Recommended reading?

[ratcharmer]

Simply put, if someone wanted to know more about your religion (or lack thereof) what would you recommend they read and why?

This isn't the place to argue over whether a given author is right or wrong. If you want to give your opinion on a book/paper you may, but mostly this is for anyone who is looking to learn more about a given religion.

Now for my recommendations:

The Bible
Not really a big surprise that a Christian would recommend this. But, if I may be so bold, I'm also going to recommend how to read it.

Simply put, just read it. A lot of people come to the Bible with preconceived notions. Some dig through specifically looking for flaws and miss the point. Others expect the earth to stop in it's orbit and holy light to descend from heaven each time they read a sentence.

There's a story of one of the leaders of Communist China, back when they were actively repressing all religion. A friend of his found a few pages from a Bible and turned them in to him. Not realizing what it was, the man read it and then told his friend he was greatly impressed and wanted to know what philosopher wrote it. When his friend told him it was the Bible he was furious because he felt he'd been tricked.

C.S. Lewis
C.S. Lewis is a great starting point if you want to learn more about Christianity and the arguments in favor of it.

Some of Lewis' arguments are becoming a little dated, but they're still decent. Above all, his writing is logical, well-phrased and easily accessible to the average reader. There are logically stronger arguments out there but many of them are written in thick academic language, that often requires a good deal of background knowledge to follow.

Dr. Francis S. Collins
I've mentions him in a couple of other places as well. It's a religious study written by the scientist who lead the human genome project.

Lee Strobel
Even though I disagree with some of Strobel's conclusions I still like the idea behind his books. He comes up with a list of challenges to a religious belief (in this case a rather conservative branch of Christianity). For each challenge he then finds an expert on the subject, and then he lets the experts speak for themselves.

After each interview he asks the reader a few questions about their opinion of the challenge to Christianity and the discussion of it, including asking which points in the counter argument were weak.

Donald Miller
There's apparently a WWII historian by the same name, so don't be confused.

Donald Miller's books give a candid, and often humorous, look at what being a Christian means in day to day life. My favorite titles by him are Blue Like Jazz and Prayer and the Art of Volkswagen Maintenance, although I haven't read all of his books yet.

[PuppyChow]

I like your suggestions and don't have any other authors to add on, but another note about the Bible:

Yes, don't come in with any preconceived notions, but also come in prepared. Learn about the context of the books of the Bible, because it is key. When Paul tells the church in Corinth that women are to remain silent during Church, consider that that is only because the women were going up front in the middle of service and falsely prophesying in tongues. Like I said, context is key.

Another way to read the Bible is to sort of skip around. When one part of the Bible mentions another story or such, go back and read about that story or person. That's not to say choose randomly, but going back and refreshing yourself on what is mentioned later is a great idea. It makes it much easier to understand.

[PhuzzY LogiK]

Lee Strobel
Even though I disagree with some of Strobel's conclusions I still like the idea behind his books. He comes up with a list of challenges to a religious belief (in this case a rather conservative branch of Christianity). For each challenge he then finds an expert on the subject, and then he lets the experts speak for themselves.

After each interview he asks the reader a few questions about their opinion of the challenge to Christianity and the discussion of it, including asking which points in the counter argument were weak.

While I respect your wish to keep opinions about authors out of this, I have to object here.  I can't remember if I read The Case for Christ or The Case for Faith (I think it was the former), but it was abysmal.  For being a former journalist, he fails miserably at writing an unbiased piece.

Basically, he asks Christians why the arguments against Christianity are flawed.  He NEVER interviews an expert with a contradictory opinion, even other Christians.  The book is one big strawman and a joke.  It's like going to the Democratic National Convention and asking them to give the best arguments in favor of being a Republican, and then counter them.  Seriously, what sort of answers do you think you'll get?  It's incredibly dishonest.  And, even worse, he touts his piece of trash like its a true academic work, because he interviewed "experts".

I was in philosophy for several years, and one of the areas I focused on was philosophy of religion.  I've found books I disagreed with, I've found books boring as all hell, and I've found books that were torturous to get through, and they are ALL still on my book shelf because I think something--no matter how small--can be taken from each of them.  If I can't keep a book, or I think it would serve someone else better, I donate it or give it away.  Lee Strobel's books (the two I mentioned), are the ONLY two books I've EVER thrown out (except for an outdated tax code book that I got in a box of old books someone gave me).  I could not in good conscience give those to someone else to read.

