10 Things Your Minister Wants to Tell You
(But Can't, Because He Needs the Job)
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Product: Book
ISBN-10: 0-312-36379-6
ISBN-13: 9780312363796
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Country:
Year: March 20, 2007
Edition: 1st
Size: 12.70 x 17.53 x 2.03cm
Number of pages: 128
Weight: 204gr
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN-10: 0-312-36379-6
ISBN-13: 9780312363796
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Country:
Year: March 20, 2007
Edition: 1st
Size: 12.70 x 17.53 x 2.03cm
Number of pages: 128
Weight: 204gr
Binding: Hardcover
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Product Description
»How did it all begin?« »What happens when we die?« These are just two of the questions Reverend Oliver »Buzz« Thomas hears centrist Christians asking as he travels across the U.S. and he knows that their voices are not being heard. They're people of faith, not of politics, and they want more from their religion than a voter's guide. In 10 Things Your Minister Wants to Tell You: But Can't Because He Needs the Job, Rev. Thomas has written a book that will become the liberal Christian answer to The Purpose Driven Life. He writes sensitively about the reason we were put on this earth, the significance of the Bible and how one pleases God. He answers difficult, contemporary questions like »What about homosexuality?« and »What about other faiths?«. In 10 Things, Rev. Thomas weaves a Christian theology for today that people will embrace as a guide to sensible, modern living.
reviews
Good news for intelligent Christians 
An absolute revelation!10 Things Your Minister Wants to Tell You: (But Can't, Because He Needs the Job) For millions of life long/thinking Christians who feel swept out of the church by the Evangelical (fundamentalist) flood of the last two decades, this book is the ultimate reassurance. In just a few pages, and with a clarity that most liberal theologians never approach, Rev/Counselor Thomas finally explains that knot in the collective stomach of main line parishioners, now marginalized by the new church of God Lite. Finally, a thoughtful believer unafraid to challenge the Jesus-on-a-tee-shirt crowd … with the very biblical text they habitually misapply! In just over a hundred pages, the God box of contemporary, consumer driven American Christianity is torn open and the Creator is restored to the mysterious, awesome nature that rightfully and historically are God's realm. A very important and very enjoyable read.
An absolute revelation!10 Things Your Minister Wants to Tell You: (But Can't, Because He Needs the Job) For millions of life long/thinking Christians who feel swept out of the church by the Evangelical (fundamentalist) flood of the last two decades, this book is the ultimate reassurance. In just a few pages, and with a clarity that most liberal theologians never approach, Rev/Counselor Thomas finally explains that knot in the collective stomach of main line parishioners, now marginalized by the new church of God Lite. Finally, a thoughtful believer unafraid to challenge the Jesus-on-a-tee-shirt crowd … with the very biblical text they habitually misapply! In just over a hundred pages, the God box of contemporary, consumer driven American Christianity is torn open and the Creator is restored to the mysterious, awesome nature that rightfully and historically are God's realm. A very important and very enjoyable read.
10 Sessions enjoyed by our SS class
Encouraged some of our most productive discussion in the last couple years. No other book or series impacted as well.
Encouraged some of our most productive discussion in the last couple years. No other book or series impacted as well.
10 Things Your Pastor Wants to Tell You
The author addresses ten basic things about Christianity that all Christians should be concerned about. His simple straightforward answers are very re-assuring and I found them very helpful in securing my faith.
The author addresses ten basic things about Christianity that all Christians should be concerned about. His simple straightforward answers are very re-assuring and I found them very helpful in securing my faith.
Evangelicals won't like this …
… that is, the book itself, or my review, doesn't matter! As a former evangelical with Theology degree from a well-known Bible College (back in the early 70s), I always felt something was not quite right with my evangelical world-view, but didn't have the courage to examine or question it. (After all, I would probably go to Hell if I jettisoned those years of training and indoctrination.) This book PERFECTLY expresses why a lot of those fundamentalist, evangelical doctrines no longer hold any water for me. Completely logical and well-researched arguments, expressed in plain english. This is not a book for scholars, but for the everyday Christian or searcher who senses there is more (or LESS!) to this faith than the Four Spiriual Laws!) The author clearly has a strong faith in God, without all the evangelical baggage that so many of us grew up with. Only read this book if you think you might not have all the answers. Those who have life and faith wrapped up in a nice little package, will not like this book, and will probably label him apostate and doing the devil's work!!
