The PuritanBoard  

Go Back   The PuritanBoard > Educational Forums > The Literary Forum

The Literary Forum A Forum for the Discussion of good and bad reading material.

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #81 (permalink)  
Old 04-29-2008, 10:22 PM
JohnOwen007's Avatar
Puritanboard Sophomore
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Perth, Australia.
Posts: 662
Thanks: 88
Thanked 231 Times in 109 Posts
Speaking of boring, what about the Koran. Man that just about killed me trying to get through it! Perhaps that's what some want: dead infidels from reading the Koran.
__________________
Marty

"There is nothing so necessary to draw us to repentance as good thoughts of God." (Thomas Manton)
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to JohnOwen007 For This Useful Post:
Grymir (08-05-2008)
  #82 (permalink)  
Old 04-29-2008, 10:27 PM
Pilgrim's Progeny's Avatar
Puritanboard Sophomore
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bunceton, Mo
Posts: 541
Thanks: 199
Thanked 64 Times in 48 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grymir View Post
The absolute worst is Barth, anything by Barth. John Hagee is more interesting than Barth. Probably more biblical too!
Every time I read your posts I hear Rush screaming at me, it is hard to seperate it in my mind, it is like, "Rush, your a ranting calvinist". His inflection is in every post, makes for interesting threads.

__________________
Paul Woods
Currently attending
http://ChristOurKingColumbia.org(PCA)
Columbia, MO
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Pilgrim's Progeny For This Useful Post:
Grymir (04-30-2008)
  #83 (permalink)  
Old 04-29-2008, 11:07 PM
toddpedlar's Avatar
PB Evil Scientist...Boo!
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Decorah, IA
Posts: 2,819
Thanks: 69
Thanked 598 Times in 341 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by danmpem View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Backwoods Presbyterian View Post
I almost forgot about Brennan Manning. I thought I had repressed the memory of reading this book, The Ragamuffin Gospel.
Manning has been recommended to be by some of my Reformed friends. Is he really that bad?
From what I've read of him, yes, yes, and ... yes. He's a Catholic mystical priest, for one thing - that ought to set you on your guard before you hear anything about what he actually writes. He teaches that man is basically good (but flawed), that a key (if not THE) way to reach God is through essentially an Eastern, mystical meditative prayer complete with mantras, and rejects any semblance of an orthodox view concerning the necessity of Christ's shed blood on the cross. He has some shocking views concerning what he would term "liberty" but which is no less than license.

Don't touch him with a ten-foot pole. He seems to me to be just another "cool" cat that emergent and new agey-mystical folks like. I am surprised to hear that you have "Reformed" people suggesting him to you... I'd talk with them about what they find so attractive, and warn them about picking up "the next new thing."
__________________
Todd K. Pedlar
member, First Congregational Church, (CCCC) Cresco, IA
http://semperubi.rtrc.net

"Many men, after a long conversion, see more of the workings of sin in their hearts than ever they did before or at their first conversion. Now, such men have not an increase of sin, but an increase of illumination and light" (Christopher Love)


Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to toddpedlar For This Useful Post:
danmpem (04-30-2008), Stephen (04-30-2008)
  #84 (permalink)  
Old 04-29-2008, 11:28 PM
Puritanboard Freshman
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Canberra, Australia
Posts: 465
Thanks: 25
Thanked 42 Times in 30 Posts
I remembered another one - The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale. My mother made me read it when I was about 15 - apparently my attitude was too negative. While she may have had a point about my attitude, reading that book certainly didn't help. I wasn't a believer at that stage, and wasn't converted until I was 19, but I could already see that the nonsense Peale was peddling wasn't the Gospel, nor did it make any logical sense. Unfortunately the book turned me into more of a cynic than I already was.
__________________
T W Hopper
Member, Presbyterian Reformed Church
Currently between churches since PRC closed here - attending Crossroads Christian Church.
Canberra, Australia.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #85 (permalink)  
Old 04-30-2008, 12:10 AM
Blue Tick's Avatar
Puritanboard Junior
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Utah
Posts: 1,593
Thanks: 295
Thanked 284 Times in 194 Posts
The Coup de Grace for me.


Gotta love the cover! Boo!

Here comes the Boogey Man!


__________________
John J.
Member Christ Prebyterian Church (OPC)
Salt Lake City, Utah
www.christpres.net
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Blue Tick For This Useful Post:
kvanlaan (05-22-2008)
  #86 (permalink)  
Old 04-30-2008, 12:12 AM
Devin's Avatar
Puritanboard Sophomore
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Vivian, Louisiana, USA
Posts: 561
Thanks: 48
Thanked 50 Times in 35 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blue Tick View Post
The Coup de Grace for me.


Gotta love the cover! Boo!

Here comes the Boogey Man!

