The Way We Never Were: American Families and the Nostalgia Trap by Stephanie Coontz
-A lot of historical information is included, revealing what we think the “ideal” family looked like in the past is fictional. Even the “ideal” 1950’s didn’t last, because it wasn’t real.
Marriage, A History: How Love Conquered Marriage by Stephanie Coontz
-This books goes deeper into the history of marriage, than the previous book. This looks at marriage throughout recorded human history, not just American history.
Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God: The Scandalous Truth of the Very Good News by Brian Zahnd
-A thought provoking book that seeks to encourage readers to rethink the God of wrath that many perceive.
The Wood Between the Worlds by Brian Zahnd
-A series of essays on the cross.
Four Views on: Creation, Evolution, and Intelligent Design contributors Ken Ham, Hugh Ross, Deborah B Haarsma & Steven C Meyer
-This book is a back and forth from proponents of four different views on origins. All of the contributors
The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism by Katherine Stewart
-For those who are concerned about
how George Soros is funding the political Left, this book exposes those
(including billionaires) behind the religious Right.
Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman
-This book was written in the 1940’s, but is still quite applicable today. This book helped to shape MLK Jr.’s theology.
How Far to the Promised Land: One Black
Family’s Story of Hope and Survival in the American South by Esau McCaulley
-A powerful (recent) story of a black man growing up in the South. This book moved me to tears on multiple occasions.
The Oxford Inklings: Lewis, Tolkien and their circle by Colin Duriez
-One take on the infamous friendship and literary group that shaped C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien as well as others.
Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky
-A long (almost 14 hour) but interesting history of salt.. Yes, I'm a nerd.
A Church Called Tov: Forming a Goodness Culture That Resists Abuses of Power and Promotes Healing by Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer
-A document of church scandals, and how Christians are called to not be self seeking but other promoting.
Necessary Endings: The Employees, Businesses and the Relationships That All of Us Have to Give Up in Order to Move Forward by Henry Cloud
-Re-listening to this book. Cloud gives good understanding of how and why some relationships need to end for flourishing to happen.
Hell: A Jewish Perspective on a Christian Doctrine by Dr. Eitan Bar
A Dallas Theological Seminary-trained Jewish theologian reviews Bible passages on “hell,” providing background and context. In the end, he concludes that much of modern thought on Hell comes from Augustine and Calvin, not the Bible.
Exiles: The Church in the Shadow of Empire by Preston Sprinkle
-A short book comparing the exiled children of Israel to Christians living in a kingdom that isn’t our home. A decent overview of how Christians should approach politics and life in an ungodly world.
The Sin of Certainty: Why God Desires our Trust More Than Our “Correct” Beliefs by Peter Enns
-Enns fleshes out how the opposite of faith isn’t doubt, but rather certainty. And how trust is more important to one’s relationship with God than having one’s beliefs nailed down.
Inspiration and Incarnation: Evangelicals and the Problem of the Old Testament by Peter Enns
-Enns suggests that the scriptures, like Jesus himself, is both human and divine in origin.
Money Lies and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy by Katherine Steward
-Stewart traces the roots of the current Republican political machine. She looks at the billionaries funding the “grass roots”, the “thinkers” spreading their propaganda, and the voters being used as pawns to push an agenda—to destroy democracy in the U.S.
Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion by Allie Beth Stuckey
-Stuckey gives the reasons why she holds her beliefs against abortion, same-sex marriage, gender affirming care, illegal immigration and social justice. Her beliefs are mostly in line with more conservative Republicans and conservative Evangelical Christians. My issue with the book is she tends to strawman those who do not line up exactly with her beliefs, lumping most (all?) who disagree with exactly where she lands as buying into some “progressive” agenda. Two examples, if someone points out that abortion rates go down when a Democrat is president, she dismissed that, giving some argument that Republican governors ran most states during a Democrat presidency. She indicates that this is given as an excuse for those that want to support a candidate that is pro-death. (Also, her argument about governors falls apart when Republicans usually run the same states during Republican administrations as well). When it comes to using preferred pronouns, she acknowledged that some people are trying to be sensitive and not offend people by using said pronouns. She said she understands the desire to not be rude, but called people who use preferred pronouns for any reason “useful idiots.” I think she could have written a better book by at least strong-manning her opponents. When you assume your opponents always have bad motives, and assume your side is always righteous in their motivations, it removes room for genuine dialogue.
Genesis for Normal People: A Guide to the Most Controversial, Misunderstood, and Abused Book of the Bible by Peter Enns and Jared Byas
-An interesting take on how the authors believe Genesis is meant to be more of a retelling of Jewish history than an actual historical account. It's worth the read, even if you disagree with their conclusions.
The Anti-Greed Gospel: Why the Love of Money is the Root of Racism and How the Church Can Create a New Way Forward by Malcolm Foley
-Wow! This book lays out a case for how greed is at the heart of racism, as well as other sins. The book is well thought out, and makes a good argument from the Bible on how our obsession with money continues to exploit people today.