… that is, the book itself, or my review, doesn't matter! As a former evangelical with Theology degree from a well-known Bible College (back in the early 70s), I always felt something was not quite right with my evangelical world-view, but didn't have the courage to examine or question it. (After all, I would probably go to Hell if I jettisoned those years of training and indoctrination.) This book PERFECTLY expresses why a lot of those fundamentalist, evangelical doctrines no longer hold any water for me. Completely logical and well-researched arguments, expressed in plain english. This is not a book for scholars, but for the everyday Christian or searcher who senses there is more (or LESS!) to this faith than the Four Spiriual Laws!) The author clearly has a strong faith in God, without all the evangelical baggage that so many of us grew up with. Only read this book if you think you might not have all the answers. Those who have life and faith wrapped up in a nice little package, will not like this book, and will probably label him apostate and doing the devil's work!!
Returning to the Core of Christianity – Love and Humility
The Rev. Buzz Thomas is one of those rare birds we don't get to see very often –- a Southern Baptist preacher who embraces a modern understanding of Christianity. If militant fundamentalism –- of any stripe –- makes you shiver, this little book is just what the doctor ordered. Rev. Thomas begins his narrative with a quote from one of his mentors, a fellow minister who said: »Religion is what you live. The rest is little more than pious platitudes.« From this simple beginning, we embark on a fun, factual and fascinating trip through the hottest religious issues of the day, including: -- Evolution vs. creationism -- Science and faith -- God's purpose for our lives -- Biblical »inerrancy« -- Miracles and their historical context -- The role of women in the church -- Homosexuality -- Death and heaven -- The end of times Each major point is backed up with citations not only from the Bible but also from Christian history, archaeology, linguistics and the author's extensive knowledge of how they all fit together. Thomas demonstrates in the clearest terms possible that one can be a fully functioning, fully engaged Christian without descending into fundamentalist hypocrisy or intellectual prevarication. Thomas main message is simple: God is love, so let's live our lives accordingly. To be a good Christian, you don't have to hate gays or Charles Darwin. You don't have to read the Bible like a science textbook or some ethereal document transcribed by angels. You don't have to treat women like second-class citizens. And you certainly don't have to be a »purist« (modern day Pharisee) who selectively adheres to some parts of the Bible when its convenient to advance a particular political agenda. Many years ago Thomas' favorite poet –- Carl Sandburg –- was asked to name the dirtiest word in the English language. Sandburg said: the word »EXCLUSIVE.« That's the clever segue into Thomas' bottom line: When we seek to exclude our fellow human beings from the love of God by building walls of hatred and doctrinal exclusion, we fail as Christians. When we claim to speak for God, we end up speaking only for ourselves. Kyrie eleison.
The Rev. Buzz Thomas is one of those rare birds we don't get to see very often –- a Southern Baptist preacher who embraces a modern understanding of Christianity. If militant fundamentalism –- of any stripe –- makes you shiver, this little book is just what the doctor ordered. Rev. Thomas begins his narrative with a quote from one of his mentors, a fellow minister who said: »Religion is what you live. The rest is little more than pious platitudes.« From this simple beginning, we embark on a fun, factual and fascinating trip through the hottest religious issues of the day, including: -- Evolution vs. creationism -- Science and faith -- God's purpose for our lives -- Biblical »inerrancy« -- Miracles and their historical context -- The role of women in the church -- Homosexuality -- Death and heaven -- The end of times Each major point is backed up with citations not only from the Bible but also from Christian history, archaeology, linguistics and the author's extensive knowledge of how they all fit together. Thomas demonstrates in the clearest terms possible that one can be a fully functioning, fully engaged Christian without descending into fundamentalist hypocrisy or intellectual prevarication. Thomas main message is simple: God is love, so let's live our lives accordingly. To be a good Christian, you don't have to hate gays or Charles Darwin. You don't have to read the Bible like a science textbook or some ethereal document transcribed by angels. You don't have to treat women like second-class citizens. And you certainly don't have to be a »purist« (modern day Pharisee) who selectively adheres to some parts of the Bible when its convenient to advance a particular political agenda. Many years ago Thomas' favorite poet –- Carl Sandburg –- was asked to name the dirtiest word in the English language. Sandburg said: the word »EXCLUSIVE.« That's the clever segue into Thomas' bottom line: When we seek to exclude our fellow human beings from the love of God by building walls of hatred and doctrinal exclusion, we fail as Christians. When we claim to speak for God, we end up speaking only for ourselves. Kyrie eleison.
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