Makes you think Sproul is hiding under your bed at night or something.
__________________
Devin Brian
1689er
Attending Trinity Baptist Church in Shreveport, LA.
Vivian, Louisiana, USA

"The fall of man is written in too legible characters not to be understood: Those that deny it, by their denying, prove it." - George Whitefield
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #87 (permalink)  
Old 04-30-2008, 12:13 AM
Puritanboard Junior
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 1,496
Thanks: 228
Thanked 143 Times in 111 Posts
Two books in Highschool

Books that I should not have read, just not healthy for me at the time, were imposed on me in high school: Flowers for Algernon and Catcher in the Rye.

I recently had to read some weird books at seminary in my Ethics course, one of which was Nickel and Dimed (Not getting by in America) and Wendell Berry's Sex, Economy, Freedom, and Community: Eight Essays

Neither were believers and I spent good hard cash for theology and had to read this tripe. One was on being broke in the US and the other was (I guess) Christians have to be communal.
__________________
Bryan Wiley
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Reformed Baptist Church
Louisville, Kentucky
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #88 (permalink)  
Old 04-30-2008, 12:15 AM
Puritanboard Junior
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 1,496
Thanks: 228
Thanked 143 Times in 111 Posts
John, I like the five ominous figures on the cover. One for each point I take it?
__________________
Bryan Wiley
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Reformed Baptist Church
Louisville, Kentucky
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #89 (permalink)  
Old 04-30-2008, 12:21 AM
bookslover's Avatar
Puritanboard Senior
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Lakewood, CA
Posts: 2,642
Thanks: 0
Thanked 237 Times in 163 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen View Post
Late Great Planet Earth by that greatest scholar of all time, Hal Lindsey.
He needs to keep writing - he's got all those alimony checks to write. He's been married - what? 5 times (at last count)?

Every time Lindsey sets pen to paper he sets the serious study of eschatology back ten years!
__________________
Richard T. Zuelch, M.Div
Ruling Elder, OPC (not currently serving)
Westminster Presbyterian Church, CA (OPC)
www.reiterations.wordpress.com
www.foft.wordpress.com

"If anyone cries at my funeral I'll never speak to him again!" - Stan Laurel (1890-1965)
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #90 (permalink)  
Old 04-30-2008, 12:24 AM
bookslover's Avatar
Puritanboard Senior
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Lakewood, CA
Posts: 2,642
Thanks: 0
Thanked 237 Times in 163 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Timothy William View Post
The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money by John Maynard Keynes.
I saw the movie version - National Lampoon's Summer Vacation.
__________________
Richard T. Zuelch, M.Div
Ruling Elder, OPC (not currently serving)
Westminster Presbyterian Church, CA (OPC)
www.reiterations.wordpress.com
www.foft.wordpress.com

"If anyone cries at my funeral I'll never speak to him again!" - Stan Laurel (1890-1965)
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #91 (permalink)  
Old 04-30-2008, 01:23 AM
Blue Tick's Avatar
Puritanboard Junior
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Utah
Posts: 1,593
Thanks: 295
Thanked 284 Times in 194 Posts
Quote:
Makes you think Sproul is hiding under your bed at night or something.




Yes, indeed.
__________________
John J.
Member Christ Prebyterian Church (OPC)
Salt Lake City, Utah
www.christpres.net
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #92 (permalink)  
Old 04-30-2008, 02:28 AM
No Longer A Libertine's Avatar
Puritanboard Junior
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 1,524
Thanks: 1
Thanked 115 Times in 66 Posts
I recollect my mom checking out a copy of "Everybody Poops" when I was three and I found it quite patronizing.
__________________

Travis Speegle
Redeemer Presbyterian, PCA (Waco, Tx)
Pacific Cross Roads, PCA (Los Angeles, CA)


"When it comes to trustworthy theologians one can usually honor the rule of thumb that the deader the better."-Dr. John Hannah, DTS (of all places)
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #93 (permalink)  
Old 04-30-2008, 02:29 AM
Beoga's Avatar
Puritanboard Freshman
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Corvallis, OR
Posts: 90
Thanks: 9
Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Devin View Post

Makes you think Sproul is hiding under your bed at night or something.
I would be so ecstatic to wake up and Sproul was hiding under my bed (alive)!

I am close to finishing up Letter to A Christian Nation by Sam Harris. So far it is has seemed pretty shallow to me. I am wanting to read Wilson's response to Harris to see if Wilson's response is any good.
__________________
Brian Vandenburg
Attend Intown Presbyterian Church (PCA)
"The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed, depends not upon the testimony of any man, or Church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof: and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God."-Westminster Confession of Faith
http://wittenberg1517.wordpress.com/
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #94 (permalink)  
Old 04-30-2008, 03:02 AM
danmpem's Avatar
Puritanboard Junior
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Vacaville, CA
Posts: 1,399
Blog Entries: 4
Thanks: 342
Thanked 94 Times in 80 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Devin View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blue Tick View Post
The Coup de Grace for me.


Gotta love the cover! Boo!

Here comes the Boogey Man!

