The best 20 Theology books

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1
Theology Books: The Reason For God by Timothy Keller

The Reason For God

Timothy Keller
Belief In An Age Of Skepticism
4.0 (196 ratings)

What's The Reason For God about?

In The Reason For God, famous New York pastor Timothy Keller defends Christianity and its core beliefs against the most common objections. His fresh approach provides several arguments for continued Christian faith.

Who should read The Reason For God?

  • Anyone who is interested in religion
  • Christians who want to discover a fresh angle to their faith

2
Theology Books: The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

The Purpose Driven Life

Rick Warren
What on Earth Am I Here For?
3.6 (174 ratings)

What's The Purpose Driven Life about?

The Purpose Driven Life (2002) shares the Christian answer to that age-old question: why am I here? From finding moments of worship in daily routines to seeking out a supportive community and letting the Holy Spirit guide you through tough situations, these blinks are an engaging guide to life as a Christian today.

Who should read The Purpose Driven Life?

  • Christians seeking a modern guide to a life of faith
  • Readers longing to deepen their connection to Christian spirituality
  • Individuals interested the benefits of the Christian way of life

3
Theology Books: The Name of God is Mercy by Pope Francis

The Name of God is Mercy

Pope Francis
4.7 (70 ratings)

What's The Name of God is Mercy about?

The Name of God is Mercy (2016) outlines Pope Francis’s view of God and the Bible, and the reasons that the most important attribute of God is mercy.

Who should read The Name of God is Mercy?

  • Theology students
  • People seeking religious guidance
  • Anyone who wants to learn more about the Pope

4
Theology Books: A History of God by Karen Armstrong

A History of God

Karen Armstrong
The 4000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam
4.3 (394 ratings)

What's A History of God about?

A History of God (1993) traces the related histories of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim concepts of God. From the jealous God of the ancient Israelites to the revelations of Allah, and from the life of Jesus through to theological doctrinal discussions and God’s status in the modern world, these blinks tell the story of how conceptualizations of God in these three related religions have developed and changed over time.

Who should read A History of God?

  • Jewish people, Christians, Muslims and all people of faith
  • Historians and philosophers
  • Atheists interested in the role of God in monotheistic religions

5
Theology Books: The Book by Alan W. Watts

The Book

Alan W. Watts
On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are
4.5 (254 ratings)

What's The Book about?

The Book (1966) is about the big questions in life. What’s the meaning of it all? Where do we really exist in the universe? Author Alan Watts guides the reader on a voyage of discovery that questions popular assumptions about what’s important in life, how the universe functions, and the nature of God.

Who should read The Book?

  • Spiritual seekers
  • Students of theology or religion
  • Readers interested in Eastern philosophies

6
Theology Books: Why Religion? by Elaine Pagels

Why Religion?

Elaine Pagels
A Personal Story
3.9 (40 ratings)

What's Why Religion? about?

Why Religion? (2018) is a personal answer to the question its title poses. Rather than explaining why anyone should adopt or eschew religious belief, Elaine Pagels’s moving memoir shows how her life experiences led her to the study of religion, and how that study has helped her cope with the difficult events of her life.

Who should read Why Religion??

  • Atheists who were once religious
  • Students wondering how study can affect life
  • Bereaved individuals trying to cope with loss

7
Theology Books: Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

Mere Christianity

C.S. Lewis
4.7 (426 ratings)

What's Mere Christianity about?

Mere Christianity (1952) is one of the most famous and influential apologetics for the Christian faith ever written. Compiled from C.S. Lewis’s legendary World War II radio broadcasts, it brings together a series of timeless reflections designed to explain and defend Christianity. Mere Christianity outlines Lewis’s arguments for the truth of the Christian doctrine. It also explores what Christian life involves and why Lewis thinks we’re all better off as Christians.

Who should read Mere Christianity?

  • Believers who want to strengthen their faith
  • Nonbelievers who like to challenge their worldview
  • Non-Christians looking for a clear introduction to Christian beliefs

8
Theology Books: The Soul of the World by Roger Scruton

The Soul of the World

Roger Scruton
3.7 (217 ratings)

What's The Soul of the World about?