Anyone who may consider reading him: please, if you end up embracing Christianity, do it because you honestly confronted the question of its truth and decided in its favor, not because you built up a wall of shielded ignorance like Strobel wants you to.

If you want a nice alternative, try Letters from a Skeptic by Gregory Boyd.  It's non-technical like Strobel, but much better written, and doesn't pretend to be a fair treatment of both sides.

[EDIT:]
Also, I know this isn't the place for this, but Puppy, where did you get that bit about the women in Church?  I had a professor who wrote extensively on that topic, and I've never heard of that.  I'm not calling you out, I'm just curious.

[PuppyChow]

1 Corinthians 14:34: "women should be silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as the law also says."

Again, context is key.

About Lee Strobel:

I haven't read any of his works (maybe I should), but it seems to me that they are more meant for Christians that are struggling in their faith with the same challenges to a religious belief versus converting non believers. It would assure us to know that experts on faith can answer these challenges.

Maybe I'm way off base there; like I said, I'm only going off of what you guys have said.

[PhuzzY LogiK]

Sorry, I should have been more specific.  I'm aware of the verse you were referring to, but I'm unsure of "that is only because the women were going up front in the middle of service and falsely prophesying in tongues."  I've never heard of this.

And my impression of Strobel was he was going for conversion (I think he might even explicitly state that, but I don't recall).  I'm making a caricature of him here, but this is how I remember each chapter going:
Strobel: "Explain your position on question X."
Expert: [explanation]
Strobel: "Now I've heard some say there is controversy around question X, can you summarize that?"
Expert: [explanation]
Strobel: "So what you're saying is the opposing argument has no basis?"
Expert: "Yes."
Strobel: "Well anyone who doesn't believe what we do must be an idiot for not seeing that logic."

It's never a debate, or a conversation--it's all one sided.  And yet he frames the book in the guise of "in search of the truth, no matter where it leads".  He just only exposes the "truth" he wants.  For example, I think one of the interviews mentions the Jesus Seminar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Seminar), and then dismisses it in a few sentences as a fringe movement.  Whether or not one agrees with them, the Seminar is a powerhouse of theological thought, and the debate surrounding them could fill volumes.  And yet they are brushed aside because the "expert" didn't agree with them.  It's almost laughable, except most people reading it don't know better.

A small part of me regrets not still having the book to give you better examples, but I seriously would just throw it out again.

I know I come across as anti-Christian on these forums, but what I really seek is a good, rock solid argument.  You're Christian?  Fine.  You're atheist?  Fine.  Buddhist/Hindu/Shinto/Taoist/Muslim/whatever?  Fine.  Just arrive there honestly, and for yourself.  There's plenty of amazing Christian apologists out there, but Strobel is not one of them.  It's not that he's a Christian, it's that he is dishonest and presents a false and biased argument as if it were sound and fair.

[edited for grammar, need to stop the late night posting]

[PuppyChow]

Sorry, I should have been more specific.  I'm aware of the verse you were referring to, but I'm unsure of "that is only because the women were going up front in the middle of service and falsely prophesying in tongues."  I've never heard of this.

Here is a nice article that pretty much explains it: http://www.churchofgoddfw.com/women/silent.shtml

But the pastor at my church actually did a sermon about it. That's where I heard about it (though he uses passages from the Bible as support). I may have been a little loose with my terms; people were falsely prophesying, and we can conclude some, at least, were women from Paul's tone, but the fact that they would interrupt service to do it probably is an exaggeration .

[ratcharmer]

@Phuzzylogick:
Lee Strobel was an atheist when he started writing those books. His original intent was to prove once and for all that Christianity had no effective answers to certain arguments. Before he finished his writing he found he had accidentally converted himself.

They're a decent resource if you're looking for a Christian response to argument "X" as he covers most of the common ones.

Again I will caution you though, particularly in "Case for a Creator" I think some of the arguments are a little off base. I think that some of the "experts" he finds are a bit kooky. Even this can be useful though, particularly if you're wondering something like "why would anyone disbelieve evolution?" He then presents a clear case from one of the academic leaders of that cause.

How about yourself? Is there anything you recommend I read?

*edit* the libray doesn't have Letters from a Skeptic but I've reserved Is God to Blame and The Myth of the Christian Nation by the same author. Are those two any good?

[BluePriest]

Here is a nice article that pretty much explains it: http://www.churchofgoddfw.com/women/silent.shtml

But the pastor at my church actually did a sermon about it. That's where I heard about it (though he uses passages from the Bible as support). I may have been a little loose with my terms; people were falsely prophesying, and we can conclude some, at least, were women from Paul's tone, but the fact that they would interrupt service to do it probably is an exaggeration .

