Book picks similar to
The Shaping of America by John Warwick Montgomery


history-biography
religion-christianity
christianity
church-history

Whose Child Is This?


Bill Wilson - 1994
    Now he leads a crusade to rescue children in Brooklyn's "war zone"--and beyond. His dramatic story is more than a life-and-death struggle in the midst of crime, drugs and poverty. It is a vision of hope and promise for America's children. "Lately in the news they've been talking about how likely it is for a black male teenager to get shot and killed--especially in my neighborhood. They say it's even more likely that in a couple of years I'll be carrying a gun. But what they don't know is what a difference God's made in my life. Ever since I was three I've been going to Sunday school, and I've learned about God and His ways. And I made up my mind to follow Jesus. No, you'll never see me with a gun shooting anyone. Ever! Because no matter what's going on around me, I am standing for Jesus."--Vincent, age 12

Tribal Church: Ministering to the Missing Generation


Carol Howard Merritt - 2000
    Outlining the financial, social, and familial situations that affect many young adults today, she describes how churches can provide a safe, supportive place for young adults to nurture relationships and foster spiritual growth. There are few places left in society that allow for real intergenerational connections to be made, yet these connections are vital for any church that seeks to reflect the fullness of the body of Christ. Carol Howard Merritt, a pastor in her mid-thirties, suggests a different way for churches to be able to approach young adults on their own terms. Outlining the financial, social, and familial situations that affect many young adults today, she describes how churches can provide a safe, supportive place for young adults to nurture relationships and foster spiritual growth. There are few places left in society that allow for real intergenerational connections to be made, yet these connections are vital for any church that seeks to reflect the fullness of the body of Christ. Using the metaphor of a tribe to describe the close bonds that form when people of all ages decide to walk together on their spiritual journeys, Merritt casts a vision of the church that embraces the gifts of all members while reaching out to those who might otherwise feel unwelcome or unneeded. Mainline churches have much to offer young adults, as well as much to learn from them. By breaking down artificial age barriers and building up intentional relationships, congregations can provide a space for all people to connect with God, each other, and the world.

Manalive


G.K. Chesterton - 1912
    Innocent Smith, a bubbly, high-spirited gentleman who literally falls into their midst. Later accused of murder and denounced for philandering everywhere he goes, Smith prompts his newfound acquaintances to recognize an important idea in most unexpected ways.

The Heart Is a Little to the Left: Essays on Public Morality


William Sloane Coffin - 1999
    William Sloane Coffin offers an antidote to the politics of the religious right with a call to passive intellectuals and dispirited liberals to reenter the fray with a Christian view of social justice.

Philosophy & the Christian Faith


Colin Brown - 1969
    This clear and concise guide shows how various thinkers and ideas have affected Christian belief and brings together the lessons Christians can learn from philosophy.

Forty Reasons I Am a Catholic


Peter Kreeft - 2018
    And that's just in ordinary matter, which makes up only 4.9% of the universe, the rest being dark matter and dark energy.Each of my reasons is an independent point, so I have not organized this book by a succession of chapters or headings. After all, most readers only remember a few big ideas or separate points after reading a book. (I've never heard anyone say "Oh, that was a good continuous-process-of-logically-ordered-argumentation" but I've often heard people say, "Oh, that was a good point."Which takes me back to my main point: "Why are you a Catholic" is a good question.A good question deserves a good answer.Here are forty of mine.

The Path of Centering Prayer


David Frenette - 2012
    With Father Thomas Keating’s book Open Mind, Open Heart, hundreds of thousands discovered the transformative power of Centering Prayer as a form of Christian meditation. Now, with The Path of Centering Prayer, Keating’s senior student, friend, and advisor David Frenette reveals the profound depths of this practice, making it easier for meditators to deepen their connection with God. Beginning and experienced practitioners alike will benefit from this fresh voice, at once eloquent and clear, as they explore:The key insights and principles of centering prayer• Guided instruction in the sacred word, sacred breath, and sacred glance practices• Gentleness and openness: the way of letting go and letting be• Experiencing a deeper sense of God in meditation and in everyday life• Many other contemplative practices and teachings founded upon the wisdom of Fathers Thomas Keating and Thomas MertonHas your spiritual path grown routine or unfulfilling, or is it at a crossroads for new discovery? For all Christians who seek to move closer into the presence of the divine, The Path of Centering Prayer offers guidance in this rewarding and time-honored meditation practice, to help break through obstacles and illuminate the way.

Darwin's House of Cards: A Journalist's Odyssey Through the Darwin Debates


Tom Bethell - 2016
    Bethell presents a concise yet wide-ranging tour of the flash points of modern evolutionary theory, investigating controversies over common descent, natural selection, the fossil record, biogeography, information theory, evolutionary psychology, artificial intelligence, and the growing intelligent design movement. Bethell's account is enriched by his own personal encounters with of some of our era's leading scientists and thinkers, including Harvard biologists Stephen Jay Gould and Richard Lewontin; British paleontologist Colin Patterson; and renowned philosopher of science Karl Popper.

