Christianity Books

Connor's account of a retreat to the Canadian outback is delightful and enlightening. Called as a priest in rural British Columbia to comfort the parents of an infant crushed to death by a boulder falling upon the rear of their passing car, Connor finds himself as unsettled and nonplused by the pathos and inscrutabilty of the event as the gieving parents. Seeking to regain his spiritual and emotional bearings, he finds refuge in a remote lake cabin where his slowly (and often comically) reawakened communion with the landscape and its few inhabitants clarify the continuum of suffering and serenity, death and life, and the salvation of replacing agitating, rational self-consciousness with accepting, spiritual self-awareness--with a truly contemplative life.

Rendered in graceful prose, Connor's memoir ranges from exquisitely lyrical to warmly humorous to intellectually rigorous. The landscape and characters are vividly drawn, and the informing scholarship of contemplative literature and tradition is brought to bear in a natural, delightfully anecdotal way.

Connor's account of a retreat to the Canadian outback is delightful and enlightening. Called as a priest in rural British Columbia to comfort the parents of an infant crushed to death by a boulder falling upon the rear of their passing car, Connor finds himself as unsettled and nonplused by the pathos and inscrutabilty of the event as the gieving parents. Seeking to regain his spiritual and emotional bearings, he finds refuge in a remote lake cabin where his slowly (and often comically) reawakened communion with the landscape and its few inhabitants clarify the continuum of suffering and serenity, death and life, and the salvation of replacing agitating, rational self-consciousness with accepting, spiritual self-awareness--with a truly contemplative life.

Rendered in graceful prose, Connor's memoir ranges from exquisitely lyrical to warmly humorous to intellectually rigorous. The landscape and characters are vividly drawn, and the informing scholarship of contemplative literature and tradition is brought to bear in a natural, delightfully anecdotal way.

This is the profoundly spiritual memoir of a former Jesuit priest's interior journey. It is a hauntingly beautiful account filled with the pathos and gentle humor of a life fully realized -- a life that has come through the symbolic "fire" not irreparably burned but touched by its healing warmth. Graced by the author's intense awareness of holiness and human fraility, this book is filled with wisdom and grace. In prose that is accessible, lyrical, intelligent, and infinitely humane, Mr. Connor offers his readers the truths he has discovered: tenderness, compassion, and love. His use of poetry as epigrams that introduce each of his cycles of silence is brilliant. Edward Hirsch's poem "The Idea of the Holy," which precedes the prologue, and Adele Kenny's haiku, which introduces the first cycle, take the reader into the world of pure spirit: God's world, Connor's world, our world.

I'm beginning a spiritual journey myself and was seeking a how-to
on meditation, what I found was "Silent Fire." Never has any book touched my heart or moved my spirit more than this. I cried
and I laughed. This author has the heart of a poet. The book is
beautifully written, honest, and comes straight from the heart.
As a Jesuit priest, the horrible death of an infant brings on a crisis of faith. He heads for a mountain cabin seeking answers.
What kind of God is this? he wonders. And he finds the answers in the most unlikely places. This is a book I will treasure for a long time to come.

"Silent Fire" tells the story of one episode in Mr. Connor's life as a Jesuit priest. This tragedy provoked a deep crisis of faith, which led him to retreat at a cabin in the mountains in order to find the solitude to search for the meaning of this event. He uses the story of what he learned there as a way to discuss the role of solitude and the "numinous" in the spiritual and/or religious life.

This is a very, very good book. The story is told in a very clear, direct, well organized way. It treats a deeply serious subject with respect and sensitivity, but stays very down-to-earth and even manages to be quite funny at times. The writing itself is downright lovely. His descriptions of the natural scene around his retreat are gorgeous, and display a real understanding of the natural world. He relates these scenes metaphorically to his spiritual story with real grace. This is prose poetry as good as Annie Dillard wrote.

I highly, heartily recommend this book.

