Pagan Christianity?
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A growing number of people have made it clear: they like Jesus, but they do not like "the church" or the whole "church/chapel culture." Barna and Viola pull back the curtain to reveal the unbiblical (in fact, "pagan") roots of today's institutional church practices. These guys have done their homework and I hope it makes the impact worldwide that they are hoping for.
Having a relationship with Jesus Christ does not require all the trappings of religion: in many ways, we've been sold a bill of goods that cannot be supported by the New Testament, whether you look at the teachings of Jesus or the apostles. This book clears the table, so to speak, and encourages us to go back to the Bible for our guidance rather than the accumulated traditions of the past 1,700 years.
So if you're sick of religion, get this book! As someone recently warned about its volatile content: don't drop it, because it might explode!"
Bill Lollar
The Thin Edge
"Pushing the limits of the status quo"
Having a relationship with Jesus Christ does not require all the trappings of religion: in many ways, we've been sold a bill of goods that cannot be supported by the New Testament, whether you look at the teachings of Jesus or the apostles. This book clears the table, so to speak, and encourages us to go back to the Bible for our guidance rather than the accumulated traditions of the past 1,700 years.
So if you're sick of religion, get this book! As someone recently warned about its volatile content: don't drop it, because it might explode!"
Bill Lollar
The Thin Edge
"Pushing the limits of the status quo"
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
An interesting and compact book packed with bags of references should you doubt what they are saying. (although so compact that I needed a magnifying glass to read some of the references.) You may be challenged by this book and its slightly provocative approach as it charts the pagan influences which have shaped many of the practices of the Church to this day. At the end of each chapter there is a Q & A section where possible objections to their views are countered. Although I have not researched all of their assertions many of them are common knowledge and accepted or debated by many Christians (e.g. The influence of Constantine-good or bad?). However there are one or two surprises, such as the pagan origins of the sermon.The main question as I see it however is whether it is still a pagan practice or merely a reflection of the culture in which the church is emersed. For example, when Paul was in Athens he debated philosophers on Mar's Hill and quoted their own poets to them, was this pagan or Just Paul giving a Christian message in a culturally sympathetic way.
The authors do have some valid insights, especially regarding the practice of the apostolic church of being a "sharing" community, which included open and sharing ministry one to another.Quite how valid are most of the points they make will undoubtedly vary from reader to reader and may depend on how much of one's faith is invested in the institutional church itself. An interesting and informative read, if only from the historical perspective.
The authors do have some valid insights, especially regarding the practice of the apostolic church of being a "sharing" community, which included open and sharing ministry one to another.Quite how valid are most of the points they make will undoubtedly vary from reader to reader and may depend on how much of one's faith is invested in the institutional church itself. An interesting and informative read, if only from the historical perspective.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The book says many things which are true and correct. For instance church buildings are not design for Christian fellowship. They are designed for turning up, not talking to anyone and leaving straight after the service. This is true, most church buildings are not designed in a way that promotes Christian fellowship like what we see in the bible.
Elsewhere, it talks about how scriptures like are misused. One instance is Malachi 3 in regard to tithes and offerings given to the Levite priests to be sacrificed to God. What it states about this subject is more or less correct. Many churches do try to make a direct application of this in the New Testament Christian church today, which is not correct. Christians are not required to give a tithe (but the call to be sacrificial is a reoccurring theme in the New Testament - something which the authors don't seem to mention) and there is no Levite Priesthood in existence. However, where the book falls short is that it doesn't say how Malachi shows the heart of God (after all, Malachi is a book where God has much to say) and offers no New Testament application of these scriptures.
The basis of many of the arguments in the book are based on a flawed interpretation of 1 Corinthians 12-14. The Corinthian church is being held up by the authors as a model church. However, when you read these passages in the context of both books of 1 & 2 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul is far from lifting up the church as an example to be followed. 1 Corinthians 12-14 is more about reigning in the chaotic worship (where people are getting drunk at church for instance) of the church than a model for all churches.
