Growing Up Christian: A Search for a Reasonable Faith in America's Heartland, by Stanley David Williams Ph.D.
By conserving Growing Up Christian: A Search For A Reasonable Faith In America's Heartland, By Stanley David Williams Ph.D. in the gadget, the way you check out will certainly likewise be much easier. Open it as well as start reviewing Growing Up Christian: A Search For A Reasonable Faith In America's Heartland, By Stanley David Williams Ph.D., easy. This is reason that we propose this Growing Up Christian: A Search For A Reasonable Faith In America's Heartland, By Stanley David Williams Ph.D. in soft data. It will certainly not interrupt your time to get the book. On top of that, the on-line air conditioner will additionally alleviate you to look Growing Up Christian: A Search For A Reasonable Faith In America's Heartland, By Stanley David Williams Ph.D. it, even without going somewhere. If you have link internet in your workplace, house, or gizmo, you can download Growing Up Christian: A Search For A Reasonable Faith In America's Heartland, By Stanley David Williams Ph.D. it straight. You might not likewise wait to get the book Growing Up Christian: A Search For A Reasonable Faith In America's Heartland, By Stanley David Williams Ph.D. to send by the vendor in various other days.
Growing Up Christian: A Search for a Reasonable Faith in America's Heartland, by Stanley David Williams Ph.D.
Download Ebook PDF Online Growing Up Christian: A Search for a Reasonable Faith in America's Heartland, by Stanley David Williams Ph.D.
Growing Up Christian: Searching for a Reasonable Faith in the Heartland of America is a memoir of the author's experiences growing up with the peculiarities found in American Christianity. It has been described as "pure Americana."
BACK COVER COPYAs a young man confused by the multitude of Christian denominations and their disagreements with each other—each claiming to be the caretaker of truth—the author traces his odd and sometimes humorous journey of faith. From a little boy seeking adventure, to a denomination-hopping man crisscrossing America’s Christian landscape, Stan Williams searched for a spiritual home that embraced both the faith of his fathers and the reason of natural law.
REVIEW “Master Storyteller Stan Williams raises the genre of conversion stories to the level of an epic. Growing Up Christian’s rapid-fire chapters provides entertaining and insightful vignettes into growing up as a Protestant in the 1950s, the unfolding of his vocation to story writing and filmmaking, and his eventual entry into the Catholic Church. Intermixed with humorous anecdotes and comments, Stan gives the reader a front row seat to his intellectual and emotional struggles...It’s a fascinating page turner, an epic adventure, and a conversion story on steroids... all wrapped up into one.” (Gary Michuta, Author)
EARLY "ENDORSEMENTS"
“Thanks, Stan. I now have work for the rest of my life.” (His libel Attorney)
“We'd excommunicate him, but we're not Catholic.” (His former Pastors)
“We had an accident, memory’s gone...that’s my excuse.” (His Nephew)
“None of this is true, and I have the scars to prove it.” (His Sister)
“When his Mom prayed, I was helpless to protect him.” (His Dad)
“I kept wondering: Where do they bury the survivors?” (His Wife)
“I tried to put him in jail, but he was too young.” (His cop Aunt)
“When can I ship him off to the Army?” (His frustrated Mom)
Contact Stan if you want a signature block sent to you. He doesn't have any to send you, but if he gets a request he'll find some...and actually sign them.
Growing Up Christian: A Search for a Reasonable Faith in America's Heartland, by Stanley David Williams Ph.D. - Amazon Sales Rank: #435846 in Books
- Published on: 2015-11-25
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 8.50" h x 1.37" w x 5.50" l, 1.52 pounds
- Binding: Paperback
- 548 pages
Growing Up Christian: A Search for a Reasonable Faith in America's Heartland, by Stanley David Williams Ph.D. About the Author Stan Williams was raised in Evangelicalism. He married a wonderful Christian woman, has three children, ten grandchildren and made his career training astronauts, car mechanics, and corporate executives. He has produced hundreds of films, television, video, live shows, and has helped novelists, and Hollywood filmmakers structure their stories to connect with audiences. He holds degrees in Physics (BA), Mass Communications (MA), and Narrative Theory (PHD). He says, "Writing this was great therapy, a lot of fun, and gave me the chance to reconnect with many interesting people form my rich past. I'm so appreciative to all of them."
This book also describes the research that gave rise to Williams' earlier book, The Moral Premise: Harnessing Virtue and Vice for Box Office Success available elsewhere on Amazon.
Where to Download Growing Up Christian: A Search for a Reasonable Faith in America's Heartland, by Stanley David Williams Ph.D.
Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Thoroughly enjoyable on several levels By Mary Kochan Really two books in one. First, Growing Up Christian is as quintessentially American a memoir as could be. It is hard to fathom that this more innocent, optimistic time was a mere few decades ago. Stan's stories are laugh-out-loud funny and will resonate with everyone who grew up in the 1950s and early '60s in the Christian heartland of this country. (If you're too young to remember, it will help you understand what life as kids was like for your parents!) Second, this book is the intellectual and spiritual journey of a person so full of life and so longing for truth that he just had to bust the seams of the fundamentalist Evangelicalism he was fitted into as a child. But what he shed was not as important as what he kept holding onto for dear life -- the abiding faith of his forebears that never let him down.But wait! The-e-e-re's more! There is yet another book, making -- count 'em -- not one, not two, but three! books in one. Growing Up Christian is an apologetic, a defense, of the Christian faith and of its fullest expression in the Catholic Church. It is always loving, never shrill, and animated by tender appreciation for the gifts Stanley was given by his Evangelical upbringing, a rigorous work ethic, determination to follow the Lord wherever he leads, and deep confidence in His Providence.(Full disclosure: I helped edit this book.)
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. An Intriguing Conversion Odyssey By David G. Armstrong Stan Williams takes readers on a fascinating journey through the multi-faceted stages of his life, in his memoir, Growing Up Christian. Written in a delightfully whimsical, frequently humorous or somewhat tongue-in-cheek style -- always very readable -- , it provides a wonderful account of precisely what the title conveys.As is the case with many adult converts to Catholicism (I am one, myself), Stan exhibits a deep appreciation and gratefulness for the knowledge and wisdom that he attained during his Protestant (Evangelical) years. The Catholic convert usually feels that Catholicism builds upon what was formerly learned, rather than being a rejection of it.This affection and respect for all that is true and good in Protestantism, and the spiritual riches available in it, is evident throughout the book, even when Stan critiques and disagrees with various elements in that belief-system. The following paragraph is a notable example of the style of his analyses of the anti-Catholic strain of 1950s Evangelicalism: specifically, that of his mother. Note also how it also contains a (quite justified!) critical remark about dissenting Catholics:"Some Protestants (like my mother) were afraid that Catholicism would take over America -- not by killing people (like the Communists had threatened) but by having babies who would eventually allow Catholics to dominate the democratic process. She had not yet heard of the contraceptive pill, which would be made widely available to the public in a few years. Nor did she know that Catholic women would swarm to use the pill against the Church's prohibition. Mom might have been delighted had she known what the future held."One experience he recounts was eerily similar to my own, in the same fundamentalist Baptist bookstore, about eight years after his incident. It was called the Inter-City Christian Bookstore, in Allen Park, Michigan (where I now live). It closed in the last year or so.In 1973, Stan visited this bookstore and purchased a nice, leatherbound New American Standard Bible. When he went to buy it, the cashier grimaced, opining in no uncertain terms that it wasn't a "real Bible." He tells the story of what she then said:"'The King James Bible [first published in 1611] is the only authorized version because it is the Bible that Jesus used.'"At this point there was a long period of silence as I repeated her words to myself. Finally, I burst out, 'WHO TOLD YOU THAT?'"Unruffled, she narrowed her eyes, stepped into my space, and pointed across the street to the large Inter-City Baptist Church. 'Our pastor!'"The question immediately arose in my mind, while reading, "why in the world did the bookstore sell it in the first place, then, or hire a worker who had such a low opinion of it?" Stan was gracious enough to omit that observation. The "King James Only" viewpoint is, it should be noted, believed only by a very tiny fringe group of exclusivist fundamentalists, but it does still exist, and is a prime example of the ludicrous anti-intellectualism that prevails in these circles. Stan made further (typically a bit pointed but dead-on) observations about the absurdities inherent in this view:"[I]n some sectors of Christianity there are Christians who believe that before His ascension, Jesus supervised the writing of the KJV (in Elizabethan prose), oversaw its printing on imported India paper, and approved the first edition leather bindings, before letting the Apostles organize a book signing."I particularly appreciated this story, because the first "major" Bible purchase I made was in this same store, in 1980, when I, too, bought a leatherbound New American Standard Bible, that I cherish to this day. I read most of the Bible using this volume, and made many notes in its margins. It still has the same glorious smell, too, after 35 years.I purchased mine without incident, but in the following year I made a visit back to Inter-City Christian Bookstore, with a brochure advertising a "counter-cult" ministry that I was involved in. I figured that