Christianity Books

Kerry masterfully draws you into the world of terrorism just as he and his family were drawn into the group. A truly riveting tale that offers insight so very relevant to the reality of potential domestic and foreign terrorism faced by the world today. If you ever thought such groups were harmless or didn't really exist, you had better read Kerry's book!

This book is a wonderful read. It is a fascinating chronicle of how a closed community, founded on religious principles, slowly goes off the rails as its members fall under the spell of extremist ideas.

Tabernacle of Hate by Kerry Noble is the definitive work about the Christian right wing extremist movement in the US and Canada today. Noble imparts an understandable and pointed look inside the extremist-religionist mentality in the US and even insight into the fanatic religionist movement around the world.

Tabernacle of Hate is must reading for politicians, political scientists, psychologists, sociologists and anyone who cares about fanaticism in action and its effects on the very foundations of the nation. The book is well written by Noble and very well edited by Sean Fordyce. It should be the basis for documentaries and even a feature film. It is worthy of the attention of Speilberg. Only a film maker of that caliber can do justice to the importance and ramifications of the revelations of Kerry Noble.

Kerry Noble brings a new and fascinating look into the workings of the extremist right in America. His experiences, his insights and his confusion as a member of CSA creates a sensitive account of a devout man struggling with both himself and the toxic dogma of an insular and isolated society. As a writer who has researched the racial right for over five years, I find that Noble does an excellent job of articulating the conversion experiences of the radicalized religious right. It is indeed a short step sometimes from moral dissension to dangerous alienation, from a spiritual retreat to an armed camp.

Tabernacle of Hate again illustrates the dangers of blind faith in any leader, the twilight zone reality of isolated individuals whose only truth is the truth from within the movements, the odd "Catch-22's" of revelation and prophecy as practiced by the Identists, and the uncompromising racial and political positions that faith demands.

But perhaps more than the examination of the radical movements, Noble's ruthless examination of himself and his beliefs add a dimension to his work that is missing from other works of this nature. Noble provides a clear understanding of how a good-hearted and well-intentioned man can lose himself in a world of fear, hatred and dark religious zeal.

Howard L. Bushart Co-author, "Soldiers of God: White Supremacists and Their Holy War for America"

I was one of the reporters forced to confront Kerry Noble and the heavily armed thugs he commanded at Bull Shoals Lake. It was 1984 and the fascist fringe Noble represented was on the rise: talk radio host Alan Berg had been assassinated in Denver because he was Jewish, an extremist named Gordon Kahl had gunned down two federal marshalls come to arrest him on a minor a tax beef. State troopers in Missouri and Arkansas were about to be slaughtered by Noble's friends. I can tell you when I stood before him, I saw no glint of insight, compassion or self-doubt in his eyes. He liked carrying guns, playing camouflage-clad warrior, and kowtowing to the petty and perverse Hitler who commanded CSA. I find it ironic that after all the horror Noble and his spiritual disciples, including Timothy McVeigh visited upon our country, he writes a tell-all book about his supposed "conversion" from the dark side. Another ignoble scam: this one about money rather than sex and power. Perhaps we'll give Osama bin Ladn a book contract too.

I constantly find myself returning to this book for spiritual sustenance. Why? Because, when faced with the diminishments of everyday living (even during the best of times), it is difficult not to despair -- that is, to believe that "life is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

Savary and Teilhard de Chardin remind us that the very dissatisfaction all humans experience (again, even when "all is well") is possible only because we share a collective "memory" of Paradise, or perhaps more specifically, a universal call to infinite joy and eternal glory: Omega, the Whole Christ. _Teilhard De Chardin - The Divine Milieu Explained: A Spirituality for the 21st Century_ is a brilliant work inasmuch as it clearly demonstrates that, IN CHRIST, our overspent, underutilized selves -- despite all appearances -- are pathways to the divine: Life, Light and Love.

If you have ever wondered how your commitments to family, career and community might be compatible with a Living Faith, or, to put it another way, if your experience of God is highly personal, and therefore, as you have suspected all along, determinative of all your relationships (private and public), then this book is for you.

When I discovered Louis Savary's The Divine Milieu Explained, I found a kindred spirit, moved deeply by the spirituality of Teilhard de Chardin. I have been reading, and re-reading my dog-eared copy of The Divine Milieu for more than 30 years now, yet this book has led me to many treasures that I had overlooked.

A key illumination for me was the chapter on the Divinization of Our Passivities -- a subject which, frankly, I find Savary's insight into this topic comforting personally, and enriching creatively.

Savary's Spiritual Practices, I believe, are a major breakthrough in making Chardin's spirituality relevant to our everyday lives. I feel that newcomers to The Divine Milieu, as well as veterans like myself, will find them helpful in living Chardin's spiritual insights.

Louis Savary's writing style is refreshingly direct, relevant, and unencumbered by the obscurities into which so many other writers about Teilhard have fallen. He has a great gift for communicating, and shares than gift well.

Teilhard de Chardin left us a brilliant, viable spirituality for the 21st century. Unfortunately, he didn't leave it in a manner most of us could understand. After 15 readings of The Divine Milieu, I find vast portions of it still unclear. Dr. Savary's book is truly a Godsend. After an initial reading, I finally had an overview of The Divine Milieu, all presented in language I could grasp easily. Re-readings will bring further clarity, and the spiritual exercises will assist in truly integrating Teilhard's vision in my life. In the future, I trust that Dr. Savary's commentary and Teilhard's treatise on the interior life will become inseparable. Both should be required reading for 21st century spirituality classes in seminaries, universities, and retreat centers everywhere.

Nori Kieran-Meredith

Thank you, Dr. Savary, for the gift of a lifetime! I was introduced to Teilhard while in college over forty years ago. Teachers and students alike knew we had our hands on something very profound but were never able to get beyond "Alpha Point", "Omega Point" and "Cosmic Christ."

In this beautifully written book Louis Savary opens up and explains the world of Teilhard in terms I can understand and apply. This is a prayer book which I will treasure forever. Several of my friends want to form a prayer/study group to work with the exercises. This really is "Spirituality for the 21st Century."

Mary McDonnell - St. Louis, MO

During the 20th century Jesuit priest/scientist Teilhard de Chardin devised an integrative concept of spirituality and science, melding scientific concepts into Christian beliefs. While many books since his time have attempted to explain his ideas, this is a spiritual guide for the everyday, applied use of his ideas - and offers a set of spiritual practices and exercise blending science and faith. From handling dying and death to understanding the underlying meaning of the Cross, THE DIVINE MILIEU EXPLAINED comes packed with insights for daily life.

"The problem we face today needs very little time for its statement. Our lives ... grow too complex and overcrowded ... in frantic fidelity we try to meet at least the necessary minimum of calls upon us. But we're weary and breathless. And we know and regret that our life is slipping away ... in guilty regret we must postpone till next week that deeper life of unshaken composure in the holy Presence, where we sincerely know our true home is, for this week is much too full" (89-90).

Originally published by Quaker author Thomas Kelly in 1941, these words from A Testament of Devotion have never been more applicable than today. We live in a time of unprecedented complexity and confusion. Our high tech culture is obsessed with novelties, gadgets and an endless variety of "time-saving" electronic devices. The world has never known a society with more leisure time on its hands, and yet, we are among the most chronically exhausted, stressed-out people on the planet. There must be a better way!

"For over the margins of life comes a whisper, a faint call, a premonition of richer living which we know we are passing by ... we have hints that there is a way of life vastly richer and deeper than all this hurried existence, a life of unhurried serenity and peace and power. If only we could slip over into that Center!" (92).

Thankfully, the author offers hope for those of us who continue to struggle against the forces that would keep us from "slipping over into that Center" of Divine Love, out of which we are enabled to love others as we have been loved by God. The hope Kelly offers us can be found not only in the words he writes, but in the life he, and others, lived. Citing the examples of prominent Quakers such as George Fox and John Woolman, Kelly highlights those traits that set these spiritual leaders apart as passionately devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

The greatest insight for me, however, came through my reading of the biographical memoir written by Kelly's close friend and colleague, Doug Steere, which is attached to the end of the book. Here we discover that living out of the Divine Center came late in life for this intellectually restless, professionally ambitious, Harvard-trained, Quaker scholar. According to Steere, the pivotal event took place sometime in the autumn of 1937, during which time "a new life direction took place in Thomas Kelly. No one knows exactly what happened, but ... a fissure in him seemed to close, cliffs caved in and filled up a chasm, and what was divided grew together within him" (118). A year later, following a summer visit among Friends in Germany, Kelly himself testified to Steere, "It is wonderful. I have been literally melted down by the love of God" (120).

Could it be that each of us is not so different from Thomas Kelly, not to mention George Fox, John Woolman and every other prominent spiritual leader who has gone before us? Could it be that the quickest way to the Divine Center is to recognize and renounce our tendency to live on the fringe of God's purpose for our lives? Could it be that the only way for the spiritual fissures in our lives to close is by allowing the retaining walls we have built up around our souls to cave in? Could it be that the best antidote for "frantic fidelity" is a "holy meltdown"?

Thomas Kelly's A Testament of Devotion is a nugget of solid gold, carefully refined in the furnace of God's purifying love. As such, it issues a call for each of us to surrender our own lives to this same holy fire, with deep confidence that the One who melts and molds us is utterly trustworthy and has our best interest in mind. In the process, we are relieved from the burden of "frantic fidelity" and we can find rest for our weary souls as we recognize that it is God's work, not ours, that will stand the test of time:

"Thus we have begun to live in guidance. And [we] find He never guides us into an intolerable scramble of panting feverishness ... for after all God is at work in the world. It is not we alone who are at work in the world, frantically finishing a work to be offered to God ... we need not get frantic. He is at the helm. And when our little day is done we lie down quietly in peace, for all is well" (100).

I bought this book (the original 1941 version) for 25 cents at a used book store. When I go through a day and find too many plates spinning with several threatening to fall and crash, this book never fails help me find a calmer place from which to work.

Here's two of my favorite passages:

"Our professional status, our social obligations, our membership in this or that very important organization, put claims upon us. And in frantic fidelity we try to meet at least the necessary minimum of calls upon us. But we're weary and breathless. And we know and regret that our life is slipping away, with our having tasted so little of the peace and joy and serenity we are persuaded it should yeild to a soul of wide caliber. The times for the deeps of the silences of the heart seem so few...

"We haven't been able to say No to them, because they seemed so important. But if we center down, as the old phrase goes, and live in that holy Silence which is dearer than life, and take our life program into the silent places of the heart, with complete openness, ready to do, ready to renounce according to His leading, then many of the things we are doing lose their vitality for us...There is a reevaluation of much that we do or try to do, which is done for us, and we know what to do and what to let alone."


