BOOKS

If you have a book that has impacted your life, we would love for you to share it with the rest of us. Send a short review of how that book has inspired you to and we will post it here.


wild at heartSeldom has a book reoriented my thinking and my behavior as John Eldredge’s Wild at Heart. Given to me by my daughter three years ago, it started me on a new journey in my walk with God. Although this book and all of his other writing have been a powerful “read” for me, the retreats in Colorado were the catalyst for creating the commitment to become involved in the spiritual battles that accompany claiming territot. His other books, Sacred Romance, Waking the Dead, The Journey of Desire, Captivating and Epic all provide a foundation for an exciting and dangerous spiritual life. The audio CD’s are particularly useful to some one like me with an ADHA approach to life. Check out their website at www.ransomedheart.com.

Jonathan Knaupp, President
Aslan Society


Modern Physics And Ancient Faith
by Stephen M. Barr

 
The  start of the 21st century has seen the greatest rapprochement  between science and religion since the 17th century. Much of this  renewed conversation  has found impetus from discoveries in physics and astronomy increasing our  understanding of the smallest and largest structures in our universe. Barr does a fantastic job of showing what  some of these discoveries  have been, and why thoughtful scientists have entered into  conversations exploring the ramifications of those  discoveries for people of faith. Though not necessarily an easy going text  for some, it will provide a thought-provoking  experience for the careful reader.


Barry G. Ritchie, Chair
Department of Physics and Astronomy


The Faith of A  Physicist
by John Polkinghorne
 
Perhaps  the most important book (of many) by an accomplished theoretical  physicist who became an Anglican priest. A very remarkable approach to understanding and grounding the beliefs of  the Christian faith (articulated through the Apostles’ Creed)  with a realistic view of science. While some (including me)  might disagree with several of his  conclusions, his approach nonetheless  is beautifully expressed, coherent and  well-argued. You might have to be a  scientist (or perhaps even a physicist!) to like this book, but you might try  it just to see.
 
Barry G. Ritchie, Chair
Department of Physics and Astronomy


The Resurrection  of the Son of God
by N. T. Wright
 
This is the  third in a series of scholarly books entitled “Christian Origins and the Question of  God” by N.T.  Wright, the Bishop of Durham in the Church of  England.  This well-written  series provides an exceptionally thorough review of scholarship  associated with the origins of Christianity  in an attempt to firmly ground what we can  learn of the life and work of Jesus in a historical  context. This particular volume intricately  explores all the prevailing 1st century Mediterranean  area views about death, the afterlife, and resurrection, and ends  with the conclusion (spoiler alert!) that belief in a resurrected Messiah shattered  those pictures. At 740 pages, with full references, you’ll spend some time with this one, but  you’ll come away with a greater understanding of the historical and  theological background of the Easter event.

Barry G. Ritchie, Chair
Department of Physics and Astronomy