Showing titles in Historical

In all the discussion of women’s roles in the Church, we’ve ignored a pressing question: Why don’t men go to church anymore? Why are the most common traits of the modern Church doves and quilts and little old ladies? Dr. Leon Podles documents the current feminized state of the Western Church, the masculine traits that once characterized Christianity, and how they can be restored. While the masculine exodus from churches is dangerous for the Church, it is also dangerous for society as a whole. Masculinity will out.

While many denominations claim to be growing, the largest group in American religious life is the disillusioned—people who have been involved in the church yet see few similarities between the church's life and the person of Jesus. In the midst of elaborate programming, professional worship...

""Wherever the willingness to rethink has been squelched, wherever that sense of quest has been buried under convention and complacency, the Christian faith in all its forms is in trouble. But even there, something is trying to be born. Even now, right here, among us, inside you, inside me. You...

In Beyond Belief, renowned religion scholar Elaine Pagels continues her groundbreaking examination of the earliest Christian texts, arguing for an ongoing assessment of faith and a questioning of religious orthodoxy. Spurred on by personal tragedy and new scholarship from an international group...

Dietrich Bonhoeffer died a martyr’s death at the age of 39 but remains one of the most influential and challenging theologians of our time. His writings teach us the value of cross-centered theology, and his courageous actions against the Nazi regime compel us to consider the cost of discipleship. From Bonhoeffer, we learn that the Christian life is lived both alone and together, and that there is a stark difference between cheap and costly grace.

In the 2,000 years that have elapsed since the time of Christ, Christians have been as much divided by their faith as united, as much at odds as in communion. And the contents of Christian confession have developed with astonishing energy. How can believers claim a faith that has been passed down through the ages while recognizing the real historical contingencies that have shaped both their doctrines and their divisions? In this carefully argued essay, David Bentley Hart critiques the concept of "tradition" that has become dominant in Christian thought as fundamentally incoherent.

A History of Western Philosophy and Theology is the fruit of John Frame's 45 years of teaching philosophical subjects. No other survey of the history of Western thought offers the same invigorating blend of expositional clarity, critical insight, and biblical wisdom.

Embark on an extraordinary journey back in time to unearth the secrets of the earliest Christian texts with "The Nag Hammadi Library: A Beginner's Guide". This meticulously crafted guide unlocks the mysteries of ancient scriptures discovered in Egypt in 1945, offering a fascinating glimpse into a profound era of spiritual exploration. Discover the Hidden Wisdom: Delve into the Gnostic gospels, philosophical writings, and mystical scriptures that were hidden away for centuries. Uncover the teachings that challenged the very foundation of early Christian thought and learn why these texts were...

Greek and Roman tales of deities and demigods, what we call myths, are twisted versions of true history: Zeus is Satan, the Titans are the sons of god who came in to the daughters of man, and the heroes of the Golden Age are the mighty men of old—the Nephilim. If you were brought up in church, there’s a good chance you were taught that the pagan gods were imaginary. But God Himself calls them gods. Not only that, He’s judged them, found them wanting, and proclaimed a sentence of death on these rebels. But they’re not dead yet. They’re angry, and they’re coming back.

They vanished without a trace, leaving behind no temples, no monuments, no written accounts of their own. But in the barren caves of Qumran, hidden away for two thousand years, the whispers of their world remained—sealed inside fragile scrolls. The Essenes were not merely a religious sect; they were purists, visionaries, and outcasts who believed they alone held the key to divine truth. Their story is one of discipline, prophecy, and an apocalyptic expectation that would echo through history, shaping both Judaism and Christianity in ways few understand. The lost sect that defied the world...

Despite the slander and attacks against the faith, one powerful truth is undeniable: if Christ had never been born, nearly every facet of human life would be more miserable than it is today. Seldom in history has the clamor of anti-Christian sentiment grown more vocal than today as followers of...

In this short introduction, Stanley Grenz and Roger Olson, two theologians who care deeply about the witness of ordinary Christians and the ministry of the church, show what theology is, what tools theology uses, why every believer (advanced degrees or not) is a theologian, and how the theological enterprise can be productive and satisfying. Their clear, easily understood book is ideal for students, church study groups, and individual Christians who want to strengthen understanding, belief, and commitment by coming to know God more fully.

“God isn’t really good.” "God doesn’t want the best for you.” “God could never forgive that sin." “God could never truly love you." These lies are as old as time, and yet how readily we still believe them to this day. Believing the lies of Satan leads to a life of defeat and despair. But it doesn’t have to be this way! In The Devil’s Newsroom, Pastor Jeff Schreve tackles Satan’s fake news head on.

The four books of Saint Augustine are a compilation of exegetical theology to guide the reader and listener in the understanding and interpretation of the Sacred Scriptures, according to the analogy of the faith. The first three books were written A.D. 397 and the fourth was added A.D. 426.

In this short, accessible account of the Eastern Orthodox Church, John McGuckin begins by tackling the question "What is the Church?" His answer is a clear, historically and theologically rooted portrait of what the Church is for Orthodox Christianity and how it differs from Western Christians' expectations.

The story of the church is important for Christians to know, for it contains rich and uplifting stories of God’s dealings with His people. Dr. Sinclair B. Ferguson takes the listener on a tour of the Christian history, featuring stories and songs to give believers a sense of their place in God’s kingdom and to encourage them in their walk.

In Did Jesus Exist? historian and Bible expert Bart Ehrman confronts the question, "Did Jesus exist at all?" Ehrman vigorously defends the historical Jesus, identifies the most historically reliable sources for best understanding Jesus’ mission and message, and offers a compelling portrait of...

Saint Augustine's contributions to Christian theology are second to no other post-apostolic author in the whole sweep of church history. Yet along side his doctrinal treatises, Augustine tells a story of his life devoted to Christ as his only satisfaction.

Beyond a mere introduction to great art, Van Gogh Has a Broken Heart is about loving to learn what art has to teach us about the wonder and struggle of being alive. Did you know that: Vincent van Gogh's attempt to start an artist's colony with Paul Gauguin lasted only nine weeks, ending in his...

A comprehensive explanation of Martin Luther’s most crucial and controversial beliefs on salvation, The Bondage of the Will is a critical resource in understanding the theology of free will and the gift of faith. Facing criticism even from others who had disagreements with the Catholic church, Luther’s strong and absolute beliefs on the gift of salvation were truly revolutionary. This work contains the full amount of research, discussion, and debate on Luther’s ideas on free will as it pertains to individual Christians and to their understanding of God.