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Ask the Bible Geek: Fascinating Answers to Intriguing Questions
Gifted youth leader Mark Hart, aka the Bible Geek, asks and answers the real questions that puzzle Catholics. This updated and expanded edition of a bestselling classic deals with concerns about God, temptations, personal issues, social media and technology, and more. Solutions to typical situations you face today are rooted in Scripture and Catholic tradition and provide fascinating advice and strong encouragement for living an authentic Christian life.
- GenresCatholic
176 pages, Paperback
First published April 29, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 12, 2019
Well-meaning book that covers most commonly asked questions; however, Scripture is more often than not taken out of its intended context.
The author was also highly erroneous in his explanation of the Christian view of suffering. (Where my fellow Protestants at?) Nowhere in this chapter does he mention about original sin, which is terribly misleading. He draws a thin line of reasoning by stringing the suffering of Christians and the suffering of Christ as glorious and necessary, without actually defining the different kinds of suffering we could experience.
It is a feel-good read for teens/new believers of the Catholic faith (i.e. appealing to sentimentality and ?guilt of professed believers). I would recommend reading it with a lot of caution, with the addition of wise counsel/guidance and commitment to go deeper in exploring the issues tackled in this book. Best if you don’t read it at all, I wouldn’t call the author a Bible geek, honestly.
The author was also highly erroneous in his explanation of the Christian view of suffering. (Where my fellow Protestants at?) Nowhere in this chapter does he mention about original sin, which is terribly misleading. He draws a thin line of reasoning by stringing the suffering of Christians and the suffering of Christ as glorious and necessary, without actually defining the different kinds of suffering we could experience.
It is a feel-good read for teens/new believers of the Catholic faith (i.e. appealing to sentimentality and ?guilt of professed believers). I would recommend reading it with a lot of caution, with the addition of wise counsel/guidance and commitment to go deeper in exploring the issues tackled in this book. Best if you don’t read it at all, I wouldn’t call the author a Bible geek, honestly.
July 31, 2018
Mark Hart examines the living of faith in everyday life and questions concerned and answers them in short texts.
I think the book is aimed to young readers, teenagers and above (given certain shortness and simplicity - which I assume are intentional for this purpose), but even more mature reader can stop and examine his faith life both in its basics, so to say, and in more specific aspects of their own situations.
This book might be appealing to male readers, I suppose, as Mark Hart has this dry, pointed humour I can find in many male friends of mine.
I think the book is aimed to young readers, teenagers and above (given certain shortness and simplicity - which I assume are intentional for this purpose), but even more mature reader can stop and examine his faith life both in its basics, so to say, and in more specific aspects of their own situations.
This book might be appealing to male readers, I suppose, as Mark Hart has this dry, pointed humour I can find in many male friends of mine.
November 15, 2015
As a teacher in a Catholic school there are so many things to love about this book. Mark Hart identifies very real questions that people have in relation to the Catholic faith and provides straight forward answers in a language that will especially have a strong appeal with a Young Adult audience. I particularly appreciated the focus upon directs links to relevant passages in scripture..
This is an awesome resource to share with teachers who are perhaps new to Catholic schools (unfamiliar with the faith). I imagine also that it would make perfect reading for those who are undertaking an Adult sacramental program, or, perhaps for Catholic who just seek some clarification on specific faith related issues. Personally, as a secondary teacher in a Catholic school I would ideally use this in the classroom (from the middle years upwards), in either Religious Education classes, or even as part of a Pastoral Care or Home Room program. I would allow students to select the question for investigation and use the book as an aide to break open the ideas. The related scripture might even be posted somewhere visible in the room for reference to during the course of the week.
A highly useful resource for all Catholics wishing to know more about their faith or for those just beginning to discover it
This is an awesome resource to share with teachers who are perhaps new to Catholic schools (unfamiliar with the faith). I imagine also that it would make perfect reading for those who are undertaking an Adult sacramental program, or, perhaps for Catholic who just seek some clarification on specific faith related issues. Personally, as a secondary teacher in a Catholic school I would ideally use this in the classroom (from the middle years upwards), in either Religious Education classes, or even as part of a Pastoral Care or Home Room program. I would allow students to select the question for investigation and use the book as an aide to break open the ideas. The related scripture might even be posted somewhere visible in the room for reference to during the course of the week.
A highly useful resource for all Catholics wishing to know more about their faith or for those just beginning to discover it
November 1, 2015
I received this book from NetGalley. Wow. This book was powerful. I highly recommend it for all Catholics. I think part of what makes the book so compelling is how accessible and easy to read it is. It's funny (and punny), it's informative, and it's honest. While the Catechism is informative it's inaccessible which is why books like this are helpful. Hart keeps it real asking "Are you a child of God or a brat of God?" The book asks several religious questions (Does God feel Pain?, Why did Jesus allow the cross?, Ever feel like not going to mass?, Ever feel like God's not present in your life?, Why do we go to a priest for confession?, etc.) and then quotes a relevant Bible verse and proffers an explanation for the answer and how everything ties into our salvation. Hart does a good job of relating the scripture to everyday life. The questions and answers in this book will force you to examine your faith more deeply and change some of your bad habits. Fans of books by Michael Foley and Kevin Johnson will enjoy this read.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews