Get to know the beliefs and practices inspired by Jesus Christ Discover what it means to be a Christian and follow the gospel Curious about Christianity? This friendly guide helps you understand the basic teachings of the Christian faith, exploring the common ground that all Christians share, the differences among the major branches, the key events in Christian history, the key theological issues, and the many ways Christians live out their faith in today's world. The Dummies Way Explanations in plain English "Get in, get out" information Icons and other navigational aids Tear-out cheat sheet Top ten lists A dash of humor and fun Discover how to: Express the core essentials of Christianity Appreciate the life and teachings of Jesus Understand why the Bible is central to the faith Respect the unique roles of the Trinity Explore controversial issues among the branches
The Bible For Dummies (9781119293507) was previously published as The Bible For Dummies (9780764552960). While this version features a new Dummies cover and design, the content is the same as the prior release and should not be considered a new or updated product. Discover the world’s all-time bestseller in an entirely new light Ninety percent of Americans own a copy of the Bible, and while it's the most widely read book, it's also the least understood. Regardless of your religion, understanding the Bible brings much of Western art, literature, and public discourse into greater focus—from Leonardo da Vinci's "Last Supper" painting to the Wachowski brothers' The Matrix movies. People have historically turned to religion to deal with tragedy and change, and with the right insight, the Bible can be an accessible, helpful guide to life's big questions. The Bible For Dummies appeals to people of all faiths, as well as those who don't practice any particular religion, by providing interfaith coverage of the entire Bible and the often fascinating background information that makes the Bible come alive. You'll find answers to such questions as: Where did the Bible come from? Who wrote the Bible? How is the Bible put together? Follow the history of the Bible from its beginning thousands of years ago as tattered scrolls to its status as the bestseller of all time. The Bible For Dummies covers these topics and more: Ten people in the Bible you should know The Hebrew Bible The Apocrypha's hidden treasures What's new about the New Testament Israel's wisdom, literature, and love poetry The Bible's enduring influence The prophets: more than fortunetellers Whether you're interested in broadening your spiritual horizons, uncovering the symbolism of Western culture, or gaining a deeper understanding of the book you grew up reading, The Bible For Dummies has all the information you need to navigate this ancient and fascinating book.
Advice and examples help you find your own prayer style Discover how prayer works and why you need it now more than ever Do you want to pray, but you're not sure how? This friendly guide explains the different kinds of prayer - revealing how and why to pray and how to discern God's answers. You'll see how to overcome hindrances, how to use a journal, and how to pray on your own. Discover what "Thy will be done" means and how to approach prayers that seemingly haven't been answered. The Dummies Way * Explanations in plain English * "Get in, get out" information * Icons and other navigational aids * Tear-out cheat sheet * Top ten lists * A dash of humor and fun
This 7 chapter book explains basic topics such as belief in God; the history and writing of the Bible; the person of Jesus; the nature of salvation and more. All presented in an easy to understand approach suitable for those less familiar with the Bible or the Christian religion. #1 Belief in God - This first chapter in the series reviews the reasons why Christians believe in a Supreme Being. This idea is looked at from both a philosophical and theological perspective. #2 The Christian Religion - In this lesson we will examine the Christian religion and see how it compares to the other major religions in the world. #3 The Bible - This lesson examines the history of Bible authorship, how the Bible was organized into its present form, and some key reasons why Christians believe that it is inspired by God. #4 Jesus Christ - The Christian faith is based on the person of Jesus Christ. In this lesson we will look closely at this person in order to more clearly define His true nature and character. #5 Salvation - This lesson lays out the simple yet powerful plan that God has initiated to save mankind from eternal condemnation due to personal sin and how Jesus Christ fits in to this plan of salvation. #6 The Church - The church is the physical presence of Jesus Christ in the world today. In this lesson we will examine the New Testament in order to determine what the inspired text says the church should be like and how it should function. #7 The Christian Lifestyle - A final lesson describing the new motivation and lifestyle that God has designed for those who are followers of Jesus Christ. ----- BibleTalk.tv -----
This book is about Catholic spirituality, which the author christens it as ‘Catholic Christian Spirituality’, which introduces this spirituality to those who dream about knowing it clearly and observing it validly and fruitfully but not fully realized their dream yet. It is a compilation of the Catholic Christian Spirituality’s Scriptural foundations, its historical explications of the Church, its multi-dimensional applications, and its inner and outer dynamics. Definitely the sole difference of this book from others, as the author writes, is the fact that “it is a book written with my red and warm blood as a personal journal of my experiential spirituality as a cradle New Age Catholic.” Though this post-modern age is judged as one of the most secular ones, even as many comment it is an age of irreligiosity there are actually millions of people around the globe being hungry for spirituality and earnestly looking for help with their inner lives. Too many self-declared sages propose too many strategies as they like. Fr. Vima observes in those dealings many are too extreme or too sentimental or too conservative and liberal or too wordy and theoretical. With a heart of pastor, serving in many parishes in the States, he offers this book to the Catholic Christian friends who live, move in this turbulent period. This book is supposed to join in that group of works. In no way it seeks to be exhaustive or conclusive handbook or textbook on Catholic Christian spirituality or any sort of spiri¬tual guidance. It consists of discussions on the basic elements of Catholic Christian spirituality, its various types, its motives and especially its dynamics. The author underlines this book’s uniqueness as he writes: “In human communication it is said, ‘one visual is worth thousand words’.
