Understanding Christianity

[Symmetry]

So, here's the question- what would you recommend as a a good intro to modern Christian belief?

The Bible is excepted, in any version.

Is there a theologian that you like? Someone who isn't a theologian but serves as a good introduction to belief? Something that lead you and you think others should read that isn't explicitly spiritual?

[BigBallinStalin]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity

[Symmetry]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity

You wouldn't be the first student to try it.

[BigBallinStalin]

Anything else is just a less efficient use of one's money and time.

[oVo]

Regardless of your beliefs (or non beliefs) I think Joel Osteen is impressive.

[Ray Rider]

Hmm a couple I would think of off hand would be C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity or Lee Strobel's The Case for Christ. Both were former atheists who turned to Christ; C.S. Lewis is most well-known for his writings (such as the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe) and Lee Strobel was the legal editor of the Chicago Tribune.

If you like to listen to something while you're working, I would highly recommend Ravi Zacharias. He was an atheist as a teenager growing up in India but gave his life to Christ after attempting to commit suicide. Now he's a professor at Oxford and travels the world speaking about the Bible and how it relates to our lives in the modern culture we live in. He's impressive orator with great depth to his message.

A few other good philosophers/theologians would be William Lane Craig, John Lennox, Vishal Mangalwadi, Os Guinness, or the late Francis Schaefer.

Regardless of your beliefs (or non beliefs) I think Joel Osteen is impressive.

Impressive? He's a smooth talker with a positive message and a light sprinkling of Bible verses, I guess.

[macbone]

Yeah, I'd second Lewis' Mere Christianity. It's not perfect, and it's obviously biased in the sense that he returned to Christianity when he wrote it, but it's a good read (of course, I'm biased, too). Also worth it, though only if you have the time, is his autobiography <i>Surprised by Joy</i> that makes some sense of how he turned from agnosticism to theism.

Another good read is G.K. Chesterton's Orthodoxy. It's not a systematic theology (both of these guys were only armchair theologians, after all), but in a sometimes meandering way, he goes through the reasoning behind why he's a Roman Catholic.

Strobel and Zacharias are both good. Another person worth reading is Peter Kreeft, a professor of philosophy at Boston College. His book Between Heaven and Hell looks at theism, humanism, and pantheism via an imaginary conversation after death between C.S. Lewis, John F. Kennedy, and Aldous Huxley, who all died on 22 November 1963. Kreeft has a whole slew of books based on dialogue, and he's worth checking out.

A final recommendation is Francis Schaeffer, who was a 20th century advocate of a rejection of modernism towards a more conservative past. His two most well-known books are Escape from Reason and The God Who Is There.

St. Augustine's City of God is also worth a read, and he's probably the most influential of the writers on this list, though he's considerably more old-school. Of the rest, perhaps C.S. Lewis more than any of the others has had the greatest impact on Christian theology in the 20th century.

I've actually toyed with the idea of taking a book, like Mere Christianity or Orthodoxy or even God Is Not Great and having some kind of open discussion thread about it, but this forum being what it is, I don't know how far it would actually get. =) I actually wouldn't mind learning more about Hinduism or the Green Man or any number of things.

[oVo]

[re: Joel Osteen] He's a smooth talker with a positive message and a light sprinkling of Bible verses, I guess.

I agree totally and still find him impressive with what he does, even though "smooth talker" is an understatement. But compared to the Christian shyster ministries of Jack Van Impe, he is divine.

For spiritual thought in all directions --including Christianity-- about life, living, God and thoughts on what happens after this life? I recommend Tying Rocks To Clouds by William Elliot, which is simply conversations with an impressive group of wise and spiritual people.

[PLAYER57832]

Mere Christianity is the only one that I can really think of without research. There are some fictional texts that I found enjoyable and thoughtful, but I am not sure they would serve as a basic introduction.. more a matter of stirring thinking.

I can't do that right now, but will get back to this (assuming no one else comes up with good answers).

From the outset, I tend to like histories of the Christian churcha nd thinkers. However, that's probably more about my personal interest and less about introduction to the faith.

[heavycola]

There are some fictional texts

This is a good introduction to christianity.

[2dimes]

Yeah, mere christianity is pretty tough to beat.

I don't think you need to get very far into any of those kind of books before you either like what the guy is saying or don't. The ragamuffin gospel guy was pretty popular, Brandon can't remember his last name. I spoke to him once and he didn't even respond, it was kind of strange.

