Two good books

The Bible: A Biography by Karen Armstrong

My rating: 4 of 5 stars Armstrong is great at writing concise, clear biographies on difficult subjects (the Buddha for instance). This is an easy read, full of information. It will challenge you if you think that the purpose of Scripture has always been what it often is today. Fascinating stuff. View all my reviews >>

The Birth of Christianity: Discovering What Happened In the Years Immediately After the Execution Of Jesus by John Dominic Crossan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars You don't have to agree with all of Crossan's conclusions to see that THIS is how you study early Christianity - through anthropology, archaealogy, textual criticism, etc. etc. Read this book only if you are very, very, very interested in what may have happened in between Jesus' life and the letters of Paul. At times it is fascinating (studying oral tradition of different cultures, memory studies, textual criticism, etc.). At times it is really detailed and boring - but that's only because Crossan tirelessly explains his methodology. Interesting stuff - I read it over a few months. View all my reviews >>