From Christian Piatt: "When I was a teenager, my youth minister threw a bible at my head for asking questions." Too often, for various reasons, people don't have the opportunity to ask the hard questions they have about faith, religion, salvation and the bible. And when questions are left unanswered in communities of faith, people either seek answers elsewhere or lose interest all together. The purpose of the series is to collect the most compelling and challenging questions from various theological areas and pose them to a panel of "experts" who are challenged with responding in two hundred words or less in plain English. This volume addresses challenging or controversial questions about scripture collected from people on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and other social networking media. Respondents include theology professors, clergy, lay leaders, liberals, conservatives and voices representing a spectrum of views. The idea behind the books is not so much to provide definitive answers as it is to stimulate thought, reflection and discussion. By offering multiple perspectives, readers have the opportunity to arrive at their own questions. Better, they come to understand that questioning faith is not taboo, but rather that it can be at the foundation of a strong and growing faith. The directive given to each respondent guided them to be concise and to speak in plan language, but also not to rely exclusively on "the Bible says it" justifications, or to wax abstract or overly intellectual. Instead, they write from personal experience as much as possible, and provide real-life contexts that will allow the average seeker or churchgoer to apply such ideas to their daily lives.
Banned Questions about the Bible
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Editorial Reviews
Review
I've never seen a book quite like this. You've heard the expression "pooling ignorance" but this is the opposite: pooled brilliance. Your thinking will be deepened by interacting with these sharp minds. --Brian McLaren (brianmclaren.net)
This book isn't just entertaining and fascinating. It's inspiring and potentially life-changing. Here's my own question: Can you be curious and thoughtful about religion and NOT read this book? My answer: No --AJ Jacobs (ajjacobs.com)
What this book may do for you is provide an opportunity to ponder anew questions people are really asking about the Book we Christians call God's Word. --Scot McKnight (patheos.com/community/jesuscreed/)
I've never seen a book quite like this. You've heard the expression "pooling ignorance" but this is the opposite: pooled brilliance. Your thinking will be deepened by interacting with these sharp minds. --Brian McLaren (brianmclaren.net)
This book isn't just entertaining and fascinating. It's inspiring and potentially life-changing. Here's my own question: Can you be curious and thoughtful about religion and NOT read this book? My answer: No --AJ Jacobs (ajjacobs.com)
What this book may do for you is provide an opportunity to ponder anew questions people are really asking about the Book we Christians call God's Word. --Scot McKnight (patheos.com/community/jesuscreed/)
This book isn't just entertaining and fascinating. It's inspiring and potentially life-changing. Here's my own question: Can you be curious and thoughtful about religion and NOT read this book? My answer: No --AJ Jacobs (ajjacobs.com)
What this book may do for you is provide an opportunity to ponder anew questions people are really asking about the Book we Christians call God's Word. --Scot McKnight (patheos.com/community/jesuscreed/)
I've never seen a book quite like this. You've heard the expression "pooling ignorance" but this is the opposite: pooled brilliance. Your thinking will be deepened by interacting with these sharp minds. --Brian McLaren (brianmclaren.net)
This book isn't just entertaining and fascinating. It's inspiring and potentially life-changing. Here's my own question: Can you be curious and thoughtful about religion and NOT read this book? My answer: No --AJ Jacobs (ajjacobs.com)
What this book may do for you is provide an opportunity to ponder anew questions people are really asking about the Book we Christians call God's Word. --Scot McKnight (patheos.com/community/jesuscreed/)
From the Author
Why a book about Banned Questions?
When I was younger, I had a Bible thrown at my head during a Sunday school class for asking too many questions. Granted, I was probably even more provocative than your average adolescent, but I really did have a lot of legitimate questions about God, my faith, Jesus and the Bible.
The message I got at the time was that church isn't the place for such questions.
Seriously? If we can't ask the tough, keep-you-awake-at-night questions within our faith communities, then what good are they?
I left organized religion behind for about ten years, until I found a place where my questions not only would be heard and tolerated, but also respected and wrestled with. Beyond that, the good people at Chalice Press had either the nerve and/or the lack of judgment necessary to offer me a book series to help others struggling with these same questions.
