J.W. Wartick
Sunday Quote!- Sending the “Other” to Hell
Every Sunday, I will share a quote from something I’ve been reading. The hope is for you, dear reader, to share your thoughts on the quote and related issues and perhaps pick up some reading material along the way!
Sending the “Other” to Hell
We as Christians often need reminders that we are to share our faith with gentleness and respect. I know I often fail in this regard, and sincerely repent and ask for forgiveness from those whom I have failed. Re-reading James Emery White’s Christ Among the Dragons
Many Christians view those outside of the faith as needing to go to hell. They are the bad guys, the enemy. (95)
We see this often when, for example, someone dies and a comment is shared “he/she is burning in hell.” I have, unfortunately, seen this myself many times. But is that the attitude we should be taking as Christians with regard to those of other faiths or–heaven forbid–those with whom we disagree in our own faith tradition?
Whenever this kind of attitude crops up in our own lives, we should repent and ask for forgiveness. Our job is not to send the “other” to hell. It is to share Christ’s love with them.
Links
Be sure to check out the page for this site on Facebook and Twitter for discussion of posts, links to other pages of interest, random talk about theology/philosophy/apologetics/movies and more!
Sunday Quote– If you want to read more Sunday Quotes and join the discussion, check them out! (Scroll down for more)
Source
James Emery White, Christ Among the Dragons
SDG.
christ among dragons- 95
Does “50 Shades” reveal some unspoken longing for gender hierarchy?
The only thing (probably) I’m going to write on 50 Shades of Grey is this post. I know, there are literally hundreds of Christian responses to the book. This is not another. It is a response to an article from First Things called “Fifty Shades Against Gender Neturality,” which I found to be deeply problematic.
Let’s get the basics out of the way. No, I haven’t read the book. No, I’m not commenting on the content of the book because I haven’t read it. All this post is trying to put forward is the notion that 50 Shades of Grey somehow reveals an unspoken longing for gender hierarchy, as alleged in the aforementioned article, is mistaken.
This article will not be explicit but by nature its content is more “adult” than my site normally is.
Only Women?
The author of the article on First Things writes:
[T]here’s a hunger that’s not being satisfied: Namely, for men who are unabashedly masculine, who aren’t afraid to take control, and to lead. That is, there’s a longing (even a lusting) for men who aren’t afraid of what’s classically been called “headship.”
A major difficulty with the article is the premise that women’s desire to be dominated somehow reveals a more basic gender hierarchy ingrained into human nature. One difficulty with this is that it is not only women who desire such things. There are men also who are “into” things like being dominated. Thus, should we draw the conclusion that there is a basic hierarchy of women over men in human nature? Clearly not. Moreover, what response could the author of the article on First Things say in response to this? That human nature is broken? Obviously! But it is clearly special pleading to say that women’s desires in this realm point to intrinsic human nature while that desire of men is a reflection of the opposite. The standards need to be the same.
But the author never even mentions or acknowledges awareness of men longing for the same type of activity. Why not? Perhaps it is just ignorance, or perhaps it is the desire to push an agenda. But the reality of men who want to play the role of submissive demolishes this absurd premise. Surely the author wouldn’t agree that this reality means:
There’s a hunger that’s not being satisfied: Namely, for women who are unabashedly feminine, who aren’t afraid to take control, and to lead. That is, there’s a longing (even a lusting) for women who aren’t afraid of what’s classically been called “headship.”
But if women lusting after these kinds of relationships entail this for men, why would it not entail the same for women? It seems that the only reason is because this would go against the argument for male headship. That, indeed, is special pleading.
There is a kind of brokenness here, but it is not a hidden desire for men to be in a relationship of headship of women; it is a brokenness of the fallen human nature–lusting after characters or even activities which we don’t have. The women and men reading 50 Shades is indicative of something: broken human nature.
What Are We Attracted To?
The central premise of the author’s argument is that that which we are attracted to must reveal something about human nature. Our desires must somehow show a “hunger” “not being satisfied.” In the case of 50 Shades, the author argues that it is male hierarchy. But how fluid are these hungers? Who decides what the “hunger” ultimately points towards?
As one commentator on the article shared when I posted it to a Facebook group, what do human desires for pornography, materialism, or mind-altering drugs point to? The permutations of what we could arbitrarily assign to these things are nearly infinite. Materialism–the desire for more things–points to our need to dominate the earth; to outdo our neighbor; to love our neighbor by buying them things; to assert our authority over those who can’t buy things; perpetuation of immoral systems of wealth; etc.
The arbitrariness of assigning interest of 50 Shades to an unspoken desire for gender hierarchy is clear and tells us more about the author’s presuppositions than about the reasons behind the book’s success.
Looking for the Brothel
The author writes:
If Fr. Smith, the titular character in the Bruce Marshall novel, is right that “the young man who rings the bell at the brothel is unconsciously looking for God,” what are fans of the Fifty Shades series seeking?
