Faith Is Not Blind

Imagine a world where everyone knows everything about everybody. Where 'sharing' is valued above all, and privacy is considered a dangerous perversion. Trafford wouldn't call himself a rebel, but he's daring to be different, to stand out from the crowd. In his own small ways, he wants to push against the system. But in this world, uniformity is everything. And even tiny defiances won't go unnoticed. Ben Elton's dark, savagely comic novel imagines a post-apocalyptic society where religious intolerance combines with a sex-obsessed, utterly egocentric culture. In this world, nakedness is modesty, independent thought subversive, and ignorance is wisdom. A chilling vision of what's to come? Or something rather closer to home?

A considerable amount of public debate and media print has been devoted to the “war between science and religion.” In his accessible and eminently readable new book, Stephen M. Barr demonstrates that what is really at war with religion is not science itself, but a philosophy called scientific materialism. Modern Physics and Ancient Faith argues that the great discoveries of modern physics are more compatible with the central teachings of Christianity and Judaism about God, the cosmos, and the human soul than with the atheistic viewpoint of scientific materialism. Scientific materialism grew out of scientific discoveries made from the time of Copernicus up to the beginning of the twentieth century. These discoveries led many thoughtful people to the conclusion that the universe has no cause or purpose, that the human race is an accidental by-product of blind material forces, and that the ultimate reality is matter itself. Barr contends that the revolutionary discoveries of the twentieth century run counter to this line of thought. He uses five of these discoveries—the Big Bang theory, unified field theories, anthropic coincidences, Gödel’s Theorem in mathematics, and quantum theory—to cast serious doubt on the materialist’s view of the world and to give greater credence to Judeo-Christian claims about God and the universe. Written in clear language, Barr’s rigorous and fair text explains modern physics to general readers without oversimplification. Using the insights of modern physics, he reveals that modern scientific discoveries and religious faith are deeply consonant. Anyone with an interest in science and religion will find Modern Physics and Ancient Faith invaluable.

"This is a book I'll be recommending for years to come." -- Lysa TerKeurst, New York Times bestselling author Do you believe God is just not fair? If you're like Jennifer Rothschild, you wrestle with questions when you experience painful circumstances. Does God care? Does he hear my prayers? Is he even there? Blinded as a teenager, Jennifer overcame daunting obstacles, found strength in God, and launched a successful speaking and writing ministry. Then in her 40s, everything changed. Jennifer hit a wall of depression and discontent that shook her to her core, undermining many of her past assumptions about her faith. She wondered who God was and why he continued to allow her to struggle and doubt. Where, she pleaded, is his hand of healing and hope in my life now? This is a book about finding more than just answers. It's for anyone who needs hope when life doesn't make sense--for all who reach for a God who feels distant. As Jennifer tackles the six big questions of faith, she will help you: Trust God more than your feelings. Strengthen your faith when you feel beat up by life. Embrace your obstacles and start experiencing their purpose. Face your disappointment and grow stronger from your loss.

We know that faith means “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1, NIV). Love Your God with All Your Mind explains the importance of using your mind not only to win others to Christ but also to experience personal spiritual growth. Author J. P. Moreland challenges you to use logic and reason to further God’s kingdom through evangelism, apologetics, worship, and vocation. This revised edition includes expanded appendixes and three new chapters that outline how to reason for the reality of God and the historicity of Jesus’ life teachings, death, and resurrection.

"Everyone who takes an introductory class in philosophy or religion should be introduced to contemporary arguments for the existence of God. As a third year student at state university, this book worked for me. As a bonus, it was actually interesting, readable, and (important for busy students) concise." (Erik Mattson, college Junior) Why do so many intelligent, informed people believe in God? Contrary to charges that they sacrifice their reason to meet their emotional needs, many claim that their intellectual journey led them, often contrary to their wishes or expectations, to belief. This book attempts to introduce the arguments that changed their minds. Interestingly, each person seems to have a unique story, following different lines of evidence. Thus, Miller introduces 17 lines of evidence. Are any of them compelling to you? Personalize your reading by rating each argument at the end of each section. By keeping the book brief, rather than attempting to fully develop the arguments and counterarguments, readers new to philosophy of religion can get a broad overview of a subject that has, especially in recent decades, grown vast in both breadth and depth. Readers will: - Discover 17 ways that intelligent people defend their belief in God. - Draw tentative, personal conclusions on the strength of each argument. - Reflect upon how multiple arguments might build a cumulative case. - Learn where to go for further exploration. Appropriate for upper level high school students, lower level college students, and general readers. "I've previously studied a few of these arguments in depth, but reading this book opened my eyes to the vast array of philosophical arguments for the existence of God." (Jonathan Mann, college Junior) J. Steve Miller is a multiple award-winning author who teaches first year students, honors students, and religious studies, with a focus on critical and creative thinking, at Kennesaw State University.

Are You Living in Light of Eternity? It’s difficult to imagine eternal life. But when you’ve got only one life and you know there is coming a day when you will stand before God, it’s important to consider whether you’re living each day like your life depends on it. If you’re a Christian, the good news is God’s judgment isn’t about determining your salvation—it’s about rewarding your faithfulness. Salvation cannot be earned—it’s already yours. In Heavenly Rewards you will uncover fascinating truths about how the life you live today determines your life in eternity. You will… learn tangible ways you can please the Lord in your everyday living discover that your labor and sacrifices are never in vain—God is a faithful rewarder see the benefits of living faithfully and enduring through even the most difficult times Yes, your faithfulness will be rewarded. God knows the smallest details of your days, and He wants to acknowledge your every act you’ve done for Him. Living well with an eternal perspective really can change your life—for good.

The hard work required to make God real, how it changes the people who do it, and why it helps explain the enduring power of faith How do gods and spirits come to feel vividly real to people—as if they were standing right next to them? Humans tend to see supernatural agents everywhere, as the cognitive science of religion has shown. But it isn’t easy to maintain a sense that there are invisible spirits who care about you. In How God Becomes Real, acclaimed anthropologist and scholar of religion T. M. Luhrmann argues that people must work incredibly hard to make gods real and that this effort—by changing the people who do it and giving them the benefits they seek from invisible others—helps to explain the enduring power of faith. Drawing on ethnographic studies of evangelical Christians, pagans, magicians, Zoroastrians, Black Catholics, Santeria initiates, and newly orthodox Jews, Luhrmann notes that none of these people behave as if gods and spirits are simply there. Rather, these worshippers make strenuous efforts to create a world in which invisible others matter and can become intensely present and real. The faithful accomplish this through detailed stories, absorption, the cultivation of inner senses, belief in a porous mind, strong sensory experiences, prayer, and other practices. Along the way, Luhrmann shows why faith is harder than belief, why prayer is a metacognitive activity like therapy, why becoming religious is like getting engrossed in a book, and much more. A fascinating account of why religious practices are more powerful than religious beliefs, How God Becomes Real suggests that faith is resilient not because it provides intuitions about gods and spirits—but because it changes the faithful in profound ways.