A classic from 1989 this book tells Christians how much God loves them. With the big idea of our lives are not futile. Our failures are not fatal and our deaths are not final. Each chapter of this book begins with an personal illustration from the author and then moves into the life of Christ. I have read this book at least three times. Each time I read it this book stirs me. I don't know how many tears have fallen while reading this book. If you have never read this book I strongly encourage you to do so. You will not be disappointed.

So easy to read and understand. The chapter tilted 'The Golden Golbet' gave me the simplest picture of God's love and grace for me. I have read this book three times and continue to give it as gifts to people I meet.

I bought the book as a gift, but decided to read it first to see if it was ok to give...I was certainly surprised, I was even brought to tears in a lot of chapters...especially when Max does a re-telling of the ruler's daughter in a modern setting. Wow!

Makes a great gift, for others & one's self!

I have several of Max Lucado's books, and have never been disappointed. This book puts Jesus death and resurrection in language and thoughts we can under today without losing the biblical meaning. He creates a clear picture and stirs up emotion. Most of the time he brings in someone else's point of view that maybe you hadn't thought of. I highly recommend this book, I read it every Easter.

In six hours Jesus accomplished his redemptive work and in so doing brought meaning to man's life. Max Lucado weaves contemporary stories together with Biblical events to bring a fresh and multi-faceted view of how people were affected by what Jesus did. There's the prodigal son, the woman caught in adultery, the widow of Nain, Lazarus, the thief at the cross among others. All saw new meaning to life, experienced forgiveness from God, and the promise of resurrection and eternal life when they came to the Saviour. The last chapter was the most touching and described the final glance as Max's dad lay dying, paralleling it with the final look by the centurion as Jesus died on the cross.

This book is inspiring and explains the anchor points that you should hold onto when life's hurricanes hit. That basically Jesus has done it all for you on the cross, and that your life is not futile, your failures are not fatal, and your death is not final. Jesus has purchased you with His Blood, and promises you forgiveness of sins if you come to him, and not only that, but eternal life. Therefore anchor your soul to the Rock of Salvation and He will hold onto you throughout life's storms.

We got this book when my son was 3 years old and he loved it. It tells the story in a way that brings glory to God in the midst of difficult circumstances. Highly recommend!

If you want your kids to really know the full story of the first Thanksgiving, then you cannot forego this book. Squanto is one of those stories that has not remained at the fore front of Thanksgiving tales. And, that fact is a crying shame. This story will not only speak facts, it will teach several moral lessons that the child in all of us needs to learn. It is a reminder of how we can be thankful no matter what life hands us in the way of trials. Read this book to your kids and inspire them to live their best lives!

This is an excellent book for teaching the history of Thanksgiving. The story is well told, and the writing is well crafted. The pictures are remarkable; you can spend a lot of time looking into the faces of the characters, which are rich with emotion and humanity and realism. This book is a great investment.

This is an excellent resource to teach children the true meaning of Thanksgiving and how much God loves each of his children and has a wonderful plan for all of them. I would definitely recommend this book!

This was an incredibly beautiful rendering of Squanto's life. I highly recommend the book to all ages.

This is one of the best books I have ever read on the Christian walk. I would highly recommend this book to any new Christians. It is deep without being overwhelming. After reading this book, I immediately began ordering more Ellen White books. I haven't been disappointed with any of them.

Without a doubt, once one has read this gem of a book, it will be confessed that Steps to Christ is one of the Greatest Christian Classics of all time! One of the greatest things that the author, Ellen G. White, has done, is take the complexity out of a relationship with Christ that has been portrayed by too many who do not clearly understand. She shows a clear and steady path that can be followed by any and all who sincerely want to come close to Jesus. Because the author had such a great understanding of what it means to surrender, trust, and to follow Jesus, she is able to give in simple, easy to understand language, step by step guidance to bring the child of God into a life of humility, repentance, forgiveness, prayer, and service! As I was recommended to by my University Professors, to read this book at least once a year for the rest of my life, I have found over and over again deeper and deeper insight to my relationship with Christ, bringing me closer to His desire for me! My hope is that you will pick it up and read it too, that you may know the Sweet Jesus that I have learned of!