This line reveals how the author’s presuppositions have guided their article.* Think about it:
Men seeking brothel = looking for God
Women seeking pornographic books = looking for men
How does that follow? The article is blatantly male-centric and yet offers no reason for thinking that this strange split should be believed. Why think that men seek after God while women must seek after men? Are women incapable of also seeking God? Could women’s desire for similar sins also be a kind of replacement for God? Perhaps men seeking a brothel are in fact unconsciously looking for women to love and care for them. Perhaps they are looking to perpetuate a sinful cycle of violence against women.
But according to the author, when it comes to men- they seek God. Women? Apparently they have to seek after men.
Conclusion
There is something happening when we go after sinful desires. We are seeking to replace God with an idol. Whether that idol is a brothel, a dirty book, accumulating wealth, or something else, we can unanimously affirm that all of these desires point to a replacement of God with something else. There is a God-shaped hole in our hearts, and we as fallen people will seek to fill it with anything. These desires don’t reveal the way things should be, as though our sinful longings were somehow pointers towards the good. Instead, these desires are themselves evil. They are a replacement of God with something which is not God. The fallen world does not show how things should be; it shows them as fallen. To arbitrarily psychoanalyze desires and assign to them our chosen pet issues is to do injustice to the real impact of sin on human nature and in society. Rather than trying to put forth our agendas of what preferred stance we take on gender issues or something else, we should seek to reconcile with God and point people towards God.
*Another commentator on the article when I shared it helped develop this point.
Links
Be sure to check out the page for this site on Facebook and Twitter for discussion of posts, links to other pages of interest, random talk about theology/philosophy/apologetics/movies and more!
SDG.
——
The preceding post is the property of J.W. Wartick (apart from quotations, which are the property of their respective owners, and works of art as credited; images are often freely available to the public and J.W. Wartick makes no claims of owning rights to the images unless he makes that explicit) and should not be reproduced in part or in whole without the expressed consent of the author. All content on this site is the property of J.W. Wartick and is made available for individual and personal usage. If you cite from these documents, whether for personal or professional purposes, please give appropriate citation with both the name of the author (J.W. Wartick) and a link to the original URL. If you’d like to repost a post, you may do so, provided you show less than half of the original post on your own site and link to the original post for the rest. You must also appropriately cite the post as noted above. This blog is protected by Creative Commons licensing. By viewing any part of this site, you are agreeing to this usage policy.
Really Recommended Posts 2/13/15- Sci-fi, Genesis 1, Professor Snape, and more!
Whew, burning the midnight oil to get this one written by Friday! I ask for your prayers for uninterrupted sleep, dear readers. Still sleep training little man and boy is he stubborn! Anyway, I have here an assortment of great reads for you. We have a biblical look at the length of the days of creation, an interview with the great sci-fi author (and woman of faith!) Kathy Tyers, a response to 50 Shades of Grey, a look at companies who profit off porn, and Harry Potter. Oh yeah, that’s all right here for your perusal! As always, let me know what you think–I love to read your thoughts. Be sure to let the authors know your appreciation as well.
Biblical Reasons to Doubt the Creation Days Were 24-hour Periods– One of the most frequently repeated canards of the Young Earth Creationist side is that anyone who isn’t YEC is somehow undermining the Bible. Here’s a post from the conservative site The Gospel Coalition on some reasons to doubt the notion that strict literalism must be held regarding the length of creation days.
Interview with Kathy Tyers– Kathy Tyers is the author of the exceedingly awesome Firebird Trilogy (link to my post on the books) along with its sequels. She is also the New York Times Bestselling author of two Star Wars novels. Here’s an interesting interview about her body of work, her faith, and more!
50 Shades of Broken– Okay, I know there are a ton of posts out there on 50 Shades of Grey and Christian responses, etc. I still think this one is the one to read. I have a mind to respond to a specific post about the book, but this post itself presents the notion that our sexuality is broken, and the popularity of the book points to that.
Companies Who Profit Off Porn– Time to give these companies some feedback about their profiting off porn.
Someone Put Snape’s Scenes in Chronological Order and it will Make You Feel Things– Harry Potter is a series with some major moral and philosophical points to think about throughout the series. Here is a spoiler-laden set of the scenes of Professor Snape from the movies in chronological order, which reveals (SPOILERS HERE:) how his self-sacrifice ultimately preserved Harry’s life and by extension saved the wizarding world. Yes, there are major themes of redemption and sacrifice in Harry Potter. Check out my posts on the movies and books here.
“Eternity Falls” by Kevin Outerbridge – Faith, Extremism, and Cyberpunk
Eternity Falls
Faith and Redemption
One of the primary themes running throughout Eternity Falls is that of redemption. Rick Macey was once a Christian, but like many people in the future (and present), he starts off the book thinking that religion has been proven to be irrational–an ancient belief with little to recommend it in the present. However, he also realizes his own imperfections and regrets. When he is confronted by Virgil, a man with whom he had strong disagreements in the past, he is also brought face-to-face with faith that is still genuine.
