Most Americans say that religious beliefs are simply a personal perspective and are not related to objective reality, according to findings released today from the State of Theology survey.

The survey found that 60 percent of Americans agreed with the statement “Religious belief is a matter of personal opinion; it is not about objective truth.” Some 30 percent of Americans disagreed, while 10 percent said they were not sure.

The 2018 State of Theology survey was conducted for Ligonier Ministries by LifeWay Research, which interviewed a demographically balanced online panel of 3,000 American adults.

The breakdown of responses to this question was similar across the United States and when analyzed by age, sex, income, and other factors.

Evangelicals were the only group in which a majority disagreed with the statement (32 percent agreed vs. 62 percent disagreed). Regular churchgoers were fairly evenly split, with no majority either way (45 percent agreed vs. 49 percent disagreed).

Chris Larson, president and CEO of Ligonier Ministries, said:

“Many Americans appear to think religious beliefs are on the same level as whether someone likes one sports team over another or prefers to live by the coast instead of in the mountains. This presents an urgent challenge to Christians who understand that people’s eternal destinies are at stake. The Bible declares the objective truth of who God is and what He has done, supremely through Jesus Christ. The idea that Christian beliefs are simply personal opinions cannot be reconciled with the facts of history recorded in the Bible.”

Dr. Stephen Nichols, chief academic officer of Ligonier and president of Reformation Bible College, said:

“Pontius Pilate famously said to Jesus, ‘What is truth?’ Many Americans seem to have adopted the same casual approach to truth. But the Bible’s message is true for everyone, whatever they may think about it. As Francis Schaeffer said, the Bible is ‘true truth’—objective, public truth.

“Too few churches are robustly countering the relativism of the world around us. This leaves many Christians simply unable to engage with the world’s ideas, let alone contend for the truth as the Bible urges us to do (Jude 3).”

The State of Theology survey was carried out from April 24 to May 4, 2018, and the results are available online at TheStateOfTheology.com.

Evangelicals were defined by LifeWay Research as people who strongly agreed with the following four statements:

• The Bible is the highest authority for what I believe.
• It is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior.
• Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin.
• Only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of eternal salvation.

About Ligonier Ministries
Ligonier Ministries exists to proclaim, teach, and defend the holiness of God in all its fullness to as many people as possible. To that end, Ligonier’s outreach today is manifold and worldwide. Founded by Dr. R.C. Sproul in 1971, teaching fellows now continue and help lead Ligonier’s work of discipleship that Dr. Sproul began more than forty years ago. These teaching fellows are Drs. Sinclair B. Ferguson, W. Robert Godfrey, Steven J. Lawson, R. Albert Mohler Jr., Stephen J. Nichols, Burk Parsons, and Derek W.H. Thomas. Ligonier publishes Renewing Your Mind broadcasts, the Reformation Study Bible, Tabletalk magazine, books through the Reformation Trust Publishing division, and hundreds of teaching series. The ministry also offers an undergraduate degree program through Reformation Bible College. In addition, Ligonier hosts national and regional conferences, provides an online learning community through Ligonier Connect, answers biblical and theological questions through Ask Ligonier, streams twenty-four-hour Christian Internet radio through RefNet, pursues numerous translation efforts in other countries, and makes available thousands of unique educational resources online at Ligonier.org.

Contact: Deborah Finnamore, Publicity Manager, 407-333-4244 x1158, definnamore@ligonier.org

Eugene, Oregon—October 26, 2018—Harvest House Publishers announced last month the addition of two new hires to their acquisitions and sales teams.

Joining the company in the role of Senior Acquisitions Editor/Sales Manager, Gift Trade, Ruth Samsel, working in conjunction with the McKenzie publishing group, will be responsible for acquisitions, development, and production of the company’s gift books as well as sales of the line to the gift trade and corporate gift accounts.

Sharing her thoughts on what this means for her team and the company, Barb Sherrill, EVP and Publisher of the McKenzie Group, says, “We are extremely delighted to have Ruth’s passion, vision, and drive at Harvest House, and we are excited to see the authors, products, and sales growth she will bring to our gift book line.”

Seasoned veteran Chris Robinette joins the company in the position of Director of Sales/Corporate Business Development.  Chris will be responsible to identify, establish, develop, and grow new sales opportunities for all Harvest House books to a host of specialty accounts outside the traditional book trade.

“Chris’s extensive experience in Christian publishing in nearly every kind of domestic and international market adds significant strength and depth to our sales team,” shared Brad Moses, VP of Sales.

About the Publisher:
Harvest House, a Christian publishing company based in Eugene, Oregon, publishes more than 135 books per year and carries a strong backlist offering more than 1,200 titles. Over 140 million Harvest House books have been sold worldwide through diverse distribution channels, and additional millions have sold in over 75 different languages.

Print-quality images to accompany this press release are available in digital format. Available images are: photo, Harvest House logo.

Contact: Christianne Debysingh, Harvest House Publishers, 888-468-4108
cdebysingh@harvesthousepublishers.com,  www.harvesthousepublishers.com

BELLINGHAM, Wash., Oct. 29, 2018 — Faithlife, a technology and media company serving the Christian market, released Logos Bible Software 8 (Logos 8), the latest version of their acclaimed Bible software. With the bold changes in this latest release, Faithlife hopes to make Bible study a part of every Christian’s daily life.

