First book for theology study?

[gomichan]

We've got a nice, fat list of suggested books going on in this thread over here (http://uberchristians.org/viewtopic.php?t=43), so it looks to be about time to choose our book for April.

What's a good book to start our study with? Keep in mind some of us are rank beginners when it comes to learning theology; we don't even know what half the words mean yet. Which books from the list would be good for starting students?

Also, we can't all afford to buy a lot of books, so library availability is also something to consider. A rare, old book or a brand-new one that just came out last week will be hard to find in libraries.

If we can reach something like consensus here in this thread, that'll answer the question. Otherwise we can narrow it down to a handful and I can post a poll.

[praying]

Why isn't theology for dummies listed? :wink:


Seriously I would have no idea what to pick because I am a rank beginner.

[BigToe]

Perhaps someone who has more knowledge of the books could pick one that is on the shorter and easier to read side of things? That way no one feels like they're jumping off a high dive before they're ready.

[gomichan]

I agree, let's start off basic. Maybe someone can suggest an accessible history, or an overview of ideas?

[Lanakila]

But, but, but couldn't we talk about a book I already read? I know I am lazy. In fact I should be doing my homework and studying for a final in OT survey. The textbook for the class is Norm Geislers A Popular Survey of the OT. The other book I am supposed to be reading is authored by the prof Ed Hindson.

Yes I am a student of the Bible and an atheist. I lost my faith while taking a class in apologetics. I dropped out for 3 years, and am back because I refuse to start over and lose all those credits in bible when I am 6 classes (18 credits) from a degree.

[gomichan]

Lana, go ahead and suggest the book over in the syllabus thread and I'll add it to the list, but I fear a textbook for a college course will be hard to find in libraries and ordinary bookstores.

[Lanakila]

I was kidding about the textbooks. I did order them from amazon however. I recommended practical theology type books over there already though.
The textbooks are from a very evangelical Baptist perspective and probably not something y'all would be interested in studying. I wouldn't be if I wasn't in school.

[CaDan]

But, but, but couldn't we talk about a book I already read? I know I am lazy. In fact I should be doing my homework and studying for a final in OT survey. The textbook for the class is Norm Geislers A Popular Survey of the OT. The other book I am supposed to be reading is authored by the prof Ed Hindson.

Yes I am a student of the Bible and an atheist. I lost my faith while taking a class in apologetics. I dropped out for 3 years, and am back because I refuse to start over and lose all those credits in bible when I am 6 classes (18 credits) from a degree.

You are going to be extremely dangerous! :D

[Lanakila]

But, but, but couldn't we talk about a book I already read? I know I am lazy. In fact I should be doing my homework and studying for a final in OT survey. The textbook for the class is Norm Geislers A Popular Survey of the OT. The other book I am supposed to be reading is authored by the prof Ed Hindson.

Yes I am a student of the Bible and an atheist. I lost my faith while taking a class in apologetics. I dropped out for 3 years, and am back because I refuse to start over and lose all those credits in bible when I am 6 classes (18 credits) from a degree.

You are going to be extremely dangerous! :D

Thanks I take that as a sincere compliment.

[CaDan]

Probably McLaren's "A Generous Orthodoxy."

[gomichan]

Probably McLaren's "A Generous Orthodoxy."

I believe that's on the list already, yes? Okay, anyone else want to weigh in, either in favor of starting with McLaren or a different book?

[Gabriel]

I'm down with whatever other people want to go with (yes, hello, I am Mister Unhelpful, and it's very nice to meet you).

We were supposed to be doing some sort of Lenten study with my church, but the person who was going to lead it got extremely sick, and I can't even remember the name of the book he wanted to use. :roll:

[Glass*Soul]

I recommend Bart D. Ehrman's "Lost Christianities," for these three compelling reasons:

1. I have it.
2. I haven't read it yet.
3. Stumpjumper recommends it.

:lol:

[gomichan]

Those are some pretty good reasons. :)

[seebs]

We have it, and I got it in a store fairly recently, so I'm fine with that. I don't know that much about it.

[ravenscape]

I feel a trip to the bookstore coming on.

[BigToe]

I just request it be cheap and perhaps enough advance warning that if Half Priced Books doesn't have it that maybe Amazon will have a used copy.

[gomichan]

We'll be spending a whole month on whatever book we pick, so even if it takes a little while to get it, you'll still have time to get in on the discussion.

[Kaonashi]

I've gotta recommend Marcus Borg.
The Heart of Christianity: Rediscovering a Life of Faith (2003)
Reading the Bible Again for the First Time: Taking the Bible Seriously but Not Literally (2001)

[gomichan]

Looks like we don't have those on the syllabus list, Kaonashi. Would you post them over there to save my disorganized brain? If I start grabbing recs from a buncha different threads I'll get very confused.

