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Category: book reviews

Review: Richard Weikart’s “The Death of Humanity and the Case for Life”

In a recent post, I argued that one of the tell-tale signs of whether or not a viewpoint does not correspond with reality is whether or not it results in death; one’s own death, or the death of another, or many others.  Supposedly, humans these days are smarter than any humans that have ever existed.  We are so smart!  So smart, and yet the 20th century was one of the bloodiest on record.

I, for one, fully expect to the 21st century to be as bad or worse than the 20th century.  Dr. Richard Weikart, in his book, The … continue reading...

A Villainous Children’s Book

Some friends of mine released a children’s book called The Villain: The Noble Adventures of Georges & Jean-Luc.   I haven’t had a chance to look at it personally, but here is a review you can check out:

villain-thompsonThe Villain: The Noble Adventures of Georges and Jean-Luc

By Katherine Thompson
Illustrated by Gary R Thompson

Purchase on Amazon

Georges and Jean-Luc are all boy. They live in a world enriched by their imaginations, imaginations formed by the grand old tales that have enchanted children forever. No small world theirs, they look out over the plains and see distant countries to … continue reading...

The Walk to Walden Hill: A Review

Full disclosure:  my ministry awarded this book second place in its 2011 Christian novel writing contest and has since entered into a marketing agreement to promote the book.  

There is a reason why Robert Abernathy’s book, The Walk to Walden Hill:  Rescued in Forgiveness, won an award in Athanatos Christian Ministry’s Christian novel contest- it is quite good!

I was drawn to the story for a variety of reasons, but I believe the primary reason is that the book had a beating heart;  it is the heart of the author, of course, but it is evident throughout that the … continue reading...

Richard Dawkins: Give me the Child and I’ll Give you the Man

Posted to The ChristianPost.com

Religious leaders are well aware of the vulnerability of the child brain, and the importance of getting the indoctrination in early.  The Jesuit boast, ‘Give me the child for his first seven years, and I’ll give you the man,’ is no less accurate (or sinister) for being hackneyed.

The above quote comes from Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion in the chapter titled “The Roots of Religion.”  I was thinking about that chapter when I heard that Mr. Dawkins was putting out a children’s book.   Has Dawkins decided he needs to get into the ‘indoctrination’ business?… continue reading...

A couple of books to review

I received in the mail today two books to review… reminding me I’ve got a review or two yet to write!  Argh!

To whet your appetite, let me say that both of these books appear to be solid and their respective websites look worthy of your investigation.

The first book is Rational Conclusions by James D. Agresti.  This appears to be a thorough and cumulative apologetic for Christianity drawn from multiple disciplines.  His website is www.justfacts.com.   Find the book on Amazon, here.

The next book, by Dr. Edgar Andrews, is called Who Made God:  Searching for a Theory … continue reading...

Book Review: “Story Craft” by John R. Erickson

Story Craft, John R. Erickson

Book Review by Debbie Thompson, ACM Volunteer

If you have 8-10 year old children you may already know John Erickson. He is the author of the popular Hank, the Cowdog stories. Hank is such a delightful doggy character that almost any child or animal loving adult will shake their head at his foibles, laugh at his doggy logic, and wish that they could just once scratch him behind the ears. But here is the amazing thing about Hank the Cowdog: he is an undercover agent, covertly planting goodness, truth, mercy, justice, courage, and joy … continue reading...

Observations on the Other Side of the Contest

Observations on Writing Christian Fiction culled from comments on the novels submitted to the ACM novel contest.

First and foremost, our culture needs good stories, well crafted and edited, which affirm and extend thinking about Christian ideas and teaching. Sometimes these stories have to be communicated in an explicit way but that approach often limits readership and we end up ‘preaching to the choir’. A good story which is well crated can make its message subtle and therefore more widely appealing by restraining the impulse to make it explicitly Christian.

Don’t try to ‘put on’ a Christian mask in … continue reading...