I think that even the non-christian would find the book helpful and offer this quote as evidence of the open beauty of the the book:

"The Inner LIght, the Inward Christ, is no mere doctrine, belonging peculiarly to a small religious fellowship, to be accepted or rejected as a mere belief. It is the living Center of Reference for all Christian souls and Christian groups--yes, and of non-Christian groups as well--who seriously mean to dwell in the secret place of the Most High. He is the center and source of action, not the end-point of thought. He is the locus of commitment, not a problem for debate."

If you've read a few of my reviews, read my book, been to my website, or have seen me as a patient, then you probably know that I consider peace to be an important part of keeping excellent health. I've found this book to be an excellent description of how to find peace.

Charles Runels, MD
Author of "Anytime...for as Long as You Want: Strength, Genius, Libido, & Erection by Integrative Sex Transmutation"

I read this book 25 years ago and find that it gives me a feeling of the Inner Light and grounds me in what the spiritual life is all about. It is deeply Christian and yet can resonate with anyone who feels God as a living reality in all religions or no religion. It also touches upon what the Quakers call "consensus", how to let the guiding of the Spirit lead people into an understanding filled agreement about how to live, to heal, and to forgive. I have read other Quaker books, but it seems everything is here in this book. It uses less words than all the others and says everything.

What a beautiful book!! It you are into contemplative prayer, or have devoted a significant part of your life to meditation on God's purpose and direction, this book summarizes your life. Kelly has an amazing ability to describe the joys of inner peace, sifting the things of the world beyond through the sieve of the world within. Inspirational and delightful - enjoy.

Not many books cause me to want to be quiet and small. Welcome to reading Thomas Kelly's A Testament of Devotion. Simple, profound Kelly invites us to an inner journey into the presence of the holy. Words fail-buy it

After reading this book, I felt so excited. I'm glad that this book is out there to challenge Christians to join the exciting adventure with God, experience God's power in our daily life. I read this book 6 months ago and found me life getting more and more exciting as I continuously give my life to the Lord and trust Him. We Christians should be the most alive group of people on earth. Life in Jesus is true life which the world would not understand nor able to experience. The power from our Lord which is in us now would conquer all the enemies in our life, but you need to believe, truly believe to be able to used by God. This book helps me to see the spiritual world which is more real than the seen world around me and realize I have high calling from God.

This is one of three books (The Final Quest Series) which contain propheties about the times we live in and times to come. Personally, I found these books amazing. I also realize that there are many negative comments about this prophecy and prophecies in general. There is only one thing that really needs to be kept in mind, the Word of God.

John 16:12-14 (New International Version)
12"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.

The books are easy to read like a science fiction novel. They moved me to tears many times and revealed many truths. Of cause they are not to be treated like scripture, but Rick Joyner says that himself at the beginning of each book.

I read these two books about 2 years ago;I was blessed by them both. I realize you must be ready and stable enough in the word of God to catch the revelation. I since then have given away my two books but was pleased to find out that they were still available. I am looking forward to reading The Torch and the sword. May God continue to write the vision and make it plain because those that have a ear will take heed. Mr.Joyner may God continue to bless you.

This is the third in a series of books by Rick Joyner in which he had a series of visions where he was allowed to see The Church of Jesus Christ as God really see's it. Not as we see with smiles and fascades.
We see the Saints of God (the people who have asked Jesus personally into their lives) in an actual real live battle and we see Armies, Angels and Demons.
We see the body of Christ deeply divided and many struggling in fear, unbelief, unforgiveness, bitterness, sexual and many other sins and the saddest part of it is they don't even realise what is happening. They think this is their 'lot in life' and put up with it.
Then the Lord starts to restore His Church.
But not without severe opposition from both inside the Church and the World.
In the visions Rick himself makes many foolish mistakes which leave him open to attack and little by little he and we hopefully learn how to walk with God as He wants us to in love and faith.
If you liked 'The Pilgrim's Progress' by John Bunyan (which was also given as a vision in a dream and has blessed millions world wide.) then you should like this too.
I recomend you read the other two books first being in order; 'The Final Quest' and 'The Call'.
All three books are excellently written too and with wondefull descriptions of Heaven and of our lovely Lord Jesus.
These would be great books for a new Christian as they could jerk the slack out of his life and help him press deeper into the Lord.
May God really bless you.

Rick Joyner is always good to read.
His book has no redundancy; his logical flow is so natural.
He is surely a master of a biblical knowledge and history, and its experience and practice alike. Especially his emphasis on "humility" at the end of the book is so overwhelming and engaging and even awesome.
It is full of so many vivid imageries and powerful insights. I should say, "Strongly Recommended Book to Everybody, Especially to the End-Timers!"

I like this book because it is a book with good morals put into a fun book that young girls like. I would recommend it.

This book is a jewel and I almost missed out on it! I saw it at a book sale and wasn't going to buy it because I was already buying many other books. However, I did open up the cover and discover it was dedicated to the author's daughter who shares my name, so then of course I had to get it! I am very glad I did. Girls of ALL AGES love it (I'm 17) and even some boys. Don't miss out on this treasure!!!

I thought it was a good book. It teaches little girls to do for themselves and not expect someone else to do everything for them. It also teaches values. It was a more realistic book than the majority of the princess books out there.

Engaging pictures and teaches the real meaning of being pretty on the inside. Our granddaughter is six and she really likes it.

I bought this book sight-unseen and am thrilled! The artwork is so- princess-like! The story is well written and the message to our daughters (and sons) is lovely. It is good for Protestant and Catholic Christians. It doesn't talk about Jesus specifically, but His message is clearly there. Indeed, it may be fine for non-Christians also, who seek to instill in their children a heart of love and service.

I had this book sent to a friend with 2 daughters because I liked it so much.

