Beliefs > Christianity

(Books, magazines and DVDs.)

Books:

Simply Jesus : a new vision of who he was, what he did, and why he matters, by N.T. Wright.
"Jesus - the Jesus we might discover if we really looked,' explains Wright, 'is larger, more disturbing, more urgent than we had ever imagined. We have successfully managed to hide behind other questions and to avoid the huge, world-shaking challenge of Jesus' central claim and achievement. It is we, the churches, who have been the real reductionists. We have reduced the kingdom of God to private piety; the victory of the cross to comfort for the conscience; Easter itself to a happy, escapist ending after a sad, dark tale. Piety, conscience and ultimate happiness are important, but not nearly as important as Jesus himself." Drawn from the publisher's description.

Sanctuary of the soul : journey into meditative prayer, by Richard J. Foster.
Weaving together quotes and stories from the lives of mothers and fathers of the faith as well as powerful encounters with God from his own life, Foster describes the riches of quieting your mind and heart in order to listen to and obey God more closely. Along the way, he also provides the biblical teaching and step-by-step help you need to begin this prayer practice for yourself. Drawn from the publisher's description.

Re-claiming the Bible for a non-religious world, by John Shelby Spong.
"Spong as [a Bible] guide ensures that everything supernatural encountered en route is firmly discounted and explained in terms of ad hoc usefulness to, usually, religious and political functionaries. And it entails thorough rejection of any incidents and passages anywhere in the Bible that justify, mandate, or can be construed to support anti-Semitism, racism, misogyny, homophobia, and religious exclusivity or supremacy. Ascertaining who wrote each biblical book, for what purposes, and in what circumstances remains Spong's basic procedure throughout.... Although it restates all the stances that have made Spong so controversial (perhaps the most annoying is his speculation that Paul was a repressed homosexual), this is a companionable, not a cranky, book... (Drawn from Booklist, courtesy of Syndetics)

The spirit of the past : essays on Christianity in New Zealand history, edited by Geoffrey Troughton & Hugh Morrison.
Contents include : Researching the history of popular religion in New Zealand / Alison Clarke ; Who you know: Māori, missionaries and the economy / Adrienne Puckey ; Mrs Hampson and the 'hot gospel' / Janet E. Crawford -- Richard Booth and gospel temperance revivalism / Geoffrey Troughton ; 'The evils of mixed marriages': Catholic teaching and practice / Christopher J. van der Krogt ; Westminster Fellowship Evangelicals and the history of Presbyterianism in New Zealand / Stuart Lange ; Rediscovery of a forgotten history: The Uawa Misson Station Cemetery at Mangarara Pa, Tolaga Bay / Stephen Donald.

Bonhoeffer : pastor, martyr, prophet, spy : a righteous gentile vs. the Third Reich / Eric Metaxas.
As Adolf Hitler and the Nazis seduced a nation, bullied a continent, and attempted the extermination of European Jews, a small number of dissidents and saboteurs worked to dismantle the Third Reich from the inside. One of these was pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. ... As a double-agent, he joined the plot to assassinate the Fuhrer, and was hanged in Flossenberg concentration camp. [This] is the first fully comprehensive biography of Bonhoeffer in more than 40 years. ... Metaxes presents both sides of Bonhoeffer's life, as theologian and as conspirator drawing them together to tell a searing story of incredible moral courage in the face of monstrous evil. (drawn from book description, courtesy of Syndetics)

What good is God? : in search of a faith that matters, by Philip Yancey. (2010) "*Starred Review* I travel, Yancey writes, for the same reason anyone travels. Readers may, however, see more self-effacing humility than truth in these words. For the journeys here recounted are those of an extraordinary pilgrim. What Yancey seeks in his globe-straddling travels is spiritual understanding of how God works his miracles of grace through men and women grappling with life's most wrenching difficulties. ... A bracing witness, challenging both religious complacency and secular skepticism." (Drawn from the Booklist review, courtesy of Syndetics)

Paul among the people : the Apostle reinterpreted and reimagined in his own time, by Sarah Ruden. (2010)
Starred Review : The astonishingly high quality of the new literature concerned with the greatest missionary apostle continues in poet and classical translator Ruden's cross-referencing of Paul. ... The nonviolent love and community that Christianity preached radically differed from exploitative, status-based norms and Paul's preaching, perceived as being against homosexuality and higher status for non-ruling-class women and slaves, looks very different when contrasted with those Greco-Roman norms as reported by writers from Aristophanes to Apuleius. Judiciously citing her own behavior to bring certain points home to contemporary readers, Ruden is winningly intimate as well as impressively scholarly in this superb book. (drawn from Booklist review, courtesy of Syndetics)

