Book Recommendations / Resources

PDN

Doc Farrell wrote: »

This title is out of print. Perhaps you could make a quick audio file of it and I'll give it a disinterested ear in the car?

Not sure what you mean here. Other than reading the book out aloud - how would one make an audio file of it?

Do you think Stead was set up in his case? I'm just working on a few things and don't really have the time to read further.

The judge certainly seemed to be very biased.

Apparently the case hinged on the fact that the girl's father had not given permission for her to be removed from the country (even though the girl's mother had sold her to be transported, as she thought, for the purposes of child prostitution). In fact the parents were not married - a fact which, if revealed in court, would have demolished the main legal point of the prosecution. Stead wanted to ask the mother to produce her wedding certificate in court, but the defence lawyer, Lord Russell, declared it would be unthinkable to ask a woman questions in court concerning her chastity!

I understand the case was also the only time when a sitting Archbishop of Canterbury has ever been called as a witness in a criminal trial.

Edit:
Wow, upon further reading is it fair to say that this 13 year old Eliza is the inspiration for Eliza Doolittle?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Thomas_Stead
That is interesting!

Yes, Terrot's book makes that connection too. The real Eliza ended up being rescued from her drunken parents and was placed by the Salvation Army with a 'respectable family'. GBS was a prominent supporter of Stead and the campaign, and even sold copies of Stead's newspapers on the street when they were blacklisted by WH Smith and regular street-sellers were beaten up by pimps.

Doc Farrell

Just my attempt at humour regarding the audio version. Actually there is a copy on eBay but as I have 4 boxes of books to get through I shall have to give this one a miss. British tv loves period drama, sounds like you should see if the rights are in the public domain!

Doc Farrell

I think this is the right thread to put this in. This has spiked my interest. Fr. Brian Grogan, former President and emeritus professor from Milltown Institute has written a new book on the subject of eschatology called 'where to from here? The Christian Vision of Life after Death'.

He will be giving a lecture on it in St. Francis Xavier church in Gardiner St on Jan 30th? I don't know what time but I'm hoping it's in the evening.

I haven't read the book but the first chapter and chapter headings are here:
http://www.veritasbooksonline.com/where-to-from-here.html#

This sentence interests me, that although this subject isn't discussed in the book, 'the issue of communication with those who have died is to be taken seriously'.
The book has a very fancy blurb from James Martin SJ on the back, who happens to be one of my favorite writers on Catholicism.

I don't have any connection with this talk or with the Jesuits for that matter, other than the fact that I seem to be tripping over worthwhile books written by them recently.

Doc Farrell

Well, I went to this talk and it was what I have come to expect from the Jesuits, upbeat, erudite and clearheaded. Fr Grogan tries to take the fear and loathing that many have of the final trip. If you have someone in your life who wants to understand clearly the Catholic position on Hell, Heaven, Purgatory but most Heaven (and definitely not limbo) I guess this book would be an ideal starting place.
I havent actually read the book but considering one of the chapters is called 'the best is yet to come' its safe to say that it's a positive orthodox view that won't scare your granny!

gimmebroadband

Doc Farrell wrote: »

I think this is the right thread to put this in. This has spiked my interest. Fr. Brian Grogan, former President and emeritus professor from Milltown Institute has written a new book on the subject of eschatology called 'where to from here? The Christian Vision of Life after Death'.

He will be giving a lecture on it in St. Francis Xavier church in Gardiner St on Jan 30th? I don't know what time but I'm hoping it's in the evening.

I haven't read the book but the first chapter and chapter headings are here:
http://www.veritasbooksonline.com/where-to-from-here.html#

This sentence interests me, that although this subject isn't discussed in the book, 'the issue of communication with those who have died is to be taken seriously'.
The book has a very fancy blurb from James Martin SJ on the back, who happens to be one of my favorite writers on Catholicism.

I don't have any connection with this talk or with the Jesuits for that matter, other than the fact that I seem to be tripping over worthwhile books written by them recently.