This is one of the best Biblically-based books that I have read on the lift of Jesus! I absolutely love it and would highly recommend it to anyone who would like to learn more about Jesus Christ. It's a must buy, in my opinion.

Of Ellen G. White's many astounding books, this is probably her best seller. Literally in the tens-of-millions. A beautiful guide to understanding and personally accepting Jesus Christ and His Grace. The perfect gift for anyone even considering following the Son of God. And despite false accusations from many, after reading her inspired works you'll better understand why she is America's all-time best selling female author, and most widely translated of any gender. A beautiful light to the real Biblical Jesus.

"Steps to Christ" is a wonderful book! If you could just read one book, this would definitely be the best one to read indeed! It brings God's love closer to you than you could ever imagine. It opens your eyes to just how much God really loves you, a love that none of us deserve. This is a must-read classic! I would highly encourage anyone to get this book and read it and pass it on! You'll never be the same. It opens to the heart the great impact of the Gospel and shows the way, the only Way, to salvation-Jesus Christ.

DK Publishing, who have the past few years been building a reputation for accessible, beautifully-illustrated and well-organised survey books, have produced another good volume by Michael Collins and Matthew A. Price.

Drawing heavily on artwork contemporary with the historical period being covered, Collins and Price supplement the imagery with texts and other artwork gives a visual sense of the text (for instance, we have no contemporary portraits of Judas Maccabeus, so a painting from Paul Rubens - painted a millennium-and-a-half later - is used; however, Alexander the Great had many contemporary statues and images left, so these are used to show him).

DK books have an interesting organisation, that reminds me of a web page -- perhaps this is a deliberate intention on their part. Every page has a full-colour image. Every page has a side-bar, a separate box highlighting an important idea, event or person. Every page leads the reader through short pieces that connect well to a larger theme. Given the increasing short-attention span of many readers (even those who like to read), this kind of book can be useful at drawing people in and keeping them interested.

I give kudos to Collins and Price for including a significant chapter on Global Christianity. So many histories of Christianity end in the European/North American arena, with only lip service paid to other part of the world. Apart from this chapter, which covers theology and practice in the non-Eurocentric Christian churches, the authors pay attention to developments outside western Europe through the two millennia of history. Collins, a Catholic, and Price, a Protestant, have managed to be very inclusive of the wide spectrum of Christian belief and practice. I regret that an Orthodox scholar was not included in this collaboration.

- The Roots of Christianity
This section explores the Jewish roots of Christianity, the Old Testament, and aspects of the wider cultural influences of Hellenism and the Roman Imperial structures. It continues up to New Testament times.

- Church & Empire
This section explores the church from the earliest days of uneasy life in the Roman Empire. It explores problems the church had with wider society as well as many of the early issues that confronted Christian unity, a unity that would make it through these times of turmoil, but would ultimately not endure.

- Christian Empire
From the time of Constantine, the church assumed a different character, first as a protected and permitted faith, and finally as the dominant religious power in the empire.

- The Conversion of Europe
From the time of the fall of the Roman Empire to the turn of the first millennium, Europe underwent various struggles, internal and external, including barbarians from the East and followers of the new religion, Islam, from the South.

- Crusades to Renaissance
The clash between Christendom and Islamic powers resulted in the Crusades. Scandinavian countries were converted, but Christianity's outreach was blocked by geographically and by Islam in the South and East. It was also during this period that Constantinople fell, and the major centre of Orthodoxy came under the control of Islamic sultans.

- The Reformation
The Reformation had many faces, and took different character in various countries in Europe. This is where many Christian denominations trace their historical/philosophical roots away from the Catholic church, and the Catholic church in response to the Reformation incorporated major reforms, as well.

