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Union faculty pick most influential 20th-century Christian publications

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JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)–In a survey completed by Union University faculty members, C.S. Lewis’ “Mere Christianity” emerged as the most influential Christian publication of the 20th century.
J.I. Packer’s “Knowing God” and Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s “Cost of Discipleship” were ranked second and third, respectively.
Others rounding out the top 10 included “Chronicles of Narnia” by C.S. Lewis, “How Should We Then Live?” by Francis Schaeffer, “The Screwtape Letters” by C.S. Lewis, “The Pursuit of God” by A.W. Tozer, “Letters and Papers from Prison” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “In His Steps” by Charles Sheldon and J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings.”
Other books of considerable influence included “Orthodoxy” by G.K. Chesterton, “God, Revelation and Authority” by Carl F.H. Henry, “The Christian Religion in its Doctrinal Expression” by E.Y. Mullins, the publication of “The Jerusalem Bible,” “Commentary on Romans” by Karl Barth, “The God Who is There” by Francis Shaeffer and Reinhold Niebuhr’s “The Nature and Destiny of Man.”
All faculty members were asked to nominate five books they felt were most influential in the 20th century. A list was then compiled and sent back to the faculty for the choosing of the top 10.
Also receiving mention were contemporary authors such as Charles Colson, Philip Yancey and T.W. Hunt.