Recommended Reading

I've been reading a lot over this year so I figured I'd put together a list of the best. This is Christian reading, so it'll only interest maybe one of you. ;)

The Reason for God by Timothy Keller

Summary
Why does God allow suffering in the world? How could a loving God send people to Hell? Why isn't Christianity more inclusive? How can one religion be "right" and the others "wrong"? Why have so many wars been fought in the name of God? These are just a few of the questions and doubts even ardent believers wrestle with today. As the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, Timothy Keller has compiled a list of the most frequently voiced "doubts" skeptics bring to his church. And in The Reason for God he single-handedly dismantles each of them. Keller uses literature, philosophy, real-life conversations, and reasoning to explain how faith in a Christian God is a soundly rational belief, held by thoughtful people of intellectual integrity with a deep compassion for those who truly want to know the truth.

I've heard people call Timothy Keller the "C.S. Lewis of our time." Honestly I don't think that's accurate. They each have completely different styles. And I just don't find Timothy Keller as good as C.S. Lewis. Still, this is a good book for newcomers to apologetics. It's easy to understand and easy to remember. It's also not that long so you can get through it quickly. In the first half of the book each chapter is dedicated to one question or "doubt." In the second half he explains why Christianity is the Truth. It's directed at skeptics, but believers can benefit from reading it cause it will give them the knowledge they need to justify their faith towards people who may feel like arguing. This is a good book for beginners in apologetics. Try it out.

Mere Christianity By C.S. Lewis

Summary
One of the most popular and beloved introductions to the Christian faith ever written Mere Christianity has sold millions of copies worldwide. The book brings together Lewis's legendary broadcast of the war years, talks in which he set out simply to "explain and defend the belief that has been common to nearly all Christians at all times." Rejecting the boundaries that divide Christianity's many denominations, C.S. Lewis provides an unequaled opportunity for believers and nonbelievers alike to hear a powerful, rational case for the Christian faith. It is a collection of scintillating brilliance that remains strikingly fresh for the modern reader and at the same time confirms C.S. Lewis's reputation as one of the leading writers and thinkers of our age.

Now THIS is what I'm talking about! Considered perhaps the best apologist of all time, C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity is also a good introduction to apologetics and to the Christian faith. The book is more complicated than Reason for God so some may find it to go over their heads or just find it difficult to remember what they read, but it's incredibly compelling and amazingly insightful. First he starts off with a defense for belief in God using the transcendent moral law, and why that God is the God of Christianity. Then he goes on to talk about the very core of what Christians believe. If you strip away all the buildings, the denominations, all that theology, the hymns, etc, what is it that Christians believe and all agree on? That's what Lewis tells us in his book. This book is a classic and a must read.

The Language of God by Francis S. Collins

Summary
Dr. Francis Collins, head of the Human Genome Project, is one of the world's leading scientists. he works at the cutting edge of the study of DNA, the code of life. Yet he is also a man of unshakable faith in God and scripture.
Dr. Collins believes that faith in God and faith in science can coexist within a person and be harmonious. In The Language of God he makes his case for God and for science. He has heard every argument against faith from scientists, and he can refute them. He has also heard the needles rejection of scientific truths by some people of faith, and he can counter that, too. He explains his own journey from atheism to faith, and then takes readers fora stunning tour of modern science to show that physics, chemistry, and biology can all fit together with belief in God and the Bible. The Language of God is essential reading for anyone who wonders about the deepest questions of faith: Why are we here? How did we get here? What does life mean?

Hmm. What can I say? That summary already says everything lol. As it says, Francis Collins is a scientist and a Christian and believes science and faith can coexist, not be in some kind of war like most people think. He even explains why we can believe in evolution and still be believers. He goes a little into some of the questions that Timothy Keller tackles in The Reason for God, but he doesn't get much into them. He has other things to tackle. He doesn't just counter the atheistic arguments he hears, but also the anti-science arguments he hears from professing Christians, so he picks on everyone. Anyone interested in how science and faith in God can coexist together should read this book.

That's all I have time for right now, but I will make another post with more books. Thanks for reading!