In an age where science and atheism seek to explain everything we are, The Soul of the World (2014) argues for the continued importance of religion. It doesn’t preach for a particular doctrine; rather, it claims that in art, music, architecture, and interpersonal relations, there is a striving toward the sacred that science alone can’t explain or fulfill. Finally, it argues that by devaluing or ignoring the transcendent, we are willfully giving up one of the very things that makes us human.

Who should read The Soul of the World?

  • Atheists, agnostics, and scientists seeking a challenge to their worldview
  • Conservatives, traditionalists, and religious people
  • Lovers of philosophy, music, or art

9
Theology Books: Learning to Pray by James Martin

Learning to Pray

James Martin
A Guide for Everyone
4.1 (168 ratings)

What's Learning to Pray about?

Learning to Pray (2021) unpacks one of the most important yet misunderstood aspects of spiritual life: prayer. What’s the purpose of prayer? How do you pray “correctly?” What should you expect when you pray? These are just some of the questions that often stand between believers and this deeply rewarding practice. And there’s no better way of answering them than by looking back through the different styles and rituals of prayer found in the Christian tradition. 

Who should read Learning to Pray?

  • Believers struggling with prayer
  • Agnostics and skeptics with an open mind
  • History buffs

10
Theology Books: The Women of the Bible Speak by Shannon Bream

The Women of the Bible Speak

Shannon Bream
The Wisdom of 16 Women and Their Lessons for Today
4.5 (90 ratings)

What's The Women of the Bible Speak about?

The Women of the Bible Speak (2021) tells the story of the women of the Bible, describing their lives in all of their richness. Some of their stories are tragic, some are empowering, some are just very human. But they are all central to the Christian story, and come with their own special lessons and wisdom. The Women of the Bible Speak shows us that even within the rigid hierarchies of the ancient world, women were instrumental.

Who should read The Women of the Bible Speak?

  • Christians
  • Anyone interested in the history of the Bible
  • Those looking for inspiration and wisdom from the ancient world

11
Theology Books: The Black Church by Henry Louis Gates Jr.

The Black Church

Henry Louis Gates Jr.
This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song
4.3 (63 ratings)

What's The Black Church about?

The Black Church (2021) tells the story of Christianity in the Black community, from the conversion of enslaved people in the 1600s to the founding of Black denominations and today’s COVID-19 pandemic. The book highlights how the Black church evolved over centuries, and the various social and political roles it has played. 

Who should read The Black Church?

  • People interested in the culture and history of African American people
  • Those curious about religious history
  • Anyone interested in sociology

12
Theology Books: Dominion by Tom Holland

Dominion

Tom Holland
How the Christian Revolution Remade the World
4.3 (85 ratings)

What's Dominion about?

Dominion (2021) is a grandiose look at the impact Christianity has had on the development of the Western mind. From its roots in antiquity to the pop singles of the twentieth century, the story follows the dramatic development of Christian thought over three thousand years.

Who should read Dominion?

  • Lovers of broad-sweep history
  • Those looking for an insouciant take on European history
  • Anyone who thinks they know what Christianity is all about

13
Theology Books: Why the Universe Is the Way It Is by Hugh Ross

Why the Universe Is the Way It Is

Hugh Ross
3.8 (98 ratings)

What's Why the Universe Is the Way It Is about?

Why The Universe Is the Way It Is (2008) takes you on a cosmic journey from the Big Bang to the mysteries of time, all while exploring the universe's beauty and complexity. With a perfect balance of science and theology, it's a must-read for the curious and contemplative.

Who should read Why the Universe Is the Way It Is?

  • Curious cosmic explorers
  • Theological scientists
  • “Big picture” modern philosophers

14
Theology Books: Purity and Danger by Mary Douglas

Purity and Danger

Mary Douglas
3.8 (159 ratings)

What's Purity and Danger about?

