Book Discussion Groups Forming

The Center for Renaissance and Reformation is forming weekly book discussion groups, with each group lasting approximately 6-10 weeks.

Participants of such groups have remarked that they can generate a breath of fresh air for personal, cultural, and spiritual renewal. You may have been one of the many individuals who made valuable contributions to these discussion groups in the past.

The groups usually meet weekly for about an hour. New groups will form when enough interest develops for a given book or topic (see below). The location and meeting time would then be determined. Suggested times for other groups include:

Mondays, Thursdays or Fridays for breakfast (beginning at 7:00 or 8:00 am)

Click here to provide your contact information and your preferences for topic, time, and location.

The following books, topics, or authors are on our horizon for a group study, but your suggestions are also welcome:

City Renewal

Jane Jacobs, The Life and Death of Great American Cities – a book that helped start the New Urbanism movement (an influential movement for Chattanooga’s recent downtown renaissance)

Eric Jacobsen, Sidewalks in the Kingdom – makes a thoughtful case for Christian involvement in the New Urbanism

James Boice, Foundations of God’s City

“A Garden within a City: Our Mission of Making the World Beautiful Again” (CRR study)

Personal Renaissance

Augustine, Confessions

“Roots That Refresh: Rediscovering the Spirituality of the Protestant Reformers”

(reading Spirituality in an Age of Change by Alister McGrath)

(or his Introduction to Reformation Thought)

Miroslav Volf: 

Work in the Spirit: Toward a Theology of Work

A Spacious Heart: Essays on Identity and Belonging

Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace

The End of Memory: Remembering Rightly in a Violent World

The Future of Hope: Christian Tradition Amid Modernity and Postmodernity 

Biblical literacy:

“The Comfort and Hope of Belonging to Christ: A Biblical Survey of Guilt, Grace, and Gratitude” (using the Heidelberg Catechism, a Reformation summary of biblical teaching)

Bible studies, introductions, or overviews – books by John Stott or William Hendrickson (There are several great possibilities.)

Post-Reformation Science, Religion, Reason

Reformation scholar and scientist Alister McGrath has written a book on science and religion. More recently, he has written The Dawkins Delusion.

Classic Literature:

Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov or Crime and Punishment

Steinbeck, East of Eden

Dante, Divine Comedy

Homer, The Odyssey or The Illiad

T.S. Eliot, George Herbert, Alexander Solzhynitsyn

or one of a host of other good possibilities

Worldviews and Cultural Renewal:

“The Discomfort and Hopelessness of Self-Absorption: A Survey of Popular Worldviews and Why Worldviews Are Important in Daily Life” (video and book study)

“Worldview Shifts: A History of Philosophy “

“Back to Augustine: Renewing Our Philosophy of History for a New Millennium”

something on western cultural history (authors Jacques Barzun, Rodney Stark, Thomas Cahill, and Will Durant are on our radar to read and discuss)

Apologetics

Questions of Faith: A Skeptical Affirmation of Christianity (Peter Berger)

Narratives of Renewal and Hope

C.S. Lewis, The Discarded Image: An Introduction to Medieval and Renaissance Literature

Leslie Newbiggen, The Comedy of Redemption or Foolishness to the Greeks

Political Philosophy

Augustine, City of God

works by Elshtain, Manent, Mansfield,

Series of Group Studies by Os Guinness (Trinity Forum):

Entrepreneurs of Life : Faith and the Venture of Purposeful Living

explores the powerful human desire for purpose and significance, highlighting individuals in history whose lives changed their times. It introduces the Jewish and Christian understanding of motivation and "calling."

Steering Through Chaos: Vice and Virtue in an Age of Moral Confusion                 

brings the classical tradition of the vices and virtues to the modern discussion of ethics. The readings reintroduce the "seven deadly sins"--pride, envy, anger, sloth, avarice, lust and gluttony--and contrast them with the beatitudes of Jesus.

The Journey: A Thinking Leader's Quest for Meaning

outlines the road that thinking "seekers" have traveled toward faith. This book encourages those who are open to explore the journey of faith and, for others, helps solidify why they believe what they believe. Addresses common questions and concerns.

Doing Well & Doing Good: Money, Giving and Caring in a Free Society

explores the meaning of money, motivations in giving, and why we need to care for others outside our own social circles. Our understanding of these issues is critical in determining the character of our society.

Click here to provide your contact information and your preferences for topic, time, and location.