I’m starting to read The God I Don’t Understand by Christopher Wright.  I like the title.  I like what it claims.  The subtitle reads, “Reflections on Tough Questions of Faith.”  I’m afraid, though, that it won’t answer my other questions, that of the origins of Christian faith and thought.  That’s where I’m stuck now.

It’s fine and dandy to talk about the problems we have with God, but what if He doesn’t exist?

I’m just saying.

So, my plea today is for some book advice–books I can read that deal with the origins of how our faith came to be, something similar to Bart Ehrman’s books, if you’re familiar with those.  My editor at Books & Culture steered me toward Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger’s Introduction to Christianity, which is sitting right here in front of me, but I’m thinking that even this book is too far down the line.  I would read it after I’ve decided that the roots of Christianity are true.  Does that make sense?

So, all you readers who share my curiosity and inquisitive mind and have done your own reading, could you help me?  Steer me in the right direction?

Have you gained any insight on Jesus or God from any particular books?  How do we know Jesus is divine and not another prophet?  Why is it that we take Paul’s word on everything?  How did the belief in the Trinity get started (because it wasn’t always there!)?  Did Jesus really die and come back to life?  Is our salvation really based on the shedding of Jesus’s blood?

You see?  I’m talking basics here.

Help!

[Post image: Jesus Christ by hisks at stock.xchng]