Religious Study Guides

The Bible remains the best-selling book of all time, believed by nearly two billion Christians and Jews to be divinely inspired. But in this hard-hitting new book, author Robert J. Hutchinson proposes that it is actually much more than this. The ideas enshrined in the Bible, he says, triggered a revolution in human thought and established the moral and philosophical foundation for Western civilization.

This brief introduction surveys Christian thinking on an array of topics related to security and peace from a just war perspective. Drawing primarily on Scripture and theology, Eric Patterson explores the moral dimensions of order, justice, and peace in light of key Christian doctrines such as love of neighbor, stewardship, vocation, and sphere sovereignty.

Distinguished philosopher Hilary Putnam, who is also a practicing Jew, questions the thought of three major Jewish philosophers of the 20th century - Franz Rosenzweig, Martin Buber, and Emmanuel Levinas -- to help him reconcile the philosophical and religious sides of his life. An additional presence in the book is Ludwig Wittgenstein, who, although not a practicing Jew, thought about religion in ways that Putnam juxtaposes to the views of Rosenzweig, Buber, and Levinas.

The co-editors of Gnosis magazine explore the many esoteric traditions that Western culture has to offer. While terms from Eastern spiritual practices such as Zen, mantra, and karma have become part of our daily lexicon, the traditions of Western spirituality have been largely unexplored by people searching for non-mainstream routes to spiritual experience. But for those who identify with Western culture, Western religious traditions have their own wisdom teachings that are more suitable to their needs and expectations.

In this groundbreaking volume, J. Anderson Thomson, Jr., MD, with Clare Aukofer, offers a succinct yet comprehensive study of how and why the human mind generates religious belief. Dr. Thomson, a highly respected practicing psychiatrist with credentials in forensic psychiatry and evolutionary psychology, methodically investigates the components and causes of religious belief in the same way any scientist would investigate the movement of astronomical bodies.

Are you struggling to pay the bills? Are you burdened with debt? Are you getting by, but not saving as much money as you would like? Do you fear for your family's future? In tough economic times, millions of families are finding it harder than ever before to manage their money, prioritize their needs and wants, and lead a Christian life while still maintaining a prosperous lifestyle. As Christians, we have faith that God will provide for us - and this truth is more apparent than ever when we take charge of our own financial futures.

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.

Do you read or listen to The Chronicles of Narnia sensing that the stories are full of biblical parallels, even if you're not always sure what they are or where to find them? This user-friendly companion to The Chronicles of Narnia is written for C. S. Lewis audiences like you who want to discover the books' biblical and Christian roots. Listen to it, and you'll find that this chapter-by-chapter, book-by-book examination of The Chronicles will widen your spiritual vision.

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.

It’s more common in youth ministry than we want to admit—burnout and failure. Exhaustion, frustration, disappointment, and conflict bring many youth workers to a point where they either choose a new church, a new career, or someone makes that choice for them. After thirty years of youth...

In this enlightening and insightful guide, Madame McDermott shows you proven ways to create a powerful psychic connection to the tarot and hone your intuitive skills to help you find the answers you need. You will be able to provide your own opinions and explanations of the tarot readings you carry out for other people and yourself.

Reiki for Pets is the ultimate beginner's guide to learning about energy healing, the power centers of your pets, and how to execute energy healing for yourself and your loved ones. Your chi is a universal life source that you can learn to harness today. By tapping in to the power of our chakras and chi, we can live healthier, balanced, and more abundant lives, and also channel that into the well-being of our beloved fur babies.

Looking for direction in your life? Ever wonder how God is working in you and around you? Join pastor and trainer Steve Witt as he helps you locate the intersection where our passions and personal currencies meet—your sweet spot—and in the process discover where God has been at work all...

Extreme poverty does not have to exist. When Christians accept that fact and start living accordingly, we will find the solution is already within our reach. Worldwide, 18,000 children die from preventable causes every day. If that statistic leaves you feeling powerless, you are not alone—but...

Aware both of the excitement and uncertainty generated by The Shack, theologian Randal Rauser takes the reader on a fascinating journey through the pages of the story. In successive chapters he explores many of the books complex and controversial issues. Through these chapters Rauser offers an honest and illuminating discussion which opens up a new depth to the conversation while providing the reader with new opportunities for Finding God in The Shack.

Spiritually Strong is a six-week program designed to help you get in better shape spiritually and physically. As Timothy says, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (4:8). This book...

Our decisions determine our lives. Invest in a company that goes bankrupt and you lose your life savings. Say the wrong thing in an interview and you miss the job of the lifetime. Make no decisions and you miss every opportunity. In today's rapidly changing world, the cost of poor decisions (and...

We know we can talk to God, but it just sounds so important, so intimidating, so religious. We assume that only the very spiritual hear from Him directly. But author Sheila Walsh says "Every sound we utter, every thank you we say, every tear we cry in God's presence is prayer." Get Off Your...

Peruvian priest Gustavo Gutiérrez's 1971 book, A Theology of Liberation, provides an inspiring and groundbreaking argument as to how Christians and the Roman Catholic Church should act in support of the poor. The Catholic Church had traditionally seen itself as politically neutral. In the 1960s and 1970s, however, reformers such as Gutiérrez urged it to seriously address real-world issues such as poverty and oppression.

Small, simple habits can grow your faith in big ways. 65% of Christian women admit they aren’t satisfied with their spiritual lives. You’ve been told: Read your Bible every day. Your prayer life matters. Find quiet time with God. The problem: Life is chaotic. You’re pulled in a hundred...