An extensive Christian study guide, written from an evangelical perspective.
Debut author Barber, a therapist, defines and explores the essential tenets of Christianity in the third edition of this study guide.
Christianity is, of course, a popular and influential religion—according to the Pew Research Center, nearly a third of the world’s population adheres to a Christian denomination—but what do Christians actually believe? Barber, himself a practicing Christian, lays it all out in this study guide, which is meant to be used in conjunction with the Old and New Testaments as a resource for “anyone and everyone who seeks God’s knowledge and truth.” The book’s organization makes it an easily consultable reference, providing introductions to—and thorough investigations of—major topics such as God, Jesus Christ, living as a Christian, and the nature of evil and sin, as well as the Bible itself. The Old and New Testaments are not organized by subject, but Barber’s guide manages to bring together various passages, relating to concepts like the Trinity or the second coming, and compare them. As a result, the guide provides more digestible descriptions of these ideas than one would receive from reading the Bible alone. Each chapter concludes with a series of lessons that summarize the main points, allowing readers to review and internalize key concepts. Barber’s prose is accessible throughout, and he’s gifted at elucidating general principles of Christianity from a very conservative, millenarian perspective. The book does have passages with an Islamophobic bent, which many readers would argue is not fundamental to Christianity: “Recently, the nations of Islam are escalating their persecution and execution of Christians (and Jews) while Christians must endure increasing persecution and discrimination in the USA and Europe. These are signs that the end is near.” There are also homophobic passages, and the book devotes more time to the concept of Satanism than one would normally see in a serious Christian work. Most readers would likely be better served by a study guide that’s more reflective of the diversity of practice within the global Christian community.
An extensive Christian study guide, written from an evangelical perspective.Pub Date: Sept. 14, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-973631-00-2
Page Count: 876
Publisher: Westbow Press
Review Posted Online: Jan. 9, 2019
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
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