The Cambridge dictionary of Christianity, by editor, Daniel Patte. (2010)
An authoritative reference guide that enables college and seminary students, their teachers, and Christian clergy to reflect critically upon all aspects of Christianity from its origins to the present day. Written by a team of 800 scholars and practitioners from around the world, the volume reflects the plurality of Christianity throughout its history.... (drawn from publisher summary)

The mass : the glory, the mystery, the tradition, by Donald Wuerl and Mike Aquilina ; foreward by J. Augustine di Noia ; preface by Francis George. (2011)
"Beginning with an explanation of the development of the Mass through history, Cardinal Wuerl and Aquilina go through the text of the Mass step-by-step, from the sign of the cross to the ending amen, explaining the meaning behind the words and the gestures, taking special care to explain the changes coming in 2011. Directed primarily at Roman Catholics, the book presumes no previous knowledge and explains even the smallest elements of the Mass, so that it could be read profitably by non-Catholics seeking a clear explanation of the central rite of Catholicism.... (Drawn from the Library Journal review, courtesy of Syndetics)

Chaos and grace : discovering the liberating work of the Holy Spirit, by Mark Galli.
In Chaos and Grace, Mark Galli offers readers freedom from the need for control and order by reintroducing them to the mysterious work of the Holy Spirit. In this insightful book, Galli exposes our individual mistakes and the church's foibles and points the way to grace - which, as it happens, usually lies through chaos and crisis. Through Scripture he shows us that this problem is not unique to modern believers and helps us learn from the stories of God's people through the ages as they gave up and gave in to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. (drawn from Syndetics book summary)

Mere churchianity : finding your way back to Jesus-shaped spirituality, by Michael Spencer (The Internet Monk). (2010).
Spencer, who blogged as the Internet Monk until his untimely death earlier this year, offers a harsh assessment of institutional Christianity - "churchianity, ... taking special aim at evangelical megachurches and prosperity gospel preachers.... None of this, he insists, has anything to do with Jesus, who was Jewish (not American), hung out with people others rejected, and made disciples instead of buildings. He advocates "Jesus-shaped spirituality," which can be found in service and scripture and, most important, won't necessarily make you smile, because it can be hard to practice. ...drawn from Publishers' Weekly, courtesy of Syndetics.

Forged : writing in the name of God : why the Bible's authors are not who we think they are, by Bart D. Ehrman.
It is often said, even by critical scholars who should know better, that "writing in the name of another" was widely accepted in antiquity. But religion scholar Bart D. Ehrman dares to call it what it was: literary forgery, a practice that was as scandalous then as it is today. Here, Ehrman's original research takes readers back to the ancient world, where forgeries were used as weapons by unknown authors to fend off attacks to their faith and establish their church. So, if many of the books in the Bible were not in fact written by Jesus's inner circle--but by writers living decades later, with differing agendas in rival communities--what does that do to the authority of Scripture?--From publisher description.

Shaping Godzone : public issues and church voices in New Zealand 1840-2000, by Laurie Guy.
"This ground-breaking book highlights the influence of the church in shaping 'Godzone' - Aotearoa New Zealand. It audaciously claims that the church has been midwife to the nation. Without missionary influence there would have been no Treaty of Waitangi and no New Zealand as we know it today. In the nineteenth century church voices were nation-shaping on issues as wide-ranging as alcohol restraint, voting rights for women, the use of Sunday and the exploitation of workers. In the last generation there were vocal church voices on the Vietnam War, a nuclear-free New Zealand and the 1981 Springbok Tour. ... On other matters the church ought to have spoken out, but largely failed to do so: e.g. World War One, or against racism in the hundred years after 1860....." (drawn from book description).