- Enlightenment & Revival
Christianity and science come into conflict during the Enlightenment, yet many zealous preachers and missionaries take to the field, which includes an ever-growing world that includes colonies on every continent on earth.

- Mission & Revolution
In America, many populist religious movements formed, largely in response or by encouragement of the revolution for independence. Around the world, Christianity was grappling with revision of Enlightenment ideals as a changing society thanks to the industrial revolution.

- The Global Church
From World War I forward, the character of almost everything in the world has changed, and Christianity has had to adapt in many ways. Every denomination has seen reforms (some radical and fundamental) and the second millennium closes on hopeful notes for Christian cooperation, if not unity, all the while the era of Christendom has truly ended, as two-thirds of the world are non-Christian. How will Christianity adapt as a minority voice in world affairs, after having had centre stage or at least a major voice in the chorus for so long?

One bias of the book is that it intends very clearly to celebrate Christian history, as the subtitle suggests. Various of the nastier bits of Christian history, therefore, tend to get neutralised in their treatment (the Crusades, the Inquisition, etc.). I would hope there would be a bit more confession on the part of an institution that expects confession and repentance of everyone else. To err is human (perhaps the most human thing!) -- let us not try to avoid facing the errors of the past. I also question certain statements, such as: `Meanwhile, as Europe recovered from centuries of war and invasion, Christianity inspired a flourishing of art and learning that led to the Renaissance.' Christianity's role in supporting the Renaissance is a decidedly mixed one. It was at times as much of a hindrance, and I feel it is probably an overstatement to attribute the Renaissance to Christianity.

This book presents the major figures, major events and timelines in Christian history in a language and presentation that makes it accessible to high school and undergraduate students, makes it useful as a companion to parish Bible studies and Christian education programmes, while still maintaining a level of detail and narrative that would please more clerical and scholarly tastes.

I really liked this book as it is so colorful. A lot of history books fall down because they have very poor presentation. I am interested in art as well and I found the illustration really helpful. Another thing I liked about the book is that one author is a priest and the other a layman, a Protestant. Yet the two really gel well together. I have a new respect for the variety of Christianity and the influence it had on our culture and civilisation. Just to think, without the popes, America would not be geographically the way it is today.
I wish there were more in the book. Hopefully the paperback will have more. One last thing. This book is in no way designed or written to convert anybody. It is a scholarly, yet popular presentation of the largest religion in the world.
Full marks and a great read.

While it's written to be a Reference book, I couldn't put it down! I read the entire book, including the marginal notes, over two days. It was fascinating reading, and I am in awe of how much research these gentlemen had to go thru to assemble such an enormous history! Equally impressive was how fairly they treated all of the different Protestant faiths.
Lastly, while I attend an Assemblies of God church, I have gained more respect for the Catholic church, as well as other denominations. I feel more 'connected' to other Christian faiths, and see how little really divides us. It definately kept me awake all night -- feeling full of joy!

I enjoyed this book very much. I had been searching for a good illustrated book on Christianity. I always liked Dorling Kindersley books and so when I saw this I had to get it. I am a teacher, and am teaching a course on Christianity. The text in this book is lively and engaging. In addition the illustrations are marvellous. What is most useful is the way the book manages to give a birdseye view of twenty centuries in which Christianity played such a pivotal role.

An excellent book. When are the authors going to bring out another one? Ray

A few years ago, my wife and I were looking for a book on the history of Christianity to help us in homeschooling our teenaged son. What made this a bit challenging is that my wife is a Protestant, and I had recently become an Orthodox Christian, so we wanted a book that treated our respective traditions objectively and with respect.

My wife came home from a conference sponsored by the Association of Christian Schools International with a copy of "The Story of Christianity." Since I'd seen textbooks in Protestant Christian schools with a not-so-subtle anti-Catholic bias, and that treated the Orthodox as virtually non-existent, I viewed this title with suspicion.