I'd recommend it for, oh, probably young boys and girls aged 2-9 or so, although the older ones will enjoy reading through it at least once.

I've read many people give an account for why they believe what they believe. From atheists, I've read Russell, Sartre, Nietzsche, Sagan, Dawkins, Hitchens, Harris, and Antony Flew (when he was an atheist). From Christians, I've read Craig, Zacharias, Sproul, Strobel, Pascal, Lewis, Blomberg, John Dickson, and Moreland. Although both lists of atheists and theists have good writers who can make vivid points, none is the teacher like Geisler.

Norman Geisler and Bocchino are not poets. They are straightforward and the powerful imagery of their book is using phrases by the authors mentioned above. However, they have packaged a very good text with a wide breathe of knowledge and connected the fact that beliefs have consequences. Those consequences will spill into all aspects of our lives no matter if we realize it or not. This book basically shows the logical sequence of philosophical premises with regards to major worldviews and how those worldviews, if honest and logically consistent, will play out in fields like science, law, morality, and education.

This is a good referance book for any Christian. Specially for College students. It will not get outdated soon. So buy it read it and keep it for future referance. It is very useful. LOTS of information there...

This book is a must read for all students in a secular environment, and for anyone seeking a reasonable defense of the Christian faith. Evolution and moral relativism are not satisfying answers logically or practically. Geisler does a masterful job of removing the scientific underpinnings of evolutionary faith and establishing a well reasoned defense of Intelligent Design. He further takes on issues such as justice and absolute moral standards vs. relativistic morality and judicial philosophy. THe last section of the book points to every man's need for Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord and establishes the Bible, as God's revelation, as the only proper epistemoligical starting point.

This book sat on my shelf collecting dust for nearly 6 years. It wasn't until I found myself as a first-year teacher needing a strategy to refute evolution and a darwinistic view of our world that I even felt compelled to pick it up. This book is an excellent resource...logical, methodical, and sound-minded in its application of reason to matters of faith. I highly recommend it just as strongly to one longing to worship the Lord God with all his mind, as to another who is still unsure of the intellectual credibility of the Christian faith. In terms of books that have changed my life, this title will rank with the best of them...only coming in behind the Bible itself, and C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity.

For many years now, Christian apologetics has been a scattered, unorganized field, full of random facts that didn't really come together to form a coherent picture. As someone who is very skeptical and has struggled with whether or not to believe in the Christian worldivew, that was always very frustrating for me when attempting to do research. Unshakable Foundations has completely changed that, and has in a sense revolutionized Christian apologetics. Most of these ideas were always out there, but Bocchino and Geisler have given them structure, starting with no assumptions (one of the very first topics in the book is whether there is even such a thing as truth) to build an airtight case for Christianity that is just about impossible to get around. Jesus and the Bible are not even mentioned until near the end of the book, undercutting any charges of bias or unreasonable assumptions. It's just basic logic, pure and simple, and it is stunning how the authors take that logic to show how it can only lead to one conclusion. This is a great book for Christians and non-Christians alike, young and old, seekers and believers. For anyone who takes seriously questions about our existence, meaning, a higher power, etc., there is no better starting point than Unshakable Foundations.

In WCB, Plantinga repeatedly refers to Alston's PERCEIVING GOD as "magisterial." Alston's book is indeed that. But Plantinga's own work in this volume is that and more.

WCB is a philosophically sophisticated defense of even the simplest (and least sophisticated) faith. He challenges a very common objection to Christian belief: "I am not in a position to say whether Christian theism is true or false (who could know a thing like that?), but one thing I do know is that it is not warranted." Plantinga argues, successfully, I think, that this position itself is without warrant. Why? For the simple fact that *if* Christian theism is true, then believers probably *are* warranted even in simple faith. A serious challenge to warrant must therefore include a serious challenge to the truth of the belief.

Warrant is whatever, when added to true belief, yields knowledge. And Plantinga carries into the WCB discussion the results of the prior two volumes. A belief is warranted when it is the product of a belief-producing mechanism that is (a)functioning properly (b) truth-aimed, and (c) functioning in the epistemic environment for which it was designed to acquire truth.

This account seems to do the best job of making sense of those sorts of basic beliefs that all of us hold without having inferred them from other beliefs. I remember that it rained yesterday. What is my evidence that this memory is reliable? From what more basic and certainly known belief may I infer this? Nothing, really. Indeed, it is logically possible that I was brought into existence by a malevolent cartesian deceiver only five seconds ago, equipped with merely *apparent* memories of yesterday's rain, a particularly happy childhood, and even of having actually typed the beginning of this review (this, too, came into existence partially finished and entrusted to me to complete it). Of course, if I am the victim of such a ploy, then my memory belief is *not* the result of a properly functioning, belief-producing mechanism, and I am not warranted.

But I take it that I am warranted in remembering yesterday's rain. In fact, I am not at all on thin ice in saying that I *know* that it rained yesterday. Assuming that (a) it really did rain and (b) my recalling it now is due to the fact that I saw it (or was told about it by my truthful wife, or some other reliable way of knowing) then my memory belief is indeed warranted and counts as knowledge.

Suppose that God *does* exist just as believers maintain and that, further, God's presence is experienced in some immediate way. Calvin spoke of a *sensus divinitatus*--a sense of the divine--that was a part of the original cognitive equipment of all humans (and which was damaged when we were collectively dropped on our heads in the Fall). Suppose that faith amounts to a sort of restoration of this faculty. I take in the summer night sky in the South Dakota Badlands and this occasions spontaneous thoughts about God's creative activity. Or I commit some shameful deed and am impressed with the thought that God disapproves of what I am doing. Are such beliefs warranted? According to Plantinga, they are warranted in precisely the way that my memory belief is warranted **IF** they are true.