However, it is not left at this. Virgil’s beliefs have become a bit unhinged (see below), and in a beautiful twist of storytelling, it is Macey who is brought back to faith and confronts Virgil’s own self-righteousness.
Outerbridge’s tale here demonstrates something that we should all take to heart–God can and will use anyone to wake us up to our own failures and call us home.
Religious Extremism- What Rationale?
Perhaps the most poignant aspect of Eternity Falls are the conversations between Macey and Virgil about religious extremism. They both have backgrounds in combating terrorism, but their past experience led them in opposite directions and Virgil has come to conclude that facing death is the only way for humans to possibly turn to God. Virgil seeks to destroy the “Miracle Treatment” and thus make it so that everyone will once again die natural deaths, confronted with that moment when “eternity falls.” Macey, however, points out that God has used the extended lives of many of these people to bring them to the faith through their own realization of the pointlessness of an endless life of leisure.
Their conversations play out in this way through the book, and Macey ultimately makes a compelling case that God may, in sovereignty, use even things which may be apparently sinful to bring about great good. The melding of the concepts of human free will and God’s omnipotent control over events is powerful, and in what is truly a reflection of Outerbridge’s talent, it meshes very well into the plot of the book.
Moreover, the book portrays the impetus behind religious extremism in many philosophically interesting ways. It is not at all promoting extremism, but the fact that motivations beyond the tired “religious = violent” rhetoric that too often plays out in commentary on terrorism are brought up adds even more solid worldview-level bites to chew on. The key issue is that quote-unquote “religious extremists” certainly themselves believe they are acting rationally, and to have the story play this out in a way in which multiple extremists are spoken to on a logical level rather than simply discounted was fantastic.
Conclusion
Eternity Falls
Links
Be sure to check out the page for this site on Facebook and Twitter for discussion of posts, links to other pages of interest, random talk about theology/philosophy/apologetics/movies and more!
Microview: “Eternity Falls” by Kirk Outerbridge– I reviewed the book, including giving some “good” and “bad” points along with a letter grade. Check out the review!
Popular Books– Check out my looks into other popular books (scroll down for more).
Source
Kirk Outerbridge, Eternity Falls
SDG.
——
The preceding post is the property of J.W. Wartick (apart from quotations, which are the property of their respective owners, and works of art as credited; images are often freely available to the public and J.W. Wartick makes no claims of owning rights to the images unless he makes that explicit) and should not be reproduced in part or in whole without the expressed consent of the author. All content on this site is the property of J.W. Wartick and is made available for individual and personal usage. If you cite from these documents, whether for personal or professional purposes, please give appropriate citation with both the name of the author (J.W. Wartick) and a link to the original URL. If you’d like to repost a post, you may do so, provided you show less than half of the original post on your own site and link to the original post for the rest. You must also appropriately cite the post as noted above. This blog is protected by Creative Commons licensing. By viewing any part of this site, you are agreeing to this usage policy.
Sunday Quote!- The Reality of Adam and the Origins Debate
Every Sunday, I will share a quote from something I’ve been reading. The hope is for you, dear reader, to share your thoughts on the quote and related issues and perhaps pick up some reading material along the way!
The Reality of Adam and the Origins Debate
Adam, the Fall, and Original Sin
The temptation in this debate [about the historicity of Adam] is to think that Adam is simply one piece in a puzzle in which the fall and evolution are separate pieces that we can rearrange and shuffle around the board. But… Adam and the fall do not float free in Scripture like rootless, atomistic, independent ideas. They are central nodes that hold together and are completely enmeshed in a much broader, organic, theological matrix. (ix, cited below)
What makes this quote so interesting is the way it speaks to the notion–a correct one, I think–that these doctrines are of such central concern. Whether or not these are “essential” doctrines to the Christian faith is hotly debated, but it seems clear that one’s view of original sin (and indeed whether it even exists) and Adam will inter-relate with all kinds of other doctrines, including soteriology, justification, sanctification, and beyond.
What do you think? What doctrines inter-relate most closely with these doctrines? Is it correct to think we can’t treat them in “atomized” form? Is it possible to speak of the notion of whether Adam and Eve were historical figures without also speaking of the implications it has for other doctrines?
Links
Be sure to check out the page for this site on Facebook and Twitter for discussion of posts, links to other pages of interest, random talk about theology/philosophy/apologetics/movies and more!
Sunday Quote– If you want to read more Sunday Quotes and join the discussion, check them out! (Scroll down for more)
Source
Michael Reeves and Hans Madueme, “Adam Under Siege” in Adam, the Fall, and Original Sin
SDG.
Adam, Fall, Original Sin ix
Really Recommended Posts 2/6/15- Attack on Titan, Prophets, and More!
Sleep training a baby? Not the easiest thing in the world, believe it or not. I peel apart my eyelids to present to you, dear readers, this latest round of Really Recommended Posts. Topics include egalitarianism/complementarianism, the Messianic Prophecy in Deuteronomy 18, young earth creationism, and Attack on Titan (with cultural apologetics). I’d say that’s a pretty good set of links, if I do say so myself. Let me know your thoughts in the comments here, and be sure to let the authors know what you thought as well.
