Basic list

Gary said...

I very much like your idea of "plain simple books that sum up the faith" as it gives me more time to spend with the Bible itself. I have been using this list for a while and find it extremely helpful, so thank you. I wonder, some five years on, would the list look the same if you compiled it today or do you have any new recommendations?

This comment was left here. The basic list was the Bible, Pilgrim's Progress, Human Nature in its Fourfold State, and Berkhof's Manual of Christian Doctrine.

I responded:

c.t. said...

Hi, I'm trying to think of one. That list is pretty good in that I didn't include any subjective types of influences and it's balanced. I was using the template of 'history, poetry, philosophy' (poetry representing imaginative literature and philosophy in this case representing theology). Boston's great work I listed can be seen as a history of redemption.

I suppose confessions, creeds, and catechisms would be candidates. Reformed Confessions of the 16th and 17th Centuries in English Translation ed. by James T. Dennison, Jr. would be an all-encompassing inclusion.

Heidelberg Commentary by Ursinus is basic.

Of course Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion could be included because it carries so much foundational wisdom.

A foundational subject for a Christian that is getting a lot of attention recently is worldview analysis. It is a powerful subject that gives parts in relation to the whole understanding of the Christian worldview vs. the constellation of false idol worldviews. I think three classics for that are:

David K. Naugle - Worldview: The History of a Concept

James Sire - The Universe Next Door

Nancy Pearcey - Finding Truth

In the Naugle book you'll find answers to common criticisms of worldview analysis from Christians. His chps. 9 and 11 are mandatory to understanding the whole subject.