Ultimately, the book is divisive. It doesn't promote love, but division.
It encourages people who read the book to silently leave their churches.
The alternative which it proposes is organic churches, where nothing is prepared (no prepared sermons or lessons) and people share as they feel moved to do. This isn't something that is backed up in the New Testament.
They're aren't too many of these 'organic' churches around (as they are described by the authors) and people reading the book will be left with nothing.
Elsewhere, it talks about how scriptures like are misused. One instance is Malachi 3 in regard to tithes and offerings given to the Levite priests to be sacrificed to God. What it states about this subject is more or less correct. Many churches do try to make a direct application of this in the New Testament Christian church today, which is not correct. Christians are not required to give a tithe (but the call to be sacrificial is a reoccurring theme in the New Testament - something which the authors don't seem to mention) and there is no Levite Priesthood in existence. However, where the book falls short is that it doesn't say how Malachi shows the heart of God (after all, Malachi is a book where God has much to say) and offers no New Testament application of these scriptures.
The basis of many of the arguments in the book are based on a flawed interpretation of 1 Corinthians 12-14. The Corinthian church is being held up by the authors as a model church. However, when you read these passages in the context of both books of 1 & 2 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul is far from lifting up the church as an example to be followed. 1 Corinthians 12-14 is more about reigning in the chaotic worship (where people are getting drunk at church for instance) of the church than a model for all churches.
Ultimately, the book is divisive. It doesn't promote love, but division.
It encourages people who read the book to silently leave their churches.
The alternative which it proposes is organic churches, where nothing is prepared (no prepared sermons or lessons) and people share as they feel moved to do. This isn't something that is backed up in the New Testament.
They're aren't too many of these 'organic' churches around (as they are described by the authors) and people reading the book will be left with nothing.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
For those who understand the "evangelical culture"
This book gives valuable information related to most of the standard practices in the "christian church". Read more
Published 22 days ago by George
join the dialogue
Many will miss the point of this book. It's main aim should be to stimulate discussion on a range of church life issues that many believers recognise are unsatisfactory but believe... Read more
Published 5 months ago by D. Hutton
WARNING
Although much in this book exposes the dead traditions of men which have been accepted in the traditional denominations like the Roman Catholic Church, and other churches affected... Read more
Published 10 months ago by robert
MUST have
Frustrated with your actual church? Here you read why that is no accident nor your personal fault but unavoidable.
Viola is working profound and makes himself revisable. Read more
Viola is working profound and makes himself revisable. Read more
Published 12 months ago by voelz@fh-luebeck.de
Got it
easy ordering and paying
item arrived within timescale
everything fine
haven't had time to evaluate the product itself yet
item arrived within timescale
everything fine
haven't had time to evaluate the product itself yet
Published 20 months ago by Mrs. D. V. Bell
Unbalanced and unbiblical
The title of this book is somewhat misleading. The subject is not Christianity in general but two aspects of the church: its structure and the form of its services. Read more
Published 22 months ago by TRA
Not a waste of time.
Quite an amazing book! This is a very interesting read and I would recommend it to anyone who would be interested in the historical background of the Christian Church as well as... Read more
Published 23 months ago by A. M. de Nysschen
Simple, sound and mature!
I've not yet finished the book, but the writing testifies of sheer humility, wisdom and maturity..
I recommend this read to any believer yearning to return to the heart of... Read more
I recommend this read to any believer yearning to return to the heart of... Read more
Published on 28 Jan 2010 by H. Meijer
You should read this book, but...
...there are some sweeping comments made. What is said is well referenced and the authors use respected historians such as Robin Lane Fox. Read more
Published on 16 July 2009 by Winchester
A.W.E.S.O.M.E.
These guys have done their research! This book was an enjoyable and enlightening read, and totally blew my mind about the shortcomings of the institutional church. Read more
Published on 11 Jun 2009 by Ms. A. C. Johnston
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