The Beliefnet Guide to Evangelical Christianity

The Beliefnet Guide to Evangelical Christianity PDF Author: Wendy Murray Zoba
Publisher: Harmony
ISBN: 0307423875
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 146

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Book Description
Has Evangelical Christianity become a political entity? What is the difference between “evangelical” and “evangelism”? Do evangelicals literally believe the Bible? Thirty-five percent of Americans today are evangelical Christians, yet many people are uncertain of what that term actually means. The Beliefnet® Guide to Evangelical Christianity offers a clear, unbiased description of evangelical beliefs and practices—including how they have changed throughout history and what they are now. It also dispels many current misconceptions about this faith group and its followers. The Beliefnet® Guide to Evangelical Christianity addresses topics such as evangelical Christians’ approach to the accuracy of the Bible, their relationship with Jesus Christ, and the connection to conservative politics. Its nuts-and-bolts approach will appeal both to evangelicals who want to know more about the history of their religion and community and to general readers who want to understand the rise of evangelicalism over the past decades. From the premier source of information on religion and spirituality, the Beliefnet® Guides introduce you to the major traditions, leaders, and issues of faith in the world today.

The Beliefnet Guide to Evangelical Christianity

The Beliefnet Guide to Evangelical Christianity PDF Author: Wendy Murray Zoba
Publisher: Harmony
ISBN: 0307423875
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 146

Get Book Here

Book Description
Has Evangelical Christianity become a political entity? What is the difference between “evangelical” and “evangelism”? Do evangelicals literally believe the Bible? Thirty-five percent of Americans today are evangelical Christians, yet many people are uncertain of what that term actually means. The Beliefnet® Guide to Evangelical Christianity offers a clear, unbiased description of evangelical beliefs and practices—including how they have changed throughout history and what they are now. It also dispels many current misconceptions about this faith group and its followers. The Beliefnet® Guide to Evangelical Christianity addresses topics such as evangelical Christians’ approach to the accuracy of the Bible, their relationship with Jesus Christ, and the connection to conservative politics. Its nuts-and-bolts approach will appeal both to evangelicals who want to know more about the history of their religion and community and to general readers who want to understand the rise of evangelicalism over the past decades. From the premier source of information on religion and spirituality, the Beliefnet® Guides introduce you to the major traditions, leaders, and issues of faith in the world today.

The Beliefnet Guide to Gnosticism and Other Vanished Christianities

The Beliefnet Guide to Gnosticism and Other Vanished Christianities PDF Author: Richard Valantasis
Publisher: Harmony
ISBN: 0385514557
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 194

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Book Description
Looking at the diverse strands of the early Christian church, this book examines the alternative Christian ideas propagated by the Gnostics, Sethians, Valentinians, Marcionites, Encratites, and Montanists, illuminating the philosophical sources and religious traditions that fostered them.

The Beliefnet Guide to Gnosticism and Other Vanished Christianities

The Beliefnet Guide to Gnosticism and Other Vanished Christianities PDF Author: Richard Valantasis
Publisher: Harmony
ISBN: 0307423883
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 194

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Book Description
From its earliest days, Christianity has been marked by a rich diversity of beliefs and practices. Different interpretations of Jesus’ life and mission, as well as conflicting views about worship and rituals, gave rise to numerous sects in the first centuries C.E. Condemned as heretical by the official Church, these early movements were lost to history until the twentieth century, when the discovery of ancient documents opened a new perspective on the evolution of Christianity. The Beliefnet® Guide to Gnosticism and Other Vanished Christianities is a fascinating look at the diverse strands of the early Christian church. It examines the alternative Christian ideas propagated by the Gnostics, Sethians, Valentinians, Marcionites, Encratites, and Montanists, illuminating the philosophical sources and religious traditions that fostered them. Special attention is given to sects that presented the greatest challenges to the developing orthodoxy: the Hermeticists, the Manicheans, and the Neoplatonists. There are also thought-provoking discussions about the secret Gospel of Mark and the Gospels of Mary and Thomas, and the newly discovered Gospel of the Savior. From the premier source of information on religion and spirituality, the Beliefnet Guides introduce you to the major traditions, leaders, and issues of faith in the world today. This authoritative, fully accessible guide to early Christian movements sheds light on the hidden histories and intriguing mysteries that fueled the extraordinary success of books ranging from Dan Brown’s blockbuster The Da Vinci Code to Elaine Pagels’s critically acclaimed Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas.

