You may have to Search all our reviewed books and magazines, click the sign up button below to create a free account.
It's the end of Christianity as we know it. But it's not a catastrophe-it's an opportunity. Thousands are walking away from the church. Christians are grappling with their faith. And both believers and nonbelievers wondering-what's coming next? Fearless and provocative, spiritual trailblazer Christian Piatt offers a roadmap to the future of faith with an unflinching examination of the church today. What's left? Pairing the best "virtues" and worst "scandals" of Christianity, Piatt invites us to abandon institutional religion for deeper, truer faith. Can we fix it? Guided by the biggest historical, religious, and pop-cultural pioneers of the post Christian era, he demonstrates how to save the best of what Christianity has to offer-and how to rediscover and reinvent the rest. Do we care? There's plenty of good left in Christianity-if we dare to be as scandalously graceful and loving as Jesus Himself. Bold and insightful, Postchristian dares Christians to break out of the box and invites outsiders into the fold as we revolutionize faith for a postmodern world.
Have you ever had a burning question that seemed off limits or inappropriate to ask about Christianity, the Bible, or Jesus? You Can’t Ask That! gathers 50 of the most provocative, challenging, or otherwise taboo questions that many of us have wondered about but few have actually asked. Edited by Christian Piatt, who once had a bible thrown at his head for asking too many questions during a Sunday school class, this collection considers nothing off limits and takes the hard questions seriously. Responses from theology professors, pastors, lay leaders, and other progressive Christians range from the personal to the profound and from sarcastic to deeply touching. By offering multiple perspectives to those banned questions, readers can craft their own answers. Better yet, they’ll understand that questioning faith is not taboo; it’s the foundation of a strong and growing faith.
Whether you watch Lost every week or have just been intrigued by friends' discussion of the mysterious series, Christian Piatt's comments about the show and its connections to church history and spiritual themes will spark your own reflections on the meaning of life, community, free will, destiny, and more. Discussion questions make this book perfect for small groups, and each chapter is linked to specific episodes of the Emmy-winning series.
Split Ticket takes on one of the most critical issues in the public eye right now: the complicated relationship between religious belief and political engagement. This collection of essays reflects the many different perspectives on this subject, not only on the reductive "liberal-conservative" axis, but also by taking the diversity of American Christianity (and America) into consideration. Each essay concludes with thought-provoking questions.
From Christian Piatt: "When I was a teenager, my youth minister threw a bible at my head for asking questions." Too often, for various reasons, people don't have the opportunity to ask the hard questions they have about faith, religion, salvation and the bible. And when questions are left unanswered in communities of faith, people either seek answers elsewhere or lose interest all together. The purpose of the series is to collect the most compelling and challenging questions from various theological areas and pose them to a panel of "experts" who are challenged with responding in two hundred words or less in plain English. This volume addresses challenging or controversial questions about sc...
Recently, MySpace.com has become one of the most-visited Web sites in the world. With millions of young users, this one site has made a giant impact on youth pop culture in a matter of a few years. At the same time, themes of spirituality pervade our lives. From television to film and popular literature, theology is a burgeoning enterprise in popular culture. In contrast, most churches and denominations are built on eighteenth-century principles, and are fighting to remain relevant to young members. The collective fear is that if the church doesn't adapt to this new generation, they will be left behind forever. Christian and Amy Piatt believe church leaders have a responsibility to stay tune...
This latest book in the insightful and entertaining Banned Questions series addresses fifty questions about Christians that many of us have wondered regarding Hell, sprinkle vs dunk baptism, gay and lesbian issues in ministry, the inconsistencies of communion, the multitude of denominations, God's allowance of suffering in the world, and more. This is a great addition to your library as you (or your study group) ponder the questions many have wanted to ask and few were brave enough to answer.
A lot of us have tried to read the Bible. And we've failed. Christian Piatt has too. But now, using the annual lectionary as his guide, he has put together a devotional that allows us to read through major parts of the Old and New Testaments and finally understand them in plain English. Every week has several Scripture readings, explanations of confusing terms, a story, a deeper dive into interesting themes, and a closing prayer.You can use it as a weekly study or browse a thematic list for something you're curious about. It's an ideal resource to use with a friend or small group, but it's set up to be accessed by anyone who has enough curiosity, openness, and desire to grow.Start anywhere. Set it down and come back to it. There's no wrong way to use Surviving the Bible. Engage ancient texts in new ways that make sense, here and now, maybe for the first time. Any way you use it, it's sure to challenge and inspire.