The Irrational Jesus

The Irrational Jesus
Author: Ken Evers-Hood
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 289
Release: 2016-11-10
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1498220487

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Behavioral science books are popping up on bestseller lists: Predictably Irrational; Thinking, Fast and Slow; Nudge; Decisive. Even the White House launched a Behavioral Insights Team to match the British Ministry of Nudges. Conspicuously absent from this conversation is the church. The Irrational Jesus bridges this gap. Ken Evers-Hood looks at Jesus through the lens of cognitive heuristics (mental shortcuts) and biases (blind spots) and makes the case that a fully human Jesus is predictably irrational--just like all of us. Find out how the Apostle Paul's community building mirrors a prisoner's dilemma game and how this makes Paul an irrational leader, too. Discover how playing better games in church can foster hopeful, flourishing communities. Improve your decision-making; learn when to plan for irrationality and when to live into it. The Irrational Jesus addresses these issues and more. Integrating the insights of behavioral economists such as Dan Ariely, the gameful thinking of Jane McGonigal, and cutting-edge ideas from decision theory, Evers-Hood articulates a behavioral theology for fully human pastors of fully human congregations--a fresh perspective that will change how pastors and other church leaders see themselves, the institutions they serve, and the scriptural and theological tradition.

The Pursuing God

The Pursuing God
Author: Joshua Ryan Butler
Publisher: HarperChristian + ORM
Total Pages: 337
Release: 2016-05-03
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0529101092

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Is God lost? Many of us feel that way. It’s as if God’s gone missing, out in the universe somewhere—and we must pick up the hunt, following any trail of breadcrumbs he may have left to go out and find him. We speak of “searching for God,” “exploring spirituality,” and “finding faith.” But what if we have it backward? What if God is the one pursuing us? What if our job is not to go out and find God, but simply to stop running and hiding? Not to earn God’s love, but to receive it? Not to turn on the light, but to step out of the shadows? Jesus reveals a God on the prowl, pursuing us, hunting down his world for reconciliation. And the question we’re left with is not whether we’ve pursued hard enough, searched long enough, or jumped high enough . . . The question is, “Do we want to be found?”

The Rational Bible: Deuteronomy

The Rational Bible: Deuteronomy
Author: Dennis Prager
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 578
Release: 2022-10-11
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 162157900X

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Is the Bible, the most influential book in world history, still relevant? Why do people dismiss it as being irrelevant, irrational, immoral, or all of these things? This explanation of the Book of Deuteronomy, the fifth book of the Bible, will demonstrate how it remains profoundly relevant—both to the great issues of our day and to each individual life. Do you doubt the existence of God because you think believing in God is irrational? This book will cause you to reexamine your doubts. The title of this commentary is The Rational Bible because its approach is entirely reason-based. The reader is never asked to accept anything on faith alone. In Dennis Prager’s words, “If something I write is not rational, I have not done my job.” The Rational Bible is the fruit of Prager’s forty years of teaching to people of every faith and no faith at all. On virtually every page, you will discover how the text relates to the contemporary world in general and to you on a personal level. His goal: to change your mind—and, as a result, to change your life.

The Irrational David

The Irrational David
Author: Ken Evers-Hood
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 284
Release: 2019-03-19
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1532636229

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In The Irrational Jesus: Leading the Fully Human Church, Ken Evers-Hood explored how our predictable irrationality can trip us up and how we can adjust for biases. But irrationality isn’t all bad. Leaders who live in their heads will never connect deeply with the hearts of those they serve. Because we are like small rational riders astride enormous emotional elephants, leaders must learn how to sing to elephants even as they speak to riders. In The Irrational David: The Power of Poetic Leadership, Ken invites you to sing. Through his work with poet David Whyte, Ken explores poetic leadership in King David, a fully human, irrational leader who knew how to stir people with song. In four sections, The Irrational David observes King David the believer, the beloved, the beautiful mess, and the broken-hearted. Offering his own poetry as a lens, Ken enters into scripture and creates a conversation between the spoken word and sacred text. Discover how irrationality and poetry can prepare us for the real conversations for which our communities are so hungry. Find new layers of meaning in familiar Scriptures. And welcome a fellow traveler into your life who has found strength through vulnerability and is willing to share his journey on the beautiful and messy road of faith with you.

The Case for Christ

The Case for Christ
Author: Lee Strobel
Publisher: ReadHowYouWant.com
Total Pages: 510
Release: 2010-11
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1458759202

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The book consists primarily of interviews between Strobel (a former legal editor at the Chicago Tribune) and biblical scholars such as Bruce Metzger. Each interview is based on a simple question, concerning historical evidence (for example, "Can the Biographies of Jesus Be Trusted?"), scientific evidence, ("Does Archaeology Confirm or Contradict Jesus' Biographies?"), and "psychiatric evidence" ("Was Jesus Crazy When He Claimed to Be the Son of God?"). Together, these interviews compose a case brief defending Jesus' divinity, and urging readers to reach a verdict of their own.

The Irrational Season

The Irrational Season
Author: Madeleine L'Engle
Publisher: Open Road Media
Total Pages: 259
Release: 2016-11-29
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 1504041275

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The bestselling author of A Wrinkle in Time contemplates the true meaning of faith in the third installment of her series of memoirs. Upon her death, the New York Times hailed Madeleine L’Engle as “an author whose childhood fables, religious meditations and fanciful science fiction transcended both genre and generation.” L’Engle has long captivated and provoked readers by exploring the intersection of science and religion in her work. In this intimate memoir, the award-winning author uncovers how her spiritual convictions inform and enrich the everyday. The Irrational Season follows the liturgical year from one Advent to the next, with L’Engle reflecting on the changing seasons in her own life as a writer, wife, mother, and global citizen. Unafraid to discuss controversial topics and address challenging questions, L’Engle writes from the heart in this compelling chronicle of her spiritual quest to renew and refresh her faith in an ever-changing world and her ever-changing personhood. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Madeleine L’Engle including rare images from the author’s estate.