Makes you think Sproul is hiding under your bed at night or something.
__________________
Dan Pemberton
Vacaville, CA

Member, First Baptist Church San Luis Obispo
Formerly ABUSA (We left, so I guess that makes us American Baptists Unleashed!)
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #95 (permalink)  
Old 04-30-2008, 03:05 AM
Grymir's Avatar
Puritanboard Junior
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Davenport, IA
Posts: 1,670
Thanks: 313
Thanked 242 Times in 199 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Devin View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blue Tick View Post
The Coup de Grace for me.


Gotta love the cover! Boo!

Here comes the Boogey Man!

Makes you think Sproul is hiding under your bed at night or something.

__________________
Timothy Johnson
First United Presbyterian of Moline
PCUSA (Yea, I know)
Theology/Philosophy Sunday School Teacher
Davenport, IA
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #96 (permalink)  
Old 04-30-2008, 07:08 AM
christianyouth's Avatar
Puritanboard Sophomore
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 930
Thanks: 745
Thanked 34 Times in 22 Posts
I agree with Davidius, that the Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee could be the worse book ever written.

One that is worse, is ANYTHING by Andrew Murray.

The worse book I read by a Reformed author would have to be John MacArthur's Saved Without a Doubt. It was really compact, and because of that it gave some very weak, packaged answers to the hard passages that Conditional Security people use. I just couldn't get interested in this book, not sure if it was the writing style.

At the public library by my house I read some pretty bad books in the Christianity section. As a new convert I didn't understand that there were such things as liberal Christians. So I ended up reading a lot of books and coming away confused. One was an attack on the Bible, in the Christianity section. The other was about Aliens, Mexico and Christianity(odd book).

Thankfully now I have a good website to poke around on and pick up on who are the good authors.
__________________
Andrew Clerebout
Joy Baptist Church, IFB (Westland, MI)

www.animalfarmblog.com
^Nick Altman's blog
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #97 (permalink)  
Old 04-30-2008, 07:45 AM
Backwoods Presbyterian's Avatar
Puritanboard Professor
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 5,205
Thanks: 1,822
Thanked 788 Times in 543 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by bookslover View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Timothy William View Post
The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money by John Maynard Keynes.
I saw the movie version - National Lampoon's Summer Vacation.

__________________
Benjamin P. Glaser
Pittsburgh, PA
Fairmount ARP Church, Sewickley, PA
Student of Theology Pittsburgh Theological Seminary & Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary

“If the Church could be aroused to a deeper sense of the glory that awaits her, she would enter with a warmer spirit into the struggles that are before her.”-- J.H. Thornwell
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #98 (permalink)  
Old 04-30-2008, 09:40 AM
Stephen's Avatar
Puritanboard Senior
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 2,026
Thanks: 933
Thanked 272 Times in 180 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by danmpem View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Backwoods Presbyterian View Post
I almost forgot about Brennan Manning. I thought I had repressed the memory of reading this book, The Ragamuffin Gospel.
Manning has been recommended to be by some of my Reformed friends. Is he really that bad?

Yes, he is. I have met Manning, been to several of his conferences, and have read several of his books. He is a former papist priest, who is now married, but is still Roman Catholic. He speaks at papist conferences and is well received by liberals and some evangelicals. He denies justification by faith alone and is a very liberal Roman Catholic in advocating tolerance toward homosexuality. He has neo-orthodox leanings and is associated with many left-winged "evangelicals" like Tony Campolo and Ron Sider. I wonder how reformed someone is who would recommend Manning. I would caution people to stay clear of his teachings.
__________________
Stephen Welch
PCA Teaching Elder
Nova Scotia :cheers:
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #99 (permalink)  
Old 04-30-2008, 09:43 AM
Stephen's Avatar
Puritanboard Senior
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 2,026
Thanks: 933
Thanked 272 Times in 180 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by bookslover View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen View Post
Late Great Planet Earth by that greatest scholar of all time, Hal Lindsey.
He needs to keep writing - he's got all those alimony checks to write. He's been married - what? 5 times (at last count)?

Every time Lindsey sets pen to paper he sets the serious study of eschatology back ten years!
I believe, if he is still married, he is currently living with his third wife. He is trice an adulterer and has no connection to a church.
__________________
Stephen Welch
PCA Teaching Elder
Nova Scotia :cheers:
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #100 (permalink)  
Old 04-30-2008, 09:46 AM
Stephen's Avatar
Puritanboard Senior
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 2,026
Thanks: 933
Thanked 272 Times in 180 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Backwoods Presbyterian View Post
I almost forgot about Brennan Manning. I thought I had repressed the memory of reading this book, The Ragamuffin Gospel.
Keep repressing that memory. It will do your soul good.
__________________
Stephen Welch
PCA Teaching Elder
Nova Scotia :cheers:
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #101 (permalink)  
Old 04-30-2008, 09:49 AM
Puritanboard Sophomore
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 601
Thanks: 118
Thanked 26 Times in 23 Posts
What is the worst book I have ever read? There were so many.
Does Anyone remember the Joshua books by Joseph Girzone?
Bad, very bad.
But the worst book I tried to get through is When God was taken captive by