Caylon DePalma > Recent Status Updates

This was such an excellent read. I would encourage anyone interested in the battle between “science” and “religion” or mistakenly convinced that America is a “Republic founded on rationality” vs. “a Christian nation” to take up this book and read it.

The author has moved from history into critique of secularization theory. He has done an excellent job pointing out the issues with the idea that secularism provides a fair, unbiased system to which people can appeal for a common view of life. Who really decides what’s fair, reasonable, and rational? Why is secularism better at that than a given religion?

I am in Chapter 8 and have loved this book thus far! I found the author’s treatment of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Rousseau and their varied contributions to the issue of church and state particularly enlightening. Great little book so far!

Thus far this book has really impressed me. I picked up a copy because it was on sale for $1.99 on Christianbook.com, and because I teach a high school course that explores Secularism as a worldview.

The author, Hunter Baker, writes in concise, clear language that surveys large swaths of history as he makes his case for the way in which Secularism came to its modern incarnation.

Just wrapped Nieburh’s examination of the “Christ-against-culture” approach to Christ and culture. Really good. I already taught the chapter which dealt with these various approaches, and in reading have discovered how much I didn’t really understand from my textbook. I am excited about the way that this book will contribute to my classes next year!

Seriously incredible work. Picked it up because I am teaching a High School course which uses it as a reference work (in the footnotes of the textbook it is routinely referenced). It is thorough, well-written, and addresses the critical issue of how Christians throughout time have sought to resolve the tensions between Christ and culture. As a pastor, and as a teacher, I am excited about this work!

An excellent and informative look at the developing church after the Apostolic era. As a guy with a passion for the second century Church, this book is something I have been waiting for, for some time!

An excellent rebuttal to Bart Ehrman’s “How Jesus Became God”, but more than that an excellent source of information for anyone who is searching for clarity about the conflict between modern “historical Jesus” studies and a Biblical/historical perspective of the Jesus movement.

So far, this book has had the uncanny ability to recount the eerily similar story of my own call to ministry, and its resultant experiences. Except that I wish I would have had this book to guide me and help me savor the moments. Incredible read thus far.

The chapter I’ve just finished is titled “Bezalel”. I am telling you, Eugene Peterson has an incredible capacity for weaving the story of Scripture and the story of Christ Our King Presbyterian into a masterful opportunity to teach!

Continuously excellent. The chapter on vocation titled Willi Ossa gives not only language but story to something I have tried to say many times about this pastoral calling I live on.