The first thing that began to set me at ease was that it had been written by two scholars, one Roman Catholic and the other Protestant. I figured that they would at least show respect for each other's traditions, which I quickly found to be true.

Next, I began taking a close look at the opening chapters dealing with early Church history, covering "The Roots of Christianity" (starting in the Old Testament) and going to "The Conversion of Europe" (including the Great Schism of 1054). What I found was an objective, fair treatment of the early days in both the East and the West, when there was general agreement throughout the Church on orthodoxy, as well as the tragic differences that developed due to cultural problems (such as language differences and poor communication, political shifts (such as moving the capital from Rome to what became known as Constantinople), and differences of opinion on the role of the papacy. With the final split in 1054, any hope of reconciliation ended with the Crusades from the West and the sack of Constantinople in 1204.

From this point on, the book takes on a spirit of bi-partisanship as it develops the history of Christianity in the West, giving a scant two pages per chapter to the Eastern Orthodox, covering the next 1000 years. While this beautiful volume might mainly be of interest to readers from the West, with its emphasis on the development of the Catholic Church and the many denominations of Protestantism, through the shortcoming of omission, many readers may be left with the impression that--since Eastern Orthodox worship is virtually unchanged in 1700 years--not much else has gone on in the East either.

However, if one pays attention to the captions and sidebars, the reader discovers tidbits about the East that deserve greater treatment than it gets here. One caption on "An Orthodox View of the Trinity" mentions the theological debate on the Trinity, which surrounds the statement in the Nicene Creed about the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father, but the text fails to amplify the controversy surrounding the filioque ("and the Son") added by the West, without the approval of an Ecumenical Council.

One also learns from other captions that "throughout the medieval period, the standard of education was far higher in Constantinople than in the West," or "for 1000 years Constantinople had been the home of the finest Greek scholars." If the Renaissance and Reformation get dozens of pages, why not the glorious Orthodox Byzantine Empire, the longest lasting empire in history? Why not spend more pages on the accomplishments of those fine Greek scholars?

Another caption states, "In the early 1700s missionaries from the Russian Orthodox church became active through the harsh region of Siberia," telling further how these efforts extended to Alaska in 1794 and "all the way down to San Francisco." This is an amazing missionary story that has yet to be read by most Westerners!

Brief mention is also made of Peter the Great's efforts to Westernize Russia, and in the process he almost dismantled the Russian Orthodox Church, the very institution that brought unity to this great, and vast, nation.

I'm also afraid that Western readers will be left with the impression that Orthodox Christians remain in the East, overlooking a growing Orthodox presence in the Western hemisphere, beginning with immigrant groups from Eastern Europe, as well as Arab Christians, but now attracting Westerners (like me) who have discovered the rich tradition of spirituality and worship within Orthodoxy.

The omissions in this book are too numerous to mention in detail, but don't get me wrong, I like this book! It's beautifully layed out, in the style of Dorling Kindersly's popular Eyewitness books, with colorful prints, drawings, maps and photographs on every page. In my opinion, this makes this volume superior to most Christian history textbooks. Also, I do think it treats all three major traditions respectfully, just not equally or proportionately.

I would still recommend that this book be in every Christian home (yes, even Orthodox), as it helps us to understand one another better. It would be attractive on a coffee table, and it is conducive to browsing. It would also be a welcome addition to church and school libraries...

Yes, I would also like to find copies of this book. I actually ordered from Amazon a few weeks ago and then a week later was sent a message saying they no longer had any in stock. Imagine my surprise when the only one available on their site was listed for $1200+ !!!
This book has always been part of my children's Christmas. It is a very special part of our Christmas tradition. I was looking to give each of my sons one of their own to continue the tradition in their own homes when the time comes.
Does ANYONE know where to find this book?? I know some little old book store somewhere in the world has two copies sitting on the shelf ...

