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How do you read on a budget?
The link can be found here.
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How does one go about doing research? Let's plunge into the Deeper Waters and find out.
I'd like to give a tip to my fellow apologists and those starting out in the field. If you're in this field, you're not in it for the money. I live on a budget like many of you do and I have to make every penny count. It's not a secret really that many of the books I get for my podcast are review copies sent to me for that purpose, but that's not everything. What's a guy to do?
If you have a Kindle, one thing you can do is subscribe to groups and newsletters that let you know about free and discount books. This can be a great gift to help you out. A Kindle or a Kindle App is a wonderful tool. My wife likes to go to bed early so I will stay there with her so she can feel safe and read my Kindle usually for a couple of hours before I'm ready to go to sleep. Many Kindles have an option that you can check out a book for a short time.
One other great suggestion is for you to learn to use your local library. Too many people forget this. You might not have the money to read that book, but your library has the book for free. You just have to read it in time and be able to return it in good condition.*
If you use the library, it's tempting to look on the catalog there and see if the book is there and if it isn't, to just give up. Don't. Many libraries have a way that you can search through interlibrary loan. When you do this, you access all libraries in the network, including ones at universities, and you can order books that will come. Normally, these books cannot be renewed, but that's okay if you're an avid student. You can read it in time.
Many times if I'm in a Facebook discussion and a skeptic recommends a book for me to read, I go to the library immediately and look and see if I can find it. There are some of you that don't want to give money to atheists and others by buying their books. For my part, I consider the amount I give them worth it in exchange for what I'm able to do with the information. (I have in fact known some Christians who have donated to Richard Carrier because he's doing so much damage to atheism and doesn't even realize it!)
If you don't want to buy it permanently, interlibrary loan is the way to go. This way you can read the book for a short time. I do recommend that you write up something about the book afterward*so that you should never have to reinvent the wheel and get it again.*
Also, if you can find a college or university library near you, this is even better. It can work great if this is a Seminary or Bible College. In our field, they will often have the books that you are wanting. This is also a far better option than the one many internet atheists are taking and that's just to Google.
Of course, you will need to learn how to pick out good books in research. I have written some on this*and it's relation to being a thinking Christian, and I could consider writing more in the future, but get books by publishing houses that have a good record for the most part. They have a reputation to uphold and don't want to publish books that will damage that reputation.*
Make sure the Ph.D., if you read a book by someone with one, is relevant in the field as well. Dawkins does have a Ph.D. in an area related to evolution, but that doesn't carry over to writing about theology or philosophy or Biblical interpretation. A New Testament scholar like Mike Licona or N.T. Wright has a Ph.D. in New Testament, but that doesn't make them an authority on evolution.*
If all of this still seems difficult or intimidating, just go and ask your librarian for help. Many of them know just what you need and are equipped to help you. Librarians many times, especially at theological libraries, are often very well-read individuals and can point you in the right direction.
And of course, enjoy the journey!
In Christ,
Nick Peters
The link can be found here.
-----
How does one go about doing research? Let's plunge into the Deeper Waters and find out.
I'd like to give a tip to my fellow apologists and those starting out in the field. If you're in this field, you're not in it for the money. I live on a budget like many of you do and I have to make every penny count. It's not a secret really that many of the books I get for my podcast are review copies sent to me for that purpose, but that's not everything. What's a guy to do?
If you have a Kindle, one thing you can do is subscribe to groups and newsletters that let you know about free and discount books. This can be a great gift to help you out. A Kindle or a Kindle App is a wonderful tool. My wife likes to go to bed early so I will stay there with her so she can feel safe and read my Kindle usually for a couple of hours before I'm ready to go to sleep. Many Kindles have an option that you can check out a book for a short time.
One other great suggestion is for you to learn to use your local library. Too many people forget this. You might not have the money to read that book, but your library has the book for free. You just have to read it in time and be able to return it in good condition.*
If you use the library, it's tempting to look on the catalog there and see if the book is there and if it isn't, to just give up. Don't. Many libraries have a way that you can search through interlibrary loan. When you do this, you access all libraries in the network, including ones at universities, and you can order books that will come. Normally, these books cannot be renewed, but that's okay if you're an avid student. You can read it in time.
Many times if I'm in a Facebook discussion and a skeptic recommends a book for me to read, I go to the library immediately and look and see if I can find it. There are some of you that don't want to give money to atheists and others by buying their books. For my part, I consider the amount I give them worth it in exchange for what I'm able to do with the information. (I have in fact known some Christians who have donated to Richard Carrier because he's doing so much damage to atheism and doesn't even realize it!)
If you don't want to buy it permanently, interlibrary loan is the way to go. This way you can read the book for a short time. I do recommend that you write up something about the book afterward*so that you should never have to reinvent the wheel and get it again.*
Also, if you can find a college or university library near you, this is even better. It can work great if this is a Seminary or Bible College. In our field, they will often have the books that you are wanting. This is also a far better option than the one many internet atheists are taking and that's just to Google.
Of course, you will need to learn how to pick out good books in research. I have written some on this*and it's relation to being a thinking Christian, and I could consider writing more in the future, but get books by publishing houses that have a good record for the most part. They have a reputation to uphold and don't want to publish books that will damage that reputation.*
Make sure the Ph.D., if you read a book by someone with one, is relevant in the field as well. Dawkins does have a Ph.D. in an area related to evolution, but that doesn't carry over to writing about theology or philosophy or Biblical interpretation. A New Testament scholar like Mike Licona or N.T. Wright has a Ph.D. in New Testament, but that doesn't make them an authority on evolution.*
If all of this still seems difficult or intimidating, just go and ask your librarian for help. Many of them know just what you need and are equipped to help you. Librarians many times, especially at theological libraries, are often very well-read individuals and can point you in the right direction.
And of course, enjoy the journey!
In Christ,
Nick Peters
Can you do ebooks? You can apparently check out ebooks sometimes.
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