The Struggle Of Faith In A World Of Beliefs

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The Struggle of Faith in a World of Beliefs

Author : Henry F. Lazenby,Henry Lazenby
Publisher : iUniverse
Page : 294 pages
File Size : 47,8 Mb
Release : 2000-05
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780595096190

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The Struggle of Faith in a World of Beliefs by Henry F. Lazenby,Henry Lazenby Pdf

Christians have always struggled with what should characterize their lives and actions in the world. Often, they have inferred that their identity as Christians should revolve around either a list of doctrines proposed as orthodox or a set of ethics designed to promote a common morality. Usually, this emphasis on doctrines and ethics obscures the essential character of Christian faith. As a result, the real struggle has been to keep one’s Christian faith intact while different, and sometimes opposing, beliefs or traditions compete for one’s loyalty. This book presents a way to resolve this struggle by noting the definitive characteristics of a Christian and the roles a church plays in helping Christians develop their full potential as human beings.

How God Becomes Real

Author : T.M. Luhrmann
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 256 pages
File Size : 43,9 Mb
Release : 2022-04-26
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9780691234441

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How God Becomes Real by T.M. Luhrmann Pdf

The hard work required to make God real, how it changes the people who do it, and why it helps explain the enduring power of faith How do gods and spirits come to feel vividly real to people—as if they were standing right next to them? Humans tend to see supernatural agents everywhere, as the cognitive science of religion has shown. But it isn’t easy to maintain a sense that there are invisible spirits who care about you. In How God Becomes Real, acclaimed anthropologist and scholar of religion T. M. Luhrmann argues that people must work incredibly hard to make gods real and that this effort—by changing the people who do it and giving them the benefits they seek from invisible others—helps to explain the enduring power of faith. Drawing on ethnographic studies of evangelical Christians, pagans, magicians, Zoroastrians, Black Catholics, Santeria initiates, and newly orthodox Jews, Luhrmann notes that none of these people behave as if gods and spirits are simply there. Rather, these worshippers make strenuous efforts to create a world in which invisible others matter and can become intensely present and real. The faithful accomplish this through detailed stories, absorption, the cultivation of inner senses, belief in a porous mind, strong sensory experiences, prayer, and other practices. Along the way, Luhrmann shows why faith is harder than belief, why prayer is a metacognitive activity like therapy, why becoming religious is like getting engrossed in a book, and much more. A fascinating account of why religious practices are more powerful than religious beliefs, How God Becomes Real suggests that faith is resilient not because it provides intuitions about gods and spirits—but because it changes the faithful in profound ways.

Reason, Faith, and the Struggle for Western Civilization

Author : Samuel Gregg
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
Page : 256 pages
File Size : 51,5 Mb
Release : 2019-06-25
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9781621579069

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Reason, Faith, and the Struggle for Western Civilization by Samuel Gregg Pdf

"Gregg's book is the closet thing I've encountered in a long time to a one-volume user's manual for operating Western Civilization." —The Stream "Reason, Faith, and the Struggle for Western Civilization offers a concise intellectual history of the West through the prism of the relationship between faith and reason." —Free Beacon The genius of Western civilization is its unique synthesis of reason and faith. But today that synthesis is under attack—from the East by radical Islam (faith without reason) and from within the West itself by aggressive secularism (reason without faith). The stakes are incalculably high. The naïve and increasingly common assumption that reason and faith are incompatible is simply at odds with the facts of history. The revelation in the Hebrew Scriptures of a reasonable Creator imbued Judaism and Christianity with a conviction that the world is intelligible, leading to the flowering of reason and the invention of science in the West. It was no accident that the Enlightenment took place in the culture formed by the Jewish and Christian faiths. We can all see that faith without reason is benighted at best, fanatical and violent at worst. But too many forget that reason, stripped of faith, is subject to its own pathologies. A supposedly autonomous reason easily sinks into fanaticism, stifling dissent as bigoted and irrational and devouring the humane civilization fostered by the integration of reason and faith. The blood-soaked history of the twentieth century attests to the totalitarian forces unleashed by corrupted reason. But Samuel Gregg does more than lament the intellectual and spiritual ruin caused by the divorce of reason and faith. He shows that each of these foundational principles corrects the other’s excesses and enhances our comprehension of the truth in a continuous renewal of civilization. By recovering this balance, we can avoid a suicidal winner-take-all conflict between reason and faith and a future that will respect neither.