We had two of this set (the first one wore out!)for at least the past 10-15 years as our children were growing. The girls would gather round and read the little books to one another and then tuck them into the evergreen advent wreath for decoration each day as Christmas approached. Then last year, I reluctantly had to throw the set out since it had been fouled by rodents in storage, and was ruined. I never thought it would go out of print-I planned on getting a new set or two, since one daughter is married now, w/ her own home, this year. I can't tell you how disappointed I am to discover that they are out of print and only available used for $1200!!! Is there any way to get this title back in print? From the other reviews,it seems there is a lot of interest in it! M. Susan Sanders

I have a table top sized tree and this book beside of my Nativity. I use it every Chirstmas with my kids to help tell them the story of Christmas. Each day has a small book that tells a small part of the Christmas story...now they (10, 8, 6, and 5) gather each day in December to read the stories to each other. I love it so much, I bought one for each of my kids (yes now because you never know when they will be out of print) and for all of my siblings and in-laws.

I found this book in 1994 and it has been a favorite of our boys, now 14 and 16. We misplaced it one year and didn't get to read it and hang the ornaments. We still had Christmas, but one of our favorite family traditions was missing. I was informed that I'd better find it for the next Christmas-- and I did-- and it was Christmas once again. In fact, we love this calendar/book so much that I'm buying a new one to send to my son who is away at boarding school, along with a small tree on which to hang the ornaments. Just a little piece of home to have in his dorm room. Thanks goodness it's still being published!

We purchased this calendar/book set for our son when he was about 3 years old. He is just shy of 13 now and it is still a tradition to read this book before bed each night beginning on December 1st. When he was little and couldn't read, my husband and I took turns nightly reading to him. He has a very small tree in his room on his dresser where he would hang the book we read every night. Now that he is older, we still take turns reading every night (him included, of course). This calendar is a simple, yet meaningful way for the family to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ as well as count down the days until Christmas. My son will hand it down to his children one day and I will be purchasing one for my goddaughter who is just turning one. I highly recommend this!

What a beautiful book! Tammy Faye Messner tells it like it is without hesistation. It's a real opener and makes you question the validity of other ministries and their leaders. Tammy Faye truly was a woman of God and I'm sure she's "dancing with angels" right now...and singing at the top of her lungs too!

great lady. very honest in her book. i just love her and if you do too, you'll love all of her books.

What a life! Tammy certainly tells it her way! All of it! From growing up in International Falls, Minnesota to being the queen of the largest Christian television network to being the scorn of millions in and out of the Christian community. And all the steps inbetween. She candidly shares every detail (including some of her sex life!) of her rise and fall from power and her struggle to pick up the pieces of her life. Every struggle, every behind-the-scenes moment, every misconception and every mistake NOT widely known about!

Tammy definately had a life worth reading about. She sheds revealing backstage light on some of the biggest names in Christianity today - Paul and Jan Crouch, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, etc. etc. etc. All with a genuine spirit of forgiveness.

Tammy is definately a beautiful soul and a beautiful person who deserves to be heard. In the book she says, "I believe that truth is truth. What happened happened and is now history. I just want history to be told correctly for my children's sake and for the sake of my grandchildren and generations to come." I think that we all should hear the truth from this woman whose ENTIRE life was devoted to openly sharing with people.

Whether you agree with her religion or not (for the record I don't but I still enjoyed every word and think she's fabulous) her general love for everybody, including those that hurt and betrayed her in a colossal manner, shines!

Don't judge a book by it's cover or a televangelist by her makeup!!!

Sidestep the profiteers trying to make a fast buck from Tammy Faye's recent death by selling this book for up to $2,000. I recently ordered an AUTOGRAPHED copy of the book from Tammy Faye's website for $25 plus shipping.

I love Tammy Faye and thank God for not only who she is, but for her love for a lost world. I'm so glad and encouraged personally that she has the guts to not only be herself, but also how she chooses to look or wear her makeup. Whoever wrote or said for her to get rid of her makeup is an IDIOT. I can't stand people like that.