Beyond the notion of the *sensus divinitatus,* biblical Christians believe that the Holy Spirit bears a kind of internal witness, engendering love for God and bearing witness to the Scriptures that they are true.

A critic may challenge all such beliefs by alleging that (a) they are held in the absence of anything that looks like evidence and (b) they are readily explained away on some social science explanation. The Freudian explanation of religious belief, for instance, is that it is natural but it is the result of a belief-producing mechanism that is not truth-aimed: wish-fulfillment. But the critic is in a position to know this *only* if he already knows either that God does not exist (which would certainly get in the way of his doing things like creating, disapproving, or bearing witness) or, at least, that God is not, in fact, making his presence known in these immediate ways.

In short, the de jure objection that the belief is not warranted cannot be offered apart from the de facto objection that the belief is false. Such criticisms thus beg the question against the believer.

In the film, Field of Dreams, Kevin Costner's character, Ray, built a baseball diamond in his cornfield, and ballplayers from the past, including Shoeless Joe Jackson, emerged out of the corn to play. Ray, his wife and their daughter could not only see the players, but carried on conversations with them. Ray's brother-in-law saw nothing and, further, was convinced that Ray and his family had either gone crazy or were pulling some sort of hoax.

Suppose, with the plot, that the ballplayers *really were* there, and Ray believed that they were because he perceived them directly, say, through some additional and extraordinary faculty. Given the story and Plantinga's account, Ray is warranted in believing that he is talking to ballplayers. Indeed, he knows that he is. Can he *prove* to his brother-in-law, on the basis of whatever evidence is available to his brotherf-in-law's ordinary faculties? No. But how does this affect the question of whether his belief is warranted? Can I *prove* my memory belief to be true on the basis of some other faculty, such as perception or reason? Maybe not. But must I be able to do so in order to be warranted? Of course not.

Why, then, should anyone suppose that Christian believers are warranted in their beliefs only if they are able to infer those beliefs from evidence that is available to ordinary faculties?

Plantinga argues along such lines that Christian belief is warranted. Along the way, he takes up discussions of potential challenges to his account. The book opens with a discussion of a view that is prevalent at many divinity schools: that Kant established once and for all that human language cannot refer to God. Gordon Kaufmann offers a rehashed version of this, followed by a rehashed version of his rehashed version. Plantinga's interaction with Kaufmann's work is sheer delight. So is his discussion of John Hick's view of Religious Pluralism, which, as Keith Yandell once quipped, is "in danger of becoming canonical" in religious studies departments.

The book concludes with several potential "defeaters" to Plantinga's model for warranted Christian belief. Some argue that the sheer fact of religious diversity strikes a blow. Others press various arguments from evil. Plantinga's discussion of Paul Draper's version is a gem (as is Draper's version itself, to be honest).

He also takes on a version of the Great Pumpkin Objection, calling it "Son of Great Pumpkin." The basic GPO is what may well have occurred to you as you reflected on Plantinga's model: *anyone* from *any* perspective can claim that her beliefs are warranted. Even Linus could claim that his belief in the Great Pumpkin is properly basic and warranted without appeal to evidence. You'll have to read Plantinga for yourself to decide whether this objection sticks.

This is a rewarding read, very much worth the effort of 500+ pages. It is also highly entertaining, as Plantinga is a sprightly writer--even when in the midst of the most rigorous argument.

I've only recently completed a careful reading of WCB and, as you can probably tell, am still in a sort of "honeymoon period" with the book. Plantinga has persuaded me--a former dyed-in-the-wool evidentialist--that his account of warrant is the correct one. If I think of any telling objections you'll be the first to know.

I've had this book for several years but never got around to reading it. There was always a commentary or a systematic theology or something that demanded my attention. But I got involved in reading this book while trying to minister to a young guy who was very much romanced by German romanticism (especially Schopenhauer). Plantinga's systematic dismantling of Kant and his followers' position on whether one can know God enabled me to meet his objections.

After the first two chapters, the book became a very easy read - in fact, I didn't read much of anything else until it was finished. Analytic philosophy can be horribly dry, but Plantinga has a great sense of humor in this work. It's hilarious in places (see the 'son of Great Pumpkin' argument, his discussion of what the word 'fundamentalist' really means), but well-argued everywhere. I am no philosopher, but having read and understood Plantinga's work, I feel competent to at least present a cogent alternative to some of the most common objectives to the Christian faith. This book is a steal at $30.

Alvin Plantinga's Warranted Christian Belief (WCB) examines the rationality of religious (particularly Christian) belief. WCB is the third and final instalment in the author's trilogy on the issue of warrant. Plantinga is a highly respected philosopher within the realms of epistemology and the philosophy of religion - he is also arguably one of the most significant philosophers of the late Twentieth century.

Traditionally, the philosophy of religion has dealt with two broad arguments against religious belief; the evidentiary argument (de facto) and the rational argument (de jure). The de facto approach examines the various arguments (e.g. ontological, cosmological, teleological, revelation and the existence of evil) and makes a probabilistic assessment with regard to the likelihood of a theistic worldview. The de jure approach focuses on the question of whether the existence of an omnipotent, omniscient and wholly good God is in itself irrational.