I like that find puppy. Its something I never knew about before, and I intend on bookmarking it. On a side note, the first time I read the web address i read it as church of god ftw. Ive been on too many game forums lately...

[Daytripper]

If you want to become an atheist or at least an evo-Christian, you should read:

Hot blooded dinosaurs, by Adrian Desmond.

It was first printed in 1976 but it is ahead of its time. Some of the ideas now seem a bit odd, but this is someone who'd write down dinosaurs might have been hotblooded decades ago. A real eye opener that will sharpen your critical thinking. Desmond does away with the misconceptions of the early days.

Of course:

Origin of species, by Darwin.

Make sure you are well prepared, because there are many outdated ideas in it. Darwin only understood the phenotypes and had no clue of the underlying mechanisms.

The blind watchmaker, by Dawkins.

A simple and elegant explanation of the basics of evolution for us normal people.

[PhuzzY LogiK]

I can't say I've ever read either of those books by Boyd, but he is a top notch scholar and author, so I think they would be worth your time if they sound appealing to you.

I never like recommending books to people unless I know their tastes, since it's a waste of time if you're not going to enjoy the book.  So, I'm going to shoot buckshot and post a whole bunch and maybe one or two will be of interest to people.  I'm only listing books I've personally read, but for most of these authors I'm sure their other works are good as well.

General/Comparative

The World's Religions (http://www.amazon.com/Worlds-Religions-Great-Wisdom-Traditions/dp/0062508113/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1282013898&sr=8-2) by Huston Smith: Published over 50 years ago as The Religions of Man, the title and sections of the book have been revised to be a bit more PC (such as not calling tribal religions "primitive").  It's a great overview of the major religions of the world.  It's objective, but still seeks the heart of each religion by focusing on their core beliefs rather than getting bogged down in details or debates.

What is Scripture? (http://www.amazon.com/What-Scripture-Wilfred-Smith/dp/0800626087/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282014644&sr=1-1) by Wilfred Cantwell Smith:  An interesting look at the history of what the idea of "scripture" means today and how it has varied over history and cultures.

A New Religious America (http://www.amazon.com/New-Religious-America-Christian-Religiously/dp/0060621591/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1282014885&sr=1-1) by Diana Eck: An outcome of the work of the Harvard Pluralism Project.  Examines how America is effected by its relatively recent religious diversity, and how America in turn affects those religions that reside here.

Science and Religion (http://www.amazon.com/Science-Religion-Introduction-Alister-McGrath/dp/1405187905/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_6) by Alister McGrath: Exactly what it sounds like.  McGrath holds a PhD in molecular biophysics and a Doctor of Divinity from Oxford.  I have the 1st edition of this book (which was much less expensive...good lord), but I'm guessing it's largely the same.  He treats things pretty fairly, albeit only through a Christian perspective.  Especially in his other works, he is a good counterweight to Dawkins, who was mentioned in a post above (it's worth it to read them both).

When Religion Becomes Evil (http://www.amazon.com/When-Religion-Becomes-Evil-Warning/dp/0061552011/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282016681&sr=1-1) by Charles Kimball: Not as hostile as it sounds.  One thing that always bugged me was people trying to sweep the fact the religious violence occurs under the rug.  Kimball points out that it's foolish to believe religion does only good or only evil, and attempts to examine the "warning signs" of religion leading to disaster.

Terror in the Mind of God (http://www.amazon.com/Terror-Mind-God-Religious-Comparative/dp/0520240111/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282017710&sr=1-1) by Mark Juergensmeyer: An inquiry into the relationship of religion and terrorism, from a sociological perspective.  Very well done.  More technical than Kimball, but more rewarding as well.

The End of Faith (http://www.amazon.com/End-Faith-Religion-Terror-Future/dp/0393327655/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282018039&sr=1-1)/Letter to a Christian Nation (http://www.amazon.com/Letter-Christian-Nation-Vintage-Harris/dp/0307278778/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282018039&sr=1-2) by Sam Harris: Okay, this one is hostile towards religion, but still well written.  I say "hostile", but he doesn't rant, he just believes the stakes are so high we don't have time for political correctness.  Further, with 62 pages of footnotes and a 28 page bibliography, his work has a sound academic base.  I don't necessarily agree with everything he says, but if Christians want to see into the mind of an atheist, this is a good starting point.  Just approach it as you would want an atheist to approach the Bible.


