Reviews for Early Sociology of Religion (9 Volume Set)

The average rating for Early Sociology of Religion (9 Volume Set) based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2010-11-25 00:00:00 M.c. De Voogd This is a pastoral, humble, compassionate collection of meditations on living a Christ-like life. It is part-leadership book, part-Christian devotional, part-Bible study. And it's all in the conversational voice of Chuck Swindoll, which, because I've heard him so much on the radio over the years, I can easily hear as I'm reading. A lot of the discussion in the second half of the book takes the parable of the good Samaritan and focuses on how we can be good neighbors to everyone around us'the idea that when the man asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus responded not with who is a neighbor to us, but how we can be the good neighbor to others. Two quotes from these chapters I would like to remember. The first is: "Others will not care how much we know until they know how much we care" (116). This is very simple, but good for me to remember, as I do struggle with arrogance that comes from knowing that I know a lot. In the end, who really cares how much I know about anything? Knowledge isn't unimportant, but people need compassion and love. The other quote is about showing that love to others before they ask for help. "Decide now," Swindoll writes, "that you are going to invest more of your energy and time on the stripped, the beaten, and the abandoned. They will seldom tell you, but they need to feel His touch through your hands. They are too shy or too proud or too humiliated or too afraid to ask for help, even though they know they're not going to make it on their own. When you allow your compassion to flow freely, you won't need a personal invitation" (138-139). (And the people Swindoll is writing about here are not a particular "class"'they could include any of us, anytime.) Straightforward and encouraging!

Review # 2 was written on 2015-04-27 00:00:00 Darla Buckman An easy to read book about starting the Christian walk no matter how damaged you may be. The book largely focuses on the life of the apostle Paul and the struggles he faced while attempting the good work the Lord intended for him to accomplish. Swindoll's message about Christian victory was very positive; he recognizes that the walk is not always easy but it is entirely worthwhile.