For God's Sake

Author : Antony Loewenstein,Jane Caro,Rachel Woodlock,Simon Smart
Publisher : Macmillan Publishers Aus.
Page : 320 pages
File Size : 54,9 Mb
Release : 2013-07-01
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781743289136

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For God's Sake by Antony Loewenstein,Jane Caro,Rachel Woodlock,Simon Smart Pdf

Four Australian thinkers come together to ask and answer the big questions, such as: What is the nature of the universe? Doesn't religion cause most of the conflict in the world? and Where do we find hope? We are introduced to the detail of different belief systems - Judaism, Christianity, Islam - and to the argument that atheism, like organised religion, has its own compelling logic. And we gain insight into the life events that led each author to their current position. Jane Caro flirted briefly with spiritual belief, inspired by 19th century literary heroines such as Elizabeth Gaskell and the Brontë sisters. Antony Lowenstein is proudly culturally, yet unconventionally, Jewish. Simon Smart is firmly and resolutely a Christian, but one who has had some of his most profound spiritual moments while surfing. Rachel Woodlock grew up in the alternative embrace of Baha'i belief but became entranced by its older parent religion, Islam. Provocative, informative and passionately argued, For God's Sake encourages us to accept religious differences but to also challenge more vigorously the beliefs that create discord.

God Is Not Great

Author : Christopher Hitchens
Publisher : McClelland & Stewart
Page : 322 pages
File Size : 45,7 Mb
Release : 2008-11-19
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781551991764

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God Is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens Pdf

Christopher Hitchens, described in the London Observer as “one of the most prolific, as well as brilliant, journalists of our time” takes on his biggest subject yet–the increasingly dangerous role of religion in the world. In the tradition of Bertrand Russell’s Why I Am Not a Christian and Sam Harris’s recent bestseller, The End Of Faith, Christopher Hitchens makes the ultimate case against religion. With a close and erudite reading of the major religious texts, he documents the ways in which religion is a man-made wish, a cause of dangerous sexual repression, and a distortion of our origins in the cosmos. With eloquent clarity, Hitchens frames the argument for a more secular life based on science and reason, in which hell is replaced by the Hubble Telescope’s awesome view of the universe, and Moses and the burning bush give way to the beauty and symmetry of the double helix.

In Defense of Faith

Author : David Brog
Publisher : ReadHowYouWant.com
Page : 598 pages
File Size : 40,8 Mb
Release : 2011-02
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781459610316

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In Defense of Faith by David Brog Pdf

Religious faith is under assault. In books, movies, and on television, secular critics are attacking religion and the religious with ever-increasing intensity. These ''new atheists'' typically repeat a two-part mantra: They claim that only an idiot could believe in God, and that idiots who do so have been responsible for most of the hate and violence that have plagued humanity. Abandon religion, they urge, and the world will finally know peace. Surprisingly few books have emerged to defend faith from this onslaught. Yet when it comes to this second argument - the behavior of religious people in the world - abstract claims can be tested by reference to objective facts. In Defense of Faith examines the historical record and demonstrates that far from encouraging hate and aggression, the Judeo-Christian tradition has been the West, s most effective curb on these dangerous defects of human nature. In Defense of Faith asserts that the belief in the sanctity and equality of all humans at the core of both Judaism and Christianity - what Brog calls the ''Judeo-Christian idea'' - has been our most effective tool in the struggle for humanity. The Judeo-Christian idea, Brog argues, has provided the intellectual foundation for human rights. Even more importantly, he maintains, the Judeo-Christian idea has repeatedly inspired the faithful to devote their lives to, and often risk their lives in, the fulfillment of these high ideals. In Defense of Faith also convincingly demonstrates that when we abandon religion as the critics urge, peace does not break out. Instead, we quickly revert to the most base instincts of our selfish genes. Written by a Jewish author who works closely with the Christian faith community, In Defense of Faith will appeal to secular and religious readers alike. This book will challenge the secular to reconsider the role of religion in Western civilization. It will inspire the religious to embrace a proud legacy of faith in action for the sake of humanity.