In these pages you'll find fifty of the most provocative, challenging or otherwise taboo questions that many of us have wondered about but few have actually asked. I assembled an incredible team of respondents to offer their views on these hard questions. Their responses range from the personal to the profound, and from sarcastic to deeply touching. I'm deeply grateful for each of them, and for their commitment to sharing their hearts, minds and experiences.
The goal of this book is not to resolve these difficult issues once and for all, but rather to open up an ongoing dialogue that allows us all to talk more openly together about what we believe and what we don't, and perhaps more important, why we believe it.
I strongly believe that any faith worth claiming should stand up to rigorous examination, and should also be open to change over time. I hope that this collection is one step in your continuing journey as a person of faith, whatever that may look like to you.
If you enjoy this book, be sure to check out Banned Questions about Jesus, the second book in the Banned Questions series, due out in fall, 2011. And if you have questions you'd like for me to consider for future editions, or if you think of a topic for another Banned Questions book, write me at cpiatt@christianpiatt.com and tell me about it.
Christian
When I was younger, I had a Bible thrown at my head during a Sunday school class for asking too many questions. Granted, I was probably even more provocative than your average adolescent, but I really did have a lot of legitimate questions about God, my faith, Jesus and the Bible.
The message I got at the time was that church isn't the place for such questions.
Seriously? If we can't ask the tough, keep-you-awake-at-night questions within our faith communities, then what good are they?
I left organized religion behind for about ten years, until I found a place where my questions not only would be heard and tolerated, but also respected and wrestled with. Beyond that, the good people at Chalice Press had either the nerve and/or the lack of judgment necessary to offer me a book series to help others struggling with these same questions.
In these pages you'll find fifty of the most provocative, challenging or otherwise taboo questions that many of us have wondered about but few have actually asked. I assembled an incredible team of respondents to offer their views on these hard questions. Their responses range from the personal to the profound, and from sarcastic to deeply touching. I'm deeply grateful for each of them, and for their commitment to sharing their hearts, minds and experiences.
The goal of this book is not to resolve these difficult issues once and for all, but rather to open up an ongoing dialogue that allows us all to talk more openly together about what we believe and what we don't, and perhaps more important, why we believe it.
I strongly believe that any faith worth claiming should stand up to rigorous examination, and should also be open to change over time. I hope that this collection is one step in your continuing journey as a person of faith, whatever that may look like to you.
If you enjoy this book, be sure to check out Banned Questions about Jesus, the second book in the Banned Questions series, due out in fall, 2011. And if you have questions you'd like for me to consider for future editions, or if you think of a topic for another Banned Questions book, write me at cpiatt@christianpiatt.com and tell me about it.
Christian
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am thoroughly enjoying this book. Christian Piatt has compiled an interesting group of 16 great communicators (including himself) to answer questions that I think most people want to ask, but don't or won't. The responses to the various questions include historical facts along with uniquely personal views of each writer. The 1/2 to 1 page answers are brief but powerful. Reading only one person's answer to one question can fuel an individual contemplative quiet time or a full blown discussion with friends/family/church members. AND it is funny. I genuinely like this book and am looking forward to Mr. Piatt's next book; sign me up!
17 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
BANNED QUESTIONS OF THE BIBLE. Banned Questions Series. Christian Piatt, et al. St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2011. 216 pages.
Is it impertinent to ask questions of the Bible, especially regarding possible contradictions, sexual ethics, or the biblical vision of God? Many would say yes to this question, but Christian Piatt and a team of writers that he gathered up, have taken up the challenge, and we are the beneficiaries of their work, which if we take it seriously, will help the church become a safer place for people to wrestle with questions of faith. In Banned Questions of the Bible the writers don't attempt to resolve all the questions, but rather they hope to provide a starting point for our conversation about the places in our lives where the Scriptures touch.
The book consists of fifty questions, many of which are provocative, though I wouldn't say that this is true of every question. The point isn't to raise controversies, but to wrestle with difficult issues and passages of Scripture, including such issues as translations, canonicity, interpretation and authority along with issues such as human sexuality, politics, and salvation.