For those familiar with Plantinga WCB is similar to his other writings - characterized by uncommon analytical rigour, moments of clear brilliance and the occasional meander. On the latter point, the author's digression into the views of Jonathon Edwards while well handled added little (from my perspective) except to make a dense tome even more daunting (others may find more value in this aspect). WCB's significance, however, lays it its rigorous examination and counter to the various de jure arguments against Christianity. Indeed, in my view, Plantinga is successful in arguing that there is no compelling de jure argument that is independent of the de facto argument.

Several decades ago Plantinga played a leading role in putting to rest the argument that the existence of evil and God were logically incompatible (this argument is now largely centered on a less compelling evidentiary / probabilistic tact). Only time will tell if he is as successful with regard to addressing the de jure argument against Christian belief. All to say that it is a powerful and important work within the field of religion.

Overall, I highly recommend the book. Without exaggeration, it is one of the most powerful books I have read (what that says about me I'm not sure). In fairness it is probably of most interest to students of philosophy and theology, however as other reviewers have noted the educated lay reader (especially Christians) can also find great value in it.

Note: Some print problems in the book I purchased from Amazon - alternating pages at the back of the book were blank.

...so goes the single thesis of this book, and is the single principle at work in fending off criticisms, from various quarters, of the epistemological propriety of Christian faith. Its five hundred pages are spent not so much in depth of developing this thesis, but in breadth of applying it to a variety of topics.

Starting from Kantian and Hickian questions of how to locate the question of warrant with respect to truth, or whether there is a question, Plantinga goes on to tackle, in due course, considerations of justification, deontology, rationality, and such. Following that is a tour of classical Christian conceptions of faith, and discussions of how to locate Plantinga's notion of warrant within the concepts inherited from past thinkers such as Aquinas and Calvin. Finally, some common philosophical and other objections to Christian faith are addressed in light of the preceding.

It is the breadth of the topics addressed that makes this book most useful, rather than its depth in argumentation, in which I found a certain amount of repetition in the kinds of defenses Plantinga offers to a variety of criticisms: something along the lines of "But why think *that*?" seemed to crop up most often. In this, as well as other of Plantinga's works, he seems to leave himself open to the charge (that I have in fact heard made) that he's making his job a bit too easy for himself.

In particular, what Plantinga leaves out is an explanation of just how *Christian* belief, in particular, is warranted over and above other species of religious belief. What kept coming up in my mind is what I call "The Mormon Problem"--the fact that a subjectively-based defense essentially just like Plantinga's could be given by, say, Mormons, who typically appeal to purely subjective (viz. "a burning in my bosom") considerations in their epistemology. Plantinga does go on to say that a Christian who goes on to consider objections and find them unconvincing retains warrant, but what I'd like to know is just what such objection-meeting considerations have to do with warrant, specifically. Plantinga is consistently vague on what, if any, connection there is. Here's the problem more explicitly: isn't a Mormon who does not admit of the relevance of what might, without too much exaggeration, be called historical and archeological disproofs of The Book of Mormon to their religious epistemology still in qualitatively the same position as a Christian vis-a-vis their faith: "warranted *if* true"? It seems that without begging the question for or against one or the other, a warrant-based account per se doesn't tell us what's different from the two. In other words, I don't see how you can't admit of a certain degree of evidentialism into your religious epistemology without falling into this problem. And whatever intrinsic connection that has with warrant per se, if there is one, needs to be spelled out. That said, I think Plantinga's warrant-based account of faith is probably correct so far as it goes.

Finally, I notice a very interesting connection between one of Plantinga's central themes here (if not *the* central theme): that the _de jure_ objection is not, in the end, distinct from the _de facto_ objection. When I hear the way that the crop of militant "New Atheists" like Richard Dawkins (well, he's not so new, just increasingly vociferous) and Sam Harris talk about religious belief, they seem to be coming to basically the same conclusion, in a way, albeit from the opposite direction, as it were. To be sure, these paragons of reason don't so much present arguments as inveigh, pontificate, and bloviate, so they don't state their position as such, but it seems as though they also are saying the same thing, except taking the _de facto_ question as primitive and assumed answered, and then naturally going on to answer the _de jure_ question in like fashion. This would certainly seem to explain their extreme intolerance. In fact, in not explicitly distinguishing between the two, one's dialectic, such as it is, can easily consist in whipping back and forth between the two in a very tight circle. Plantinga's distinction is thus a useful one that can be used to diagnose such argumentative problems in the midst of shrill voices and strongly-worded rhetoric.

_Warranted Christian Belief_ by analytic philosopher Alvin Plantinga is the third book in Plantinga's trilogy on warrant and is perhaps the most important. Plantinga (a theist, Calvinist, and member of the Reformed Church) is perhaps one of the most important analytic philosophers of religion today and is definitely one of the most important theistic philosophers. While this book is the third book in a trilogy, unlike the other books in the trilogy it is longer and more detailed in scope. Further, Plantinga notes that he tries to make the discussion in this book independent of that presented in the previous two books (_Warrant: The Current Debate_ and _Warrant and Proper Function_), but the book obviously follows in the sequence (and also may be considered a sequel to Plantinga's _God and Other Minds_). Thus, this book may be read independently. Plantinga makes the point that this is a work of both apologetics and philosophy, but it is also a work of philosophy of religion, and in particular Christian philosophy. Thus, it will include reference to Christian belief in the same way that a philosophy of physics book would include reference to physics.

