Christian Books

From the internationally bestselling author of No god but God comes a fascinating, provocative, and meticulously researched biography that challenges long-held assumptions about the man we know as Jesus of Nazareth. Two thousand years ago, an itinerant Jewish preacher and miracle worker walked across the Galilee, gathering followers to establish what he called the “Kingdom of God.” The revolutionary movement he launched was so threatening to the established order that he was captured, tortured, and executed as a state criminal. Within decades after his shameful death, his followers would call him God. Sifting through centuries of mythmaking, Reza Aslan sheds new light on one of history’s most influential and enigmatic characters by examining Jesus through the lens of the tumultuous era in which he lived: first-century Palestine, an age awash in apocalyptic fervor. Scores of Jewish prophets, preachers, and would-be messiahs wandered through the Holy Land, bearing messages from God. This was the age of zealotry—a fervent nationalism that made resistance to the Roman occupation a sacred duty incumbent on all Jews. And few figures better exemplified this principle than the charismatic Galilean who defied both the imperial authorities and their allies in the Jewish religious hierarchy. Balancing the Jesus of the Gospels against the historical sources, Aslan describes a man full of conviction and passion, yet rife with contradiction; a man of peace who exhorted his followers to arm themselves with swords; an exorcist and faith healer who urged his disciples to keep his identity a secret; and ultimately the seditious “King of the Jews” whose promise of liberation from Rome went unfulfilled in his brief lifetime. Aslan explores the reasons why the early Christian church preferred to promulgate an image of Jesus as a peaceful spiritual teacher rather than a politically conscious revolutionary. And he grapples with the riddle of how Jesus understood himself, the mystery that is at the heart of all subsequent claims about his divinity. Zealot yields a fresh perspective on one of the greatest stories ever told even as it affirms the radical and transformative nature of Jesus of Nazareth’s life and mission. The result is a thought-provoking, elegantly written biography with the pulse of a fast-paced novel: a singularly brilliant portrait of a man, a time, and the birth of a religion.

In 1307, the Templars in France were arrested by King Philip IV's officials in the name of the Inquisition, their property seized and the men charged with serious heresies, including the denial of Christ, homosexuality, and idol worship. Confessions, extracted under torture, were brought before royal and papal tribunals, but in 1310 a number of Templar brothers mounted a defense of their Order. Malcolm Barber's fascinating account, assessing the charges brought against the Order, once again puts the Templars on trial.

The whole destiny of America is contained in the first Puritans who landed on these shores, wrote de Tocqueville. These newcomers, and the range of their intellectual achievements and failures, are vividly depicted in The Puritans in America . Exiled from England, the Puritans settled in what Cromwell called “a poor, cold, and useless” place―where they created a body of ideas and aspirations that were essential in the shaping of American religion, politics, and culture.In a felicitous blend of documents and narrative Alan Heimert and Andrew Delbanco recapture the sweep and restless change of Puritan thought from its incipient Americanism through its dominance in New England society to its fragmentation in the face of dissent from within and without. A general introduction sketches the Puritan environment, and shorter introductions open each of the six sections of the collection. Thirty-eight writers are included―among these Cotton, Bradford, Bradstreet, Winthrop, Rowlandson, Taylor, and the Mathers―as well as the testimony of Anne Hutchinson and documents illustrating the witchcraft crisis. The works, several of which are published here for the first time since the seventeenth century, are presented in modern spelling and punctuation.Despite numerous scholarly probings, Puritanism remains resistant to categories, whether those of Perry Miller, Max Weber, or Christopher Hill. This new anthology―the first major interpretive collection in nearly fifty years―reveals the beauty and power of Puritan literature as it emerged from the pursuit of self-knowledge in the New World.

Recommendation: Zealot offers a gripping account of Jesus' life, challenging conventional beliefs and shedding new light on the enigmatic figure. Reza Aslan delves into the tumultuous era in which Jesus lived, presenting a politically conscious revolutionary rather than a peaceful spiritual teacher. This thought-provoking book will compel believers and skeptics alike, offering a fresh perspective on one of history's greatest stories.