Piatt, who is a writer/editor and an active leader in the church his spouse pastors, invited a group of writers to address the fifty questions, drawing from clergy, seminary professors, writers, and lay leaders. There are liberals and evangelicals, though the evangelicals are for the most part moderate and not overly conservative. There is a good balance of males and females, though as far as ethnicity, that is more difficult to gauge as there are no pictures of the writers! Overall, the writers are younger, but even here there appears to be variety. There is humor present in the book, but the authors take their topics seriously and respectfully.
Although the writers give evidence of differences in perspective, most of them share a common perception about God. Each of the authors provide the reader with a glimpse of their vision of God, as it is defined in the Baylor God Image Survey, which is found at the end of the book. The survey seeks to help us discern whether we see God as authoritarian, benevolent, critical, or distant, and with only a few exceptions, the writers see God as being benevolent. In fact only one of the writers didn't have benevolence as at least a tie for the top spot. But, maybe that embrace of a benevolent God gave these writers the necessary "courage" to deal with questions many Christians would rather not discuss.
The format of the book is quite simple. A question is posed and several possible answers are provided. Some questions receive more responses than others. After the responses are presented, Christian provides selected Scripture references, suggestions for reading, and then questions for further discussion. Standing between the fifty questions/answers and the Baylor God Image survey is a section that allows the writers to define themselves for the reader. You'll find information about their background, the kinds of books and resources that they find valuable, favorite quotes, and five things that they think would make the world better.
So, why should one pick up this book? We could start with the fact that it provides a place to start for those who have questions and might feel intimidated from asking them. You might have other questions beyond those asked here, but this provides a starting point. For the church it serves as a reminder that the church should be a safe place to ask questions. We shouldn't have a bible thrown at our heads or our faces slapped because we ask questions or express doubts about long held doctrines. The book is also helpful in that it provides groups with a resource to discuss these kinds of questions - possibly using the answers along with the discussion questions. Because there are fifty questions, groups might decide to pick a few and focus on them.
Being that I was reading this with a review in mind, I tried to read it from cover to cover, but I'm not sure that is the best way to engage the book. I would recommend perusing the table of contents and then pick those questions that seem most pertinent (or perhaps most impertinent) to you the reader. Or you might use it for a "weekly devotional" time, though it would be a most unusual devotional book. Preachers might get some ideas here for a sermon or two. The possibilities are endless, and since this is only the first book in the series, we'll have other opportunities to wrestle with questions that dog the church! So, by all means, check out this book!
Review copy provided by the publisher
Is it impertinent to ask questions of the Bible, especially regarding possible contradictions, sexual ethics, or the biblical vision of God? Many would say yes to this question, but Christian Piatt and a team of writers that he gathered up, have taken up the challenge, and we are the beneficiaries of their work, which if we take it seriously, will help the church become a safer place for people to wrestle with questions of faith. In Banned Questions of the Bible the writers don't attempt to resolve all the questions, but rather they hope to provide a starting point for our conversation about the places in our lives where the Scriptures touch.
The book consists of fifty questions, many of which are provocative, though I wouldn't say that this is true of every question. The point isn't to raise controversies, but to wrestle with difficult issues and passages of Scripture, including such issues as translations, canonicity, interpretation and authority along with issues such as human sexuality, politics, and salvation.
Piatt, who is a writer/editor and an active leader in the church his spouse pastors, invited a group of writers to address the fifty questions, drawing from clergy, seminary professors, writers, and lay leaders. There are liberals and evangelicals, though the evangelicals are for the most part moderate and not overly conservative. There is a good balance of males and females, though as far as ethnicity, that is more difficult to gauge as there are no pictures of the writers! Overall, the writers are younger, but even here there appears to be variety. There is humor present in the book, but the authors take their topics seriously and respectfully.
Although the writers give evidence of differences in perspective, most of them share a common perception about God. Each of the authors provide the reader with a glimpse of their vision of God, as it is defined in the Baylor God Image Survey, which is found at the end of the book. The survey seeks to help us discern whether we see God as authoritarian, benevolent, critical, or distant, and with only a few exceptions, the writers see God as being benevolent. In fact only one of the writers didn't have benevolence as at least a tie for the top spot. But, maybe that embrace of a benevolent God gave these writers the necessary "courage" to deal with questions many Christians would rather not discuss.
