Religious Study Guides

Einstein’s revolutionary scientific ideas have transformed our world, ushering in the nuclear age. The current pace of scientific and technological progress is simply astounding. So is there any place for faith in such a world? Einstein himself gave careful thought to the deepest questions of life. His towering intellectual status means he is someone worth listening to when we think through the big questions of life.

By the numbers, the American church enjoys the resources to profoundly impact the Kingdom. But despite the rapid growth of these evangelical movements, the church in the West is in decline. A growing schism has emerged between the movement with a strong emphasis on attracting people and the more missional communities that focus on releasing people into ministry. Hugh Halter and Matt Smay bring fresh encouragement to church leaders and invite them to move beyond the attractional-missional divide by utilizing the best insights from both perspectives.

You joined your church because of its intensity for God. Like no other place, it’s helped you discover the meaning of obedience. If there’s one problem, it’s the confusion that sometimes comes from your own carnal thinking. But God has given you leaders who can lovingly correct a doubting, independent spirit and help you choose God’s best for your life. How can you go wrong with a church like that? Easily, because it fits the profile of many abusive churches.

In this audiobook, you will discover how to enrich your life with the power of universal life force. Connecting your senses with the energy of your soul to bring healing into the world, you can master the techniques of Reiki and invite balance, well-being, and harmony into your everyday life. You will learn a variety of techniques, meditations, and hand positions for channeling Reiki. You will learn how it works, why it works, and the way it benefits all things in life. Today’s society is changing, and so is our understanding of our possibilities. Reiki is in you. Bring it forward.

Black American Faith: Exploring the AME Zion Church and Moorish Science Temple Unlock the rich tapestry of Black American spiritual history with this compelling 2-in-1 volume. Black American Faith brings together two profound journeys of faith and empowerment, offering an accessible and inspiring look at the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church and the Moorish Science Temple of America. Discover a Legacy of Freedom and Faith Dive into the remarkable story of the AME Zion Church, the "Freedom Church," which stood at the heart of abolitionist movements and civil rights struggles. Explore ...

In The Bible as Dream, Murray Stein shares important themes in the biblical narrative that from a psychological perspective, stand out as essential features of the meaning of the Bible for the modern listener...The Bible is a dream that tells the story of how this world was brought into being in space and time and what it means. Don't miss these timeless lectures - a work of respectful and loving interpretation.

Curious about the Enneagram, but don’t know where to start? The Enneagram Beginner’s Guide is a concise starter book for utilizing the Enneagram of personality to find true authenticity and develop a better understanding of others around you. Inside, you will learn how the Enneagram works and uncover the process to determine your personality type.

In this interactive, informative book, Lewis scholar Majorie Lamp Mead and literary expert Leland Ryken unlock the door to The Lion, The Witch and The Wardobe, inviting you to step inside - deeper and deeper, past the musty fur coats - and gaze in wide-eyed wonder once again at the magical, wintery world Lucy first found.

Get a crash course in the most beloved book of all time—the Bible. Simplifying the words and concepts of the Bible doesn’t have to be an overwhelming undertaking. From Exodus to the prophets and the Psalms and Revelation, Bible 101 gives you a basic overview of every part of this important book. Written in easy-to-understand language, Bible 101 offers a fascinating—and memorable—glimpse at the sacred stories, traditions, and doctrines that appear in the New and Old Testaments.

Contemporary Theology: An Introduction by Kirk MacGregor introduces major thinkers and schools of thought from the beginning of the 19th century to the present, including non-Western voices, evangelical perspectives, and philosophical developments alongside the widely acknowledged main streams of modern theology.

With their new book, Cristofer Pereyra and Erin Monnin provide a guide to authentic lay Catholic leadership. Catholic Leadership for Civil Society is structured to show that lay Catholic leadership is not meant to be lived out within the confines of the Catholic community exclusively, but instead serve mainly as a guiding force which illuminates every aspect of secular society with the Truth of the Gospel. The book explains why lay Catholic professionals have a unique responsibility and opportunity to influence the world for Christ, as their duty as baptized children of God.

Knowledge of God in the World and the Word is a clear and succinct introduction to classical Christian apologetics that also addresses the most common objections to natural theology. Amid the crisis of authority in our modern and postmodern era, Christians need to be able to point to God's revelation in the natural world in addition to defending God's unique revelation in the Bible and in the person of Jesus Christ.

Christians have proclaimed the good news about Jesus for centuries. But the good news isn't sounding so good these days, at least to some. More and more surveys show that people view Christians as bearers of bad news, judgment, and intolerance. In Vanishing Grace, best-selling author Philip Yancey acknowledges the problem and then explores how we can respond with both grace and truth. He offers a discerning look at what contributes to a hostility toward Christians, and identifies three groups - pilgrims, artists, and activists - who can show us a different way.

For anyone who feels caught in the tension between the beauty of God’s story and the ugliness of human hypocrisy, Why I Still Believe by apologist and Professor Mary Jo Sharp is the hopeful story of an unlikely convert and an approachable case for believing in God when you want to walk away from Christianity.

One of the most influential Roman perspectives on religion came from a nonreligious belief system that is finding new adherents even today: Stoicism. How did the Stoics think about religion? In How to Think About God, Philip Freeman presents vivid new translations of Cicero's On the Nature of the Gods and The Dream of Scipio. In these brief works, Cicero offers a Stoic view of belief, divinity, and human immortality, giving eloquent expression to the religious ideas of one of the most popular schools of Roman and Greek philosophy.

How does the Jesus of the New Testament compare to the Jesus we think we know so well? Join bestselling author Philip Yancey as he conducts an enlightening biblical and historical investigation into the real Jesus. From the manger in Bethlehem to the cross in Jerusalem, Philip Yancey presents a complex character who generates questions as well as answers—a disturbing and exhilarating Jesus who wants to radically transform your life and stretch your faith.

The longing for joy is one of the deepest yearnings of the human heart. After times of trial—including the pandemic, economic turmoil, wars and rumors of war, and grief— our desire rises to the surface demanding relief. We’ve had to rally. Yet at some point, we have to replenish our soul’s reserves or we will burn out. In this Resilient audio Bible study series, John Eldredge provides the awareness and skills you need to strengthen your weary soul.

Theology is the study of the nature of God and of religious belief. But why should that matter to us? In this wonderfully accessible book, renowned theologian Alister McGrath answers that question--What's the point of theology?--and explores the depth and breadth theology can bring to our lives. Drawing on insights from his experience of coming to Christianity from atheism, this enlightening volume reveals how theology can help us grow in wisdom, contribute to our wellbeing, spark our innate sense of wonder, and above all, grow in faith and love as we draw ever closer to the divine.

God or Nature, Whatever is what happens when a philosophy grad student decides to explain Baruch Spinoza—the 17th-century lens grinder who got canceled by every major religion—using sarcasm, swearing, and a deeply unhealthy relationship with Euclidean geometry. Sophia Blackwell takes Spinoza's Ethics (a book structured like a math textbook, only less fun) and translates it into plain, hilarious, possibly heretical English. The result? A philosophical roast that actually teaches you something. Inside, you'll learn: Why Spinoza thought God was just...

Book two of the examination of the theological end-times view called preterism. What happens after a person adopts a very radical worldview? Does it affect their daily lives? Paired with book one, About Preterism, this book continues the discussion and discovery of the 21st century's newest eschatology. Follow along as the author unpacks every premise and every conclusion to understanding preterism and the affects of preterism.