Required Reading for Moderates...

[MrJim]

...along with the Holy Writ what would you have on the list?

A couple favorites...

http://www.danielgoulet.com/journal/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/revolution.jpg

http://www.philprendergast.com/uploaded_images/brian-700245.jpg

[Athene]

I'm currently reading A Generous Orthodoxy, it's really good.

I would recommend The Jesus I never knew by Phillip Yancey.

[Adammi]

Very similar to WWMC's reading list.

[MrJim]

I'm currently reading A Generous Orthodoxy, it's really good.

I would recommend The Jesus I never knew by Phillip Yancey.

Have you read much Yancey?

[chaoschristian]

A subscription to Sojourners would be appropriate I think.

[Joykins]

Yancey is so awesome.

I vote also for Speaking My Mind (http://www.amazon.com/Speaking-My-Mind-Evangelical-Christians/dp/B000ENBRX2/ref=sr_1_9/102-8667599-8338569?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193709508&sr=1-9)by Campolo

[DailyBlessings]

Particularly for our American members, The Culture of Disbelief (http://www.amazon.com/Culture-Disbelief-Stephen-L-Carter/dp/0385474989)might be a good one.

And I'll throw in The Cost of Discipleship (http://www.amazon.com/Cost-Discipleship-scm-classics/dp/0334028566/ref=sr_1_1/105-8653668-4975620?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193714773&sr=1-1), just in case someone hasn't gotten around to reading it yet. :)

[Tenebrae]

Very similar to WWMC's reading list.

More proof of the evil liberal agenda:P:ebil:

Under the Overpass, By Mike Yankoski. (http://undertheoverpass.com/uop/home.php)

Good read
(http://undertheoverpass.com/uop/home.php)

[Izdaari]

Everything C.S. Lewis ever wrote, but especially Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Problem of Pain and The Great Divorce.

[Athene]

Have you read much Yancey?

I've read a few books by him, What's so amazing about Grace, Reaching for the Invisible God, The Bible Jesus Read and of course The Jesus I never knew. He is one of my favorite Christian authors largely due to the fact that his books are quite personal and he admits to struggling and to doubting, it makes a huge change from the rest who claim to have never had any problems and God has always answered prayers. I tend to feel very inadequate reading books from the latter but with Yancey there's a feeling of relief that I'm not alone.

[Speculative]

Those of you who tend toward the more conservative end of the moderate spectrum might want to try The Mosaic of Christian Beliefs: Twenty Centuries of Unity and Diversity (http://www.amazon.com/Mosaic-Christian-Beliefs-Centuries-Diversity/dp/0830826955/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/105-5732524-4766026?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193730431&sr=8-2) by Roger Olson. It's a good overview of what Olson believes to be the "Great Tradition" of Christianity. He explores the various views within orthodoxy and defines non-essentials on which Christians need not divide. Then he contrasts those with heterodox theologies that he would define as being outside this "Great Tradition".

A little too conservative for me, but I think it might appeal to a lot of the people here--and, as it is a far-reaching, yet concise and accessible overview, I think it deserves serious consideration on any Christians "required reading" list. :)

[SumTinWong]

Have you read much Yancey?
What is so amazing about grace is my favorite book by him and Where is God when it hurts is also a good one that i have just started.

[SumTinWong]

Everything C.S. Lewis ever wrote, but especially Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Problem of Pain and The Great Divorce.
I know a lot of people like Lewis and I suppose if I was smarter i would to, but I tend to feel as if he is over my head on most subjects. But from what I understand try reading the problem of pain and a grief observed one right after the other to get theory and practice as one was written about a subject and the other was written during.

[Joykins]

Lewis, definitely. I also like N.T. Wright who seems similar theologically, but I haven't read a sort of general-type book of his, most of them ones I've read have been specific (like the one on Paul). I find his take on covenant very illumninating.

[Izdaari]

I know a lot of people like Lewis and I suppose if I was smarter i would to, but I tend to feel as if he is over my head on most subjects. But from what I understand try reading the problem of pain and a grief observed one right after the other to get theory and practice as one was written about a subject and the other was written during.
Yes, or the reverse order; I think either has its points.

I don't find Lewis to be an especially difficult writer. Indeed, I would say far less so than most modern theologians, since he is a "perfectly ordinary layman of the Church of England" writing for other laymen. OTOH, he was an Englishman from a more educated time, who expected his readers to be familiar with a lot of things that aren't taught in school anymore, and for that reason, I sometimes have to look up his references.

The Problem of Pain might be one to avoid if you tend to find Lewis over your head. But Mere Christianity is a transcribed series of radio talks for a popular audience, and would be one of his most accessible. And The Great Divorce is an easy read... the thought it provokes may be challenging, but it's a simple travel narrative. The Chronicles of Narnia are children's books... but I still enjoy reading them as an adult.

[Joykins]

I find Lewis easy going but Tolkien very hard going. I expect there are a number of people who find it the other way around though ;)

[BelindaP]

Everything C.S. Lewis ever wrote, but especially Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Problem of Pain and The Great Divorce.

Rats, you beat me to it. ^_^

[MrJim]

I've read a few books by him, What's so amazing about Grace, Reaching for the Invisible God, The Bible Jesus Read and of course The Jesus I never knew. He is one of my favorite Christian authors largely due to the fact that his books are quite personal and he admits to struggling and to doubting, it makes a huge change from the rest who claim to have never had any problems and God has always answered prayers. I tend to feel very inadequate reading books from the latter but with Yancey there's a feeling of relief that I'm not alone.

Yeah, exactly~nearly everything I've read of Yancey comes off as a guy just kinda hammerin' his way through an issue, maybe not exactly sure about stuff, but still has great insight. His books seem to almost be written in a minor key (so to speak), Disappointment with God is due for another read. Sometimes I kinda feel sorry for the guy when reading his books...just comes across, as you say, as genuine, not a know-it-all.

Gee, glad I'm not the only one that thinks this way ;)

[MrJim]

I find Lewis easy going but Tolkien very hard going. I expect there are a number of people who find it the other way around though ;)

Yeah, I'd be one of those opposites~has to read Mere Christianity in a class at church some years ago, thought it was pretty good, but never read anything else by him except The Screwtape Letters...might be time to revisit?

[Criada]

Where is God when it Hurts? is excellent - haven't read anything else by him...
and Lewis is one of my favourites. As is Andrew Murray.

[JimfromOhio]

And I'll throw in The Cost of Discipleship (http://www.amazon.com/Cost-Discipleship-scm-classics/dp/0334028566/ref=sr_1_1/105-8653668-4975620?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193714773&sr=1-1), just in case someone hasn't gotten around to reading it yet. :)

That's one of the classics !!! :thumbsup:

[Rowan]

Everything C.S. Lewis ever wrote, but especially Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Problem of Pain and The Great Divorce.

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Izdaari]

Two more:

I just finished What Paul Meant by Garry Wills, and I highly recommend it. It's a short, easy read, but I guarantee you'll learn things about Paul that you didn't know. Wills is a Catholic and a history professor, but he is also a Latin and Greek scholar (PhD in Classics, Yale, 1961) and he sheds a fair bit of light on some of the Greek words.

The other is The New Man by Thomas Merton. This one I can't say too much about, since I just bought it today and haven't started it yet, but for those not familiar with him, Merton was a Trappist monk and the foremost Christian mystic of the 20th century. I read just a couple paragraphs from the middle of the book, and I was hooked. This man had an amazing mind, and I want to know him better.

[SumTinWong]

Inside out by Dr Larry Crabb was a very good book. It helps you look at sin from a deeper level than just trying to clean up your act. Very good read, not too wordy.

[edb19]

Everything C.S. Lewis ever wrote, but especially Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Problem of Pain and The Great Divorce.

Love CS Lewis. Tried to rep you but got the dreaded:
You have given out too much Reputation in the last 24 hours, try again later.


:mad:

[edb19]

I've read a few books by him, What's so amazing about Grace, Reaching for the Invisible God, The Bible Jesus Read and of course The Jesus I never knew. He is one of my favorite Christian authors largely due to the fact that his books are quite personal and he admits to struggling and to doubting, it makes a huge change from the rest who claim to have never had any problems and God has always answered prayers. I tend to feel very inadequate reading books from the latter but with Yancey there's a feeling of relief that I'm not alone.

Yeah, exactly~nearly everything I've read of Yancey comes off as a guy just kinda hammerin' his way through an issue, maybe not exactly sure about stuff, but still has great insight. His books seem to almost be written in a minor key (so to speak), Disappointment with God is due for another read. Sometimes I kinda feel sorry for the guy when reading his books...just comes across, as you say, as genuine, not a know-it-all.

Gee, glad I'm not the only one that thinks this way ;)

Sounds like my kind of guy - I've never read anything by him, will have to pick up one or two of his books.

:sigh: So many books, so little time.:sigh:

[MrJim]

Two more:

I just finished What Paul Meant by Garry Wills, and I highly recommend it.



I read one he wrote What Jesus Meant expecting a traditional RCC reading but came away from it a little leery~I checked with some folks in OBOB and he didn't come highly recommended from most.

[Izdaari]

I read one he wrote What Jesus Meant expecting a traditional RCC reading but came away from it a little leery~I checked with some folks in OBOB and he didn't come highly recommended from most.
I'll look for that one. I'll read it and let you know what I think. But yes, he's definitely not a traditional Catholic.

[SumTinWong]

I read one he wrote What Jesus Meant expecting a traditional RCC reading but came away from it a little leery~I checked with some folks in OBOB and he didn't come highly recommended from most.
Because i believe he is a sessationist. I read the books he wrote about why he is STILL a Catholic in spite of herself (the church as a government) and it was a very good read. Of course OBOB would not agree with it, because he does not agree with them ;)

[SumTinWong]

Sounds like my kind of guy - I've never read anything by him, will have to pick up one or two of his books.

:sigh: So many books, so little time.:sigh:
Try books on tape or CD. I do when i do not have the time to read them i listen to them on my way to work. I even borrowed a copy of the Bible read by the guy who did the voice of Tony the Tiger back in the day. Pretty cool.

The Bible experience is pretty cool with well known actors as well as the Word of Promise.

[Tonks]

On the Incarnation (http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/history/ath-inc.htm) by St. Athanasius.

Should be required reading for all Christians regardless of flavor. :)

[Mary of Bethany]

Yeah, I'd be one of those opposites~has to read Mere Christianity in a class at church some years ago, thought it was pretty good, but never read anything else by him except The Screwtape Letters...might be time to revisit?

Absolutely! And The Great Divorce would be a great place to start. :)

Mary

[karen freeinchristman]

Great thread!
I agree with many of your choices so far. I do like NT Wright quite a bit.
Adrian Plass is always a good read -> less-heavy and often humorous for those times when we need it!