Miracles are among the most enduring mysteries of time, elusive proof to believers of the existence of a higher power. Yet even as such events have dazzled and engaged the faithful for thousands of years, they have also prompted impassioned debate.As far back as the 12th century, religious figures like St. Francis of Assisi have inexplicably been afflicted with Jesus's crucifixion wounds, while today, statues and other likenesses of Jesus are routinely reported as appearing to weep or bleed. But miracles are not restricted to religious accounts. Modern life and medicine are full of miracles, from the New York window washer who fell 47 floors, lapsed into a coma, and then awoke, to the paraplegic who regained his ability to walk after being bitten by a spider.With full color images throughout, TIME-LIFE Mysteries of Miracles explores history's most famous miracles, their enduring appeal, modern miracles, and just how much science can truly explain-- or not. For any person of faith or anyone fascinated by unexplained phenomena, this beautifully illustrated guide will intrigue and surprise you.

If you're intrigued by the man beyond the myth, "Zealot" might just enrich your understanding of one of history's pivotal figures. Reza Aslan's approach combines academic scrutiny with accessible prose, providing a vivid tableau of Jesus's lifetime, contrasting the legendary with the historical. It could offer you a new perspective on an ancient narrative that continues to influence the modern world.

From the fall of Rome to the rise of Charlemagne - the "dark ages" - learning, scholarship, and culture disappeared from the European continent. The great heritage of western civilization - from the Greek and Roman classics to Jewish and Christian works - would have been utterly lost were it not for the holy men and women of unconquered Ireland. In this delightful and illuminating look into a crucial but little-known "hinge" of history, Thomas Cahill takes us to the "island of saints and scholars, " the Ireland of St. Patrick and the Book of Kells. Here, far from the barbarian despoliation of the continent, monks and scribes laboriously, lovingly, even playfully preserved the west's written treasures. With the return of stability in Europe, these Irish scholars were instrumental in spreading learning. Thus the Irish not only were conservators of civilization, but became shapers of the medieval mind, putting their unique stamp on western culture.

As someone interested in religious history and its relationship with culture, you'll appreciate "Landscapes of Faith." It isn't just a history book; it's a vivid journey through Northumbria's spiritual and physical spaces. The author weaves together expert scholarship and stunning visuals, delivering an experience that's akin to a pilgrimage through the pages. If you've ever wondered how faith shapes a region's identity, this book is a must-read.

Since Christianity claims to be a historical revelation, it is not irrelevant to look at its foundation documents from the standpoint of historical criticism. Historical and philological lines of approach have, of course, their limitations. They cannot establish the Christian claim that the New Testament completes the inspired record of divine revelation. But non-theological students, for whom he book was written, are, in my experience, more ready to countenance such a claim for a work which is historically reliable than for one which is not. It is, indeed, difficult to restrict a discussion of the New Testament writings to the purely historical plane; theology insists on breaking in. But that is as it should be; history and theology are inextricably intertwined in the gospel of our salvation, which owes its eternal and universal validity to certain events which happened in Palestine when Tiberius ruled the Roman Empire. F. F. B.

The Covenant of the Torch made with Abraham is the most significant among all the covenants in the Bible. Why? It's the most detailed yet condensed summary of God's divine administration for redemption that outlines the work of restoration of His godly people and holy land.In this book, Rev. Abraham Park brings to life the Covenant of the Torch, and helps us to understand—accurately, and in chronological detail—692 years of redemptive history starting from Abraham, including the great exodus, the wilderness journey and the conquest of Canaan.Just as his best-seller The Genesis Genealogies has helped readers to better understand the time frames and relationships in the Book of Genesis , Rev. Park now helps us to carefully study the books of Exodus up to Joshua, and to realize what those events and participants tell us regarding God's larger plan. This book