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Im thinking about writing a book

Grazer

Grazer

Member
Was thinking the other day that Christians are on the front line of a battle. Defending the hope we have in a secular world is not an easy task and in the world of the (almost) anonymous internet, getting clear information is extremely hard with everyone giving their views. But not everyone can take time out to study theology, philosophy or any full time subject.


My journey to Christ and with Christ has involved getting answers and giving answers and my website was an effort to bring those resources together. But I'd like to write about how I came to Christ, my experience in the sorts of questions I asked/am asked, the answers I've got and a little bit about how I approach things. Theyll also be some observations on where I've gone wrong.

Thing is, I have no idea where to start. Does anyone have any advice on writing a book, things to avoid. Also, given the basic premise above, is there anything you think would be really good/important to include?

Thank you
 
Interesting idea. Have you read any authors who have written similar works?
 
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AlexBC said:
Interesting idea. Have you read any authors who have written similar works? Also, what kind of book do you have in mind? Fictional? Based on your life? More of an academic study of the issue? What issues specifically do you want to address?
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I've read a few that go into the evidence and how to approach the questions but not any that deal with the internet. It'll be mostly based on my life and experiences.
 
Not really knowing much about your history, did you come to the faith early in life or at a later point? Devoting time to showing life before finding Christ (if there is a significant amount) would be very important.
 
AlexBC said:
Not really knowing much about your history, did you come to the faith early in life or at a later point? Devoting time to showing life before finding Christ (if there is a significant amount) would be very important.
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Quite later. I'm 31 and came to Christ about 3 and a half years ago
 
More than just a preface then?:lol

I was just looking through the internets for any thing that might help you. Is it important that it relate to your experience in the online Christian community?
 
AlexBC said:
More than just a preface then?:lol

I was just looking through the internets for any thing that might help you. Is it important that it relate to your experience in the online Christian community?
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Lol yeah, most of it I can skip I think :)

Not hugely important but most of my experience in defending the Christian faith and getting answers has taken place online.
 
Grazer said:
Lol yeah, most of it I can skip I think :)

Not hugely important but most of my experience in defending the Christian faith and getting answers has taken place online.
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I don't know. I think relating your pre-Christian experiences would be very insightful.

I think the internet angle could be stellar. It's certainly early enough in the Internet's history for this to be a fairly unique take on this topic, if you decide to go that route.
 
Grazer said:
Was thinking the other day that Christians are on the front line of a battle. Defending the hope we have in a secular world is not an easy task and in the world of the (almost) anonymous internet, getting clear information is extremely hard with everyone giving their views. But not everyone can take time out to study theology, philosophy or any full time subject.


My journey to Christ and with Christ has involved getting answers and giving answers and my website was an effort to bring those resources together. But I'd like to write about how I came to Christ, my experience in the sorts of questions I asked/am asked, the answers I've got and a little bit about how I approach things. Theyll also be some observations on where I've gone wrong.

Thing is, I have no idea where to start. Does anyone have any advice on writing a book, things to avoid. Also, given the basic premise above, is there anything you think would be really good/important to include?

Thank you
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You have a golden opportunity in that you are young and can appeal to a young audience. I am not an expert on writing books, but I think once you are passionate about what you believe in that is a good start. As a young Christian you can start with your walk with Jesus. Show how the world and its ways does not appeal to you anymore. I think citing examples of those whose lives have been destroyed by drugs etc. The younger readers can see the difference between the Christian life and the world's. You will obviously show that the Christian life is not an easy life but it is the BETTER life.

I personally think that writing a book is just wider way of putting down your thoughts. I guess there will be basic rules you may have to follow.
Writing about things that you know are true, and being honest about the way you feel about them.
I heard this morning of an Italian homeless man who was HIV positive and wrote a blog on his experiences as he travelled the country on his bike. Publishers were willing to make his blog into a book.
Write down in journal things that you have experience, little things that you might think are not important, but eventually you will see how important they are.

I wish you all the best.

PS. I was thinking of writing a book about my childhood. There are memories that have impressed me and writing about them would be good.
 
You should also show the reason why you were not a Christian for most of your life. If you want to give power to your words then contrasting your turn to Christianity with your previous 20-odd years of beliefs would definitely do that.

I would probably start with your earliest encounters with the religion (and others). Show what your thought processes were and how they lead you to the faith.


Btw, here's some stuff I found that might help or inspire-

www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/<wbr>internet.html

http://amanwithfaith.blogspot.jp/2012/06/internet-and-christianity.html

http://www.helium.com/items/2042910-the-effect-of-the-internet-on-christianity
 
AlexBC said:
I don't know. I think relating your pre-Christian experiences would be very insightful.

I think the internet angle could be stellar. It's certainly early enough in the Internet's history for this to be a fairly unique take on this topic, if you decide to go that route.
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Thank you for this. What I'm thinking is having my "pre Christian" viewpoint running throughout the book as opposed to a dedicated section.
 