Thanks for the book link, I just bought it for the kindle at Amazon, will reading when I finished my latest book.

Doc Farrell

I feel guilty now as I've only just browsed through it and have another half dozen to finish before I pick it up again. But it was nice to meet the author. I also have a few kindle classics lined up and am hoping to make a dent in those over the weekend. The next book to review, properly this time, will be The Wow Factor' by William J O'Malley.
Here's a sentence from it.
'Absolute certitude - in politics or religion or any other human search - is the enemy of truth. The great sin is certitude, the great virtue is doubt, because doubt is a clear admission that even if there is no God, I myself am unequipped for the job. Doubt guards against smug, ill-considered foolishness. Doubt sends me off in search of better explanations than I've comforted myself with thus far. Certitude is for jihadists, kamikaze pilots and high school seniors.' p27

I should mention that Fr. O'Malley teaches high school seniors at Fordham. He wrote this book last year. He is 80 years of age.
To the lists of great 'sinners' above I suppose one would have to add internet forum posters!

dreamerking

I read Counterfeit gods by Timothy Keller a while ago. He mainly talks about modern idols such as money and success. He then discusses why we should put Jesus at the centre of everything we do. A highly enjoyable read. I would recommend it.

Doc Farrell

Not so much a book recommendation, as I haven't read it, as simply a quote that I like, which I think applies to Christians of all denominations.


Henri de Lubac, S.J., wrote: "The best Christians and the most vital are by no means to be found either inevitably or even generally among the wise or the clever, the intelligentsia or the politically-minded, or those of social consequence. And consequently what they say does not make the headlines; what they do does not come to the public eye. Their lives are hidden from the eyes of the world, and if they do come to some degree of notoriety, that is usually late in the day, and exceptional, and always attended by the risk of distortion" (The Splendor of the Church, p. 187).

PDN

I recently read two excellent books on China.

"A Heart for Freedom" by Chai Ling is the story of the young lady who was commander of the protesting students in Tianamen Square in 1989. It records those exciting, but eventually bloody, days and her subsequent time on the run from the Chinese authorities. She escaped the country and ended up living as a successful business woman in the United States.

One part of her story that bugged me was the way in which she kept having abortions (I lost count, but I think it was 4 times). Then, towards the end of the book, she shares how she was recently converted from Buddhism to Christ and now leads a ministry campaigning against the use of abortion in China directed against unborn baby girls (China's one child policy means families generally want a son).

"God is Red" by Liao Yiwu is yet another book exploring the phenomenal growth of Christianity in China. It is different, however, in that the author is not himself a Christian. Liao Yiwu is a well known dissident whose books are banned in China. He ignores the growth of the Gospel in the cities among young professionals (an aspect I am familiar with through my work) and concentrates more on certain rural areas where a persistent Christian influence was left by Western missionaries. He interviews Catholics, Protestants, and members of the State-Sponsored Three Self Churches.

ISAW

http://www.investigatingatheism.info/demographics.html#r4

two books on the Bottom worth looking at on demographics of atheism.
zukerman is the usual prime source for the "denmark is atheist" type comments on the net.
Zukerman is an atheist AFAIK but a capable academic. however people usually quote only his highest estimate.others are lower.

Norris, Pippa, and Ronald Inglehart. Sacred and Secular: Religion and Politics Worldwide. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2004.

Zuckerman, Phil. "Atheism: Contemporary Numbers and Patterns." In The Cambridge Companion to Atheism, edited by Michael Martin. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007.

Doc Farrell

Gardiner Street Church – Dr. Dermot Lane, President of Mater Dei Institute, will speak on his new book: Stepping Stones to other Religions A Christian Theology of Inter-Religious Dialogue on Tuesday March 20th at 7.30 p.m.   Admission is free, donation welcome.

