What are some good Christian Books to read?

[Jan Van Quirm]

Well then Mystmoon - you still need something like the Qu-oran in there don't you to get the world aspect in there . It's an interesting religion to study as they more less have the Old Testament in there and Christ himself is a major prophet in Islam - Mohammed put him top of the pile for propheting in fact (aside from himself of course )

I think the catholic/mormon (insert christian cult/sect of choice) differentiation is a bit of a cop-out - why don't you choose something to contrast with the 'desert religions' and do Jedi-ism maybe, it's a recognised religion in the UK now as more than 1000 people put it down as their faith in the census and people have been banned from supermarkets for wearing their Jedi Hoods

 

[mystmoon]

I never said I did that, I only said I could. I might struggle with Jedi-ism, since my unit title is Life, Death and Life After Death, I've no idea what their views are on that (dead people become weird blue ghosts?)

 

[raisindot]

Hi

I would recommend a book called The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins.

What, no Hitchens?

J-I-B

 

[Dotsie]

I think you can read too many atheist books I read Dawkins because he's a scientist & I wanted to see his viewpoint. I'm not really bothered about reading 300 pages of slagging off God (although that's what Dawkins ends up doing a lot of the time, which is a shame because he tends to bury some good arguments his waffly rants).

 

[poohcarrot]

All I know about Richard Dawkins is;

The Selfish Gene - which I've read.

The God Delusion - which I've read and absolutely loved his waffly rants.

He appears in the last chapter of Nation and is called "nice Professor Dawkins", tying in with the anti-God sentiments of the book - so obviously TP likes him. 8)

 

[Dotsie]

The Ancestor's Tale is brilliant, and as far as I can remember doesn't mention God I would definitely recommend it.

 

[theoldlibrarian]

I would never expect anyone to read the bible but there are a number of bible based books out there. One of the best "easy-reads" is called the Lion Graphic Bible. It contains both the old and new testament with nothing taken out but illustrated and in modern day english.
There are pro-humanist books like The Grapes Of Wrath and African Spiritual like The Famished Road or Hindu back rounded novels like The White Tiger or The Life Of Pi. Good luck and good reading.
Also remember the one thing better than reading is talking. Go talk to a priest or a rabbi or an avid atheist etc.

 

[Jan Van Quirm]

Go talk to...... an avid atheist etc.

Will pooh do?

 

[poohcarrot]

Me! Me! Me! Talk to me!

Was that "avid" or "rabid"?

 

[Fljotsdale]

I think the best thing you can do is to read the bible VERY CAREFULLY and very thoroughly, without any input from other writings, be they fiction or non-fiction, theology or science.
One small bit of the bible I suggest you read and think about, and then think about and read again, and read again and think about, is 1st book of Kings chapter 22 verses 19 to 23; bearing in mind the whole time that the bible also says it is 'impossible for god to lie' (Hebrews 6:18 ), and seriously contemplate on the action he took as written at 1 Kings 22:19-23.
It's a good starting point, anyway.

 

[poohcarrot]

bearing in mind the whole time that the bible also says it is 'impossible for god to lie' (Hebrews 6:18 ),

...but how do you know that is true? It could be a lie.

woman he punishes with pain in childbirth and with subordination to man: "your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you;"

Is this bit true?


Is this the bit you mean....?

"The same easiness of temper, which betrays some godly persons into friendship with the declared enemies of religion, renders it very dangerous to them. They will be drawn to wink at and countenance such conduct and conversation as they ought to protest against with abhorrence. Whithersoever a good man goes, he ought to take his religion with him, and not be ashamed to own it when he is with those who have no regard for it."

.....because that could be taken to mean Christians shouldn't read Terry Pratchett.

 

[cols]

I think the best thing you can do is to read the bible VERY CAREFULLY and very thoroughly, without any input from other writings, be they fiction or non-fiction, theology or science.
One small bit of the bible I suggest you read and think about, and then think about and read again, and read again and think about, is 1st book of Kings chapter 22 verses 19 to 23; bearing in mind the whole time that the bible also says it is 'impossible for god to lie' (Hebrews 6:18 ), and seriously contemplate on the action he took as written at 1 Kings 22:19-23.
It's a good starting point, anyway.

And He doesn't lie, He does permit a lie but He himself cannot lie!