Confusing Equality with Sameness: A Complementarian Misconception– Often, those who argue that women should be excluded from leadership roles in the church and home argue against those of the egalitarian position by asserting that egalitarians do not allow for gender differences. Is that true?
Attack on Titan (Empires and Mangers)- Anthony Weber presents a worldview-level analysis of the anime, “Attack on Titan” along with some brief comments and definitions related to anime itself. This is a fantastic post for Christians interested in the show or anime in general, or those who would like to familiarize themselves with those categories in order to interact at a cultural apologetic level. I highly recommend you follow his site as well.
A Look at Messianic Prophecy: Who is the Prophet of Deuteronomy 18:15-18? [Part One] – Hint: it’s Jesus. This three-part series offers a solid look at reasons to believe that Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy, not Muhammad (as some Muslims claim) or some other prophet. Here’s another post arguing more specifically against the Muslim claim.
Man’s fallible opinions vs. God’s perfect Word: Who wins?– The notion that the origins debate is set up in this dichotomy is often presented by young earth creationists. Here is an insightful analysis of this argument. I highly recommend you follow “Age of Rocks” as it is an excellent site providing much analysis of the young earth position.
That’s no beaver– Young earth creationists often make claims about species being similar and so showing that they came from the Ark, or that certain fossils in the past somehow throw off the sequence of fossils demonstrating an old earth. Here, an analysis is presented of one young earth claim to this effect.
On the Alleged Atheism of Early Christians
It is interesting to note that modern atheists of the internet-infidel variety share much with Pagan counterparts in the first few centuries after Christ. “How can this be?” one might ask. Well, the charge of atheism against Christians is shared both by the common internet-infidel comment that “We’re all atheists, I [the atheist] just take it one god further” and Pagans in the Roman Empire. Oddly, some atheists have gone so far as to suggest that the Pagan accusation is somehow evidence for their position.
The early Christians, it is true, were accused of being atheists. However, to suggest that this is somehow synonymous with contemporary usage of the term “atheist” is ahistorical and anachronistic. Frances Young notes several facets of the charge of atheism leveled against Christians:
What the charge [of atheism leveled against Christians] really amounted to was an expression of dismay and distaste over the fact that people were abandoning conventional ritual practices… The charge of atheism against Christians focused on their refusal after conversion to continue to participate in traditional religious customs… Religion, embedded in the ethnic cultures, was a matter not of belief but of loyalty. (99, 101, cited below)
The charge against Christians, then, was that they were abandoning the ways of the Romans. They were outsiders, outcasts, and, by extension, atheists. By refusing to worship the gods of Rome, they became targets. The fact that the Christians did this conscientiously–they intentionally abandoned the gods–led to the charge of atheism. It was a charge related not to belief in deity, but rather to rejection of shared societal practice, with a culturally charged impetus for making it.
In fact, others who yet believed in the gods were also charged with atheism. The Epicureans were accused of atheism, despite believing that the gods existed:
It is significant that these ‘atheists’ [Epicureans] did not question the existence of the gods. Rather, they liberated people from religion by suggesting that the blessed immortals were not the slightest bit interested in what goes on among human beings… (ibid, 100)
Thus, when modern atheists continue to perpetuate the claim that “we’re all atheists,” and then move on to argue that Christians should agree with them because, after all, Christians were considered ‘atheists’ by the Romans, it is difficult to take them seriously. The Pagan charge was made for cultural reasons, and is tied up in the notion of rejection of the societal norms of the time. It was also made even against those who acknowledged those gods existence. This last point is very important, because one attempted rebuttal I have seen from the modern atheist is that “You are an atheist to other religions.” Well, according to ancient Pagans, you could even be an atheist to your own religion! Of course, the point is that Christians are not atheists, but theists.
The word “atheism” was used back then as a damning charge of societal blasphemy–rejecting the ethnic practices of your own society in pursuit of another’s. Now, modern atheists attempt to forcibly include others in atheism with this kind of pithy phrase. The historical charge is interesting, but clearly entirely different from the modern one. Either charge, however, is inaccurate. Christians, by definition, are not atheists–theists cannot be atheists. The ancient cultural charge is of interest for its historical implications, but it is hardly evidence for the modern use of the charge of atheism against Christians.
I suspect that this post won’t silence many who will continue to persist in saying Christians are atheists. At that point, I suggest to others the following: the people who persist in this mislabeling should be written off as being just as irrelevant as the ancient Pagans with whom they share at least this part of their worldview.
Links
Be sure to check out the page for this site on Facebook and Twitter for discussion of posts, links to other pages of interest, random talk about theology/philosophy/apologetics/movies and more!
On the statement that “We are all atheists”– I evaluate the claim that atheists make which say that “we are all atheists.” I evaluate it from a philosophical point of view here.