Purity and Danger (1966) presents a framework for understanding different societies and religions according to what they find pure and sacred and what they consider unclean and out of place. Cultures organize their experiences, values, and worldview into binary categories: either something is “dirty” and does not belong, or it is pure or holy. Sometimes, something – or someone – is both or neither. By looking at how other cultures make these distinctions, you can become more aware of how your own is organized.

Who should read Purity and Danger?

  • Cultural theory and anthropology students looking for an introduction to Douglas’s works
  • Anyone interested in comparative religion
  • Curious-minded people hungry for a new perspective

15
Theology Books: Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund

Gentle and Lowly

Dane Ortlund
The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers
3.9 (225 ratings)

What's Gentle and Lowly about?

Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers (2020) takes us into the core of Christ’s teachings to reveal the boundless mercy and grace of God’s heart. By diving into scripture and the teachings of the Puritans, this title reassures those who have strayed from Christ of the miracle of his radical love. 

Who should read Gentle and Lowly?

  • Believers of all stripes
  • Agnostics
  • Atheists interested in scripture

16
Theology Books: God Here and Now by Karl Barth

God Here and Now

Karl Barth
3.8 (160 ratings)

What's God Here and Now about?

God Here and Now (1964) is a collection of addresses and essays that explore fundamental tenets of Christianity from a Protestant theologian’s point of view. Covering the gospel, faith, grace, the Bible, the Church, ethics, and humanism, it poses questions on what it means to meet God in today’s world.

Who should read God Here and Now?

  • People curious about the perspective of a modern Protestant thinker
  • Christians who want to better understand and implement scripture
  • Anyone grappling with questions regarding faith, ethics, or humanism

17
Theology Books: The Bible Recap by Tara-Leigh Cobble

The Bible Recap

Tara-Leigh Cobble
A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible
4.2 (56 ratings)

What's The Bible Recap about?

The Bible Recap (2020) is a chronological and easy-to-understand explanation of what many consider to be the most important book in the world. By offering short and simple analyses of a few passages at a time, it breaks down this huge work of scripture into easily consumable chunks, designed to be read one a day for a year.

Who should read The Bible Recap?

  • Confused faithful who’ve tried and failed to read the Bible
  • Passionately devoted people looking for a deeper understanding of God's word
  • The religiously curious who want to take some of the mystery out of this ancient book

18
Theology Books: Life Worth Living by Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun and Ryan McAnnally-Linz

Life Worth Living

Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun and Ryan McAnnally-Linz
A Guide to What Matters Most
4.3 (381 ratings)

What's Life Worth Living about?

Life Worth Living (2023) is about discovering your own vision for a meaningful life. It offers a wide spectrum of philosophic and theological ideas in order to better understand what is most important to you, and how to turn that understanding into action.

Who should read Life Worth Living?

  • Anyone who’s ever wondered about the meaning of life
  • People interested in theology and comparative religion studies
  • Curious minds looking for inspiration and guidance

19
Theology Books: Paradise Lost by John Milton

Paradise Lost

John Milton
4.4 (81 ratings)

What's Paradise Lost about?

Paradise Lost (1667) is an early classic of English literature. In over ten thousand lines of verse, the epic poem tells the biblical story from Satan’s rebellion against God to Adam and Eve’s original sin. Written at a time of great political and religious upheaval, the epic proves an impressive inquiry of free will, sin, and the nature of evil to this very day.

Who should read Paradise Lost?

  • Fans of epic battles between good and evil
  • Students of English literature
  • Anyone interested in theology and philosophy

20
Theology Books: Ethics by Baruch Spinoza

Ethics

Baruch Spinoza
4.5 (34 ratings)

What's Ethics about?

Ethics (1677) is Spinoza’s enigmatic masterwork that changed philosophy. One of only two published works by the author, with the other published anonymously, the text became a flashpoint for divisions around the nature of god, religion, and nature, as well as a foundation for traditions of western mysticism and spirituality ever since.

Who should read Ethics?

  • Philosophy lovers curious about the works that shaped modern thought
  • History buffs looking for more on the great minds of the past
  • Mystical thinkers curious about the nature of the universe

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