This guy really did a nice job for teens who want to relate to the Bible, their characters, and making it real for them in a crazy world. Topnotch stuff for parents who care about their kids getting more exposure to the Bible.

Although Teen People of the Bible is geared toward the Christian teen, I feel that will be of interest to any generation It is broken down into 100 short devotionals that are very enlightening. These devotionals help us to remember that the "saints" were people just like us, with their strengths and weaknesses. They show the reader that God loves them with all their faults and that He has a plan for their lives. It will encourage them to become all God intends them to be.

I am just finishing Dan Darling's book "Teen People of the Bible." I couldn't recommend it more. It is separated into 100 stories which can be used as daily devotional/studies/workshops. All churches should make this book available to their youth. To me every devotional seems truly inspired making it applicable to any age group. I think it should be a must read for any student from grade school through college and their parents.

To quote a great pastor and a great writer "my 2 cents!"

Bill Hoidas

Teen People of the Bible: Celebrity Profiles of Real Faith and Tragic Failure is an eye-opening biblical study guide especially for young adults, focusing on the stories of teens confronted with incredible situations. From Leah and Rachel's conflict over the love of a man, to Solomon who allowed himself to be led astray, to Josiah who refuted his family's harmful choices and led his country back to God, Teen People of the Bible reminds the reader that one's age does not prevent one from making a positive difference - or causing great harm. Divided into one hundred entries, each with a brief reference to a biblical passage retold in contemporary language, a "just like you" passage discussing modern-day issues from internet predators , a daily prayer, and a journal question with blank lines for the reader to write down his or her response. One of the suggested prayers is "God, help me to make a difference in my family, my school, my church, and my community. I'm only one person, but I know You can empower me to do things that seem impossible." An excellent, faith-reaffirming resource for young Christians.

Teens need meat, not fluff. That's Dan Darling's premise in his devotions in Teen People of the Bible. His devotionals have real substance giving teens hope that God can use them right now and they don't have to wait to serve with their whole hearts. This devo would be great for youth groups or for any teen in your life. You will enjoy learning about the teens in the Bible when you read this book. Bravo!

This is among the best scholarly works I've encountered in the course of a long academic career. It is both meticulously researched and beautifully written and it has quickly become one of the books that I reference most frequently in my work. Holifield has written the definitive book in his field and although those readers looking for a light and easy primer on theological history would best search elsewhere, those with serious interest in the American theological past will find no better book out there than this one.

E. Brooks Holifield at Emory University pays his Yale mentor, the late Sydney E. Ahlstrom, the supreme compliment of writing a book that takes American religious history studies miles further from Ahlstrom's landmark book of 1971. Many American religious histories are more sociological than historical, studies of histories, practices, and distinctions of religious bodies, most often mainstream Protestant. Holifield's book is pure intellectual history, extraordinarily researched and well-written. This is a dazzling achievement.

Theology in America is a fascinating read. Dr. Holifield illustrates the fragmentation and diverse thought of theology in antebellum America from its colonial beginnings until approximately 1850. Regarding the negative reviews, I would certainly agree that this is not light reading. However I would also absolutely disagree with the premise that the effort is not worth pursuing. For this book holds a lot of gems and like other precious jewels the discovery, while maybe a difficult undertaking, is definitely worth the effort.

One caveat should be stated: the style of writing assumes that the reader has a good understanding of church and theological history along with a basic knowledge of the popular philosophical schools of thought of the 17th and 18th centuries. Dr. Holifield writes with an erudite style with his primary academic audience in mind, therefore it is not meant for casual reading. With that notation given, the reader will have profited tremendously in their knowledge of the beginnings and maturation of American theology when they have completed the book. I certainly did. I plan on rereading it within the year to further solidify my understanding of antebellum theology.

