What Are You Currently Reading?

[starles4]

Love God with All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul, J.P. Moreland: I'm about half way through, and so far it has been VERY good, (when I say VERY, I mean beyond the high expectations I had when purchasing it). It addresses the some of the intellectual discrepancies I've felt when attending church, as well as how to honor God with your intellect. I'm trying to go slow to take notes which is hard for me since I've grown so used to speed reading .

The Body and Society: Men, Women, and Sexual Renunciation in Early Christianity, Peter Brown: It's such a big, intimidating book, but it's actually very interesting. The book encompasses the radical Christian factions in the first century and on, some of which believed sex to be evil. It's interesting to see how stoicism and other pagan views play into their beliefs, and shows a side of early times that is usually not presented.

[BeHereNow]

"Thou Art That" -- A posthumously-published book by Joseph Campbell on literal vs. metaphorical interpretations of sacred texts and stories, with special empasis on the Judeo-Christian tradition.

-Neil

Great book! I liked how brief yet informative it was.

[sylas]

Just finished reading "The Da Vinci Code".

This book apparently ignited a storm of reaction, most of which I had missed. The book is a rattling good action/mystery novel, but hardly great literature. Some suspension of belief is needed (all that long sequence of codes to hide a secret that would be lost forever if not resolved? Please.). The book certainly benefits from being linked to a large set of curiousities and mysteries that get people interested. I kept using Google to look up details of what was described, and especially to look more closely at some of Da Vinci's paintings.

To make the novel work, the author has presented some wild ideas as if they can be taken as well supported. This has generated an industry of refutations to deal with the hordes of credulous whose imaginations have been caught, and wonder if there is something to it all.

And that's all to the good. I exerted myself to have a closer look at some magnificent paintings, for example. I am amused to see that many of the sites mentioned in the book are now experiencing a sudden boom in tourism, as people trek to look at the relevant churches and sites. You can do a Da Vinci tour. There are lots of them... not about Leonardo, but about the sites in this book. I'd do one myself if I was in Europe... (by myself; not in a tour group).

Cheers -- Sylas

[One Bad Pig]

Just finished The Human Face of God at Nazareth, by Emmanuel Asi. He's a Pakistani Catholic priest. Surprisingly (to me, anyway), he takes a generally dim view of Church leadership, preferring the humility of the laity to the pomposity of leaders at the religious center of things. I hunted it down to get a different perspective on things, and it certainly gave me that. Recommended, if you can find it (it was published in Ireland, IIRC).

[markporter]

Surprised by the power of the Spirit - Jack Deere

[learning]

'I Don't Have to Make Everything All Better' by Gary and Joy Lundberg (about how basically, it is right to just listen and affirm people's feelings, not tell them they shouldn't 'feel' a certain way, and therefore, let them know you 'really' care, and they will likely find the solutions to their problems themselves.)

'Synaptic Self' by Joseph LeDoux (about how our minds become ourselves)

'Rainbow Valley' by Patricia St. John, (a child's story I'm reading to one of my kids, that is a real tear jerker in places.)

If you really want a good Christmas tear jerker, read Patricia St. John's book 'Treasures of the Snow' and you'll fall in love with a little guy named 'Dani' and 'Lucien' and 'Annette' and read about forgiveness. It also (though a fictional book) will open your eyes to cultural things that are different about Christmas in Switzerland, where it is placed.

'The Daily Bible', The New Living Translation. It has Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs that one reads for each day of the year. I really love how the Proverbs speak to me about myself sometimes (like how it is wise to not interfere with someone else's arguments) or other things.

[Xmansmommy]

Rumors of Another World: What on Earth Are We Missing? ~ Philip Yancey

[NSMinistries]

Making Room for Life: Trading Chaotic Lifestyles for Connected Relationships
Frazee, Randy (Author)
ISBN: 0310250161

This thought-provoking book exposes the chaos and pressure of "normal"
living and points toward a better life where community and church are
authentic, rich, and as close as the neighbors on your street.

[Dracula Girl]

National Geographic, December 2004 issue.

[sylas]

I feel someone needs to lower to tone of this thread a little...

I've just finished Mothership by John Brosnan. It is a science fiction novel; bit of hard science, bit of fantasy, and a good readable adventure story. A lot of science fiction is crud; but I'll be looking for more by this author.

[One Bad Pig]

I feel someone needs to lower to tone of this thread a little...

I've just finished Mothership by John Brosnan. It is a science fiction novel; bit of hard science, bit of fantasy, and a good readable adventure story. A lot of science fiction is crud; but I'll be looking for more by this author.

Haven't heard of him. I'll have to check it out.

Edit to add: It's available on Amazon.com. Looks like an interesting twist to a classic theme. It's on my wish list.

[Jaltus]

I. Howard Marshall, New Testament Theology
Eckhard J. Schnabel, Early Christian Mission, 2 vols.
CK Barrett, I Corinthians
CK Barrett, II Corinthians

[Ulmo]

The Defense of the Faith, Cornelius Van Til
Covenant and Eschatology, Michael Horton
Longing to Know, the philosophy of knowlege for ordinary people, Esther Lightcap Meek.

[truthman]

Currently reading Book 3 of the "Chronicles of Narnia" to my kids. I'm reading the whole series to them for the first time (I've read it many).

This current book is "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader".

great stuff!

[TheOneAndOnly]

Voyage of the Dawn Treader isn't book three.
It goes Magician's Nephew
Horse and His Boy
Lion, Witch....
Prince Caspian
Voyage of Treader
Silver Chair
Last Battle

(or something like that)