To begin with it is necessary for Plantinga to explain what he means by Christian belief. Plantinga maintains that Christian belief (or "mere Christian belief") includes two components: the theistic component (that God exists, is a person, and has certain attributes) and the Christian component (that human beings are mired in sin and require salvation, that this was attained through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and that Christ is the Second Person of the Trinity). In this book, Plantinga will consider two types of objections to Christian belief - the de facto objections (that Christian belief is false) and the de jure objections (that Christian belief is unwarranted). The de jure objection, "I do not know whether Christian belief is true or not, but I do know that it is unwarranted given modern understandings, etc.", is a common one, but as Plantinga will show there are no de jure objections independent of the de facto objections.

An objection that is commonly made to Christian belief is that there is no question at all (that is that the certain attributes of God make Christian belief impossible). This is the objection of Kant (that our concepts do not apply to God), in one interpretation of his thought. It is also the objection of other more modern theologians such as Kaufman and Hick. Plantinga begins by showing that the objection of Kant fails because of certain problems in the so-called antinomies that he presents. Plantinga then turns his attention to claims made by Gordon Kaufman and John Hick, showing the weakness of their claims (and the essential worthlessness of their "theologies"). The question is then concerned as to exactly what is the question of Christian belief. Here, Plantinga begins by considering "Justification and the Classical Picture". Plantinga explains classical foundationalism and evidentialism in the work of John Locke. Plantinga notes how Locke distinguished between opinion and reason and maintained that one should try to live by reason. This implies a deontological understanding; in which, we have a duty to conform our beliefs to reason. Among other things, it is also maintained that certain of our beliefs are "properly basic" and that every belief is either properly basic or derived from beliefs which are. However, the classical pictures runs into difficulties; in particular, it encounters the problem of self-reference, in that there is no easily apparent way for it to justify itself. Plantinga considers some variations on the classical picture (in particular, he notes that Christian belief may be justified in a properly basic manner). Plantinga next considers rationality, and he devotes a considerable amount of space to a discussion regarding William Alston, Christian Mystical Practice (CMP), and rationality (as seen in Alston's important book _Perceiving God_). Plantinga also considers the notion of warrant and the "complaints" of Freud and Marx (others such as Nietzsche are not considered because their "complaints" are regarded as falling into the same category and as being over-the-top and less than rational). The discussion of Freud revolves around the central idea that Christian belief involves the process of "wish-fulfillment". This discussion is particularly funny when the actual theories of Freud are presented (because Freud made some rather absurd claims regarding patricide, among others). The discussion of Marx revolves around the idea that Christian belief results from an unjust society (and is the "opiate of the people"). Plantinga shows how both of these ideas are problematic and how neither of them shows that Christian belief is without warrant. In the next section of this book, Plantinga considers the fact of warranted Christian belief. In particular, he presents what he calls the Aquinas/Calvin model (A/C model) which argues that Christian belief may be properly basic (and relies on a "sensus divinitatis"). Plantinga considers various ways in which knowledge of God may be possible, and his discussion here is heavily indebted to William Alston. Plantinga also notes the role of sin and natural knowledge of God (sin interferes with our knowledge of God). Plantinga also shows that the de jure question is not independent of the de facto question. Following this, Plantinga considers the cognitive consequences of sin. In particular, he shows that sin has noetic effects (in that it may cause the sensus divinitatis to malfunction). Plantinga also considers the case of sin and skepticism (this is the radical skepticism of a David Hume for example) and sin and naturalism. In the case of naturalism, Plantinga provides a powerful probabilistic argument showing that given naturalism and evolution it is unlikely that sense perception will be reliable. Plantinga also considers a rejoinder of this to the effect that the same applies to the theist (the "tu quoque" objection), but he shows that this is not the case provided Christian belief is assumed. In the next section, Plantinga extends the A/C model by showing how faith leads to cognitive renewal (and thus the proper functioning of the sensus divinitatis). Plantinga also emphasizes the role of Scripture in the attainment of faith. Plantinga presents a probabilistic argument for Christian belief (relying no the fact of Christ's resurrection), but ultimately rejects this argument, concluding that he does not know a good argument for Christian belief and that such things must be known through faith. Plantinga next considers the testimonial model as well as various objections presented to his model. In particular, Plantinga makes the point that Christian belief is not like a scientific hypothesis (which is the claim of many atheists including the late John Mackie). In the final section of this book, Plantinga considers the possibility of various defeaters for Christian belief (facts we know now which may make Christian belief unwarranted). Plantinga concludes that while none of these defeaters actually defeat Christian belief, that it is possible that such defeaters exist, though they are extremely unlikely. Plantinga considers such defeaters as those presented in modernistic Scripture scholarship (distinguishing between traditional biblical criticism and historical biblical criticism - which may be one of three types: Troelschian, Duhemian, or Spinozistic). Plantinga shows how all of these forms of historical criticism fail to provide a defeater because they disregard the sensus divinitatis. Platinga also considers arguments making use of postmodernism and pluralism. In particular, Plantinga finds that postmodernist claims about truth would provide a defeater for Christian belief if they were true, but that they are in fact self-refuting (Plantinga considers for example Rorty in this respect). Plantinga also shows how claims to epistemic arrogance are also found in pluralism and agnosticism, making the fact of a plurality of religions fail as a defeater for Christian belief. Finally, Plantinga considers the so-called problem of evil (or "problem of suffering"). Plantinga considers both the logical question (does evil contradict the existence of God) and evidential arguments, but he finds all of these to be problematic. The only argument that appears to carry any weight in this respect is a brute appeal to emotion. But, Plantinga shows how this may also be resolved within theism (bringing up in particular the trials of Job). Finally, Plantinga concludes that such objections to Christian belief do not provide defeaters and that there is good reason to believe that Christian belief has warrant. He ends by noting that Christian belief also appears to be true.