The Beliefnet Guide to Islam

The Beliefnet Guide to Islam PDF Author: Hesham A. Hassaballa
Publisher: Harmony
ISBN: 0307423891
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 210

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Book Description
This concise introduction to Islam offers a sophisticated and informative exploration of the history, beliefs, tenets, and practices of the second-largest religion in the world. There are 1.3 billion Muslims in the world today, yet Islam remains a misunderstood faith. In this day and age, when issues related to Islam are dominating current affairs, The Beliefnet® Guide to Islam takes readers into the heart of this global religion, describing its origins, its links to Judaism and Christianity, and its place and practices in the modern world. In clear, unbiased language, the authors outline the core beliefs that shape the daily lives of practicing Muslims: faith, prayer, charity, fasting and self-purification (during the period of Ramadan), and the Hajj (the annual pilgrimage to Mecca). They clarify the differences between the Sunni and the Shia, the two main branches of Islam, shedding light on a topic that has garnered attention during the current crises in Iraq and other parts of the Muslim world. Hassaballa and Helminski also look at the many misinterpretations of basic terms and beliefs that have had a serious impact on the relationship between Muslims and those who practice other religions, explaining such essentials as the meaning of jihad, Islamic teachings on the role of women in society, and much more. From the premier source of information on religion and spirituality, the Beliefnet® Guides introduce you to the major traditions, leaders, and issues of faith in the world today.

The Evangelicals You Don't Know

The Evangelicals You Don't Know PDF Author: Tom Krattenmaker
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
ISBN: 9780810895805
Category : Evangelicalism
Languages : en
Pages : 232

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Book Description
To many Americans, evangelical Christians have been the chief culprits in the divisiveness of our times. But in surprising and hopeful ways, a new generation of evangelicals is inventing how to be publicly and persuasively Christian without falling into the old stock roles and stoking the usual animosities. The Evangelicals You Don't Know introduces readers to these Christian innovators embodying this stereotype-busting, boundary-breaking inclusiveness, with each chapter offering insight for how we all, regardless of our own faith persuasion, can become part of this broadening new pursuit of the common good.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Evangelical Christianity

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Evangelical Christianity PDF Author: David Cobia, D.Min.
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1440626081
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 440

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Book Description
The word on spreading the word ... The Evangelical Christian movement is the fastest growing segment of American religion with 42% of all Christians in America identifying themselves as Evangelicals. Now, Evangelical Pastor David Cobia shares the genesis, history, and culture of this religion in America with a balanced, accessible tone. He also touches upon the controversies it's spawned regarding such topics as school curriculum, abortion, gay rights, and family structure. Written both for those inside the movement and those wanting to know more, it gives a clear, factual portrait of what this growing Christian movement is all about. --Balanced, positive yet objective tone and presentation of information --Provides a complete history of the movement, details about specific services and rituals, and interviews with Evangelical Christians about their beliefs and lifestyles --Discusses controversial topics and how Evangelical Christians feel about them

Stories of a Recovering Fundamentalist

Stories of a Recovering Fundamentalist PDF Author: James C. Alexander
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 1452042225
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 202

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Book Description
It has been said that the opposite of faith is not doubt, but certainty. Drawing on this notion, Stories of a Recovering Fundamentalist: Understanding and Responding to Christian Absolutism recounts the author’s journey as a member of the fundamentalist subculture as a child and his life among the Jesus Freaks (Jesus Movement)-- a congregation of deserters from the hippie drug culture of the late 1960's and early 1970's. This movement, though of great importance in the culture of the times, now largely goes unrecognized--although the Jesus Movement provided the cover stories for many prominent secular magazines chronicling the youth culture of the late 60's and early 70's. While, not devoted to a history of the Jesus Movement, the book does a service in bringing a discussion of the Jesus Freak phenomenon to the attention of today's readers. The book goes on to recount the author's eventual abandonment of fundamentalism. As the story unfolds, critical research related to the psychology, sociology, and history of the subculture provides a framework for understanding Christian fundamentalism. Stories of a Recovering Fundamentalist recounts a gripping personal pilgrimage—at times both humorous and painful— that is rooted in honest reflection and informed by theory and research. It offers worthwhile reading for mainline Christians, curious evangelicals, recovering fundamentalists or anyone wanting to understand this timely topic.

