Posted on 04/22/2008 12:08:45 PM PDT by ChurtleDawg
Other than the Holy Bible, what writings should every Christian try to find and read, in your opinion?
For example: The Didache, writings by early Christian apologetics like Justin Matyr, St. Augustine's books, The Nicene Creed, the works of C.S. Lewis, Pope Benedict's book "Jesus of Nazareth", the Dead Sea Scrolls....etc.
These can be any book, writing or article that you think was essential to your understanding of Christianity, theology or to your interpretation of the Bible.
Indeed, He has Risen!
I was surprised that that far down in the thread nobody had mentioned him.
The Fathers of the Church in general. I've read so much of them over the years - I've essentially learned my Faith from them.
Take a shot of whiskey and go for it!
A good trick to study St. Augustine for those who want to do so, since he wrote so much, is to start with his Retractions written late in his life. He corrects errors he made in his earlier works, but it also gives you an outline and timeline - by him - of all his earlier writings and how to read and understand them better.
His Civitas Dei is a "civilizational" classic. I think I remember your name as a Protestant and not to scare you, but the current Pope of the Catholic Church, Benedict XVI, has been heavily influenced by St. Augustine "the Doctor of Grace" throughout his theological career.
Just the Bible. No more, no less.
Ping to read later
FIRST SMILE TODAY!
BLESS YOU!
Not to be flippant, but you are here reading FR...
1. The Bible
2. Roberts Rules of Order
How about the Gospel of Truth? And throw in ‘Paradise Lost’ and ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ for the Protestants. :-)
Im trying to gather my nerve to read City Of God by Augustine
The weight of it is a bit daunting. On the plus side, the dispies don't like it.
Asimov was an anti-Christian bigot and his books (I read many as a teen-ager) reflect his ignorant prejudices against the Bible and Christianity.
Not even a good Jew -- he was an "Ethical Humanist", or somesuch (and, I have read, at the end did not face death well).
Asimov wasn’t so much a bigot as he was an outspoken Atheist.
Thank You! What books outside sacred scripture have influenced you? I mentioned the Eusebius classic b/c it opened my eyes to the unspeakable persecution in the early church. Reading about the courage and perseverance of those early saints made me my heart ache and feel ashamed of how easy I have it. It drives a stake through the heart of the false gospels of greed popular today.
but the current Pope of the Catholic Church, Benedict XVI, has been heavily influenced by St. Augustine "the Doctor of Grace" throughout his theological career.
Everyone (in the West) claims him.
Sad it took 10 replies before this was posted.
“The Christian in Complete Armour” - William Gurnall
A towering masterpiece.
“Im trying to gather my nerve to read City Of God by Augustine”
I just began reading it and have made through 70 pages thus far. Very practical. It washes away any doubt that Augustine was anything but a dedicated Bible beleiver.(He never claimed to be infallibale anyway.)
retract my earlier Retractions to Retractationes.
is there a printed edition somewhere that you can point me to? (In English.)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.