A Public Faith

Author : Miroslav Volf
Publisher : Brazos Press
Page : 192 pages
File Size : 50,6 Mb
Release : 2011-08
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781587432989

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A Public Faith by Miroslav Volf Pdf

An intellectual and applied Christian engagement with what it really means to flourish as human beings in relationship to God and one another.

World Religions and Contemporary Issues

Author : Brennan Hill
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 386 pages
File Size : 55,8 Mb
Release : 2013
Category : Ecology
ISBN : 1585959138

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World Religions and Contemporary Issues by Brennan Hill Pdf

To live in a global society and make sense of world events requires more than a cursory understanding of world religions and the roles they play. This fascinating, in-depth, academic study of the five major religions focuses on each group's response to some of the most critical social issues of our time: ecology, peace, and women's rights. The author also highlights individual religious "heroes" and provides links to numerous digital sources for further research, making this a particularly timely and personalized approach to the study of world religions and their far-reaching impact at every level of society. Book jacket.

My Struggle with Faith

Author : Joseph F. Girzone
Publisher : Image
Page : 256 pages
File Size : 52,7 Mb
Release : 2006-05-30
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9780385518413

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My Struggle with Faith by Joseph F. Girzone Pdf

The author of the bestselling Joshua series and other popular inspirational books chronicles his own spiritual journey and describes with stunning honesty the difficult decisions he made along the way. Joseph Girzone has attracted a tremendous following with his series of novels that imagine Jesus living in the contemporary world. His nonfiction writings and talks on spirituality have affected audiences around the world. Girzone’s ability to capture the meaning of faith in simple, direct language is more apparent than ever in this moving book about his personal journey through a dark night of the soul. In My Struggle with Faith, Girzone recounts the long, complicated, and often painful process he went though as he sought to find peace with his beliefs. He writes about hard decisions that set him on unexpected paths and about the immense feelings of loneliness he experienced in making those choices. In thoughtful and thought-provoking reflections he brings to life the years of searching and the deep, critical thinking that gave him the courage to embrace his beliefs, opening a world of excitement and adventure for him. In writing about what his beliefs have meant to him and about the intimate relationship with God that has sustained and guided him, Girzone illuminates the universal human struggle to find meaning in life. My Struggle with Faith offers readers insights, inspiration, and encouragement to follow their beliefs and create a more meaningful spiritual life.

World Religions

Author : Franjo Terhart
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 328 pages
File Size : 55,5 Mb
Release : 2007
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN : 1405490462

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World Religions by Franjo Terhart Pdf

Explores the origins, history, traditions, beliefs, and practices of five major world religions, as well as six smaller religions and movements, and explains how each has influenced world events and its followers' lives and actions.

Truth and Tolerance

Author : Pope Benedict XVI
Publisher : Ignatius Press
Page : 292 pages
File Size : 54,9 Mb
Release : 2004
Category : Religion
ISBN : 158617035X

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Truth and Tolerance by Pope Benedict XVI Pdf

Is truth knowable? If we know the truth, must we hide it in the name of tolerance? Cardinal Ratzinger engages the problem of truth, tolerance, religion and culture in the modern world. Describing the vast array of world religions, Ratzinger embraces the difficult challenge of meeting diverse understandings of spiritual truth while defending the Catholic teaching of salvation through Jesus Christ. "But what if it is true?" is the question that he poses to cultures that decry the Christian position on man's redemption. Upholding the notion of religious truth while asserting the right of religious freedom, Cardinal Ratzinger outlines the timeless teaching of the Magisterium in language that resonates with our embattled culture. A work of extreme sensitivity, understanding, and spiritual maturity, this book is an invaluable asset to those who struggle to hear the voice of truth in the modern religious world. "Beyond all particular questions, the real problem lies in the question about truth. Can truth be recognized? Or, is the question about truth simply inappropriate in the realm of religion and belief? But what meaning does belief then have, what positive meaning does religion have, if it cannot be connected with truth?" —Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger From the Preface