This book is one of the most important works in modern analytic theistic philosophy. Plantinga's arguments are well-presented and logically rigorous. For those who claim that Christian belief is irrational or lacks warrant given our current knowledge, these arguments presented here are sure to challenge them.

Great reading. The one that really can change your life and how you affect others.

After reading Forge, I read this one. Easy to read, easy to remember, so clear in it's ideas that it pulls your soul and your intelligence to new levels. A must.

Father Jose Maria has put together one of the most practical ways to live out the gospel message. His spiritual direction can be used by all; men,women and children. I highly recommend this collection

After The DaVinci code, Opus Dei has gotten a terrible reputation, undeserved. This book is enlightening to anyone of any christian and even non christian denomination. It addresses with simple ideas all the struggle of improving ones self to grow spiritually.

The way is The Way. This means that St. JoseMaria Escriva saw each and every Catholic as Christ manifest in the world. It is an obligation for each and every Catholic to live the fulness of what it is to be Christ. This book of sayings and aspirations is a neat little reminder to us of the importance of humility and vigilance on the way to spiritual perfection.

Great condition but didn't realise the book contained several stories. Just wanted the one story "Why the chimes rang."It was bought as a gift and the reciever was totally thrilled

I remember this book from long ago. It has a wonderful message. Not only can love make the bells ring, love can change the world! The illustration are just perfect for the story. This would make the perfect holday gift for young people, or even not so young people who want to regain the Christmas spirit of giving and service.

Destined to be a Christmas classic:Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices--echoes the message of Why the Chimes Rang.

Growing up in a small town in Indiana, I got to listen to my paternal grandfather read this story to the assembled family every Christmas Eve. My father has continued the tradition within our family, reading from an original 1906 edition of the book. Every year like clockwork, my mother cries as she looks around the room at her sons, their families and the dogs. My partner and I are adopting a boy and a girl from Guatemala this year, and I can't wait to begin this tradition in our home. This is a truly glorious story about Christmas. Read it and share it with your own family. And make sure it's read aloud by the family member with the most sonorous voice.

lovely pictures and great story
nice to find a childrens christmas book that isnt a popular character of the month
adults will enjoy also, so makes reading together the experience it should be

What a delight to find this classic from my childhood. Our parents read to us at bedtime. This story of love and sharing relates universal values. Thank you for making it available.

I have watched Dr. Stanley on television a few times, but I have never read any of his books. The book reads much the way he speaks.

The book gives a brief overview of what it means to live a Spirit filled life. It also provides some examples from Dr. Stanley's life. Finally, it gives some details as to how to open yourself up to living the Spirit filled life.

This book was easy to read and understand. The book explains many of the scriptures that speak about Spirit filled living. It also uses stories and events from Dr. Stanley's life to demonstrate the scripture meaning. There is also a chapter about Spiritual gifts.

The key is simply to recognize that all believers have the Holy Spirit living within them. Once you realize and understand and accept this, you will know what to look for and to listen for to be in obedience to the will of God.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking to initiate or to further their study of a Spirit filled life.

Dr. Stanley has written an excellent book encouraging readers to not be content with a self-satisfied life and instead be transformed by God's Holy Spirit and be used for His glory.

The book contains 18 chapters and are almost equally divided into three main areas:

1. Looking Up (A personal journey into the Spirit-filled life)
2. Looking Within (The ministries of the Holy Spirit in the believer)
3. Looking Ahead (The Holy Spirit's role in decision-making)

Stanley's underlying point throughout the book is that the believer can only experience a totally joy-filled life when truly under the leadership and authority of the Holy Spirit.

Read, enjoy, and be challenged!

Really gives a greater understanding of the Holy Spirit. I love how Mr. Stanley provides verses along with what he is writing about. Reading the book was like a huge epiphany, it really clarified alot of things for me. I think it is a "must read" book.

This book is an excellent read! It is both informative and practical as Dr. Stanley walks you through his personal discovery of the Holy Spirit in his own Christian experience. In his trademark conversational style, he helps you to understand why an understanding of the Holy Spirit is perhaps the most important component of your Christian walk, second only to receiving salvation itself. Dr. Stanley provides plenty of scriptural support and uses excellent analogies. He gives many actual, albeit safe, disclosures from from his own life. You almost get the sense that you are having a personal one-on-one conversation with him. One of the things that I really liked is that at the end of the each chapter, he gave a list of resources that a person could go to for additional information, as well as a list of thought provoking "think about it" questions. Those questions make this an excellent book for a small group discussion or personal reflection.

Learning to walk with Christ is the adventure of a lifetime! It is, indeed, the reason we were made, and makes our lives full of purpose! To know Him intimately involved in each day makes even the trials that come have meaning, realizing that good can come from all that is allowed to touch us. It gives us hope and comfort knowing He is with us at ALL times, guiding and making the way for us, even when we cannot see anything except what is right in front of our eyes. Knowing He has all things under His control gives peace and comfort. He sustains and encourages, because He loves us more dearly than we can imagine and wants only good to come from even the adversities. Growing more deeply into Him, becoming completely dependent as children, makes us ripe for His best use of our lives, as others see Him shine through us. There must be more of Him and less of us. This book has changed my life and led to more answered prayer than I ever dreamed possible, even supernatural interventions that only He could have arranged or accomplished. Thus, I now have intimate stories of my Savior, Who leads me beside the still waters, even through the storms of life. That, and I am presently disabled from a series of traumas, but at peace, knowing I am in the center of His will for my life, surrendered to His Plan.