It's really all about God : reflections of a Muslim atheist Jewish Christian, by Samir Selmanovic. (2010)
"Selmanovic's (founder & Christian coleader, Faith House Manhattan) book is in part the story of his remarkable spiritual and personal journey from Croatian Islam to Christianity to, finally, something richer beyond the conventions of Christian faith. To Selmanovic, modern religions and denominations have become self-serving God-management systems, containers and dispensers of God, and his aim is to embrace the diversities and even the mutually exclusive mysteries of the three Abrahamic faiths and atheism to gain a new perspective that is not about ourselves but about God. Verdict A touching and personal point of entry into cross-denominational thinking. Recommended. (drawn from Library Journal, courtesy of Syndetics)

The gospel according to the earth : why the Good Book is a green book, by J. Matthew Sleeth. (2010)
"Here, Sleeth invites you on his family's journey as they realize that one cannot be a Christian without recognizing the Bible's call to care for God's creation. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is filled with instructions on how we can demonstrate our love for the Creator by caring for the earth. Sleeth leads us on a highly creative journey through Scripture, visiting some of the most important characters in the Bible and discovering what they can teach us about issues such as stewardship, caring for our neighbors, climate change, and pollution" (courtesy of amazon.com)

The future of faith, by Harvey Cox. (2009)
"Starred Review. What shape will the Christian faith take in the 21st century? In the midst of fast-paced global changes and in the face of an apparent resurgence of fundamentalism, can Christianity survive as a living and vital faith? With his typical brilliance and lively insight, Cox explores these and other questions in a dazzling blend of memoir, church history and theological commentary. ...(drawn from Booklist, courtesy of Syndetics)

The historical Jesus : five views, edited by James K. Beilby and Paul Rhodes Eddy. (2009)
Jesus at the vanishing point / Robert M. Price -- Jesus and the challenge of collaborative eschatology / John Dominic Crossan -- Learning the human Jesus : historical criticism and literary criticism / Luke Timothy Johnson -- Remembering Jesus : how the quest of the historical Jesus lost its way / James D.G. Dunn -- The historical Jesus : an evangelical view / Darrell L. Bock.

A place for truth : leading thinkers explore life's hardest questions, by edited by Dallas Willard ; assistant editors, Daniel Cho and Sarah Park. (2010)
For almost 20 years,Veritas Forums have convened on some of the most prestigious college campuses in America, e.g., Harvard, Yale, UCLA, Penn State. Characteristic of each is an unashamedly Christian perspective on matters of truth, worldview, ethics, and related topics. The present volume represents 15 highlights from this long line of faith-based presentations, given by some of the most profound thinkers alive, Christian or otherwise. Included are notables like Richard John Neuhaus, N. T. Wright, Alister McGrath, and Dallas Willard. Among the book's six sections are several devoted to atheism, faith and science, the nature of humanity, and social justice. .... A book that truly seems to scratch where many postmodern people itch.. (drawn from Booklist review, courtesy of Syndetics)

Bible & Treaty : missionaries among the Māori : a new perspective, by Keith Newman. (2010)
"Brings a fresh perspective to the missionary story, from the lead-up to Samuel Marsden's first sermon on New Zealand soil, and the intervening struggle for survival and understanding, to the dramatic events that unfolded around the Treaty of Waitangi and the disillusionment that led to the Land Wars in the 1860s. While some missionaries clearly failed to live up to their high calling, the majority committed their lives to Maori and were instrumental in spreading Christianity, brokering peace between warring tribes, and promoting literacy - publishing, for instance, the first indigenous-language Bible in the Southern Hemisphere. This highly readable account, from the author of Ratana Revisited: An Unfinished Legacy (2006) and Ratana: The Prophet (2009), shines a new light on the ever-evolving business of New Zealand's early history. (drawn from the publisher)

One gospel : the story of Jesus of Nazareth told as a single continuous narrative, by John Elder. (2004)
A continuous version of the gospels in modern English, along with a commentary and a reference section.

New CD

Christian meditation : entering the mind of Christ with James Finley. 6 sound discs (7 hr. 30 min.)
In 1967, Thomas Merton traveled to Thailand, seeking to further the Buddhist-Christian dialogue that was his passion. It was to be his last journey. This beloved Trappist monk and explorer of the inner life died unexpectedly that trip, but not before writing a final letter to his brothers at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky. In it Merton wrote that he now realized that everything he had been searching for could be found at his own hermitage, within the Christian tradition. It is in this spirit, with respect for all faiths, that James Finley offers Christian Meditation, an audio retreat about the fundamental practices at the heart of Christianity's own unique meditation tradition (drawn from the Syndetics summary)

Magazines:

Biblical archaeology review
"Enhance your Biblical knowledge with the latest discoveries and controversies in archaeology, breathtaking photography, informative maps and diagrams." (Amazon)

Books & culture : a Christian review.
"Some of the best-known authors of our time dig deeply into current issues and analyze them from a Christian perspective, revealing how our culture reshapes itself as society changes." (Amazon product description)

Christianity Today
Aims to cover current American evangelical Christianity.