On the Shoulders of Giants: Rediscovering the lost defenses of Christianity– I have written on how we may discover these enormous resources historical apologists have left behind for us. Take and read!
Source
Frances Young, “Greek Apologists of the Second Century” in Mark Edwards, Martin Goodman, and Simon Price, eds., Apologetics in the Roman Empire
SDG.
——
The preceding post is the property of J.W. Wartick (apart from quotations, which are the property of their respective owners, and works of art as credited; images are often freely available to the public and J.W. Wartick makes no claims of owning rights to the images unless he makes that explicit) and should not be reproduced in part or in whole without the expressed consent of the author. All content on this site is the property of J.W. Wartick and is made available for individual and personal usage. If you cite from these documents, whether for personal or professional purposes, please give appropriate citation with both the name of the author (J.W. Wartick) and a link to the original URL. If you’d like to repost a post, you may do so, provided you show less than half of the original post on your own site and link to the original post for the rest. You must also appropriately cite the post as noted above. This blog is protected by Creative Commons licensing. By viewing any part of this site, you are agreeing to this usage policy.
Sunday Quote!- Spiritual Warfare and Mapping the Land?
Every Sunday, I will share a quote from something I’ve been reading. The hope is for you, dear reader, to share your thoughts on the quote and related issues and perhaps pick up some reading material along the way!
Spiritual Warfare and Mapping the Land?
I recently read through Understanding Spiritual Warfare: Four Views
Spiritual mapping is the practice of identifying the spiritual conditions at work in a given community, city, or nation. By gathering objective information (including key historical facts… locations of bloodshed, idolatrous practices, [etc…]) and combining it with spiritual impressions (prophecy, revelation, words of knowledge, dreams, and visions), believers can prayerfully combine all of this information and draw a map that identifies the open doors between the spiritual world and the material world (182-183, cited below).
Now I admit that I come from a background in which spiritual warfare was little (if at all) discussed, but this does seem a little bit more than we can glean from the biblical image of spiritual warfare. Where, for example, are we instructed to try to use dreams and revelation in order to find “open doors” of the spiritual world? Where are we instructed that there might be doors for the spiritual world into our own that are identifiable? I think some aspects of this notion might be helpful for witnessing and the like–after all, knowing the landscape in this fashion would be helpful for identifying areas of conflict in a community and offering Christlike compassion in those areas–but I hesitate to think that the way they can be applied is in this fashion.
What are your thoughts on this? What do you think of spiritual warfare?
Again, I highly recommend this book with its very wide range of diverse views presented on the topic in order to get an introduction.
Links
Be sure to check out the page for this site on Facebook and Twitter for discussion of posts, links to other pages of interest, random talk about theology/philosophy/apologetics/movies and more!
Microview: Understanding Spiritual Warfare: Four Views– I briefly review this highly interesting book on different views of spiritual warfare.
Sunday Quote– If you want to read more Sunday Quotes and join the discussion, check them out! (Scroll down for more)
Source
C. Peter Wagner and Rebecca Greenwood, “The Strategic-Level Deliverance Model” in James Beilby and Paul Rhodes Eddy, eds., Understanding Spiritual Warfare: Four Views
SDG.
Really Recommended Posts 1/30/15- early Christianity, Neanderthals, and the church!
Another week, another set of great reads for you, dear readers. As always, let me know what you think! Be sure to let the authors of the posts know as well.
They Say the Church is “Too Feminine”– People often complain about the alleged “feminization of the church.” Here is an excellent post looking into the notion that the church is “too feminine.” I have also written on the notion of the “feminization of Christianity.”
James White debates Adnan Rashid on trustworthiness of Bible vs. Qur’an– Very often, Muslim apologists charge that we no longer have the Gospel because it has become corrupted and that the Qur’an is more trustworthy. Check out this post summarizing a debate (with a link to the debate) between two apologists on either side of this debate.
Christian Responses to the Spiritual and Physical Status of Neanderthals– How do Christians analyze the evidence for the existence of Neanderthals and their genetic lineage? Here’s an excellent post on some Christian responses to the evidence with some insightful commentary.
Three Questions to Break the Ice– Here are some excellent ways to break the ice in church (and other) groups! Timothy Siburg is a bit of an expert on church relations and topics related to it, so I recommend you follow his blog if you’re interested in that topic.
One of the Clearest (and Earliest) Summaries of Early Christian Beliefs– Early summaries of Christian beliefs reveal a world in which Christianity developed fairly early on, not with the great difficulties some allege. Check out this post about one of the earliest summaries of Christian belief.
My 2014 Reading- A list and some reflections
Hello, new year! Hello, readers! I thought I’d share you with my list of books read in 2014 and offer some comments on a few select works. The list will be at the end because it’s long!
Best “Counterpoints” Type book
These are books that offer different views on a specific topic. Some examples I read this year include 5 Views of Biblical Inerrancy, Four Views on the Historical Adam, and Four Views on the Book of Revelation. I really enjoy this type of book because it allows you to get your feet wet on a number of different topics without reading a whole treatise on each.