Fanny Cradock

PDN wrote: »

I recently read two excellent books on China.
One part of her story that bugged me was the way in which she kept having abortions (I lost count, but I think it was 4 times). Then, towards the end of the book, she shares how she was recently converted from Buddhism to Christ and now leads a ministry campaigning against the use of abortion in China directed against unborn baby girls (China's one child policy means families generally want a son).

Off topic, I know, but I recently heard that the Chinese church (and I realise that this is lumping a whole lot of very different people in together) have been very slow to react against abortions. This includes the female leadership. I guess it has been made to be such a fundamental part of Chinese society that attitudes are slow to change.

lmaopml

I'm just finished reading a book by Francis Collins ( physician and geneticist and leader of the Human Genome Project, also an Atheist turned Christian )

It's called 'Belief: Readings on the Reasons for Faith' - Would highly recommend it.

It brings together short excerpts and essays from various great minds such as, St. Augustine, St.Thomas Aquinas, N.T. Wright, John Lock, John Stott, Desmond Tutu, Martin Luther King, C.S. Lewis, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, among many many other contemporary and not so contemporary people -

A great read, and something to keep and reference, as it is laid out and flows on a topical basis too.....

PDN

I recently finished reading Thomas Cahill's "The Gifts of the Jews" - about the impact Judaism had on the way people all around the world think and form their worldviews.

I'd already read two other books by Cahill - "How the Irish Saved Civilization" and "Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea" - and this book maintained the high standard. He holds top a much looser view of biblical inspiration than I would personally, but still sees the core personalities and events of the Old Testament as being broadly historical.

A very good book if you like books that make you think, rather than books where you agree with everything and only serve to confirm your existing opinions!

lmaopml

Just finished reading a book titled 'New Proofs for the Existence of God: Contributions of Contemporary Physics and Philosophy' by Fr. Robert Spitzer SJ

For anybody interested in the topics of faith and reason and how beautifully compatible they are with contemporary scientific understanding, this is a great book. No 'New Age' garbage in it that you see so much of on bookshelfs. Fr. Robert continues in the Jesuit tradition of being at the front line of honest intellectual excellence...and makes it clear that while there is no conclusive 'proof' for God, there is absolutely nothing irrational or deluded about having faith, in fact it's entirely logical and sound as ever to have faith in God, despite the current trend and assertions of the new atheists.

I found it on the website 'Magis Centre for Reason and Faith', which is a fabulous resource for anybody interested in clarifying their understanding of the natural sciences, cosmology, physics etc. and how they relate and are in harmony with our Christian faith - it blasts away the concept that one must be 'deluded' in order to choose to have belief and faith in God. Highly recommend this, it's a bit pricey at almost 19 dollars on Kindle, but well worth it to centre understanding and implications in todays world. Doubt the doubters - read this book

kelly1

Lmaopml, I'm reading the same book too, Kindle edition. If find it very good, written very clearly but not shying away from technical jargon.

Just before that I read "The Language of God" by Francis Collins. Another very good read. I like the way he debunks Intelligent Design and Creationism. I think he might have delved a bit more into the mysteries of DNA but a great read.

JimiTime

"Whatever happened to the power of God" by Michael Brown. You'll get it on Amazon. Available for Kindle too. Wow, Just wow! I love this guy. No nonsense, straight talking, but extremely informed man of God. Its a real wake up call. Its kind of terrifying tbh to a sleepy "Christian" like me. The title is a question I've asked here a few times, so I had to have a read:) Its written with the American Church in mind, but it applies to us all. If you've ever asked, 'what ever happened to the power of God described in Acts and the Gospels?' then this is a MUST read.

martinedwards

the god with sore legs by adrian a mccartney.

superb!!

http://www.amazon.com/The-God-Sore-Legs-perambulation/dp/1468133683

JimiTime

This book is free to download for your kindle. It deals with the topic of Israel, and its relevance in terms of prophecy etc. I've just started reading it, just thought some of you Kindle folk would be into it. It being free and all



http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005IZJT8G/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_ask_AcFhD.153EBSC

gimmebroadband

Amazing book on the subject of Purgatory!

http://www.amazon.com/HERE-Maria-Simma-Speaks-Nicky/dp/0972744509

lmaopml

I've just chuckled my way through 'The ball and the Cross' - a probably lesser known work of Chesterton, but really worth while reading. It's set in a period in time - but the discussion between the believer and non believer is classic, in particular with anybody who engages today - and quite modern too, ageless.

