This thread might work better in another category–if another admin or mod wants to move it somewhere more appropriate, I have no objections.
What I would like to see is a “current reading list” that our members update on a regular basis. It doesn’t have to be UR related, and you don’t have to make a book report about it–in fact I would prefer if discussions about the books (aside from some explanatory remarks and brief opinions) take place in other dedicated threads.
(I am assuming “The Bible” is a constant entry, so please let’s not have people dissing each other if that isn’t listed, okay?)
So for example, as of today I am currently reading:
Jesus and the God of Israel by Richard Baukham. (Starts with his monograph “God Crucified” and then adds chapters based on followup articles he has done over the years.)
Universal Restitution by James Stonehouse. (The 1761 text as a pdf doc. I’m about 3/4 of the way through it, and am curious about his followup books although most are not available.)
“All Shall Be Well”: Exploration in Universal Salvation and Christian Theology etc. edited by “Gregory MacDonald”, i.e. Robin Parry. (I haven’t come back to this one in a while due to reading on other things, but it’s still on my current-reading list. Its essay/chapter format lends itself to being put down and picked up sporadically. )
Recently I finished:
The Forge of Christendom: The End of Days and the Epic Rise of the West by Tom Holland. (Rollicking narrative history, overviewing the history of Europe, North Africa and the Near Middle East, i.e. the remnants of the Roman Empire and areas on its borders, more-or-less during the Dark Ages. In effect a sequel to Philip Jenkins’ Jesus Wars covering the rise of Christendom up to the fall of Rome in the west; and The Lost History of Christianity covering the orthodox schism and the history of the Oriental Orthodox and the Church of the East up through their being overrun by the Muslims and/or the Mongols.)
Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist by Brant Pitre. (Very nicely detailed argument, written largely for purpose of arguing in favor of transsubtantiation of the Lord’s Supper. Overreaches in a couple of places but not fatally so for the general argument. Didn’t have quite as much about the relationship between the Supper and the seder as I was expecting (stripes on the bread, hiding of the bread, etc.), but that can be found in other places. Already respected transsubstantiation though agnostic about it; greatly improved my leanings in that direction. Not at all sure what to do about it , but helps remove an obstacle from my joining a denomination teaching this.)