The Disturbing Nature of Christianity challenges the reader to look at the central truths of Christianity with unflinching honesty. Excerpts from The Disturbing Nature of Christianity: The message of the Bible is clear. The great majority of humanity (including that humanity we personally know) will be offended and reject the salvation offered by God the Father through His Son. Do you find that truth disturbing? If so you are experiencing a natural consequence of taking Jesus teaching seriously. Jesus told us that if you are a Christian you are in a tiny minority. And as we have seen in our study the true Christian is in a minority even in conservative evangelical churches. In his classic book The Cost of Discipleship, the world-renowned theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer explains Christs teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. The following is teaching I never heard from any pulpit or any Bible teacher in my 35 years as a Christian. (Concerning Matthew 7:13-14) A little band of men, the followers of Christ, are separated from the rest of the world. The disciples are few in number, and will always be few. The saying of Jesus forestalls all exaggerated hopes of success. Never let a disciple of Jesus pin his hopes on large numbers. The only comfort the disciples have in face of this prospect is the promise of life and eternal fellowship with Jesus. (p. 211) (Concerning Matthew 10) The Messengers of Jesus will be hated to the end of time. They will be blamed for all the divisions, which rend cities and homes. Jesus and his disciples will be condemned on all sides for undermining family life, and for leading the nation astray, they will be called crazy fanatics and disturbers of the peace (p. 239)

How should we understand biblical texts where God is depicted as acting irrationally, violently, or destructively? If we distance ourselves from disturbing portrayals of God, how should we understand the authority of Scripture? How does the often wrathful God portrayed in the Old Testament relate to the God of love proclaimed in the New Testament? Is that contrast even accurate? Disturbing Divine Behavior addresses these perennially vexing questions for the student of the Bible. Eric A. Seibert calls for an engaged and discerning reading of the Old Testament that distinguishes the particular literary and theological goals achieved through narrative characterizations of God from the rich understanding of the divine to which the Old Testament as a whole points. Providing illuminating reflections on theological reading as well, this book will be a welcome resource for any readers who puzzle over disturbing representations of God in the Bible.

With sensitivity to the Christian tradition and a rich understanding of postmodern thought, Peter Rollins argues that the movement known as the “emerging church” offers a singular, unprecedented message of transformation that has the potential to revolutionize the theological and moral architecture of Western Christianity. How (not) to Speak of God sets out to explore the theory and praxis of this contemporary expression of faith. Rollins offers a clear exploration of this embryonic movement and provides key resources for those involved in communities that are conversant with, and seeking to minister effectively to, the needs of a postmodern world. “Here in pregnant bud is the rose, the emerging new configuration, of a Christianity that is neither Roman nor Protestant, neither Eastern nor monastic; but rather is the re-formation of all of them. Here, in pregnant bud, is third-millennium Christendom.” —Phyllis Tickle “I am a raving fan of the book you are holding. I loved reading it. I have already begun widely recommending it. Reading it did good for my mind and for my soul. It helped me understand my own spiritual journey more clearly, and it gave me a sense of context for the work I’m involved in. In fact, I would say this is one of the two or three most rewarding books of theology I have read in ten years.” —Brian McLaren, from the Foreword

I've shared the details of my spiritual journey in Goodbye Jesus: An Evangelical Preacher's Journey Beyond Faith. My aim in this book is raise four challenging questions that need to be addressed by every Christian believer and then to offer one incredibly simple answer-an answer that challenges the veracity of the Christian faith but can also be the gateway to a rewarding new life that is based on truth and does not require the suspension of common sense. Objectively examining your closely held belief system is not a walk in the park. And facing up to the idea that you might be under a spell that makes it hard for you to think objectively is daunting, especially when you rely on the spell's results to make you feel that everything is okay and when you've been warned that tampering with the spell is the worst thing you could ever do. Choose courage. If what you believe is true, it can stand the test of any question that I or anyone else might raise. I encourage you to open your mind, face the facts, and decide that you will follow the truth wherever it leads. I spent most of my life in a search for truth about faith, God, and religion. Maybe I can save you some time as you make your own decisions. Tim Sledge

Most of us spend a lifetime trying to figure out who we are and how we relate to others and God. The Enneagram is here to help. Far more than a personality test, author Chris Heuertz teaches us that the Enneagram is a sacred map to the soul. Lies about who we think we are keep us trapped in loops of self-defeat, but the Enneagram uniquely reveals nine ways we get lost, as well as nine ways we find our way home to our true self and to God. Whether you are an enthusiast or simply Enneagram-curious, this groundbreaking guide to the spiritual depth of the Enneagram will help you: Understand the "why" behind your type beyond caricatures and stereotypes Identify and find freedom from self-destructive patterns Learn how to work with your type toward spiritual growth Awaken your unique gifts to serve today's broken world Richly insightful and deeply practical, The Sacred Enneagram is your invitation to begin the journey of a life transformed. Praise for The Sacred Enneagram: "Integrated within these pages is Chris's extensive knowledge and understanding of this ancient tool, along with depth in his teaching of contemplative spirituality as practiced by Jesus. Readers are offered a powerful way forward in their unique journey of spiritual transformation through aligning Christian contemplative prayer postures to specific Enneagram types." --Nina M. Barnes, Dean of Spiritual Formation & Leadership, University of Northwestern-St. Paul "The Sacred Enneagram is a groundbreaking contribution to the Enneagram community, providing unique spiritual growth insights for all nine types. If you're not yet convinced of the value, depth, and accuracy of the Enneagram, Chris demystifies and makes this ancient wisdom more accessible than ever." --George Mekhail, pastor, The Riverside Church NYC

As a Christian you might have asked yourself questions like: How could a benevolent God, “our Father,” punish anyone in fire eternally? How could billions of non-members of my church all be going to hell? How can there be three “Gods” in one God? How can Jesus be both human and divine? Why is the “kingdom of God” in heaven, but we pray for it to “come on earth”? Why is the Bible infallible when it’s littered with textual contradictions? The talking serpent clearly relegates Adam and Eve’s story to the realm of tales. Since they never existed, how could they have committed original sin? So how could we inherit it? And what did Jesus need to redeem us from? It’s been almost two thousand years: will Jesus ever come back to earth? How can Jesus be inside the Eucharist? Faith and Reason shows why and how we’ve come to believe such oddities. “The truth will set you free!” John 8:32 (NIV)

In this long-awaited book, pre-eminent analytical philosopher Alvin Plantinga argues that the conflict between science and theistic religion is actually superficial, and that at a deeper level they are in concord.