Vanishing Grace

Vanishing Grace PDF Author: Philip Yancey
Publisher: Zondervan
ISBN: 0310351553
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 304

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Book Description
Christians have proclaimed the good news about Jesus for centuries. But the good news isn't sounding so good these days, at least to some. More and more surveys show that people view Christians as bearers of bad news, judgment, and intolerance. In Vanishing Grace, bestselling author Philip Yancey acknowledges the problem and then explores how we can respond with both grace and truth. He offers a discerning look at what contributes to a hostility toward Christians, and identifies three groups--pilgrims, artists, and activists--who can show us a different way. With a reporter's eye and a compassionate heart, Yancey suggests practical ways in which we can live as salt and light within a society that is radically changing. What can we learn from those who shun church but consider themselves spiritual? Can the good news, once spoiled, ever sound good again? As Yancey writes, "Like a sudden thaw in the middle of winter, grace happens at unexpected moments. It stops us short, catches the breath, disarms. . . . Yet not everyone has tasted of that amazing grace, and not everyone believes in it. In a time of division and discord, grace seems in vanishing supply. Why? And what can we do about it?" In the wake of recent events--Las Vegas, Charlottesville, Charleston, Ferguson, Islamic terrorism--people both inside and outside the church are thirsty for grace. Vanishing Grace calls us to see their thirst, and ours, in a hopeful new light as we listen, love, and offer a grace that is truly good news.

A Faith of Our Own

A Faith of Our Own PDF Author: Jonathan Merritt
Publisher: FaithWords
ISBN: 1455519278
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 148

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Book Description
Every day, major headlines tell the story of how Christianity is attempting to influence American culture and politics. But statistics show that young Americans are disenchanted with a faith that has become culturally antagonistic and too closely aligned with partisan politics. In this personal yet practical work, Jonathan Merritt uncovers the changing face of American Christianity by uniquely examining the coming of age of a new generation of Christians. Jonathan Merritt illuminates the spiritual ethos of this new generation of believers who engage the world with Christ-centered faith but an un-polarized political perspective. Through personal stories and biblically rooted commentary this scion of a leading evangelical family takes a close, thoughtful look at the changing religious and political environment, addressing such divisive issues as abortion, gay marriage, environmental use and care, race, war, poverty, and the imbalance of world wealth. Through Scripture, the examples of Jesus, and personal defining faith experiences, he distills the essential truths at the core of a Christian faith that is now just coming of age.

Guide for the Christian Perplexed

Guide for the Christian Perplexed PDF Author: Thomas P. Power
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1610974581
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 287

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Book Description
Thoughtful Christians are legitimately perplexed by a number of issues relating to the church's belief and practice. They are perplexed partly because they recognize that the issues themselves are thorny, and partly because they are not sure how to test the mutually inconsistent theories and explanations affirmed by diverse voices speaking with equal assurance. Most Christians find relatively little occasion or encouragement to address their perplexities with intellectual candor and integrity. If they dare to acknowledge their theological perplexities at all, they are too often told that these perplexities are unimportant, or that they can be answered very simply, or that they should be left to the experts. Guide for the Christian Perplexed, written by members of the faculty of Wycliffe College, Toronto, aims to explore a diversity of issues and questions to do with o our knowledge of Jesus o the meaning of suffering o the function of doctrine o the understanding of Scripture o the place of other religions o the challenge of atheism o the pleasures and complications of sexuality o the nature of worship o the way to evangelize o understanding who our neighbor is locally and globally o diversities of spirituality Here you will find thoughtful reflections and answers to the questions around these issues. A study guide is included for individual and group use.