Cold-Case Christianity

Author : J. Warner Wallace
Publisher : David C Cook
Page : 224 pages
File Size : 45,5 Mb
Release : 2013-01-01
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781434705464

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Cold-Case Christianity by J. Warner Wallace Pdf

Written by an L. A. County homicide detective and former atheist, Cold-Case Christianity examines the claims of the New Testament using the skills and strategies of a hard-to-convince criminal investigator. Christianity could be defined as a “cold case”: it makes a claim about an event from the distant past for which there is little forensic evidence. In Cold-Case Christianity, J. Warner Wallace uses his nationally recognized skills as a homicide detective to look at the evidence and eyewitnesses behind Christian beliefs. Including gripping stories from his career and the visual techniques he developed in the courtroom, Wallace uses illustration to examine the powerful evidence that validates the claims of Christianity. A unique apologetic that speaks to readers’ intense interest in detective stories, Cold-Case Christianity inspires readers to have confidence in Christ as it prepares them to articulate the case for Christianity.

Not by Sight

Author : Jon Bloom
Publisher : Crossway
Page : 210 pages
File Size : 54,5 Mb
Release : 2013-04-30
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781433535963

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Not by Sight by Jon Bloom Pdf

Trusting Jesus is hard. It requires following the unseen into an unknown, and believing Jesus's words over and against the threats we see or the fears we feel. Through the imaginative retelling of 35 Bible stories, Not by Sight gives us glimpses of what it means to walk by faith and counsel for how to trust God's promises more than our perceptions and to find rest in the faithfulness of God.

Faith After Doubt

Author : Brian D. McLaren
Publisher : St. Martin's Essentials
Page : 271 pages
File Size : 47,7 Mb
Release : 2021-01-05
Category : Self-Help
ISBN : 9781250262783

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Faith After Doubt by Brian D. McLaren Pdf

From the author of A New Kind of Christianity comes a bold proposal: only doubt can save the world and your faith. ONE of the Best Spiritual Books of 2021—Spirituality & Practice "Will help you live fuller and breathe easier..” —Glennon Doyle Sixty-five million adults in the U.S. have dropped out of active church attendance and about 2.7 million more are leaving every year. Faith After Doubt is for the millions of people around the world who feel that their faith is falling apart. Using his own story and the stories of a diverse group of struggling believers, Brian D. McLaren, a former pastor and now an author, speaker, and activist shows how old assumptions are being challenged in nearly every area of human life, not just theology and spirituality. He proposes a four-stage model of faith development in which questions and doubt are not the enemy of faith, but rather a portal to a more mature and fruitful kind of faith. The four stages—Simplicity, Complexity, Perplexity, and Harmony—offer a path forward that can help sincere and thoughtful people leave behind unnecessary baggage and intensify their commitment to what matters most.

Religion and the Struggle for European Union

Author : Brent F. Nelsen,James L. Guth
Publisher : Georgetown University Press
Page : 384 pages
File Size : 41,8 Mb
Release : 2015-05-01
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781626160712

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Religion and the Struggle for European Union by Brent F. Nelsen,James L. Guth Pdf

In Religion and the Struggle for European Union, Brent F. Nelsen and James L. Guth delve into the powerful role of religion in shaping European attitudes on politics, political integration, and the national and continental identities of its leaders and citizens. Nelsen and Guth contend that for centuries Catholicism promoted the universality of the Church and the essential unity of Christendom. Protestantism, by contrast, esteemed particularity and feared Catholic dominance. These differing visions of Europe have influenced the process of postwar integration in profound ways. Nelsen and Guth compare the Catholic view of Europe as a single cultural entity best governed as a unified polity against traditional Protestant estrangement from continental culture and its preference for pragmatic cooperation over the sacrifice of sovereignty. As the authors show, this deep cultural divide, rooted in the struggles of the Reformation, resists the ongoing secularization of the continent. Unless addressed, it threatens decades of hard-won gains in security and prosperity. Farsighted and rich with data, Religion and the Struggle for European Union offers a pragmatic way forward in the EU's attempts to solve its social, economic, and political crises.