a good Christian store like this would be happy to put it out, in the worthwhile effort to oppose the errors of non-trinitarian groups like the Jehovah's Witnesses, who denied that Jesus was God. No problem, right? Wrong!To my astonishment, I was told by the lady at the counter (possibly the same one Stan encountered, for all I know), that the bookstore couldn't put out the pamphlet because the three people pictured on the cover had beards (!!!). I couldn't believe it! Didn't Jesus Himself have a beard? I thought I was back in the late 60s again, watching my dad kick my brother out of the house simply because he had long hair. I thought all that sort of silliness was long gone by 1981. But alas, it was not.The latter chapters of the book tell the story of how Stan became convinced that the fullness of the Christian faith was to be found in the Catholic Church, via "intermediate" positions like Lutheranism. He describes exactly how he became ultimately disenchanted in the end with every form of Protestantism that he tried. The tone is more serious, yet not without a good deal of self-deprecating humor. It is also a story of the conflict between Stan and his wife Pam, who was a little slower to reach the same conclusion. She contributes significant portions to the book as well, with her own articulate and insightful writing style.The conversion story of the last part of the book would be very helpful to anyone going through the same process: especially regarding the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, or transubstantiation: an aspect of Catholic theology quite difficult for many Protestants to grasp (and widely misunderstood).Very highly recommended!DAVE ARMSTRONG (Catholic Author and Apologist, active at Patheos)
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A story of a journey well worth sharing By Amazon Customer A Beautiful Account of God's GraceThere are many accounts of personal journeys that have led souls closer to God. But precious few capture our imagination, mirror the sentiments of our hearts, or put into words the remarkable reasons we are Christians. Dr. Stan Williams's memoir, however, does all that and more.Each short chapter provides a beautiful account of God's grace at work in his life and the many lives that he encounters. Hardly a page can be turned without laughing out loud or nodding over a similar experience or even blinking away a tear or two at God's tender mercy. The familiar landmarks in Dearborn and Metro Detroit will likely awaken many happy memories for anyone who has grown up there.Stan's account of his strict Protestant upbringing and the many denominations and communities he visited in his desire to know the Lord Jesus, ironically leave the reader with a remarkable sense that all Christians, regardless of their denominational barriers, share in the unity of the mystical Body of Christ.The clarity with which he articulates why he accepted some aspects of each community's teachings and struggled with others, makes some of the biggest barriers between Christians seem surprisingly small. In so many places we see God's grace in the form of an "enlightened moment" where the obstacles that had moments before seemed dark and insurmountable, suddenly become well-lit bumps in the road.Throughout the book, his wife Pam adds to the story. This makes the memoir all the more personal and heartfelt. You almost sense Stan's beloved wife looking over his shoulder as he writes--encouraging, reminding and filling in details only she could remember.After years of not being able to give a clear answer to many who have come to me because they were troubled by their encounter with Charismatic Christians who demanded they speak in tongues, it was Stan's short account of being prayed over (for the gift of tongues) that suddenly made perfect sense to me. "I don't really think I'm supposed to speak in tongues to prove the Holy Spirit is with me," he said. It was a lighthearted reminder for all of us to "Strive eagerly for the greater spiritual gifts." Stan's book was one of the best gifts I've received in some time. When I finished it, I was so thankful, spiritually lifted and encouraged...especially after Pam's Postscript.I pray that the Lord will continue to shower his graces upon Stan & Pam and their extended family. God bless them!
See all 10 customer reviews...
Growing Up Christian: A Search for a Reasonable Faith in America's Heartland, by Stanley David Williams Ph.D.
Growing Up Christian: A Search for a Reasonable Faith in America's Heartland, by Stanley David Williams Ph.D. PDF
Growing Up Christian: A Search for a Reasonable Faith in America's Heartland, by Stanley David Williams Ph.D. iBooks
Growing Up Christian: A Search for a Reasonable Faith in America's Heartland, by Stanley David Williams Ph.D. ePub
Growing Up Christian: A Search for a Reasonable Faith in America's Heartland, by Stanley David Williams Ph.D. rtf
Growing Up Christian: A Search for a Reasonable Faith in America's Heartland, by Stanley David Williams Ph.D. AZW
Growing Up Christian: A Search for a Reasonable Faith in America's Heartland, by Stanley David Williams Ph.D. Kindle
Growing Up Christian: A Search for a Reasonable Faith in America's Heartland, by Stanley David Williams Ph.D.
Growing Up Christian: A Search for a Reasonable Faith in America's Heartland, by Stanley David Williams Ph.D.
Growing Up Christian: A Search for a Reasonable Faith in America's Heartland, by Stanley David Williams Ph.D.
Growing Up Christian: A Search for a Reasonable Faith in America's Heartland, by Stanley David Williams Ph.D.