The best book in this category I read last year was Understanding Spiritual Warfare: Four Views edited by Beilby and Eddy. I wrote a microview of the book here and can’t recommend it enough if you’re at all interested in the topic.
Best Fiction
I read a truly awesome assortment of fiction this year and so much of it was absolutely amazing. I particularly enjoyed the “Wheel of Time” books and everything by David Weber, my favorite author. Seriously, if you don’t read Weber, you should rectify that ASAP. However, the single best fiction book I read this year is glaringly obvious because I’m half convinced its the best piece of fiction I’ve ever read: Dune by Frank Herbert.
I think I definitely enjoyed other works as much or even more than I enjoyed Dune, but the unmistakable epic quality and the way the latter sticks with you makes it deserving of the praise put on its front cover: “Science Fiction’s Supreme Masterpiece.”
Best Overall Non-Fiction
There are plenty of contenders here, but I’d have to pick John Walton’s Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament. It was simply fascinating and provided tons of insight and background information for the Old Testament and how it relates to the ancient world. It was just amazing.
Fun Categories
Most Worth Staying Up All Night to Finish
I did it: I finished “The Wheel of Time,” all 14 books each about 800+ pages on average. Thus, as I drew near the end, the last book–A Memory of Light–did actually keep me up all night finishing it. When I did finish, I clutched it to my chest and just sat in bliss for a while.
Changed My View
I guess it depends how “changed my view” is taken, but John Owen’s trilogy on the Mortification of Sin really made me think about sin in my life and helped introduce new paradigms of thought into how to fight it. I reviewed and discussed Owen’s work here.
Most Uneven Book
The Poverty of Nations by Wayne Grudem and Barry Asmus was a very uneven book, in my opinion. The economics behind it seems solid to me–if based upon a perfect world–but the theological justification for various aspects of the economic theory was suspect. I reviewed the book here.
Favorite New Author Found
Brandon Sanderson. He finished up the Wheel of Time series and I had to read more of him. I then read the Mistborn Trilogy and was blown away. I’m so excited I discovered this author.
List of Books Read in 2014
- 5 Views of Biblical Inerrancy
- Robert Jordan, Fires of Heaven
- Stephen Meyer, Darwin’s Doubt –finished 1/30/14
- D.A. Carson, Exegetical Fallacies – finished 1/5/14
- Edward Feser The Last Superstition –finished 2/8/14
- David Weber, Mission of Honor – finished 2/9/14
- Winfried Corduan, In the Beginning God – Finished 1/15/14
- Scott Murray, Law, Life, and the Living God– finished 1/5/14
- Luther and Erasmus on Free Will
- Divergent by Veronica Roth- Finished 2/11/14
- Reading Genesis 1-2: An Evangelical Conversation – Finished 2/15/14
- Genesis Unbound by John Sailhamer – Finished 2/16/14
- On Divine Foreknowledge- by Luis de Molina/Alfred Freddoso finished 1/17/14
- What’s Your Worldview by James N. Anderson – finished 2/20/14
- Nature Red in Tooth and Claw by Michael J. Muray – Finished 2/23/14
- A Visual Defense – Velarde- Finished 2/19/14
- Faith Beyond Reason – C. Stephen Evans- Finished 1/1/14
- Imaginative Apologetics edited by Andrew Davison- finished 3/7/14
- Paradigms in Pilgrimage – by Stephen Godfrey and Christopher Smith- finished 3/9/14
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins- finished 3/11/14
- The Politics of Secularism in International Relations by Elizabeth Hurd – finished 3/11/14
- Farside by Ben Bova 3/13/14
- New Earth by Ben Bova 3/14/14
- The Capture by Kathryn Lasky finished 3/20/14
- Junia, A Woman, An Apostle by David Williams- Finished 3/13/14
- The Ethics of Abortion by Christopher Kaczor- Finished 3/22/14
- The Myth of Religious Violence by William Cavanaugh- Finished 3/23/14
- Hollywood Worldviews by Brian Goadawa – Finished 3/25/14
- The Open Secret: A New Vision for Natural Theology by Alister McGrath – Finished 3/28/14
- Three Views on Eastern Orthodoxy and Evangelicalism ed. James Stamoolis- Finished 4/3/14
- The Bible, Rocks, and Time by Davis A. Young and Ralph F. Stearley- Finished 4/6/14
- Theology and Contemporary Critical Theory by Graham Ward – finished 4/9/14
- Samson the Nazirite – comic by Luis Serrano et al. – Finished 4/9/14
- How God Became Jesus –edited by Michael Bird – Finished 4/11/14
- Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan – Finished 4/13/14
- The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin – Finished 4/14/14
- 1984 by George Orwell – Finished 4/16/14
