Christian Goodreaders discussion
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Common reads

One person asked for a link to the poll. Here it is: www.goodreads.com/poll/list/1066-chri... .


Obviously, what we choose to read will be the main determiner of participation for the largest number of people. Relative to that, my feeling (for whatever it's worth) is that participation in the discussion should be open to everyone who's already read the chosen book and remembers it well enough to take part intelligently; in that case, you shouldn't have to reread the book, unless you want to. Also, for the benefit of those who might have to depend on interlibrary loan to get their copy of the book, it would be best NOT to pick a very recent book (one published this year, or late last year); many libraries won't loan books that new to other libraries, although there are some that will. My suggestion is that we spend this month brainstorming, here on this thread, about what to read, and try to narrow our suggestions down to half a dozen titles or less. Then I'll post a poll in the early part of August to make the selection. That will give everybody who wants to take part the later weeks of August to get their hands on a copy, so we can be raring to go on Sept. 1!

The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming
The Four Loves
And just in case we want to consider a fiction...
City of Tranquil Light
I just thought I would get the ball rolling with these ideas. But I'm also looking forward to seeing other suggestions.

I was thinking of nominating an apologetics book, but I figured that would be preaching to the choir in this setting.



So far, our suggestions are Being the Body; C. S. Lewis' The Four Loves; and Henri Nouwen's The Return of the Prodigal Son. Do we feel any need to add to that list of suggestions? I won't post the poll until next month; but if we can already narrow our choices down to three, that's fine with me!

Remind me, LOL.
My favorite would have to be The Great Divorce if you'd like to include it.


Because Goodreads includes every edition of the same book on one record, Being the Body is listed on the poll under the title of the older first edition, The Body. Note, however, that (if this is the book that's picked) we'd actually be reading the newer revised edition!

We'll need to have a run-off poll between the top two. It's up already, and will run for one week, until next Monday. This evening, I'll try to send out a general invitation to vote.





A book I'd like to nominate is The Same Sex Controversy: Defending and Clarifying the Bible's Message about Homosexuality --not because I know anything about the quality of its argumentation (I've never read it), but because it would be bound to focus our thought and discussion on what has become one of the most crucial issues facing the Christian church today; and focus on it particularly in the light (which is critically important, IMO) of Biblical teaching.

So far as the book you mentioned... It's a topic that has come to the fore lately and being a pastor it's one I've already had to address and come to terms with. It will be sensitive.

There's no question that the topic mentioned above is sensitive. But I'm convinced that if Christians are too paralyzed by fear to openly discuss sensitive topics that are at the fore, our walk of faith is lacking something very crucial.
Janelle and Ron, glad to know that you're interested!


Dating as it does from a time when the influence of Christianity had already had significant effect on the northern European world (though it probably preserves oral storytelling that's much older), this epic definitely has some Christian elements; but it's not usually thought of as a "Christian classic" in the way that, say, The Pilgrim's Progress or Paradise Lost are. Granted, though, in this group we don't confine our scope just to works by Christians, or to "religious" books; we're free to explore the whole spectrum of literature, from a Christian perspective, which is one thing I especially like about our group. Ron, why did this one strike you as a particularly appropriate read for our particular group?


Of course, all of the content of the lectures would be fascinating and instructive, and would bring a decidedly Christian perspective to the poem. Did you want that particular book to be the nominee we put in the poll? Or would you favor just making the epic Beowulf itself the nominee, and giving people the option to read it in any translation/edition they choose? I can see where allowing that degree of diversity might increase access to the book; and might stimulate discussion/comparison more than just reading the Tolkien book. But it's your call!

As you know from my review, I found Tolkien's Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary a fascinating book, but I'm a student of history.
Sorry to confuse the discussion.


It's availability may also weigh against it.


More basically, is there anyone who objects to the idea of a common read? (It's not a done deal if the membership of the group opposes the idea!) And does anyone feel that in a large and diverse group, that's striving for an ecumenical membership, we shouldn't discuss substantive issues of doctrine and practice?


Books mentioned in this topic
The Da Vinci Code (other topics)The Atonement Child (other topics)
The Screwtape Letters (other topics)
Redeeming Love (other topics)
The Great Divorce (other topics)
More...
This idea was born of my conviction that a group like ours --which brings together Christians, from a wide veriety of denominations and traditions, who are serious about the faith and comfortable with books and ideas-- is an ideal forum for common reflection about how we can, as a body of Christ in this very fallen world, be more faithful to our Christian calling and have more impact on our culture. (If we decide to do a common read like this and people find it helpful, I'd like to make it an annual thing!)