Book Review: “We Chose Life: Why You Should Too” by Anthony Horvath

Book Review by Mary Ann Kreitzer

It’s a parent’s worst nightmare — hearing the words, “You have a very sick child.” For a dad, it’s particularly difficult because his job, besides providing materially for his family, is to protect his loved ones from harm. But when illness strikes a child, a dad often stands helpless to “fix it.” Decisions about dealing with a critical illness in an already born child are difficult enough, but when that illness occurs in utero, parents are faced with another issue. The question is inevitable – “Will you keep it?” Since Roe v. Wade made … continue reading...

Voyage of the Dawn Treader is Back On

Apparently, Disney is set to film Voyage of the Dawn Treader after having previously indicated the movie was off.   In a previous post, I discussed my feelings about this.   Essentially, I was unhappy with the embellishments in the movie and believe that the drop in revenue was associated with Lewis fans showing their displeasure.   I reviewed Prince Caspian.  The title was:  A Review of Prince Caspian- One Disappointed Christian.

From my readings in the blogosphere, it looks like we may be in for more with the Voyage of the Dawn Treader.  This is unfortunate, as this is one … continue reading...

Book Review: Elizabeth Bettina and It Happened in Italy

It Happened in Italy:  Untold Stories of How the People of Italy Defied the Horrors of the Holocaust by Elizabeth Bettina.  Buy on Amazon

Readers of this blog know that I have an interest in the Holocaust and its causes and ramifications.  For example, I have already reviewed Joe Keysor’s Hitler, the Holocaust, and the Bible.  I consider myself a student of 20th century history with all of its death and destruction and ideological battles.  Mrs. Bettina’s book was a breath of fresh air for me as it accomplished several things at once:
  • It showed me a dimension
… continue reading...

A Christian checks out Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals

The impact that Saul Alinksy’s ideology had in the thinking of the man currently occupying the office of the presidency, one Barack Hussein Obama, is well documented.  Thus, I will not document it myself, and submit the reader to Google.

Having only read excerpts of Alinksy’s Rules for Radicals, I was pleased to have the opportunity to sit down and read it for myself in its entirety.  Knowing how influential Alinksy was for the young Obama (and many others who now occupy seats of power) I am more worried than I was before now that I’ve actually read … continue reading...

Review of The Easter Answer (to Barker’s Easter Challenge) by Stephen Kingsley

My first exposure to Dan Barker was his so called ‘Easter Challenge.’  I had already emerged from my own crisis of faith and had already determined some principles for sorting out alleged Biblical contradictions.  The more I read Barker’s writings, the less impressed I was.  I put the Challenge to good use, though, having my New Testament courses take up the ‘challenge’ for their spring project.

It never crossed my mind to try to actually correspond with Barker.  I assumed the whole thing was just some sort of cheap shot.   Having read Kingsley’s book I see that was … continue reading...

Three Upcoming Book Reviews and one Released

I have three books sent to me due for reading and reviewing.  It is going to be a week or possibly longer to get to one or all of them so I wanted to throw up a little blurb to each in the meantime.

[If you want your book reviewed on sntjohnny.com use the contact form elsewhere on this page and submit your request.]

If you are aware of Dan Barker’s ‘Easter Challenge’ you will enjoy this concerted effort to answer it.  Pastor Stephen Kingsley’s The Easter Answer:  What happened during the forty days between Easter and the Ascension is … continue reading...

My book, Spero, reviewed favorably by an atheist friend

Thanks go out to my friend Dannyboy whom I have known through forum debate for I think 15 years now.  Danny also graciously hosted me on a trip to England where he and I tipped back a pint (or two) at the Oxford inns where the Inklings (Lewis, Tolkien, etc) would meet.  Here are some pics from that affair.  WIthout further ado here is his review:

“Spero” – Book II of the Birthpangs series by AR Horvath.

‘Spero’ (Hope) is one of those Latin words that you sort of know, even if you were lucky enough to attend a … continue reading...