Beliefs That Really Matter is both exegetical and theological in nature and gives clarity to contemporary readers of subject matter that they may find themselves struggling with, in living the Christian life. Just to name a few topics, that the author has discussed in Beliefs That Really Matter are (a) God - Breathed Scripture, (b) Gods Plan of Grace, (c) A New Beginning, and (d) The Faith of One Man. Beliefs That Really Matter makes people think about why they believe certain doctrines and to examine the doctrines whether if it is biblically sound. The Christian life is unique which we cannot deny, but the real challenge for us is to live the Christian life according to Gods standards and not ours. These concerns should be relevant and timely to the practicing Christian that this book represents. Each chapter of Beliefs That Really Matter is thought provoking and engages the readers not to settle for cheap messages of the gospel that our culture is so quickly to accept that lead many astray from the Bible. For example, cheap messages of the gospel do not develop the believer into a spiritual mature person, but only leaves the believer to sink in their Christian experience and causes confusion for many and disappointment for others. No wonder many Christians face numerous spiritual challenges and find themselves drifting from the sacred writings. Beliefs That Really Matter points the professing Christian to study the Scriptures and to scoop out the meaning for themselves from Gods Word that they begin to apply in their lives as having to form a firm foundation. Quite often, we may read a book that does nothing for our spiritual growth and does not challenge certain teachings or examine the Scripture. In Beliefs That Really Matter the author exposes shallow Christian beliefs that resemble a grab bag, and calls attention to the unique Word of God that shapes our lives for a firm foundation. Beliefs That Really Matter is written for college students, pastors and lay leaders and for those who desire to grow in their spirituality and to experience a hunger for Gods presence in their lives. For example, the reader would benefit tremendously from the book by doing a Bible study on their own, share in a small group discussion, to be used as a text for a Sunday school class or to be used as a college text book in the discipline of Christian theology, especially in the area of apply soteriology. The contents of the book are clear and specific that does not leave the reader in the dark, but rather motivate the reader to strengthen his faith and to connect with the sacred writings that feeds his soul. Beliefs That Really Matter is a wealth of information to the readers that enjoy responsible exegesis and theological explanation of words and there meanings, grammatical tenses, expressions, misunderstandings and contradictions. Each chapter is concluded with a short study guide that enables the readers to think about their need for spiritual growth and enrichment and to dig into Gods Word as hidden treasure. Sincerely, Veerasammy Carpen

In the scientific analysis of religion, the most important distinguishing feature of the economic approach compared to other disciplines is that it has not conflicted with religion, unlike other areas of social science. Especially with the rational choice theory, it is seen that religion and religiosity are the subject of scientific research as a phenomenon that affects the decisions and preferences of the rational individual. In this context, especially in many recent studies, the relationship between religion, religiosity and economic development has been discussed in both ways. Although the impact of religion and religiosity on economic develop­ment, or vice versa, the impact of economic development on religion and religiosity has been laid out mainly in researc­hes reflecting the Christian world, this relationship has not been examined much in predominantly Muslim countries, including Turkey.This book examines this two-way effect based on data through a large volume of Turkey sample. In the first chapters, starting from the age of enlightenment, we talk about the adventure of the areas that are the subject of the debate between religion and social sciences, and in the following sections, the answer to many questions in the context of economic analysis of religion is revealed based on data. What is the relationship between individual indicators of development, basic demographics and religiosity? Who are more religious, highly educated or low-educated people? Is there a gender gap in terms of religiosity? Or is age an important variable for religiosity? What is the change in religiosity as the income level rises? What does the comparison of regions with different levels of economic development tell us in terms of religiosity? You will find answers to many such questions on Turkey population and the rest of the world comparatively in this book ...

Why has evolution become so widely accepted, and why has the Bible come to be viewed with such hostility? What has changed? Inside this Bible study aid: -- Science, the Bible and Wrong Assumptions -- The Testimony of the New Testament -- Scientists, Creation and Evolution -- Ancient Near Eastern Concepts of Creation -- The Greek Concept of Creation -- What Does the Fossil Record Show? -- The Problem of "Living Fossils" -- The Fossil Record: Expectation vs. Fact -- The Case Against Evolution -- Darwinism Is Not the Same as Evolution -- Microevolution Doesn't Prove Macroevolution -- Competition or Cooperation: How Symbiosis Defies Darwin -- Oddities in Nature That Defy Evolution -- The Scientific Evidence: In the Eye of the Beholder -- Earth's Age: Does the Bible Indicate a Time Interval Between the First and Second Verses of Genesis? -- Genesis 1 and the Days of Creation -- The Societal Consequences of Darwinism -- The World Before Man: The Biblical Explanation

In a day in which Christians too often reduce faith to mere sentimentality and atheists decry it as superstitious nonsense, Fr. Kerry Walters offers a series of reflections intended to show that, indeed, faith matters. Drawn from his popular weekly newspaper column “Faith Matters,” these short meditations explore Christian faith from the perspectives of doctrine, spirituality, ethics, politics, art and science, the saints, and the holy seasons that mark the Christian year and set the rhythm of Christian living.

`It is a brilliant work, beautifully written, and brimming with surprising information and stimulating philosophical speculations.' Notices of teh American Mathematical Society --

This book provides a general introduction to the basic beliefs of Christian theology togther with their significance for Christian living and worship

Religion Matters: How Sociology Helps Us Understand Religion in Our World focuses on religion’s interplay with broader society, introducing students to the basic questions, ideas, and methods with which sociologists have analyzed the relationship between religion and society. Since the first edition, religion as a social force has changed dramatically in its content and consequences for the world. In this new edition, the authors update the foundational lenses used to understand religion’s multiple roles in society, assess the impact of technology and social media on religion and faith, draw further reflection from contemporary studies of religion and gender, and add a new chapter examining the increasing amount of religious polarization in the United States and throughout the world. With new illustrations and connections that make this readable textbook more accessible and relevant for today’s student, the second edition of Religion Matters remains a perfect counterpart for introductory courses concerned with the sociological study of religion.

This book draws together leaders in science, the health sciences, the humanities, and the social sciences to investigate the role of religion, its meaning and relevance, for their area of specialization. It provides a much-needed fresh perspective on the way in which religion operates within the modern, neo-liberal world. The book approaches the topic by way of a critical engagement between religion, broadly defined, and the individual disciplines in which each of the contributors is expert. Rather than simply taking the dogmatic position that religion offers something to every possible discipline, each of the chapters in this collection addresses the question: is there something that religion can offer to the discipline in question? That is the value of the book – it takes a truly critical stance on the place of religion in contemporary society.

From the author of Catching Genius, a novel of a young man's search for faith-and its unintended consequences. At age twelve, Marshall Tobias saw his best friend killed by a train. It was then that he began his search for faith-delving into one tradition, then discarding it for another. His parents, however, have little time for spiritual contemplation. Their focus has been on his little sister Megan, who suffers from severe food allergies. Now Marshall is home from college with his first real girlfriend, but there is more to Ada than meets the eye-including her beliefs about the evils of medical intervention. What follows is a crisis that tests not only faith, but the limits of family, forgiveness, and our need to believe.