DVDs:

A history of Christianity - a BBC TV co-production with the Open University and Jerusalem Productions.
"In this fascinating series Profesor MacCulloch explains how Christianity first spread east, extending into Syria, Central Asia, India, and the Far East. He explores the extraordinary and unpredictable rise of the largest single body of Christian devotion in the world, the Roman Catholic Church, and reveals how confession was invented by monks in a remote island off the coast of Ireland. As the series progresses it charts Eastern Orthodox Christianity's fight for survival after its glory days in the eastern Roman Empire and looks at the Reformation and rise of Protestantism as well as the evangelical revial and the American-led rise of Pentecostalism" (container).

The miracle maker / producer: Naomi Jones ; directed by Stanislav Sokolov & Derek Hayes. In a claymation animation style, this move is appealing to adults and children alike. The stories of Jesus' life rely heavily on the actual Biblical passages - without a whiff of Disney. IMDB reviewer concludes "The plot is well-known but the film still does a good job with it, careful with what it drops and what it includes, building the main blocks of the tale and allowing enough to be hammered home without doing so much that it would overwhelm with events....Considering the millions who went to see the lesser "Passion of the Christ", this film deserves to have many more viewers."

Son of God. a BBC Discovery Channel co-production in association with Jerusalem Productions and France 3, (2008).
"Using the most scientific and historical research, along with computer graphic technology, this three-part series attempts to uncover what this First-Century peasant was trying to do and say"--Case slick.

Pope John Paul II. Directed by John Kent Harrison ; produced by Luca Bernabel, Fania Petrocchi ; screenplay by John Kent Harrison ; director of photography, Fabrizio Lucci ; edited by Henk van Eeghen ; music composed and conducted by Marco Frisina, (2007).
"In this feature-length film, Jon Voight delivers an incredibly inspirational portrayal of the spiritual life journey of Pope John Paul II, from his youth in Poland, to his international crusade to advocate for the poor and oppressed, to his final days at the Vatican."

The Exodus decoded
After six years of unprecedented research, host Simcha Jacobovici and a team of renowned archaeologists, Egyptologists, and theologians shed revelatory new light on the Exodus and the era's ruling Egyptian dynasty. Their new theory pushes events hundreds of years earlier than previously believed, allowing age-old stories to sparkle with new perspectives and startling historical impact. Using elaborate, state-of-the art CGI, 'The Exodus decoded' offers a stunning virtual account of stories like the birth of Moses, the ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea."--Case slick.

Celebration of Catholicism : history of the popes in the 20th and 21st century.
This collection celebrates Catholicism's 2000-year history through a trio of inspirational documentaries: "From the manger to the cross" recounts the life of Jesus Christ through the words of the New Testament; "I beheld his glory" presents an alternate telling of the Crucifixion through the eyes of a Roman soldier; and "History of the popes in the 20th and 21st century" offers biographical profiles of every pope from Leo XIII to Benedict XVI.

The nativity story, (2006)
The Nativity Story chronicles the journey of two people, Mary and Joseph, a miraculous pregnancy, and the history-defining birth of Jesus.

Conversations with God.
Based on the true story of Neale Donald Walsch after he unexpectedly breaks his neck in a car accident and loses his job. Soon after, we witness his transformation from your everyday guy to a homeless bum struggling just to stay alive. Neale's eye-opening roller coaster ride takes us through his emotional battle to get enough food, make friends and regain his life. And just when things seem to be going his way, they get worse. Feeling like a complete failure in all aspects of his life, Neale, full of anger and bitterness asks God a pile of demanding questions. Much to his disbelief, Neale received his answers! The unworldly conversations that follow end up being read by over 7 million people in 36 languages around the world.

Jesus, produced by Howard Ellis ; written by Albert Ross based on material by John Goldsmith ; directed by Kevin Connor. (2006)
Seen from the eyes of Mary as she watches her infant son grow to manhood, inspiring the known world with his miracles and teachings on the word of God.

Jesus of Nazareth, produced by Vincenzo Labella ; directed by Franco Zeffirelli; originally produced as a tv mini-series in 1977.
In-depth version of Jesus' life (382 minutes). Zeffirelli also provides the sociopolitical background that gave rise to Jesus' following and the crisis in belief it caused for the people of Israel (and one or two Romans).

The real Da Vinci code,.
Attempts to discover the facts about the Holy Grail and cut through the mystery that surrounds the subject. Note also another DVD - Unlocking Da Vinci's code : mystery or conspiracy?.

Christianity : the second thousand years.
The library also has the first thousand years.