The Human Faces Of God

Does accepting the doctrine of biblical inspiration necessitate belief in biblical inerrancy? The Bible has always functioned authoritatively in the life of the church, but what exactly should that mean? Must it mean the Bible is without error in all historical details and ethical teachings? What should thoughtful Christians do with texts that propose God is pleased by human sacrifice or that God commanded Israel to commit acts of genocide? What about texts that contain historical errors or predictions that have gone unfulfilled long beyond their expiration dates? In The Human Faces of God, Thom Stark moves beyond notions of inerrancy in order to confront such problematic texts and open up a conversation about new ways they can be used in service of the church and its moral witness today. Readers looking for an academically informed yet accessible discussion of the Bible's thorniest texts will find a thought-provoking and indispensible resource in The Human Faces of God. ""Christians can ignore the facts that Stark brings into the light of day only if they want to be wrong."" --Dale C. Allison, Jr. author of Constructing Jesus ""The Human Faces of God is one of the most challenging and well-argued cases against the doctrine of biblical inerrancy I have ever read."" --Greg A. Boyd author of The Myth of a Christian Nation ""I learned so much from this book that I can strongly encourage anyone who is seeking to move from simplistic proof-texting to a comprehensive understanding of the Bible to read this book carefully."" --Tony Campolo author of Red Letter Christians ""This is must reading for Christians who have agonized over their own private doubts about Scripture--and for others who have given up hope that evangelical Christians can practice intelligent, moral interpretation of the Bible."" --Neil Elliot author of Liberating Paul ""[W]ith the help of this book, we may discover that the Bible--when we read it in all its diversity and vulnerability--does bring healing words to those who keep listening."" --Ted Grimsrud author of Embodying the Way of Jesus ""Stark's book effectively demonstrates how the Bible, in practice, is the most dangerous enemy of fundamentalists."" --James F. McGrath author of The Only True God ""Stark provides a model for theology that is committed to hearing the voice of the victims of history, especially the victims of our own religious traditions."" --Michael J. Iafrate PhD Cadidate, University of Toronto ""This book is the most powerful antidote to fundamentalism that I've ever read."" --Frank Schaeffer author of Crazy for God Thom Stark was a Fig Tree and Ledbetter scholar at Emmanuel School of Religion. His academic interests include second temple apocalyptic Judaism and Christian origins, as well as modern Christian and Islamic theologies of liberation.

Profiles Jesus Christ as the human face of God, taking into the account the multiple ways his life has been viewed and retold, and dramatizing the transformation from a man to a myth.

The principal editor of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, presents the sources of meditation on the mystery of God's human face from the great Masters of early Christianity. Artists and theologians have meditated upon the mystery of God's human countenance and tried to express it. This book seeks to present the great sources of this meditation--sources which today are widely unknown, or have become foreign or obscure. These sources are above all the great masters of early Christianity. In their meditation upon Christ, Bishop Schonborn seeks the sources of the art on the Icon. The reader will find not only an engaging introduction to the meaning and beauty of Icons, but an invitation to draw closer to the One who inspired these Masters of theological expression and holy art. Includes beautiful color Icon illustrations.

The parable, a short story told to impart a lesson to the listener, was the chief teaching tool of Jesus Christ. In this delightful and inspirational book, author Michael Manning, the TV host of The Word in the World, takes readers on a journey through fifteen of the most beloved parables from the New Testament, in order to enlighten the many different ways seekers can understand God’s presence in their daily lives. From the parable of the talents to the stories of the wedding feast and the Good Samaritan, Manning shows us that God has many faces to meet the diverse challenges we all experience. Certainly God can be seen as a parent or an authority figure, but as the parables demonstrate, God is also a humble servant, a conversationalist, a friend, a risk taker, and an optimist, to name just a few. Knowing this and experiencing God’s many faces can dramatically change your life forever. In our fast-paced, hectic society, Manning’s practical guide for walking a spiritual path is an illuminating, multidimensional work that will help readers to slow down, stop, look, listen, and gaze upon the beautiful faces of God and all his creation.

In Praise of: The Human Face of God "An excellent example of the rediscovery of the living Gospel and a loving Jesus for our time! You will also discover your own humanity in the one who proudly called himself a "son of humanity." Richard Rohr, O.F.M., Center for Action and Contemplation and author of Quest for the Grail "This marvelous book not only paints a beautiful, warm and welcoming face of God but even more so invites the reader to experience the personality and the heart of God. One of the many great contributions of the book is the simple and attractive way in which the author presents profound elements of our Christian tradition." Virgilio Elizondo, author of The God of Incredible Surprises and The Galilean Journey "This book is a little gem. Well written, with many examples and personal stories, it truly brings out the human face of God. At the same time it illustrates simply, but powerfully, how we are expected (and enabled!) to continue the mission of Christ here on earth. Paul Berbier, s.s.s. Editor, Emmanuel Magazine