Holifield's book is simply outstanding. Granted, you do need some basic grounding in theology, philosophy and church history to really get into the text. But Holifield's theme of American Christian thinkers seeking to understand the relationship between reason and faith is extremely helpful. The dawning of America is intricately tied into the rise of the Enlightenment. As American Christianity develops, the leading theologians of the church must contend with challenges raised by modern rationalist thought. From the philosophical footwork of John Locke and Thomas Reid to the limitations of Baconian reasoning in dealing with the subject of slavery in biblical interpretation, Holifield weaves a very full and engaging intellectual historical narrative. Some of Holifield's subjects, such Jonathan Edwards, are fully involved in the Enlightenment struggle, whereas others retreat from the intellectual challenges of the modern era. Nevertheless, God's Kingdom marches on in all of its amazing (and, frankly, discouraging at times) diversity in the life of the church. Holifield's history is very thought provoking, and it really gives you a hunger to learn more. It deserves another read in the future, for sure!As an observation, I find it really incredible to realize that most modern Americans have very little exposure to the thoughts that are expressed in this book. For example, Thomas Reid is a central figure but most modern historical reflections on philosophy regard him as a point on the conservative fringe. With the exception of today's conservative Reformed Calvinists, you hardly find any mention of Jonathan Edwards, except for his "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" sermon in our public education (and even Christian private education). Many thanks go to Holifield for setting the historical record straight.

E. Brooks Holifield, though I have never met him, has been a writer-mentor ever since I read his early work, "A History of Pastoral Care in America." Holifield brings his same passionate precision to his latest book, "Theology in America." His humble title belies the depth of the book, yet at the same time communicates clearly the comprehensive task that he has undertaken. His subtitle says it all, "Christian Thought from the Age of the Puritans to the Civil War."

Holifield writes in a magesterial style, fitting for his topic. As Grant Wacker notes, it is "massively researched and elegantly crafted." The author leaves none of the proverbial stones unturned, as his control of his subject ranges from high church to low, from free white to enslaved black.

As with his study of American pastoral care, so here Holifield ably sees and shares themes and threads that others often miss. In particular, Holifield highlights the ever-existing tension between theological truth and practical relevance evident in the American theological pursuit. Thus the reader receives the big picture as well as the summary, the forest and the trees.

Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction," and of "Soul Physicians" and "Spiritual Friends."

This book has a huge amount of films that Overstreet basically reviews and ties into each chapter. It is amazing how he connects so many seemingly secular films to Christian values. I'd recommend this book to anyone who thinks that every film not coming from Christian makers is garbage, because Overstreet has definitely found deeply religious themes in some very offensive films.

[...]

keen insight and well written. going to go back to movies thinking a little differently going forward.

Jeffrey Overstreet expertly guides readers on a cinematic journey, thoughtfully raising questions and broaching issues to help Christians and non-Christians alike challenge their traditional views on art, faith, culture and cinema.

Overstreet demonstrates remarkable skill in providing a comprehensive and thoughtful reflection on a wide variety of films. He discusses them in fresh ways, displaying cultural relevance in his interpretation while also dramatically illustrating the spiritual principles and biblical truths that surface in the themes of each film.

Overstreet's masterful work will offer you a fresh look at beauty, truth, evil and redemption in the movies. A must-have for any film lover!

What books were to previous generations, movies are to the present one; their ability to teach and shape our view of reality is unparalled by any other medium. Christians can't afford to be ignorant of the content and power here, and "Through a Screen Darkly" provides an excellent guide.

As a filmmaker and a Christian I am always striving to find an articulate voice able to handle the spiritual as well as the cinematic. With Jeffery Overstreet's Through a Screen Darkly I have found a strong one. The book traces Overstreet's own experience with cinema as an artist, a Christian and a human being. The book serves to open readers' eyes not only to their own experiences, but to the larger questions of artistic as well as moral excellence. Highly recommended.