- Genealogy and History in the Biblical World by Robert Wilson – Finished 4/20/14
- The Lord’s Supper by John Stephenson – Finished 4/23/14
- A Rising Thunder by David Weber – Finished 4/24/14
- Leviathans of Jupiter by Ben Bova – Finished 4/28/14
- Four Views on The Historical Adam– edited Barrett and Caneday – Finished 4/29/14
- Genesis 1 Through the Ages – by Stanley Jaki – Finished 5/9/14
- 3 Views on Creation and Evolution – edited Moreland and Reynolds – Finished 5/12/14
- A Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan – Finished 5/13/14
- The New Atheist Novel by Arthur Bradley and Andrew Tate – Finished 5/15/2014
- Man and Woman, One in Christ by Philip B. Payne – Finished 5/20/14
- Crown of Slaves by Eric Flint and David Weber – Finished 5/23/14
- Heresy: A History of Defending the Truth by Alister McGrath – Finished 5/26/2014
- Evermore: Edgar Allan Poe + Mystery of the Universe by Harry Lee Poe- Finished 5/28/14
- Chance and the Sovereignty of God by Vern Poythress – Finished 5/30/14
- Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan – Finished 6/3/14
- Junia: A Woman, an Apostle by David Williams – Finished 6/4/14
- Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins- Finished 6/6/14
- To the Ends of the Earth by Haykin and Robinson– Finished 6/10/14
- Winter’s Heart by Robert Jordan – Finished 6/12/14
- Mass Effect: Revelation by Drew Karpyshyn – Finished 6/13/14
- Scientific Mythologies by James Herrick – Finished 6/14/14
- Pascal’s Wager by Jeff Jordan – Finished 6/16/14
- The Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan – Finished 6/26/14
- All You Need Is Kill by Hiroshi Sakurazaka – Finished 6/29/14
- A Reformed Approach to Science and Scripture by Keith Mathison – Finished 6/30/14
- The Poverty of Nations by Wayne Grudem and Barry Asmus – Finished 7/1/14
- Holy War in the Bible edited Thomas, Evans, and Copan – Finished 7/3/14
- Death Before the Fall by Ronald Osborn – Finished 7/6/14
- Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan – Finished 7/12/14
- The Evidential Force of Religious Experience by Caroline Franks Davis – Finished 7/14/14
- The Gathering Storm by Brandon Sanderson and Robert Jordan – Finished 7/19/14
- Migrations of the Holy by William Cavanaugh – Finished 7/21/14
- What Every Christian Needs to Know about the Qur’an by James White – Finished 7/22/14
- Do Historical Matters Matter to Faith ed. Hoffmeier and Magary – Finished 7/24/14
- The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer – Finished 7/27/14
- The Towers of Midnight by Brandon Sanderson and Robert Jordan – Finished 7/29/14
- Apologetics in the Roman Empire edited Edwards, Goodman, and Price – Finished 8/6/14
- A Memory of Light by Brandon Sanderson and Robert Jordan – Finished 8/6/14
- William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope by Ian Doescher – Finished 8/7/14
- The Story of Christianity Volume 1 by Justo Gonzalez – Finished 8/9/14
- Yukikaze by Chohei Kambayashi – Finished 8/11/14
- Liberating Black Theology by Anthony Bradley – Finished 8/12/14
- Ordained Women in the Early Church by Kevin Madigan + Carolyn Osiek–Finished 8/14/14
- Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey – Finished 8/15/14
- Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey – Finished 8/16/14
- The Genesis of Science by James Hannam – Finished 8/19/14
- Dragonquest by Anne McCaffrey – Finished 8/21/14
- The White Dragon by Anne McCaffrey – Finished 8/25/14
- In Search of Moral Knowledge by R. Scott Smith – Finished 8/25/14
- Questioning the Bible by Jonathan Morrow – Finished 8/26/14
- Star Wars: Crucible by Troy Denning – Finished 8/26/14
- The Philosophical Challenge of Religious Diversity edited Quinn/Meeker – Finished 8/30/14
- The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien – Finished 8/31/14
- Dune by Frank Herbert – Finished 9/1/14
- Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert – Finished 9/3/14
- A Case for Amillennialism by Kim Riddlebarger – Finished 9/6/14
- Star Wars: A New Dawn by John Jackson Miller – Finished 9/7/14
- The Resurrection of God Incarnate by Richard Swinburne – Finished 9/7/14
- Matilda by Roald Dahl – Finished 9/8/14
- Star Trek: New Frontier- House of Cards by Peter David– Finished 9/9/14
- Star Trek: New Frontier- Into the Void by Peter David – Finished 9/10/14
- Star Trek: New Frontier- The Two-Front War by Peter David – Finished 9/11/14
- Star Trek: New Frontier- End Game by Peter David – Finished 9/12/14
- Torch of Freedom by David Weber and Eric Flint – Finished 9/19/14
- The Stories We Tell by Mike Cosper – Finished 9/20/14
- Dinotopia by James Gurney – Finished 9/20/14
- Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs – Finished 9/22/14
