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Christianity. . .It's Like This: An Uncomplicated Look at What It Means to Be a Christ-Follower
Do you ever feel like Christianity is way too complicated? Most people in America--and too many within the Church--don't have an accurate understanding of biblical Christianity, let alone, how to live it. Adding to this confusion is a world that continues to shift its ethics while offering a buffet of religious options. Christianity. . .It's Like This exposes the most important elements of the Christian faith, as well as the underlying weaknesses that threaten to corrupt it. This perfect fusion of precise doctrinal instruction and real-world application offers an uncomplicated, life-changing understanding of the Christian faith.
256 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2015
3 people are currently reading
179 people want to read
About the author
David R. Smith
131 books9 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 28, 2015
I received this book free for review from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Despite the privilege of receiving a free book, I'm absolutely candid about it below because I believe authors and readers will benefit most from honest reviews rather than vacuous 5-star reviews.
This book is an accessible introduction to the Christian faith. It covers all the standard topics from what is God? Who is Jesus and the Holy Spirit? And of course all the various points of what happens after you’re dead and what should you do while you’re still alive. In the interest of full disclosure, however, it must be noted that I am not a Christian and generally tend to view the mystical aspects of the Christian faith as pure hogwash. But in the interest of honest reviewing I will not let that obscure my vision as I look at this book as a purely academic endeavor.
To the positive, the book is, as it claims, very uncomplicated and easy to follow. It also adheres to the familiar and rigorous pattern of introducing a topic to you, telling you what it means to you and then backing up the point with citations from the Bible itself. It's an accessible but also academic form that the author has done a good job of using to make the potentially complicated very easily digested.
The only negative I would point out is that the book isn't really breaking any new ground. I've read lots of similar Christian "explainers" and they all seem to follow very similar lines. These are the same basic arguments that I’ve read a dozen times and as an atheist I’m no closer to believing them in this accessible form than I was when I read them in C.S. Lewis’ "Mere Christianity."
In summary, this book is what it says it is. It’s very accessible and a great primer for those who might be confused. I’d suggest, however, that it is just that though, a primer. Those who want a more in depth take or have deeper doubts, I'd suggest you go straight to the Lewis and skip this one.
PS: I hope my review was helpful. If it was not, then please let me know what I left out that you'd want to know. I always aim to improve.
This book is an accessible introduction to the Christian faith. It covers all the standard topics from what is God? Who is Jesus and the Holy Spirit? And of course all the various points of what happens after you’re dead and what should you do while you’re still alive. In the interest of full disclosure, however, it must be noted that I am not a Christian and generally tend to view the mystical aspects of the Christian faith as pure hogwash. But in the interest of honest reviewing I will not let that obscure my vision as I look at this book as a purely academic endeavor.
To the positive, the book is, as it claims, very uncomplicated and easy to follow. It also adheres to the familiar and rigorous pattern of introducing a topic to you, telling you what it means to you and then backing up the point with citations from the Bible itself. It's an accessible but also academic form that the author has done a good job of using to make the potentially complicated very easily digested.
The only negative I would point out is that the book isn't really breaking any new ground. I've read lots of similar Christian "explainers" and they all seem to follow very similar lines. These are the same basic arguments that I’ve read a dozen times and as an atheist I’m no closer to believing them in this accessible form than I was when I read them in C.S. Lewis’ "Mere Christianity."
In summary, this book is what it says it is. It’s very accessible and a great primer for those who might be confused. I’d suggest, however, that it is just that though, a primer. Those who want a more in depth take or have deeper doubts, I'd suggest you go straight to the Lewis and skip this one.
PS: I hope my review was helpful. If it was not, then please let me know what I left out that you'd want to know. I always aim to improve.
May 17, 2015
I received this book as a first read. It's the best overview and guide book of Christianity that I've come across. It's well written, down to earth, practical, humorous, and includes historical (Lincoln, the moon landing, etc) and pop culture references (Independence Day, South Park, Pirates of the Caribbean, etc). Smith answers the basic questions of Christians and skeptics alike in plain English and using examples that are easy to understand. He tackles issues like - Does God exist?, Can I trust the Bible? Do I have to go to church? What is the Holy Spirit? What makes a church good?, etc. Each chapter also includes questions to ask yourself or a bible study group. Smith provides a Christian counterpoint to atheists like Dawkins and inspires skeptics to believe and Christians to be better practitioners of the faith. If more ministers had the sensibility of Smith, people wouldn't be fleeing the faith and the world would be a better place.
March 7, 2015
I am currently still reading Christianity...It's Like This together with my husband. We are actually using it as a devotion. There are natural breaks every couple of pages that break the material up into manageable portions. The conversational tone is inviting and the topics are covered in a way that opens up discussion instead of putting up barriers. My husband and I are enjoying it immensely and plan on recommending it to friends or suggesting a group study using it as a starting point. I think this book would reach an older teen to mid-adult individual, but I think there is even more benefit to reading this book with others. The discussion questions it includes facilitates this idea nicely.
March 3, 2015
I read this book as a kick-off to lent and felt it was the most down to earth book about religion I have read. I really appreciated that. I think this book would be perfect for someone who has just joined or is returning to Christianity. The sections are well thought out and I liked how the book is organized. The first section on a topic is a general discussion about the topic. Then part two is more what I would call a lesson on that topic, with questions to consider and additional stories continuing the lesson.
I received a copy of this book from Goodreads but my opinions are my own.
I received a copy of this book from Goodreads but my opinions are my own.
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July 20, 2015i won this book and never got it
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews