Questions for Christians

The Surprising Truths behind Basic Beliefs

By (author) John Morreall

Publication date:

17 June 2014

Length of book:

280 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

ISBN-13: 9781442223172

Questions for Christians: The Surprising Truths behind Basic Beliefs asks whether or not Christians today have gotten Jesus’ message right, drawing on the Bible and the history of Christianity for answers. From the gender of God to what happens when we die, Questions for Christians digs into some of the thorniest points of the Christian faith—questions that many people would rather ignore.

Most Christians today believe in “just wars,” but how do we reconcile this belief with Jesus’ saying “Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also,” or the pacifism of most early Christians? Protestants and Catholics today generally believe that Jesus died on the cross to atone for our sins, but most Orthodox Christians don’t believe this, and neither did most Western churches before 1100. What is the truth?

Drawing on sources both ancient and modern, John Morreall explores these issues while identifying points of controversy. Some of the answers are surprising, while others provide a more complete understanding of common beliefs.

1.WHY ASK QUESTIONS?
A.Two Sources of Questions: Disagreement and Change
B.In the Beginning: Jesus and the Kingdom of God
C.Turning Christianity into a Set of Doctrines
D.Turning Christianity into the State Religion of the Roman Empire
E.What Would Jesus Do?
F.Is Believing Doctrines the Essence of Christianity?
G.Asking Questions Is Part of Being a Christian
H.Paying Careful Attention to Words

2.THOUGHTFUL FAITH
A.Is it all right to think carefully about the religion you grew up in?
B.Is careful thinking opposed to faith?
C.Is faith a kind of knowledge?
D.Could some of my religious beliefs be false?
E.Is faith always good?

3.THE BIBLE
A.Is the Bible a book?
B.Is the Bible the word of God?
C.Does the Bible tell us all we need to know to live a good life?
D.Is the Bible necessary for living a good life?
E.Is the Bible scientifically and historically accurate?

4.JESUS CHRIST
A. Is Jesus Christ the Messiah?
B.Is Jesus Christ the Savior?
C.Did Jesus Christ die for our sins?
D.Is Jesus Christ the Son of God?
E.Did Jesus Christ teach doctrines?

5.THE TRINITY
A.Are Jesus Christ and God “of the same substance”?
B.Does “the Holy Spirit” refer to someone other than the God of the Bible?
C.Does the Bible say that God is three persons in one substance?
D.Do the early creeds say that God is three persons in one substance?
E. Is the Trinity a mystery?

6.THE FALL
A. Did the human race start out perfect?
B. Are babies born depraved and deserving of hell?
C. Is death a penalty for sin?
D. Can we do good actions by ourselves?
E. Do we have free will?

7.LIFE AFTER DEATH
A. Am I a soul or spirit?
B. Did Jesus say that our souls go to heaven or hell when we die?
C. Are there people in heaven and hell right now?
D. Could I be resurrected as Jesus was?
E. Could God punish people forever?

8.ANGELS AND DEMONS
A.Do angels have wings and demons have horns?
B.Do angels live in heaven and demons live in hell?
C.Is there a guardian angel for each person?
D.Is Satan an angel who led a rebellion against God?
E.Do demons possess people?

9. THE GOOD LIFE
A.Is being good obeying a set of commands?
B. Would Jesus oppose gay marriage?
C.Would Jesus favor capital punishment?
D.Would Jesus join the U.S. Marines?
E.Would Jesus shop ‘til he dropped?

10.CHURCHES
A. Did Jesus or his followers go to church?
B. Did Jesus start a church?
C. Did Jesus want people to be forced to join a church?
D.Did Jesus want 34,000 churches?
E. Do any churches today embody Jesus’ “Kingdom of God”?

Morreall examines nearly every facet of Christian belief, from the authority and interpretation of scripture to the nature of the church, with chapters examining Christology, the Trinity, the nature of God, the afterlife, and even the existence of angels and demons and whether angels have wings and demons have horns. . . .The premise is sound.