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Some GOOD books
I forgot to suggest some good alternatives to the Left Behind books.
Even though I'm not a believer, I find C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia to be heartwarming, well written, and very exciting. I do feel that the end of the final book is a bit of a betrayal; Lewis should have resisted that last, final step into obviousness. But nonetheless, the books are more than worth it.
If you're looking for something less obviously Christian, but with a strong moral sense based on Christian thought, read The Lord of the Rings. Do not watch the movies. Although it's only three books (plus The Silmarillion and The Hobbit, both also strongly recommended), it almost certainly has MORE wordage than the LB series. And it's really, really GOOD wordage.
Inferno by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle is a modern retake of Dante's classic. It's hard to find these days, unfortunately. Although it is a little less sophisticated than some books (though still infinitely more sophisticated than LB) I found it very moving - I still choke up at the end - and it presents a logical explanation of the need for a Hell. It's also extremely readable.
Lastly, I recommend To Reign In Hell by Steven Brust. But not my copy. Too many people have borrowed and then stolen it. Fair warning: strict Christians might find this book disturbing. But it is intelligent, witty, funny (not always the same thing), and very well written indeed.
Oh, and if you want to read something in which Christianity plays only a tangential role, but which is profound and touching and has a strong religious element, I ALWAYS recommend Roger Zelazny's Lord of Light. Mind you, I'm a non-believer.
Even though I'm not a believer, I find C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia to be heartwarming, well written, and very exciting. I do feel that the end of the final book is a bit of a betrayal; Lewis should have resisted that last, final step into obviousness. But nonetheless, the books are more than worth it.
If you're looking for something less obviously Christian, but with a strong moral sense based on Christian thought, read The Lord of the Rings. Do not watch the movies. Although it's only three books (plus The Silmarillion and The Hobbit, both also strongly recommended), it almost certainly has MORE wordage than the LB series. And it's really, really GOOD wordage.
Inferno by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle is a modern retake of Dante's classic. It's hard to find these days, unfortunately. Although it is a little less sophisticated than some books (though still infinitely more sophisticated than LB) I found it very moving - I still choke up at the end - and it presents a logical explanation of the need for a Hell. It's also extremely readable.
Lastly, I recommend To Reign In Hell by Steven Brust. But not my copy. Too many people have borrowed and then stolen it. Fair warning: strict Christians might find this book disturbing. But it is intelligent, witty, funny (not always the same thing), and very well written indeed.
Oh, and if you want to read something in which Christianity plays only a tangential role, but which is profound and touching and has a strong religious element, I ALWAYS recommend Roger Zelazny's Lord of Light. Mind you, I'm a non-believer.