Choosing My Religion [Paperback]

R. C. Sproul (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1996

What do you believe in? Whatever it is, that is your religion. Religion shapes your loves, ideals, behavior, and goals, but unless you’ve thought about it clearly, your religion may not be worth believing.

Choosing My Religion will help readers in their late-teens and early twenties arrive at sound answers to life’s big questions. Youth ministers, teachers, and college ministers that work with high school and college students will also find this to be an extraordinary resource.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Are there many paths to God or only one? Targeted to teenagers, this short book seeks to answer that very question. Well-known theologian Sproul runs a balancing act between facts, personal stories, quotations from the Bible and philosophy to answer big questions. Does Truth Matter? What is God like? "The subject of this book," writes Sproul, "is based on the premise that there is, among all the possible avenues of relative truth, a path of uniquely, absolutely true truth. If there was no such path, we live in a relative universe, and all is utter nonsense." The book uses comments from students as the springboard for each topic. Readers can expect to find convincing argument combined with attractive design and very accessible language.

Copyright 1996 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher

•Highly useable for personal study or in group settings
• Discussion questions for each chapter
• A video version is available from Ligonier Ministries
• Choosing My Religion addresses the relativism that dominates the current climate
• Ultimate Issues addresses the origin and "purpose" of everything --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Baker Book House; Student Guide edition (March 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080105575X
• ISBN-13: 978-0801055751
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,508,991 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. R.C. Sproul is the founder, chairman and president of Ligonier Ministries, an international Christian education ministry located near Orlando, Florida. His teaching can be heard on the program Renewing Your Mind, which is broadcast on hundreds of radio outlets in the United States and in 40 countries worldwide. He is the executive editor of Tabletalk magazine and general editor of The Reformation Study Bible, and the author of more than seventy books and scores of articles for national evangelical publications. Dr. Sproul also serves as president of Ligonier Academy of Biblical and Theological Studies and Reformation Bible College. He currently serves as senior minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's in Sanford, FL.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Walk from God, August 28, 2007

By 

Philip S Roeda (Cook, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Choosing My Religion (R. C. Sproul Library) (Paperback)

Why does someone not seek God? Why would someone exchange the Truth for a lie? This is the emphasis of this book, and the theme is directed toward college age people. Written to accompany an audio series by RC Sproul, one need not hear the lectures to comprehend the book. I found the book an interesting argument about the nature of man and the nature of God, even though I am twice the age of the target audience. How does culture affect views about the condition of man, his perspective of God, and his need for salvation.

The first chapter quotes many young adults what their perspective is of belief. The answers illustrate a philosophy of relative thought: what works for me, what works for you, what is functional to the individual. RC Sproul explains why people come up with their own religion. He uses the story about the prodigal son throughout the book to illustrate his point: man's natural inclination is to rebel against God.

The second chapter starts with many quotes from young people about code of conduct or morals: how does someone choose what is right from wrong. How does someone determine what behavior is acceptable? Is there an ultimate ought ness? Sproul uses this point to explain the myths of relative truth, relative morals and a life with no absolutes. That someone may accept the concept of God, but make it out of his own choosing- not what actually exists or is described in the Bible. The author further explains the difference between a God pleasing life and a clean life to bow to social pressure to a parent or another person.

The third chapter starts with many quotes from young adults about the afterlife. Sproul goes into a discussion about how people perceive God's hatred of sin and the judgment of God. Because of today's culture tend to dismiss God's holiness and God's perspective of the deserved punishment of the created. Man does not perceive the need to be saved from the wrath of God. The author explains the difference from being saved from pain and current circumstance as compared to salvation from damnation.

The fourth chapter starts with quotes deal with perspectives about the Christian church. Sproul uses this point to argue what people perceive the Gospel is? Someone may perceive Jesus as philosopher maybe even theologian but not as the redemptive sacrifice for ones sins. Man does not want to accept the idea what punishment he deserves, so he does not want to believe in the atonement.

The fifth chapter deals with quotes about God the Father. Sproul uses this point to explain the holiness of God and worship. What does it mean to believe in a Holy God?

My brief description of this book fails to demonstrate how Sproul incorporates the story about the prodigal to explain all these points. I found the book very interesting.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource for Wrestling with the Christian Faith, April 4, 2011

By 

Shane (Washington State) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Choosing My Religion (R. C. Sproul Library) (Paperback)

This is a great introduction to the basic truths of Christianity and how they are actually rational beliefs and not irrational private values. In this short introductory level book, Sproul discusses what it means to know, believe, and doubt as well as what it means to find purpose, forgiveness, and redemption.

The first chapter has to do with truth as opposed to relativism. The second chapter relates truth to God. In chapters three and four Sproul goes through the biblical themes of redemption and salvation from sin. The final chapter (five) is a basic description of who God is according to the Bible.

I wish I would have read this book in college when I was exploring some of the deep truths of reality and existence. I recommend this book for those who know something about Christianity and want (or need!) a basic intellectual discussion about the historic Christian faith. It won't answer all the questions one might have, but it is a good step in the right direction - the direction towards Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life.

By the way, there are study questions at the end of each chapter for discussion purposes. I recommend it not just for the individual, but also for a small group setting. I'd use it in a young adult setting, or in a setting where "seekers" or "questioners" get together to discuss the intellectual aspect of the Christian faith.

7 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As usual, Sproul meets his readers where they are..., November 23, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Chicago, Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Choosing My Religion (Paperback)

This book was the impetus for me sharing the Gospel and the reality of objective truth surrounding it. It gives non-Christians a bold but sensitive reality check and offers them the correct alternative. I can see it hangin on God's toolbelt right now...