A nuanced, reflective assessment of the basic theological underpinnings of Christianity.
Eicher explores the fundamental questions of his faith in this nonfiction book.
While admittedly “not a theologian,” the author has spent a lifetime learning about Christianity and living in devoutly religious communities. Eicher was raised Amish, and his uncle and other family members co-founded and have long worked for the nonprofit publishing company Pathway, which has provided publications on homeschool curricula, cooking, and religion to Amish communities for more than 50 years. This book begins with a brief outline of the author’s personal faith journey, including his early exploration of non-Amish Christian scholars such as C.S. Lewis. Though not a member of any specific Christian denomination today, Eicher retains many of the Anabaptist beliefs of his upbringing. Thematically eclectic, this book explores the essential teachings of Christianity, highlighting along the way areas in which the author believes mainline theologians have gotten off track. Modern Christians, per the book, too often present a “cleaner” New Testament God who is typically held in contrast to the Old Testament God of war, whose stories are often reduced to watered-down Sunday school tales. Early Christians are not spared criticism; Eicher doesn’t particularly value the ideas of those second-century Christian thinkers who minimized the faith’s connection to its Jewish roots and were preoccupied with “building the power of bishops in the church.” Relying heavily on a traditional Anabaptist cosmology, most of the book is based on a conservative reading of Scripture, particularly the epistles of Paul, with occasional references to Protestant theologians (such as Martin Luther) who echo the author’s core belief that “Faith must stand alone.” A skilled writer, Eicher is the author of more than three dozen Amish-themed romance novels, and he brings his talents as a storyteller to this nonfiction book, where he retells Old Testament stories in accessible narratives. Even readers who may not agree with the author’s doctrinal stances may be attracted to his thoughtful, learned approach to Scripture, which avoids the cliches and platitudes that come standard in the genre of Christian nonfiction.
A nuanced, reflective assessment of the basic theological underpinnings of Christianity.Pub Date: Sept. 22, 2023
ISBN: 9798892178518
Page Count: 280
Publisher: ISBN Services
Review Posted Online: Dec. 7, 2023
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
A remarkably thorough and thoughtful case for the reconciliation between science and faith.
A duo of French mathematicians makes the scientific case for God in this nonfiction book.
Since its 2021 French-language publication in Paris, this work by Bolloré and Bonnassies has sold more than 400,000 copies. Now translated into English for the first time by West and Jones, the book offers a new introduction featuring endorsements from a range of scientists and religious leaders, including Nobel Prize-winning astronomers and Roman Catholic cardinals. This appeal to authority, both religious and scientific, distinguishes this volume from a genre of Christian apologetics that tends to reject, rather than embrace, scientific consensus. Central to the book’s argument is that contemporary scientific advancements have undone past emphases on materialist interpretations of the universe (and their parallel doubts of spirituality). According to the authors’ reasoned arguments, what now forms people’s present understanding of the universe—including quantum mechanics, relativity, and the Big Bang—puts “the question of the existence of a creator God back on the table,” given the underlying implications. Einstein’s theory of relativity, for instance, presupposes that if a cause exists behind the origin of the universe, then it must be atemporal, non-spatial, and immaterial. While the book’s contentions related to Christianity specifically, such as its belief in the “indisputable truths contained in the Bible,” may not be as convincing as its broader argument on how the idea of a creator God fits into contemporary scientific understanding, the volume nevertheless offers a refreshingly nuanced approach to the topic. From the work’s outset, the authors (academically trained in math and engineering) reject fundamentalist interpretations of creationism (such as claims that Earth is only 6,000 years old) as “fanciful beliefs” while challenging the philosophical underpinnings of a purely materialist understanding of the universe that may not fit into recent scientific paradigm shifts. Featuring over 500 pages and more than 600 research notes, this book strikes a balance between its academic foundations and an accessible writing style, complemented by dozens of photographs from various sources, diagrams, and charts.
A remarkably thorough and thoughtful case for the reconciliation between science and faith.Pub Date: Oct. 14, 2025
ISBN: 9789998782402
Page Count: 562
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Oct. 7, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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