The Christian Lover


Michael A.G. Haykin - 2009
    Even within the church, homosexuality, divorce, and shallow, sentimental views of love are subverting God’s design for husbands and wives. To help Christian couples counter these trends and recover marriage as God intended it, Dr. Michael A.G. Haykin has compiled a rich anthology of love letters from saints of the past. Each letter gives us a glimpse of what marriage should be: joyful companionship, deep passion, and unfailing commitment through the ups and downs of life. At its best, Christian marriage is a foretaste of eternal bliss—and it’s far more satisfying than any of the substitutes this world has to offer.

The Liturgy Trap: The Bible versus Mere Tradition in Worship


James B. Jordan - 1994
    The lure is liturgy and tradition, and since the Evangelical and Reformed churches so often have such poor worship, it is not hard to understand the pull exercised by those churches that have a heritage of formality, sobriety and beauty. This cure, however, is far worse than the disease. The answer to the weaknesses of Evangelicalism is not a turn toward the fallacies and errors of Rome, Orthodoxy and Anglo-Catholicism, but a return to Biblical patterns of worship. Just as there is true and false doctrine, so there are true and false worship patterns. In this book, James B. Jordan sorts out the true and the false in the area of worship practice, discussing the cult of the saints, the veneration of icons, apostolic succession, virginity and celibacy, the presence of Christ at His Supper, and the doctrine of tradition.

Church History in Plain Language


Bruce L. Shelley - 1982
    It combines authoritative research with a captivating style to bring our heritage home to us.

What It Felt Like: Living in the American Century


Henry Allen - 2000
    Each of the ten chapters is a virtual time capsule which reminds, as we plunge headlong into the future, of the richness and importance of our past. Illustrations throughout.

Christianity Disproved: The conclusive proof that Christianity is false.


Sig Sawyer - 2016
    Christianity does all this but who has ever looked to see if it is true? This is a fundamental question and no one has yet set out to prove or disprove Christianity. Until now. From inconsistencies, absurdities, errors, contradictions and adult make-believe this books shows how the bible is false and thus that Christianity cannot possibly be true. This book examines claims in the bible against fact, and it asks deep questions of how the bible mandates that we should live. If you have ever wondered how you could know that the earth is older than 6000 years, or that Noah's flood could not possibly happen, or that the biblical creation story and ten commandments have critical flaws then this book is for you. If you are a Christian and you have questions about your faith then this book is for you. It will set your mind at ease that you will not face judgement day and it will help free your mind from the shackles of indoctrination. If you debate with Christian friends then this is your kryptonite for Christians. If you are a woman or from a lifestyle minority then this book is for you too. Especially for you. Voices of reason, logic and compassion are ever more important in today's complex political landscape. Read this book and understand why humanity should call time on Christianity and why we will all be the better for it.

Tribulation


Mark Goodwin - 2020
    The streets beneath his transport vehicle buckled, tossing the van in the air like a toy. He survived the crash, but the world is now in ruins. However, for a condemned man, this disaster may be just the lucky break he needed.Emilio has been left behind!Six detainees were in the van prior to the quake. However, only Emilio and one other prisoner were still around when he regained consciousness. Emilio searched the surrounding area, but to no avail. The missing prisoners believed in an event called the rapture, when Jesus would collect His saints before raining down unbearable wrath on the planet’s remaining inhabitants.Can Emilio and Mackenzie survive the gauntlet of destruction known as the Great Tribulation?Mackenzie Thompson, the other prisoner still present, is convinced that it was the rapture and that they’ve been left behind. She also believes a time of unparalleled torment is about to be poured out upon the earth. Emilio and Mackenzie have a place to go, but it is hundreds of miles away. The roads are unusable, and the two of them are fugitives on the run. If this truly is the Great Tribulation, it’s off to a bad start.Don’t miss this exciting new end-times thriller. Get your copy of Tribulation today!As with all works by Mark Goodwin, this book contains no profanity and no embarrassing sex scenes. However, if you are offended by conservative principles and references to Scripture, this book might not be for you.

America's Four Gods: What We Say about God--& What That Says about Us


Paul Froese - 2010
    In fact, 95% of Americans believe in God--a level of agreement rarely seen in American life. The greatest divisions in America are not between atheists and believers, or even between people of different faiths. What divides us, this groundbreaking book shows, is how we conceive of God and the role He plays in our daily lives.America's Four Gods draws on the most wide-ranging, comprehensive, and illuminating survey of American's religious beliefs ever conducted to offer a systematic exploration of how Americans view God. Paul Froese and Christopher Bader argue that many of America's most intractable social and political divisions emerge from religious convictions that are deeply held but rarely openly discussed. Drawing upon original survey data from thousands of Americans and a wealth of in-depth interviews from all parts of the country, Froese and Bader trace America's cultural and political diversity to its ultimate source--differing opinions about God. They show that regardless of our religious tradition (or lack thereof), Americans worship four distinct types of God: The Authoritative God--who is both engaged in the world and judgmental; The Benevolent God--who loves and helps us in spite of our failings; The Critical God--who catalogs our sins but does not punish them (at least not in this life); and The Distant God--who stands apart from the world He created. The authors show that these four conceptions of God form the basis of our worldviews and are among the most powerful predictors of how we feel about the most contentious issues in American life.Accessible, insightful, and filled with the voices of ordinary Americans discussing their most personal religious beliefs, America's Four Gods provides an invaluable portrait of how we view God and therefore how we view virtually everything else.