A Bit More Political

Moral Man and Immoral Society (http://www.amazon.com/Moral-Man-Immoral-Society-Theological/dp/0664224741/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282018795&sr=1-1) by Reinhold Niebuhr: Not too much theology here, but Niebuhr investigates the disparity between collective actions and individual morality.  If it intrigues you, he builds a theology consistent with it in later works.  A quick read by one of the greatest theologians of the past century.

The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order (http://www.amazon.com/Clash-Civilizations-Remaking-World-Order/dp/0684844419/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282019058&sr=1-1) by Samuel P. Huntington: Not a book on religion per se, but most of the "civilizations" have some religious basis.  The book's influence has waned since its publication, but it's a classic and worth being aware of.

What Went Wrong? (http://www.amazon.com/What-Went-Wrong-Between-Modernity/dp/0060516054/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282019359&sr=1-1) by Bernard Lewis: When the light of intellectualism in the west was little more than a flicker in the dark ages, the Middle East led advances in almost all areas of life.  So why is it seen as backwards and oppressive today?  A nice insight into modern Islam.

Jihad vs McWorld (http://www.amazon.com/Jihad-vs-McWorld-Globalism-Tribalism/dp/0345383044/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282019627&sr=1-1) by Benjamin Barber: Another classic along the lines of The Clash of Civilizations.  Highlights the paradox of the trend of globalization conflicting with increasing identification with small "tribal units".


A Little Different

The Varieties of Religious Experience (http://www.amazon.com/Varieties-Religious-Experience-William-James/dp/0980060540/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282020132&sr=1-1) by William James: A book on the psychology of religion by one of the men who shaped the field of modern psychology.  Not as straightforward as some of the books listed here, it will take some effort to get through and you may need to do some research if you're unfamiliar with pragmatism.  Don't let that deter you though, there's a lot of gems in this book.

Mystical Experience of God (http://www.amazon.com/Mystical-Experience-God-Philosophical-Philosophy/dp/075461445X/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_4) by Jerome Gellman: Again, perhaps some background is required--I recall having some trouble with parts of it.  A lot is packed into this relatively short book.  I just threw it on here because of the discussion in other threads.


Existentialism

I love existentialist thought. It is intriguing and rewarding.  It challenges and forces confrontation with probing questions about how you live your life.  It encompasses some of the most brilliant minds of the past 150 years, both towering pillars of Christianity (Kierkegaard, Tillich), and some of the most violent attacks against them (Dostoevsky, Nietzsche, Sartre).  Most of my absolute favorite works belong to this...and yet I'm extremely hesitant to put anything here.  The problem is that there is a "price of admission".  This is a body of thought that has been tremendously influential and it's hard to pin it down in just one or two works.  Most of the authors wrote several works and assume you are familiar with all of them (Kierkegaard even assumes you've read what he wrote under pseudonyms, and Nietzsche was intentionally misleading to those that don't read deeply into his works).  I think Tillich is one of the greatest theologians to ever live*, but he won't make sense unless you're acquainted with those before him.

If you want an introduction to existentialism as a whole, Walter Kaufmann is the best and Robert C. Solomon isn't bad.  Avoid Sartre to start.  Avoid Heidegger at all times (unless you're going to grad school in philosophy and like pain).  If you make it past this point, we'll talk.

* Funny story: In Harris' End of Faith, as he is pointing out how irrational he believes faith to be, when he comes to Tillich, he basically says "If all Christians were of Tillich's caliber, I would have no reason to write this book."

[ratcharmer]

Thanks for recommending Boyd. I haven't finished either book yet, but he's quite good so far.

[johannhowitzer]

I recommend fiction!  Fiction is fun.
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card.  One of the greatest modern works of science fiction.
The Book of the Dun Cow by Walter Wangerin, Jr.  Same author as Watership Down, but I liked Dun Cow better.  There is a sequel.
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain.  There have been many ripoffs, but his is still amazing.
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster.  Despite being for teens and possibly younger, it's a rollicking good read for adults, especially if you like word humor - which I do.
Wicked by Gregory Maguire.  The basis for the Broadway musical, with a great deal more character depth and storytelling color.  I have decided never to see a stage production of Wicked because the book is just too good to be so abridged.

Nonfiction:
Common Sense by Thomas Paine.  Short and sweet, and if you like history, it's a great glimpse into the political climate of the 1776-era colonies.
The Art of War by Sun Tzu.  His principles often sound like no-brainers, but it's amazing how often military commanders throughout history have been unaware of such basic principles.  I have actually found many of his statements useful in real-time strategy games.