Ben Daniel

I really wanted to like this book. It speaks to a subject that is severely lacking in our Church and society today - the dearth of Christians who are both theologically sound and intellectually minded.

But that is not what I found here. While there are *some* good points made (e.g. "if Christians want to practice a thoughtful faith we must rise above petty ideology, choosing instead to engage the world informed - whenever possible - by what is true," p. 26), most of the book is filled with half-hearted reasoning and a whole lot of narrow-minded bias (one word dominated my notes in the margins - OVERSIMPLIFY; he LOVES his straw men). His writing in almost every chapter reveals that his central premise is not a call for Christians to be more intellectual or logical in their thinking, but that a "thoughtful Christian" is only someone that adheres to HIS hermeneutics, HIS point of view, HIS theology.

Overall, I can best describe this book as the progressive Christian's equivalent to Richard Dawkins' THE GOD DELUSION (for atheists) and Lee Strobel's THE CASE FOR CHRIST (for evangelical Christians): red meat for those who already agree with the author, which will persuade very few who do not. (And I hesitate to assign this to progressive Christians, as I feel this does the group an injustice - but it is a designation he proudly proclaims for himself...over and over again.)

Definitely not recommended. If you are looking for something that touches on integrating Christianity and Scripture into a grounded, modern hermeneutic - I would instead recommend N.T. Wright's SCRIPTURE AND THE AUTHORITY OF GOD.

*NOTE: I received an advanced copy of this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. I began it before it published, but became so disappointed with it that I wasn't able to drag myself over the finish line until now.*… (lisätietoja)

Ben Daniel’s The Search for Truth about Islam was able to separate fact from fiction concerning the Islamic faith. Much credit must be given to this Christian pastor and his interfaith initiative. He examined many aspects of the Islamic faith, visited sacred sites, and conducted interviews with religious leaders. Daniel looked at the history, teachings, growth and development, conflicts, and Islam in the United States.
The author contrasted and compared Islam with Christianity. He was able to analyze both religious faiths’ traditions of violence, treatment of women, and outreach ministries. Still Daniel pointed out that they are detractors that continue to present Islam in a negative light. But he showed that Islam has a lot in common with Christian beliefs, although there exists some misunderstanding of its tradition. This monotheistic faith has been hijacked by “fundamentalists” that reflect negatively on the good that the majority of their believers do.… (lisätietoja)

This is a book about illegal immigration which is sensitive to the current issues around how immigrants are treated in our country as well as historical and theological reflection about how we 'welcome the stranger in our midst.' I did a paper on this topic in seminary and appreciated the sensibility that Daniel brings to his exegesis of Biblical material. The idea that immigrants understand their journey north as a spiritual piligrimage was new to me, though it does make sense. For my part, I don't know how anyone can be a Christian, look honestly at the issue and not be moved with compassion at the injustices are wetback friends face. Certainly there is room to disagree with Daniel on the exact shape immigration policy should take, but xenophobia should not be an option.… (lisätietoja)