Provides an accessible overview of the theory and practice of Christian apologetics, written by one of the leading experts in the field Christian Apologetics is a compact yet comprehensive introduction to the theological discipline devoted to the intellectual defense of the truth of the Christian religion. Assuming no previous knowledge of Christian apologetics, this student-friendly textbook clearly explains the major theoretical and practical aspects of the tradition while exploring its core themes, historical development, and current debates. Using a non-denominational approach, world-renowned Christian scholar Alister E. McGrath engages the ideas of a wide range of representative apologists and explores the ways they have been applied throughout history, and can still be used today. Concise, easy-to-digest chapters gradually build students' knowledge and confidence, moving from basic definitions and concepts to more advanced theory and practical application. Throughout the text, the author engages a variety of cultural concerns about religious belief, illustrates the real-life connection of apologetic studies and ministries in the Church, and offers clear explanations and vigorous defenses of the faith that students can adopt in their own writing and speaking. Introduces the art and science of explaining and commending the Christian faith Presents approaches to apologetics that emphasize the positive appeal of Christianity to the imagination and emotions Covers the major approaches to apologetics, identifies their strengths and weaknesses, and discusses their key representatives Helps readers in ministry and outreach defend Christianity against misunderstandings and misrepresentations Addresses the real-world application of apologetics, including role models, good practice, and established wisdom Features case studies of Christian apologists such as G. K. Chesterton, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Tim Keller Includes study questions, activities, further reading lists, full references, and links to video and audio resources developed by the author Designed to meet the needs of teachers looking for a clear and reliable introduction to the field, Christian Apologetics: An Introduction is an excellent textbook for undergraduate and graduate apologetics courses in colleges and seminaries, as well as church courses and study groups across Christian denominations.
In this “often riotous, ultimately moving Cat’s Cradle for our time,” a Texas couple prepares for the apocalypse (Kirkus Reviews). In Austin, Milton and Rica are expecting their first child. It’s four days and counting. Not for the baby. But for the end of the world. Evidence: Haydon Brock, a godless television star has suddenly traded his Hollywood fame for salvation. A prophetic hermit crab is embarking on an unfathomable cross-country quest. Planes are dropping from the sky. And the president and first lady disappear. No omen is too inexplicable to Milton. He’s learned for a fact that our planet is one vast asylum for the incurably insane. And its cosmic guardians are about to close down the whole damn thing. Then Milton receives one more premonition: to seek out Haydon now holed up somewhere in Marfa. To what end Milton hasn’t a clue. To find out, Milton, Rica, and their best friend head west across an increasingly cataclysmic landscape of inter-dimensional time travelers, Jesus clones, sleep-deprived monks, ghosts, and angels in an epic and manic quest to outrun the last days on Earth. Combining humor, philosophical inquiry and an unforgettable cast of characters, “this sharp-witted satire” (Booklist) “is a future classic, and people will be reading [it] decades from now. I know I will” (Charles Yu, How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe).
Mingling God and Mammon, piety and polemics, and prescriptions for this world and the next, modern Americans have created a culture of print that is vibrantly religious. From America’s beginnings, the printed word has played a central role in articulating, propagating, defending, critiquing, and sometimes attacking religious belief. In the last two centuries the United States has become both the leading producer and consumer of print and one of the most identifiably religious nations on earth. Print in every form has helped religious groups come to grips with modernity as they construct their identities. In turn, publishers have profited by swelling their lists with spiritual advice books and scriptures formatted so as to attract every conceivable niche market. Religion and the Culture of Print in Modern America explores how a variety of print media—religious tracts, newsletters, cartoons, pamphlets, self-help books, mass-market paperbacks, and editions of the Bible from the King James Version to contemporary “Bible-zines”—have shaped and been shaped by experiences of faith since the Civil War. Edited by Charles L. Cohen and Paul S. Boyer, whose comprehensive historical essays provide a broad overview to the topic, this book is the first on the history of religious print culture in modern America and a well-timed entry into the increasingly prominent contemporary debate over the role of religion in American public life. Best Books for General Audiences, selected by the American Association of School Librarians, and Best Books for Regional Special Interests, selected by the Public Library Association
True joy is not mere happiness. It is not ruled by life's circumstances. Rich Wagner describes joy as 'the nature of God pumped through our bloodstream'---yet most Christians are confused by it. This book reveals the true nature and source of joy, and shows how to receive it as one of Christ's most precious promises.