Irrational Faith

Irrational Faith
Author: Anthony L. Taylor
Publisher: Xulon Press
Total Pages: 82
Release: 2014-03
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9781629524450

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Life definitely comes with its difficulties, uncertainties and questions of what the next step will be for you and your family. Some people choose to rely on their own strength and understanding to overcome the challenges in their way, while others may just let despair take over and convince themselves no solution is available. However, true believers in Jesus Christ know that through their salvation in Him, God hears, recognizes and will bless those who love and trust in Him. These believers have what author Anthony Taylor calls Irrational Faith, the title of his newest book that focuses on keeping believers' eyes on God while in complicated situations. Irrational faith comes through in heartfelt, groundbreaking decisions that a believer makes in order to surpass their negative outlook on their situation while faithfully seeking the will of God. From making the decision to accept Jesus as their savior to being tireless in prayer and patience, believers will become acquainted to God's voice and direction for their journey through life. Our attitude alone cannot define our faith. Faith must be developed by obeying God's word through the storms of life. It is during these times that we rely on God's provision, promises and overall concern for us revealed in His word. Anthony uses the familiar life stories of Rahab, Noah, Abraham and others to exemplify how each were faced with similar opposition in different scenarios, and received God's abundant blessings when they relinquished their lives to Him. By allowing God to take over the reins of your life, you, as the believer, are ready to face the obstacles in your path, with the full force of the Savior and Heavenly Father in front. Seeing follows believing when you give everything over to God, and find freedom in your breakthrough from sin. Anthony L. Taylor is a U.S. Army Chaplain, and one of today's dynamic speakers on the themes of faith development, spiritual resilience, empowerment, goal-setting, marriage and family wellness. He previously served as a senior pastor in Norfolk, Virginia from 1992 to 2000. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Howard University, a MFT degree from Texas A&M Central TX, a CPE Certification from Riverside Regional Medical Center and a Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary. Anthony and his wife, Paula, are the parents of three grown children, and reside in Central, Texas.

The Rational Bible: Exodus

The Rational Bible: Exodus
Author: Dennis Prager
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 370
Release: 2018-04-02
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1621577996

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A national bestseller! Why do so many people think the Bible, the most influential book in world history, is outdated? Why do our friends and neighbors – and sometimes we ourselves – dismiss the Bible as irrelevant, irrational, immoral, or all of these things? This explanation of the Book of Exodus, the second book of the Bible, will demonstrate that the Bible is not only powerfully relevant to today’s issues, but completely consistent with rational thought. Do you think the Bible permitted the trans-Atlantic slave trade? You won’t after reading this book. Do you struggle to love your parents? If you do, you need this book. Do you doubt the existence of God because belief in God is “irrational?” This book will give you reason after reason to rethink your doubts. The title of this commentary is, “The Rational Bible” because its approach is entirely reason-based. The reader is never asked to accept anything on faith alone. As Prager says, “If something I write does not make rational sense, I have not done my job.” The Rational Bible is the fruit of Dennis Prager’s forty years of teaching the Bible to people of every faith, and no faith. On virtually every page, you will discover how the text relates to the contemporary world and to your life. His goal: to change your mind – and then change your life.

Jesus Was Not Crucified

Jesus Was Not Crucified
Author: I. D. Campbell
Publisher: Createspace Independent Pub
Total Pages: 174
Release: 2013-03-30
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9781484166246

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Did you know that many early Christian groups did not believe that Jesus (pbuh) was crucified or resurrected? These early Christians heard the message of Jesus (pbuh) and they concluded that his resurrection was not necessary for salvation and in fact, he did not die. Almost 2000 years ago, Christian leadership decided that these early Christian groups' understanding of Jesus' (pbuh) life and mission were incorrect and they declare it heresy. Well 600 years after Jesus (pbuh), a man born in Arabia made a proclamation that was in agreement with the claim that Jesus (pbuh) was not crucified. Today at least 1.8 billion people believe that Jesus (pbuh) was not crucified, while at least 2.1 billion people believe that he was crucified. How do we come to the truth? Do we accept the verdict made 2000 years ago or do we start a new investigation? Today using the same evidence available to those of the past, we can come to our own conclusion on this matter. The Bible contains the key witnesses to this case and I will use their testimony to prove that “Jesus was not Crucified.”

An Outlaw Named Jesus

An Outlaw Named Jesus
Author: Thaddeus Blake
Publisher: FriesenPress
Total Pages: 80
Release: 2021-02-17
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 1525574280

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This thought-provoking collection takes aim at the dark, irrational, immoral, and dangerous elements of religion; Televangelists preying on elderly victims, extant misogyny and witch-burning practices, racism, slavery and violence defended in holy books, wars justified, soldiers recruited in the name of “God,” pedophile priests and assaults on free expression. Sometimes satirical and humorous, sometimes tragic and impassioned, these poems are for anyone with a dark sense of humour, a belief in free expression, or simply a love of poetry. In the same way that religion often uses guilt, fear, and shame to restrain the mind against any criticism, this collection uses humour and pathos to free it up and elicit passion and laughter in those who find beauty and humour in the irreverent.