[gomichan]

Okay, looks like we have two suggestions for April's book.

A Generous Orthodoxy, McLaren,

or

Lost Christianities, Bart D. Ehrman.

How shall we decide between them? Anyone wanna weigh in on either book? Shall I post a poll? Flip a coin?

(Kaonashi, I interpreted your suggestions as being for the syllabus list, rather than for April's book. Lemme know if I misunderstood.)

[seebs]

I vote for Lost Christianities, on the pragmatic grounds that I have it.

[protinus]

Might I suggest:

"Christian Hope and Christian Life", Rowan Greer

"A Book of Hours", Thomas Merton

"Seven Story Mountain", Thomas Merton

[gomichan]

Oh, Protinus, you make my life so complicated. :D

Could you be persuaded to suggest just one of those for April, and reserve the others for later?

[BigToe]

My vote is for whichever is the easiest read. I really think easy is the way to start.

[praying]

My vote is for whichever is the easiest read. I really think easy is the way to start.


Everyone listen to Toe!!

[Annabel Lee]

My vote is for whichever is the easiest read. I really think easy is the way to start.

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/080410526X.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

http://www.amazon.com/Really-Need-Know-Learned-Kindergarten/dp/080410526X

These are the things I learned:

Share everything.
Play fair.
Don't hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don't take things that aren't yours.
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.
And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.

[stumpjumper]

Lost Christianities might be a good place to start since it's focused upon the formative years of the Christian movement. I don't know exactly how much of Ehrman's conclusions we will all agree with and I have not read it yet in it's entirety but it is the type of book that might make for good online discussions...

[ksen]

Lost Christianities might be a good place to start since it's focused upon the formative years of the Christian movement. I don't know exactly how much of Ehrman's conclusions we will all agree with and I have not read it yet in it's entirety but it is the type of book that might make for good online discussions...

I started reading one of Ehrman's books and nearly through it across the room about eight times by the end of chapter one.

But maybe that's a good reason for me to try him again.

[stumpjumper]

Lost Christianities might be a good place to start since it's focused upon the formative years of the Christian movement. I don't know exactly how much of Ehrman's conclusions we will all agree with and I have not read it yet in it's entirety but it is the type of book that might make for good online discussions...

I started reading one of Ehrman's books and nearly through it across the room about eight times by the end of chapter one.

But maybe that's a good reason for me to try him again.

It depends upon how you approach books I guess. Something like Ehrman's approach to Christian origins is certainly going to be subjective and make some wrong conclusions in areas...

I like reading books that I may not necessarily agree with in areas. Dawkin's God Delusion was certainly one of them for me. Anyway, if I remember the reviews correctly, Lost Christianities is rather neutral in many ways...

[protinus]

Lost Christianities might be a good place to start since it's focused upon the formative years of the Christian movement. I don't know exactly how much of Ehrman's conclusions we will all agree with and I have not read it yet in it's entirety but it is the type of book that might make for good online discussions...

I started reading one of Ehrman's books and nearly through it across the room about eight times by the end of chapter one.

But maybe that's a good reason for me to try him again.

His "Misquoting Jesus" was interesting...was that the one you threw across the room?

And regardless of his writing style, I think Ehrman has actually helped with the understanding of formative Christianity. The Gnostic Gospels are wonderful and full of nuanced sayings and observations if you can endure the storm of being called a heretic.

I was castigated for inquiring in a certain forum about the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Philip. Of course, this spurred me on to study the Gnostic Bible (which includes John of the canonical texts) at 1100 pages. How someone could be fearful of these texts or being called a heretic because of reading them, I have no idea.

[stumpjumper]

Have we agreed on Lost Christianities?

I could break it down into sections and come up with some questions for discussion if you all wish... I've done it for book discussions before (not this book but others).

[gomichan]

Have we agreed on Lost Christianities?

Yep. I know we weren't unanimous, but it looked to be winning, so I just went ahead and picked it. There'll be other months for other books.

I could break it down into sections and come up with some questions for discussion if you all wish... I've done it for book discussions before (not this book but others).

Could you? That would be awesome!

[stumpjumper]

Sure. I'll write up some questions for part three which ends at page 67. Maybe we could decide upon a week or so to discuss each part...

[gomichan]

Sure. I'll write up some questions for part three which ends at page 67. Maybe we could decide upon a week or so to discuss each part...

Since people will be reading at different rates and some might take a while to get hold of the book, I guess you may as well time it however you want, and folks can catch up when they're ready.

[stumpjumper]

Fine by me^

Would it be better to break the discussion down into three threads then? The book has three main parts...