Grazer said:
Thank you for this. What I'm thinking is having my "pre Christian" viewpoint running throughout the book as opposed to a dedicated section.
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That's actually a good idea. There's a lot you could do with that. It's maybe silly but you could have your "current" self commenting on what you past self is thinking or doing. You could interweave the two opposing mindsets throughout the book.

Maybe silly ideas but there's so much potential for some great narrative stuff.
 
AlexBC said:
That's actually a good idea. There's a lot you could do with that. It's maybe silly but you could have your "current" self commenting on what you past self is thinking or doing. You could interweave the two opposing mindsets throughout the book.

Maybe silly ideas but there's so much potential for some great narrative stuff.
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Could take an aspect like the resurrection and present it like a conversation between myself now and myself then.
 
AlexBC said:
Interesting idea. Actually, that's pretty good.
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No, its not a good idea.

Obviously it is going to be one sided. And no, I am not complaining about the prechristian Grazer losing, but more like it being just one sided. Obviously the pre christian you would be more ingnorant of the "facts" you now hold you in your possession. It would too one sided, and unless you plan on showing how ignorant you were on scripture, or the ressurection, I wouln't reccomend it.

Now, if you are trying to show the secular, or nonchristian, against a christian. I suggest a debate with a person who has studied the Bible as well, so it is a fair fight. Heck, you might even get more information and details for the book from the exchange.

I am not up for it, seeing as the I doubt I would do my side justice, but I do know a couple who have studied/ and do study the bible, if you would like a discussion with them.

Now, if this is a book that is suppossed to convince somebody of christianity, only one side is not going to convince anybody. You must debunk the "atheistic" or "islamic" or any other religions claims about christianity being a false religion.

If it is not, a life story mingled with faith is not going to be an interesting read, seeing as it is anecdotal evidence for the creator at best.

And for God's sake, try not to give ONLY christian sources for your information, try your hardest to refute the information you have, and see if it stands through.

Just some commentary. You can do what you want. Sorry if I sounded rude, just wanted to share some possible methods of going about this book.
 
Atothetheist said:
No, its not a good idea.

Obviously it is going to be one sided. And no, I am not complaining about the prechristian Grazer losing, but more like it being just one sided. Obviously the pre christian you would be more ingnorant of the "facts" you now hold you in your possession. It would too one sided, and unless you plan on showing how ignorant you were on scripture, or the ressurection, I wouln't reccomend it.

Now, if you are trying to show the secular, or nonchristian, against a christian. I suggest a debate with a person who has studied the Bible as well, so it is a fair fight. Heck, you might even get more information and details for the book from the exchange.

I am not up for it, seeing as the I doubt I would do my side justice, but I do know a couple who have studied/ and do study the bible, if you would like a discussion with them.

Now, if this is a book that is suppossed to convince somebody of christianity, only one side is not going to convince anybody. You must debunk the "atheistic" or "islamic" or any other religions claims about christianity being a false religion.

If it is not, a life story mingled with faith is not going to be an interesting read, seeing as it is anecdotal evidence for the creator at best.

And for God's sake, try not to give ONLY christian sources for your information, try your hardest to refute the information you have, and see if it stands through.

Just some commentary. You can do what you want. Sorry if I sounded rude, just wanted to share some possible methods of going about this book.
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Most books are one sided when looking at anything like this, The God Delusion was hardly an objective piece of writing.

It's not really aimed at convincing anyone, it'll probably be a small personal book.

The "debate with myself" idea is just one possible. If I went with it, yes I would use arguments that I used to use but I would also use arguments that I've come across since then (though they haven't really changed much)

Most of my evidence will come from Christian sources since Christians are most interested in defending the Christian faith so most of the evidence is there. But, as I try to do with all the articles I've written, I will cite professors and experts in the relevant fields.

Part of it will be about how I became a Christian but part of it will be about avoiding some of the pitfalls I fell into.

It's in the very early planning stages but its given me somethings to keep in mind.
 
Ok I've put this idea on hold for the moment. Ato raises some good points which makes me writing that type of book problematic.

So I'm going to do something that's been on my mind for sometime and that's looking at the disciple Thomas. I feel he has a very unfair reputation so I'm going to look at what's known about him both inside and outside the bible and looking at the passage that earned him his reputation. Sufficed to say, I don't think that passage says what many think it does.

If anyone knows of any good books/articles about Thomas please link to them :)

Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk 2
 
Grazer said:
Was thinking the other day that Christians are on the front line of a battle. Defending the hope we have in a secular world is not an easy task and in the world of the (almost) anonymous internet, getting clear information is extremely hard with everyone giving their views. But not everyone can take time out to study theology, philosophy or any full time subject.


My journey to Christ and with Christ has involved getting answers and giving answers and my website was an effort to bring those resources together. But I'd like to write about how I came to Christ, my experience in the sorts of questions I asked/am asked, the answers I've got and a little bit about how I approach things. Theyll also be some observations on where I've gone wrong.

Thing is, I have no idea where to start. Does anyone have any advice on writing a book, things to avoid. Also, given the basic premise above, is there anything you think would be really good/important to include?

Thank you
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Write about how Jesus shown you your sin in your life and healed you from it.
 
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