I think one of the main problems with Christianity is also what makes it good or even great sometimes. It is really open to individual interpretation. The main concept being Love everyone and be nice.

Everything else has to hang on that or you can easily start skidding out of control until you're going to Westburo Baptist or some place where everyone is so scared that God's angry with us that you're an extention of that anger. In certain ways that might be the worst thing a person could do. George W. Bush has been discribed as a born again christian. He has not particularily given off that vibe publicly, though to be fair we attach him to the rest of the staff and their actions while he was president. So how can I know what he was thinking and or feeling about anything.

So I don't believe you can understand Christianity because it can be different for each person practicing it. Once you have an outfit that is saying, "We've figured out Christianity and everyone else is doing it wrong." it tends to end in a compound near Waco or something.

[Symmetry]

Thanks for this, there's a nice mix of stuff that I'm familiar with, and some good suggestions I'll look out for. The Screwtape Letters are part of my list for a basic introduction along with Mere Christianity on the Lewis front.

[PLAYER57832]

The main concept being Love everyone and be nice.

No, the main concept is that sins are forgiven. (though there are guidelines that are to help us be better people).

but, yes, Christianity was always inclusive of a range of ideas within a broad framework. That is part of why it has persisted. It meets the needs of many people in different ways.

[BGtheBrain]

*****

[Symmetry]

The main concept being Love everyone and be nice.

No, the main concept is that sins are forgiven. (though there are guidelines that are to help us be better people).

but, yes, Christianity was always inclusive of a range of ideas within a broad framework. That is part of why it has persisted. It meets the needs of many people in different ways.

I think the main concept is to love god

I wouldn't introduce Christianity to someone unfamiliar with it in any of those ways. They are all key concepts, even 2D's, but they aren't great introductions to Christian belief.

[Nola_Lifer]

I would recommend reading Aristotle and lets not forget Plato too.

[pimpdave]

Mere Christianity is probably the most succinct argument that avoids denominational doctrine. You can rip through it in an afternoon or less.

[2dimes]

The main concept being Love everyone and be nice.

No, the main concept is that sins are forgiven. (though there are guidelines that are to help us be better people).

but, yes, Christianity was always inclusive of a range of ideas within a broad framework. That is part of why it has persisted. It meets the needs of many people in different ways.

I think the main concept is to love god

I wouldn't introduce Christianity to someone unfamiliar with it in any of those ways. They are all key concepts, even 2D's, but they aren't great introductions to Christian belief.

Forgivness of sin is not something that I can help or hinder. The point was we couldn't fix it by taking birds and sheep to the guy that burned them for God.

If you don't love people that you have contact with and treat them like it then you will not be able to love God. It would be kind of like saying you love a woman then kicking her kids down a flight of stairs. This is not a key component in making her happy.

[luns101]

So, here's the question- what would you recommend as a a good intro to modern Christian belief?

The Bible is excepted, in any version.

Is there a theologian that you like? Someone who isn't a theologian but serves as a good introduction to belief? Something that lead you and you think others should read that isn't explicitly spiritual?

Well, you've managed to get me to actually respond to one of these Christianity threads for the first time in a long while. While I would never recommend any book as a good intro in the place of the Bible, there were some writings that I enjoyed. The one I'd recommend to you is The Journals of Jim Elliot.

As I grow older, I become more tired of theologians although there's much to appreciate and think through from their writings. I've read about as much as I wanted from various ones during my 20s. My personal recommendation is to stay away from them if you are not a believer in the teachings of Jesus Christ already...it would be pointless.

As far as people who aren't theologians go, I'd recommend 2 gentlemen. One of them is from my signature link. His name is Greg Laurie. He's practical and pastors a church in Riverside, California that was only 30 minutes from where I used to live. The other guy is named Jon Courson, who pastors Applegate Christian Fellowship in Medord, Oregon. He concentrates on Bible Typology, which I really enjoy learning. He has a website which breaks down every single passage of the Bible into 24 minute segments on his Searchlight program.

I guess the real reason I'd recommend either of those gentlemen to you is because they have both been through horrific losses in their personal lives. Laurie lost his son a few years ago in a crash on the 91 freeway (which I've driven on many times and almost wrecked on myself). Courson lost both his wife and daughter years before that. When I think about some of the objections that people have to the Christian faith, I think the biggest one has to do with why God allows bad/horrible things to happen to people, and I want to hear from people who've been down that road yet sill hold fast to their faith. I think most people want to know "does it really work" when the tough times arrive. These men articulate why it does.

