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Books I’m Reading Right Now

I have been inspired and informed by some great books lately. Here is my current reading list:

I have finished some of these books, am in the middle of others, and have only started a few. Below I offer very brief reviews in no particular order…

1.      Love’s Availing Power: Imaging God, Imaging the World, by Paul R. Sponheim. Sponheim’s books have been inspiring in the past, and this one is proving to be no different. In particular, Sponheim draws from the best of Kierkegaard and Whitehead when talking about love, power, and relationship. That’s an impressive pair of resources! I already love this book, and I’ve only just begun reading it.

2.      God According to God: A Scientist Discovers We’ve Been Wrong about God All Along: What the Bible Really Tells Us About God, by Gerald L. Schroeder. This accessible book tells a story of ongoing creation in light of theology and science. The author has a Ph.D. in physics and teaches at the College of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. I like the open and relational vision of God he presents, based upon his reading of scripture and interaction with science.

3.      Reading the Bible for All the Wrong Reasons, by Russell Pregeant. In a book meant to be understood by a broad audience, respected biblical scholar Pregeant talks about how we interpret the Bible. Along the way, he addresses the big issues: end times and prophecy speculation, same-sex marriage, science and theology, and a host of other issues. This book would make for a provocative small group discussion resource!

4.      Scandalous Obligation: Rethinking Christian Responsibility, by Eric Severson. Although Severson’s book is a pretty easy read, it is not easy reading! He asks difficult questions about ethics and our obligations to one another. I’m enjoying the book for what it provokes me to think about right and wrong in the context of my relations with multiple others. Severson is prompting me to consider how my obligations to others sometimes conflict, and I’m wondering how I might best respond.

5.      The Spirit of Creation: Modern Science and Divine Action in Pentecostal-Charismatic Imagination, by Amos Yong. Yong is one of my favorite authors, and this book addresses themes I care about deeply. I resonate deeply with his pneumatology, and I like the way he takes seriously issues in science. I have a little different view of divine action, but the overall similarities in our views make reading this book enjoyable. Good stuff!

6.      Spiritual Mentoring: A Guide for Seeking and Giving Direction, by Keith R Anderson and Randy D. Reese. I have begun meeting with a small group of students to “share life together.” Our university chaplain and director of student ministries recommended this book, so I’ve been dabbling in various sections. I am finding the book more a ‘refresher’ read than a book offering startlingly new ideas. But I think being ‘refreshed’ on the dynamics of small group interaction in Christian community is worthwhile.

7.      Addiction and Virtue: Beyond the Model of Disease and Choice, by Kent Dunnington. I really like this book; its ideas return to me at the oddest times! Dunnington analyzes addiction from the perspective of virtue ethics. As the subtitle suggests, he rejects typical “explanations” of addiction as simply a disease from which people involuntarily suffer or a voluntary choice. He opts for a narrative explanation based on the power of habits. Although I don’t like the way he uses “love” language in the book, I really like the rest of it. I especially recommend it to those dealing with addicts or addictions of various types – which is virtually all of us!

8.      Science and Religion: Are They Compatible? by Daniel Dennett and Alvin Plantinga. This fascinating little book comes from the authors’ live 2009 debate at the American Philosophical Association central division meeting. Plantinga asserts Christianity is compatible with evolutionary theory. God created the living world, says Plantinga, and it’s entirely possible God did so through evolution. Dennett, an atheist, rejects this argument. And the argument ensues. I’m going to require my students to read this!

9.      Patronage in Early Christianity: Its Use and Transformation from Jesus to Paul of Samosata, by Alan Wheatley. I was just given this book, so I’m just getting started. It’s written on a topic about which I know very little. I can see already that Wheatley has done his historical research. This will be a learning experience, and I like that! 

10.     Philosophy of Science: A Very Short Introduction, by Samir Okasha. The last time I taught a philosophy of science course, the majority of my students struggled with the text. It was technical and, frankly, pretty boring. This time around, I’m going with something I think they can better handle. This little book covers the basics pretty well. I’ll supplement it with some other articles, essays, and books, especially material that addresses the hot topics of science and religion.

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Posted in 2011 under ...and the Kitchen Sink

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