A blogger and Christian scholar investigates how spirituality manifests itself in our physical selves.
Some Christians speak of being prisoners in imperfect, earthly bodies from which they will escape through death, but Anderson’s first book gently chides what he claims to be “Gnostic tendencies” and de-emphasis of the human body’s importance in Christianity. Not written for the masses—the author assumes his audience knows evangelicalism—Anderson utilizes Paul’s teachings to blend mountains of academic, theological and philosophical references with anecdotes. He makes many sound points, such as how the body of Christ—the church—should not turn services into either robotic liturgies or productions with smoke machines and carefully orchestrated schedules. Unfortunately, generalizing Christians leaves a hole in his argument wide enough for a plague of locusts, and it is unclear how Anderson’s assertions about evangelical “Gnosticism” differ from what is being preached in thousands of pulpits each week. He is anti-abortion and anti-euthanasia; he is wary of yoga’s increasing popularity; he urges deep reading of scripture, prayer and genuine fasting; and though he emphasizes love and acceptance of homosexuals, he notes that the lifestyle does not harmonize with scripture. The author also warns that evangelicals too often follow social trends, like tattoos, piercing or fitness crazes. Anderson’s approach is not “hellfire and brimstone” but academic to the point of thumb twiddling. A tighter scope may have strengthened his thesis, but his gospel message rings through.
Pub Date: June 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0856-0
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Bethany House
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2011
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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