Pooh. Yes that bit is true, women are meant to be lead by men who in turn are supposed to treat their wives as they would their own souls , to protect them, lay down their lives for them , love them as they would love God
No the last bit (I can't do multiple quotes) does not mean christians should not read Pratchett or any others for that matter. It means we should , when conversing with non christians , not be ashamed to declare we are and not to be drawn in going against our faith.It may sound straight forward but it isn't easy as people can see faith as mindless obedience and unintelligent and so it a constant struggle.
Becoming a Christian is like entering a storm , you constantly feel like you have to defend your faith, which you do.But you also battle your own ego : no one wants to be viewed as unintelligent
But I am a Christian, it is the core of who I am and healthy debating like this help me to keep grounded

 

[Fljotsdale]

bearing in mind the whole time that the bible also says it is 'impossible for god to lie' (Hebrews 6:18 ),

...but how do you know that is true? It could be a lie.

Oh yes, indeedy! That is the whole point of the bit of the bible I suggested the thread starter should read.
I should also have mentioned that the bible says 'God hates a liar' and the liar is castigated frequently in scripture as something detestable to god.
Yet, there, in 1 Kings 22:19-23, we have god commending an angel who suggests - following a request by god - that he go out and deceive the prophets of an enemy by giving them false prophcies to speak; the passage ends thus:
"And now here God has put a deceptive spirit into the mouth of all these prophets of yours; but God himself has spoken calamity concerning you."

Hmm... maybe god didn't actually speak the lie himself... but to ask an angel to go out and tell lies for him? Looks to me like a crook getting another crook to do the dirty work so he can keep his own hands clean. And he certainly takes the dubious 'credit' for it!
And when you take into account all the comments the bible makes about liars being detestable to god, and not entering into his kingdom,,, where does that leave that dutiful, obedient angel (or spirit)?

The bible says that, concerning the Holy City (Heavenly Jerusalem, as described in Revelation) "Outside are the dogs and those who practice spiritism and the fornicators and the murderers and the idolaters and eveyone liking and carrying on a lie." (Revelation 22:15)

So, if nothing else, the bible god is something of a big fat hypocrite, imo.

Now tell me this: Who does the bible tell us is the Father of Lies? And where does that leave the bible god?

Another thought has just struck me. The bible calls god the Alpha and the Omega - the beginning and the end. But it could also mean opposite poles, couldn't it? Good and Evil, for instance... Go(o)d and (D)evil, maybe...

It's a thought.

Not that I believe in any of 'em, personally. I'm an Anti-Theist.

 

[Fljotsdale]

And He doesn't lie, He does permit a lie but He himself cannot lie!

See my response to Poohcarrot.

 

[Fljotsdale]

I was wondering what are some good Christian books that I can read to supplement my bible studies?

If you really wat religious fiction, you could try Lloyd C Douglas "The Robe" and I think he also wrote "The Big Fisherman"

There is also Marie Corelli's "Barabbas" which might be an intersting read.

I read and enjoyed all three of these when I was a teen.

 

[poohcarrot]

Good and Evil, for instance... Go(o)d and (D)evil,

Oooh! I liked that!

 

[Dotsie]

woman he punishes with pain in childbirth and with subordination to man: "your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you;"

Is this bit true?

Bugger that!

Becoming a Christian is like entering a storm , you constantly feel like you have to defend your faith, which you do.But you also battle your own ego : no one wants to be viewed as unintelligent

Sounds exactly like being a scientist

Good and Evil, for instance... Go(o)d and (D)evil,

Oooh! I liked that!

Sounds like The Bible Code to me

 

[Fljotsdale]

Sounds like The Bible Code to me

Saw an interesting bit about that on QI a few days ago, actually; and interestingly, you can do exactly the same thing with any book you choose and get equally comprehensible 'messages'. Any book at all, from the bible, to Shakespeare, to Conan Doyle, right down to Winnie the Pooh. And in books in other languages, too.
Imagine secret messages from God in, for example, Enid Blyton's Famous Five! Or even a book of pornography...

 

[poohcarrot]

...or even The God Delusion.

 

[daemonium]

is god not like father christmas .
when you grow up you realise hes not real ....i would refer you also to the tooth fairy and the easter bunny ..

pfft jesus was just a hippy and as all hippys are downtrodden by the authorities for even thinking they can change things then it makes sense its all relevant .

and jesus said to the masses " drink wine get stoned " and the romans took it literally .
rofl.