Currently Reading: Fall 2005

I've been meaning to post the books I've been reading over the past few months, but with all the busyness of my studies, internship, and ministry tasks, I've been unable to. Well, here they are, all in one post. I've only included my favourite books, as otherwise the list would be much too long. Some of these books I read cover-to-cover, others I just skim-read. Also, I included a brief review that includes some positive and negative aspects of the book.

Anyways, here goes:















Title: Christian Religious Education. Sharing Our Story And Vision
Author: Thomas H. Groome
Publisher: Jossey-Bass
Release: 1980
Review: This is a gem. A bit heavy and philosophical at times, but it thoroughly covers what it claims to. It provides a "comprehensive integration of the history, theory, and practise of modern religious education for a generation of educators" (back cover).

Title: Medieval Monasticism. Forms of Religious Life in Western Europe In The Middle Ages
Author: C. H. Lawrence
Publisher: Longman
Release: 2001, 3rd edition, (Original Release 1984)
Review: This is a good but slow read. It traces the rise and influence of the numerous monastic movements on the Christian faith. It covers one thousand years, from the 4th to the 14th century. For anyone not familiar with the monastics, this provides a good introduction to the incalculable contribution they rendered European civilization. It's a slow read though, as the intertwining of the political and religious milieus are complex, and the period of history covered is not one that the typical contemporary reader is very familiar with.

Title: The Story of Christianity. Volume I: The Early Church To The Dawn Of The Reformation
Author: Justo L. Gonzalez
Publisher: HarperSanFrancisco
Release: 1984
Review: Anyone wishing to read up on the story of Christianity need look no further. Gonzalez is the man. It's an "informative, interesting, and consistently readable narrative history. It brings alive the people, dramatic events, and ideas that shaped the first fifteen centuries of the church's life and thought" (Back cover). Perhaps most importantly, it avoids what so many other Christian writers/books are unable to do, namely, the polarization and polemicism between the Catholic and the Protestant tradition. One drawback: it does not deal appropriately or sufficiently with the "other lung" of the global church: the Orthodox Church.

Title: The Story of Christianity. Volume II: The Reformation To The Present Day
Author: Justo L. Gonzalez
Publisher: HarperSanFrancisco
Release: 1985
Review: Same as above. Gonzalez is the man.
















Title: Word, Water, Wine, And Bread. How Worship Has Changed Over The Years
Author: William H. Willimon
Publisher: Judson
Release: 1980
Review: This thin little book traces the progression of Christian worship from the early church to the late 20th century. It's written in a simple, easy-to-understand language that is appealing to readers of various levels. Trying to cover 2000 years of worship history is a tough task in such a short format, however, so the one drawback of this book is that it's very general. Still, a great introductory read.

Title: Life And Practise In The Early Church. A Documentary Reader
Author: Steven McKinion (editor)
Publisher: New York University
Review: This documentary reader provides a window into early church worship practises. It includes many excerpts of post-Apostolic church writings, such as the Didache, as well as authors such as St. Irenaeus , St. Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, and Hyppolytus.