It reminded me of how this 'talk' is part and parcel of the ages, and not particularly a new phenomena - which is pretty cool.

Two characters one can't help but love and identify with.

Bty, it's free on kindle -

gimmebroadband

JimiTime wrote: »

This book is free to download for your kindle. It deals with the topic of Israel, and its relevance in terms of prophecy etc. I've just started reading it, just thought some of you Kindle folk would be into it. It being free and all



http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005IZJT8G/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_ask_AcFhD.153EBSC

I followed the link, and it doesn't look like it's free anymore, pity!

Northclare

Check out John Moriarty.
You can order his books through Lillyputpress.
Nostos is a great read

Plowman

This post has been deleted.

G-Money

Just wondering are there any podcasts people can recommend? I'm a Catholic and kinda realised recently there's a lot of stuff about the religion I didn't know or forgot about from school. I'm sort of getting back into it but I wouldn't mind listening to some of religious podcast to re-educate me a little.

Something easy going would be preferred.

Thanks!

Benny_Cake

G-Money wrote: »

Just wondering are there any podcasts people can recommend? I'm a Catholic and kinda realised recently there's a lot of stuff about the religion I didn't know or forgot about from school. I'm sort of getting back into it but I wouldn't mind listening to some of religious podcast to re-educate me a little.

Something easy going would be preferred.

Thanks!

I would recommend Busted Halo. It's aimed at college-aged people mainly but it's listened to by all ages. It's produced by the Paulists, an American religious order with a focus on evangelisation through the modern media. I'm no longer a practising Catholic, but what I like about the show is that it's informative and light-hearted, they don't take themselves too seriously and there is no bad-mouthing different denominations or faiths, unlike many Catholic websites online. Actually if anyone can recommend some other good Christian podcasts I'd be interested to hear too.

totus tuus

G-Money wrote: »

Just wondering are there any podcasts people can recommend? I'm a Catholic and kinda realised recently there's a lot of stuff about the religion I didn't know or forgot about from school. I'm sort of getting back into it but I wouldn't mind listening to some of religious podcast to re-educate me a little.

Something easy going would be preferred.

Thanks!

There's a good one at CAF.

http://www.catholic.com/radio/podcast

lmaopml

I just read a book called, 'Jesus and the Jewish roots of the Eucharist: Unlocking the secrets of the Last Supper'

Well, it's fabulous - well worth a read, for anybody who studies Scripture, for any Christian it's an unbiased and lively read - Something to think on, and one could not hope to see and let the scales fall from their eyes even just a little to relate better to their brothers and sisters who centre their lives around the great mystery of the Eucharist. Wow..how he love us...:)

G-Money

This might sound like a silly question but I was wondering where I could buy the following book. I'm a catholic and in secondary school we were given a copy of the New Testament and Psalms and the book says its by the Gideons International. It says the book is the New International Version. I reckon I've had this book about 20 years at this stage and it's a bit grubby and I wouldn't mind maybe buying a new copy. It doesn't have to be the exact same size (this is a small almost pocket size version) but I'd like one that has the same text/translation. I didn't realise there were different versions out there.

Anyway I was wondering where's the best place to buy stuff like this?

Thanks!

Doc Farrell

The Gideon's ones are free so you might have to pick one up second hand but there are dozens of small books containing various parts of the bible. If I was you I'd just take a stroll into Veritas or Hodges Figgis. A lot of church offices sell them too. St Francis Xavier church in Gardiner St has a shop next door. Google that name for their opening hours.