awesome Christian books

[ayani]

anyone know of some good Christian books out there? are you reading any?

i read Lee Strobel's "The Case for Christ" a few months ago, and loved it. excellent, thoughtful, unique book.

read most of "Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life" by Donald Whitney and really liked it. was impressed by how straight forward, simple, and applicable it was. like "ok, don't just read about this stuff, smile, and agree with it- start doing it".

 

[sandandfoam]

Philip Newell - 'Listening for the Heartbeat of God'
One of the best books I ever read.

 

[rojse]

For SF-flavoured christian books, I cannot recommend "A Canticle for Leibowitz" enough. It's the story of a Christian monastery in a post-apocalyptic world - extremely intelligent, well-written, and thought-provoking. It's a must-read, regardless of your religious beliefs.

I would suggest that you take a look at Gene Wolfe's "Book of the New Sun" - a Christian author who includes a lot of parallels between the main character in the series, Severian, and Christ.

 

[Katzpur]

"Believing Christ" by Stephen E. Robinson. My absolute favorite.

 

[no_spoon]

I'm a newb here but I have many favorite Christian books. Of course personal tastes differ, but my list would include:
Mere Christianity and The Screwtape Letters (books by C. S. Lewis)
My Utmost for His Highest (by Oswald Chambers)
Joshua (by Joseph Girzone)
The Divine Conspiracy (by Dallas Willard --- not a quick read, but valuable)

Also, God's Outrageous Claims (by Lee Strobel, an author you said you are familiar with...this book teaches by practical examples)

I also second the recommendation up thread of "A Canticle for Leibowitz", and am looking forward to seeing what others recommend. I am especially interested in books that will help me apply Christian principles in my everyday life (which I am lousy at), so thanks for the pointer to Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life.

 

[misanthropic_clown]

Mere Christianity by CS Lewis is certainly one of the most inspiring books I have read. I would recommend any of his books.

 

[Jordan St. Francis]

Some of my favorites:

Chesterton's classic Orthodoxy

A simple, yet potent book by Irma Zaleski, Finding Christ Within

The Confessions of St. Augustine

Thomas Merton's The Seven Story Mountain

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (BXVI) Jesus of Nazareth, Introduction to Christianity

 

[lunamoth]

I'll third Mere Christianity and other CS Lewis.

I am currently reading Quantum Physics and Theology: An Unexpected Kinship by John Polkinghorne. Good stuff.

 

[ayani]

"I Saw God's Hand" by Elwyn Martin is also very good, about the author's travels in Melanesia as a missionary in the 1930's.

made me want to get more vocal about my faith.

 

[J Bryson]

I hope that you don't mind a non-Christian pitching in, but Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller is not just one of the best Christian books I've ever read, but one of the most inspiring spiritual works in general.

 

[Izdaari]

I hope that you don't mind a non-Christian pitching in, but Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller is not just one of the best Christian books I've ever read, but one of the most inspiring spiritual works in general.

I totally agree! Donald Miller rocks! :yes:

And I'd also like to agree with everyone who recommended G.K. Chesterton and C.S. Lewis. (But a word of warning about Chesterton - he wrote in the very early 20th century, and he used some words we consider racial slurs today. He meant nothing bad by them, it was just common usage in his time and culture.)

 

[uu_sage]

If God is Love: Rediscovering Grace in a Ungracious World by Phillip Gulley and James Muholland

If Grace is True: Why God will Save Every Person by Philip Gulley and James Muholland

Creedo by William Sloane Coffin

The Gospel of Inclusion by Bishop Carlton Pearson

Never Far From Home: Stories from the Radio Pulpit by Carl Scovel

In the Eye of the Storm: Swept to the Center by God by Bishop Gene Robinson

Destined for Salvation: God's Plan to Save Everyone by Kalen Fristad

Christian Universalism: God's Good News for All People by Eric Stetson

The Jefferson Bible by Thomas Jefferson

 

[Doodlebug02]

101 Reasons to be Episcopalian by Louie Crew