I'm hoping that you're sincere in asking for these sources. My experience on this site has been that atheists usually use threads like this as a platform to mock Jesus Christ, the Bible, and Christians.

[Symmetry]

So, here's the question- what would you recommend as a a good intro to modern Christian belief?

The Bible is excepted, in any version.

Is there a theologian that you like? Someone who isn't a theologian but serves as a good introduction to belief? Something that lead you and you think others should read that isn't explicitly spiritual?

Well, you've managed to get me to actually respond to one of these Christianity threads for the first time in a long while. While I would never recommend any book as a good intro in the place of the Bible, there were some writings that I enjoyed. The one I'd recommend to you is The Journals of Jim Elliot.

As I grow older, I become more tired of theologians although there's much to appreciate and think through from their writings. I've read about as much as I wanted from various ones during my 20s. My personal recommendation is to stay away from them if you are not a believer in the teachings of Jesus Christ already...it would be pointless.

As far as people who aren't theologians go, I'd recommend 2 gentlemen. One of them is from my signature link. His name is Greg Laurie. He's practical and pastors a church in Riverside, California that was only 30 minutes from where I used to live. The other guy is named Jon Courson, who pastors Applegate Christian Fellowship in Medord, Oregon. He concentrates on Bible Typology, which I really enjoy learning. He has a website which breaks down every single passage of the Bible into 24 minute segments on his Searchlight program.

I guess the real reason I'd recommend either of those gentlemen to you is because they have both been through horrific losses in their personal lives. Laurie lost his son a few years ago in a crash on the 91 freeway (which I've driven on many times and almost wrecked on myself). Courson lost both his wife and daughter years before that. When I think about some of the objections that people have to the Christian faith, I think the biggest one has to do with why God allows bad/horrible things to happen to people, and I want to hear from people who've been down that road yet sill hold fast to their faith. I think most people want to know "does it really work" when the tough times arrive. These men articulate why it does.

I'm hoping that you're sincere in asking for these sources. My experience on this site has been that atheists usually use threads like this as a platform to mock Jesus Christ, the Bible, and Christians.

Very much sincere, and I appreciate your suggestions. To come completely clean I've been trying to put together a primer reading list for some of the university students I teach. I generally teach renaissance era literature, and, while I am an atheist, students really need to have a grasp of the basics of Christianity to talk about the subject.

Basically I'm outsourcing my work on this, but I'm also doing it because I know plenty of good historians on Christianity, but I'm not so much in touch with modern stuff.

I can't pretend to be a believer, or hold out the idea that I might be persuaded, but I do see a lot of worth in Christianity, and I find it annoying when people dismiss it out of hand without at least trying to look at it.

I hope that makes sense. Thanks again for the reply.

[luns101]

I see, in that case I would recommend John Warwick Montgomery even though all his beliefs don't match my own.

[Symmetry]

I see, in that case I would recommend John Warwick Montgomery even though all his beliefs don't match my own.

I'll add him to my list. Many thanks for the recommendations. If you think of anything else, or any other writer that would be a good introduction, let me know.

[thegreekdog]

I see, in that case I would recommend John Warwick Montgomery even though all his beliefs don't match my own.

I'll add him to my list. Many thanks for the recommendations. If you think of anything else, or any other writer that would be a good introduction, let me know.

You should see if you can find any reading lists for any similar courses at other colleges and universities. I just attempted to do that with my old college courses, but the course has been discontinued apparently.

[Commander62890]

Another person worth reading is Peter Kreeft, a professor of philosophy at Boston College. His book Between Heaven and Hell looks at theism, humanism, and pantheism via an imaginary conversation after death between C.S. Lewis, John F. Kennedy, and Aldous Huxley, who all died on 22 November 1963.

Sounds intriguing... what a great premise

Loved Huxley's Brave New World

[Symmetry]

I see, in that case I would recommend John Warwick Montgomery even though all his beliefs don't match my own.

I'll add him to my list. Many thanks for the recommendations. If you think of anything else, or any other writer that would be a good introduction, let me know.

You should see if you can find any reading lists for any similar courses at other colleges and universities. I just attempted to do that with my old college courses, but the course has been discontinued apparently.

This isn't the only group of people I'm lazy enough to outsource this stuff to. Different groups have different perspectives, and some aren't useful to what I'm trying to teach. Are you familiar with eco-theology? I am.

Now.