The format of the book is quite simple. A question is posed and several possible answers are provided. Some questions receive more responses than others. After the responses are presented, Christian provides selected Scripture references, suggestions for reading, and then questions for further discussion. Standing between the fifty questions/answers and the Baylor God Image survey is a section that allows the writers to define themselves for the reader. You'll find information about their background, the kinds of books and resources that they find valuable, favorite quotes, and five things that they think would make the world better.
So, why should one pick up this book? We could start with the fact that it provides a place to start for those who have questions and might feel intimidated from asking them. You might have other questions beyond those asked here, but this provides a starting point. For the church it serves as a reminder that the church should be a safe place to ask questions. We shouldn't have a bible thrown at our heads or our faces slapped because we ask questions or express doubts about long held doctrines. The book is also helpful in that it provides groups with a resource to discuss these kinds of questions - possibly using the answers along with the discussion questions. Because there are fifty questions, groups might decide to pick a few and focus on them.
Being that I was reading this with a review in mind, I tried to read it from cover to cover, but I'm not sure that is the best way to engage the book. I would recommend perusing the table of contents and then pick those questions that seem most pertinent (or perhaps most impertinent) to you the reader. Or you might use it for a "weekly devotional" time, though it would be a most unusual devotional book. Preachers might get some ideas here for a sermon or two. The possibilities are endless, and since this is only the first book in the series, we'll have other opportunities to wrestle with questions that dog the church! So, by all means, check out this book!
Review copy provided by the publisher
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great For Sunday School Classes with Brave Teachers (and braver students)
April 3, 2011
By Tex.Rev.Esq.
Format:Paperback
Great questions. Great Format. Connects with people of all ages.
Each question has its own treatment with relevant biblical references, two or three short reflections, discussion questions, and suggestions for further reading. The refections help to jump-start discussion. The discussion questions lead to deeper reflection on how or why we interpret and use the Bible in church and in life. If you teach a class of individuals willing to challenge what they think they know about the Bible, this book is for you.
Each question has its own treatment with relevant biblical references, two or three short reflections, discussion questions, and suggestions for further reading. The refections help to jump-start discussion. The discussion questions lead to deeper reflection on how or why we interpret and use the Bible in church and in life. If you teach a class of individuals willing to challenge what they think they know about the Bible, this book is for you.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Different perspectives
I work with college students and these are the kinds of questions that they should be asking. Students who don't like pat answers to tough questions would probably enjoy... Read more
Published 2 months ago by C. Towles
1.0 out of 5 stars
Unbelievable...
I ran across this book just by happenstance when browsing Amazon. I have a Kindle Fire HD so I decided to look it up and read a sample. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Hunter W
5.0 out of 5 stars
Book Review
In today's world and in fact the world from the time of Christ particularly since the compilation of the Bible, there have been misconceptions, misinterpretations and the misuse of... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Robert S. Graham
5.0 out of 5 stars
Can't wait
When I originally ordered the sample of this book, I also ordered the sample of Banned Questions about Jesus. Read more
Published 7 months ago by GreggyDeth
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good book
My small group picked this book to talk about. Good conversation over topics some of us really didn't know the answer to.
Published 15 months ago by LanceAB
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Dubious Disciple Book Review
Hey, I think this new Banned Questions Series by Christian Piatt and acquaintances is gonna work! I'll also be reviewing the next one in the series, Banned Questions about Jesus,... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Dubious Disciple
2.0 out of 5 stars
Questions Yes, Answers, not so much
I am pleased that someone is doing this, finally, I am not pleased with the outcome. It includes great references and introductions to ideas that liberal Christians have been... Read more
Published 19 months ago by John W. Wolforth
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Resource for Those Curious about Questions Often Ducked in...
Banned Questions about the Bible (BQAB) tackles questions many people have always wanted to ask about the Bible, but may have felt were somehow inappropriate or problematic. Read more
Published 23 months ago by A. R. Worley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Questions Good for the Church
Questions - they scare many and provoke most. Questions have a way of illuminating and invigorating our world. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Zachary Bailes
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great thought provoking Book
Our Sunday School class is using this book, and we are thoroughly enjoying the discussion! Not everyone agrees with the authors on every issue. Read more
Published 23 months ago by KSharun
