The first round has closed in the Theology & Apologetics and Christian Life & Discipleship brackets of our Best Christian Book of All Time tournament. Download the updated bracket for your office pools, and head to Facebook to vote for your choices for the Sweet Sixteen.
First Round Results
Theology & Apologetics
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis (1) defeated On Loving God by Bernard of Clairvaux (16) by a score of 99-11.
In a classic 8-9 match, The Resurrection of the Son of God by N.T. Wright (9) overcame Basic Christianity by John Stott (8) 52-32.
Martin Luther’s Large Catechism (5) downed The Everlasting Man by G.K. Chesterton (12) 42-36.
G.K. Chesterton’s Orthodoxy (4), however, was luckier, beating Anselm’s Proslogion (13) 71-11.
Our first true underdog win! Pensées by Blaise Pascal (11) outlasted Knowing God by J.I. Packer (6) in a 46-43 upset.
The City of God by Augustine (3) dominated Francis Schaeffer’s The God Who Is There (14) 78-13.
Summa Theologica by Thomas Aquinas (7) held on for a 45-42 win over crowd-favorite On the Incarnation by Athanasius (10).
Many Calvinists were dismayed to see the first round match between John Calvin and Jonathan Edwards, but Calvin’s Institutes (2) overcame Religious Affections (15) 59-29.
Christian Life & Discipleship
In a display of utter dominance, The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1) defeated Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Church (16) 112-3. The famously generous Warren gives 90% of his income to charity, so perhaps it was fitting that he gave up 97% of the votes in this match.
The Gospel in a Pluralist Society by Lesslie Newbigin (8) narrowly beat The Mind of the Maker by Dorothy Sayers (9) 35-26.
Bonhoeffer’s Life Together (5) overcame Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer (12) 62-22. Will it be Bonhoeffer against Bonhoeffer in the Sweet Sixteen?
A second major upset! Augustine’s On Christian Teaching (13) edged out Letter from a Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr. (4) 48-38. Many commentators felt this was the toughest choice of the day.
Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster (6) defeated What’s So Amazing About Grace? by Philip Yancey (11) 60-24.
Coming back from his earlier defeat, it was John Stott’s The Cross of Christ (3) in a 60-8 victory over Sit, Walk, Stand by Watchman Nee (14).
Two modern classics, but only one winner: A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene Peterson (7) defeated Desiring God by John Piper (10) 53-28.
The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard (2) took a 63-5 win against The Christian Mind by Harry Blamires (15).
The former Associate Director for the Emerging Scholars Network, Micheal lives in Cincinnati with his wife and three children and works as a web manager for a national storage and organization company. He writes about work, vocation, and finding meaning in what you do at No Small Actors.
For Pascal to trump Knowing God, I think a question needs to be raised. Was this a Chicago style vote? Are these Pascal voters all alive? I suggest an inquiry and demand a recount.