- The Creationists by Ronald Numbers – Finished 9/27/14
- Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament by John Walton – Finished 9/27/14
- Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson – Finished 9/28/14
- Discovering Biblical Equality edited Pierce and Groothuis – Finished 9/28/14
- Christ Among the Dragons by James Emery White – Finished 9/28/14
- Ancient Conquest Accounts by K. Lawson Younger, Jr. – Finished 10/5/14
- Shadow of Saganami by David Weber – Finished 10/7/14
- Encountering Religious Pluralism by Harold Netland – Finished 10/11/14
- Children of Dune by Frank Herbert – Finished 10/12/14
- Mere Creation edited by William Dembski – Finished 10/14/14
- Foundations of Dialogue in Science and Religion by Alister McGrath–Finished 10/14/14
- Reformation Thought: An Introduction by Alister McGrath – Finished 10/18/14
- Experience of God and the Rationality of Theistic Belief by Jerome Gellman –10/19/14
- Dinotopia: The World Beneath by James Gurney – Finished 10/19/14
- The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson – Finished 10/20/14
- The Intellectual Origins of the European Reformation by AlisterMcGrath Finished 10/21/14
- Star Wars: Darth Plagueis by James Luceno – Finished 10/24/14
- Dragonsong by Anne McAffrey – Finished 10/25/14
- Companion to Reformation Theology edited David Whitford – Finished 10/28/14
- Martin Luther’s Understanding of God’s Two Kingdoms William Wright Finished 10/31/14
- Perspectives on an Evolving Creation edited Keith Miller – Finished 11/1/14
- Storm from the Shadows by David Weber – Finished 11/2/14
- Dragonsinger by Anne McAffrey – Finished 11/3/14
- Star Trek: New Frontier- Martyr by Peter David – Finished 11/6/14
- The Bible and Homosexual Behavior by Robert Gagnon – Finished 11/7/14
- The New Mormon Challenge eds. Beckwith, Owen, and Mosser – Finished 11/8/14
- 4 Views on the Book of Revelation eds. Pate and Gundry – Finished 11/11/14
- The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson – Finished 11/11/14
- Star Wars: The Courtship of Princess Leia by Dave Wolverton – Finished 11/14/14
- Dragondrums by Anne McAffrey – Finished 11/15/14
- The Defense of the Faith by Cornelius Van Til – Finished 11/16/14
- Christian Apologetics by Cornelius Van Til- Finished 11/18/14
- Shadow of Freedom by David Weber – Finished 11/18/14
- Dinotopia: Journey to Chandara by James Gurney – Finished 11/18/14
- Naturalism Defeated? Edited by James Beilby – Finished 11/19/14
- Understanding Spiritual Warfare: Four Views edited Beilby and Eddy – Finished 11/22/14
- Eisenhorn: Xenos by Dan Abnett – Finished 11/23/14
- Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers by John Owen – Finished 11/24/14
- Of Temptation by John Owen – Finished 11/24/14
- Indwelling Sin by John Owen – Finished 11/24/14
- Eisenhorn: Malleus by Dan Abnett – Finished 11/28/14
- Theology’s Epistemological Dilemma by Kevin Diller – Finished 11/29/14
- Eisenhorn: Hereticus by Dan Abnett – Finished 11/30/14
- Adam, the Fall, and Original Sin eds. Madueme and Reeves – Finished 12/2/14
- God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert – Finished 12/4/14
- Divine Foreknowledge: Four Views edited Beilby and Eddy – Finished 12/5/14
- Star Trek: New Frontier – Fire on High by Peter David – Finished 12/6/14
- Roman Catholic Theology and Practice by Gregg R. Allison – Finished 12/9/14
- Divine Providence: The Molinist Account by Thomas Flint – Finished 12/9/14
- 4 Views on Hell edited by Gundry and Crockett – Finished 12/9/14
- The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien – Finished 12/11/14
- The Only Wise God by William Lane Craig – Finished 12/11/14
- From the Corner of His Eye by Dean Koontz – Finished 12/12/14
- On the Cessation of the Charismata by Jon Mark Ruthven – Finished 12/12/14
- Peril in Paradise by Mark Whorton – Finished 12/13/14
- Scholastic Metaphysics: A Contemporary Introduction by Edward Feser- Finished 12/15/14
- Firebird by Kathy Tyers – Finished 12/15/14
- Handel’s Messiah: Comfort for God’s People by Calvin Stapert – Finished 12/16/14
- Fusion Fire by Kathy Tyers – Finished 12/18/14
- Crown of Fire by Kathy Tyers – Finished 12/21/14
- The Fathers of the Church by Hubertus Drobner – Finished 12/22/14
- Mere Existentialism: A Primer by Max Mailikow – Finished 12/23/14
- Molinism: The Contemporary Debate edited Ken Perszyk – Finished 12/23/14
- Insurgent by Veronica Roth – Finished 12/25/14
- As You Wish by Cary Ewers and Joe Layden – Finished 12/27/14
- Matilda by Roald Dahl – Finished 12/28/14
- Searching for an Adequate God edited Pinnock and Cobb – Finished 12/31/14
J.W. Wartick - Reconstructing Faith 