth of the Bible. While some of Young's statements about God and man are true, and beautifully illustrated, there are others that are certainly not true, even if they are also beautifully illustrated.
...less
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Pat
gave
to:
The Shack (Paperback)
by William P. Young
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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recommended to Pat by:
A friend from church
recommended for: Seekers/disillusioned Christians
read in August, 2008
Pat said:
"I found the first part of this book to be very interesting with a few unexpected twists and turns that kept me reading. The second half, however, I have mixed emotions about. It’s a hodgepodge of good theology mixed with some that is rather loose...more
I found the first part of this book to be very interesting with a few unexpected twists and turns that kept me reading. The second half, however, I have mixed emotions about. It’s a hodgepodge of good theology mixed with some that is rather loose. I think this is probably a good book to recommend to a seeker or someone who has become disillusioned in their faith. It’s important for readers to remember that what they read is one person’s experience with God. With books like this, there is a tendency for readers to want to make what they are reading normative rather than taking it as something which can inform their experience. A quote that sums up well how I feel is one by Walter Rauschenbusch: “Theologians have felt no hesitation in founding a system of speculative thought on the teachings of Jesus; and yet Jesus was never an inhabitant of the realm of speculative thought.” ...less
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July 28
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Pat
marked as to-read:
Sacred Compass: The Way of Spiritual Discernment (Hardcover)
by Brent Bill (Goodreads author!)
bookshelves:
to-read
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Pat
marked as to-read:
The Garden of Last Days: A Novel (Hardcover)
by Andre Dubus III
bookshelves:
to-read
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Pat
marked as to-read:
The Great Derangement: A Terrifying True Story of War, Politics, and Religion at the Twilight of the American Empire (Hardcover)
by Matt Taibbi
bookshelves:
to-read
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my rating:
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Pat
marked as to-read:
COLLECTED SERMONS OF WILLIAM SLOANE COFFIN: Volume 1 - The Riverside Years: Years 19771982 (Hardcover)
by William Sloane Coffin
bookshelves:
to-read
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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