Former CEO of Hewlett-Packard and founder of the Unlocking Potential Foundation pens Find Your Way: Unleash Your Power and Highest Potential, available in April 2019

Carol Stream, Ill. (October 29, 2018) — Tyndale Momentum (@tyndalehouse) will publish Carly Fiorina’s latest book, Find Your Way: Unleash Your Power and Highest Potential (ISBN: 978-1-4964-3569-9, $25.99, HC), in April 2019. In her book, Fiorina explores how unlocking your highest potential is about discovering a path and the characteristics it takes to solve the problems you encounter. The book’s release will include a significant marketing budget as well as a national media tour.

Fiorina’s personal success story, starting out as a secretary for a small real-estate business and eventually becoming the first woman ever to lead a Fortune 50 company, uniquely positions her to speak about what it takes to achieve more, make a difference, and build a rewarding life. Her book offers applicable and accessible advice and encouragement for anyone who is trying to make a difference—whether in the home, community, or workplace.

Find Your Way stands out amongst other career advice and self-help books in that it focuses on problem solving as the path forward to achieving your highest potential. Specifically, Fiorina emphasizes finding a meaningful problem that is close to you and working to solve it with humility, empathy, and collaboration.

The book also emphasizes key characteristics for true, effective leadership—based on Fiorina’s decades of experience in the business and public sector—and teaches individuals how to lead from wherever they are.

Regarding this acquisition, Senior Marketing Manager Kristen Magnesen said, “We’re so excited to be partnering with Carly Fiorina on Find Your Way. When I first met her, I found her warm, approachable and full of wisdom—truly embodying her message. Her journey from secretary to CEO is such an inspiration! We know this book will encourage many to rise up and find their greatest potential no matter where they are on their life journey.”

Carly Fiorina is the former Chairman and CEO of Hewlett-Packard. Carly is a true leader and a seasoned problem-solver. Her mission is to inspire, equip and connect individuals and teams to seize opportunities, face challenges, and accelerate impact in their communities and organizations. Through Carly Fiorina Enterprises and Unlocking Potential Foundation, Carly and her team strengthen the problem-solving and leadership capacity across America. She is a sought-after speaker and advisor who wants to see people and organizations achieve their highest potential.

Carly Fiorina is represented by Vigliano Associates.

For more information or for media inquiries, please contact Todd Starowitz, toddstarowitz@tyndale.com, or Kristen Schumacher, kristenschumacher@tyndale.com.

Find Your Way by Carly Fiorina
ISBN: 978-1-4964-3569-9
Hardcover: $25.99
April 2019
TyndaleMomentum.com

Tyndale House Publishers, founded in 1962, is one of the largest privately held Christian publishers of books, Bibles, and digital media in the world. Tyndale Momentum, Tyndale’s nonfiction imprint, is the publisher of many New York Times bestsellers and is known for integrity in building lasting personal relationships with authors and agents. Tyndale extends the ministry of its authors by contributing most of its profits to the nonprofit Tyndale House Foundation, which makes grants to help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world. Originally founded to publish The Living Bible, a contemporary paraphrase of the Bible that became a global publishing phenomenon, Tyndale now publishes the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), the translation of choice for millions of people.

Contact: Kristen Schumacher, kristenschumacher@tyndale.com, 630.784.5126

Discover key people, events, and doctrines of the Christian faith in new edition of 30 Days to Understanding the Bible

Trusted study resource with over half a million copies sold—now redesigned with new illustrations and restored fan-favorite bonus content, for 30th anniversary

Nashville, Tenn., Oct. 17, 2018 – If you’ve ever confused the ark of the covenant with the ark of Noah, or Jericho with Jeroboam, Max Anders’ classic book 30 Days to Understanding the Bible is for you. In just 15 minutes a day, you’ll learn the Bible’s key people, events, and doctrines to get more out of God’s Word.

This simple-to-use, straightforward guide has been recommended by Bible teachers and pastors for 30 years and has sold more than 500,000 copies. It’s now available in an expanded 30th anniversary edition—with the most requested topics from the original edition restored and updated for today’s readers.

Ada, Mich. (October 17, 2018)—Revell, a trade division of Baker Publishing Group, is pleased to announce that they have signed author Joanna Weaver. Her first book with Revell is scheduled to release in the spring of 2021.

Joanna’s bestselling books include Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, which has sold more than one million copies, Having a Mary Spirit, Lazarus Awakening, At the Feet of Jesus, and the award-winning gift book With This Ring. You can learn more about Joanna at joannaweaverbooks.com.

“We’re honored to be Joanna’s new publishing partner. Our team can be counted among the many readers of her work for decades. Her approach to Bible study and her heart for women have enriched all our lives—we can’t wait to bring her next book to readers,” stated Andrea Doering, editorial director of Revell.

Baker Publishing Group publishes high-quality writings that represent historic Christianity and serve the diverse interests and concerns of evangelical readers.

Contact: Ruth Anderson (616)676-9185 x8131 randerson@bakerpublishinggroup.com

Final Call for Nominations for the 2019 Christian Indie Awards

October 18, 2018, Charlotte, NC— Nominations for the Christian Indie Awards will close on November 15, 2018. This award honors books produced by small publishers and independent authors each year for outstanding contribution to Christian life. Nominations are accepted in 18 categories.“In an increasingly secular and sometimes hostile society, Christian authors and publishers need support and encouragement,” says Sarah Bolme, Director of Christian Small Publishers Association (CSPA), the sponsor of the Awards. “Through the Christian Indie Awards, our goal is to help spread the Gospel message through encouraging quality material by small publishers and independent authors.”Any small publisher or independently published author can nominate books for the award. Books must be published in 2017 or 2018 by a publisher or author with annual revenues of $450,000 or less. Nominated books must be Christian in nature and intended for the Christian marketplace. All nominated books must be printed in English and for sale in the United States. Nominations must be received by November 15, 2018.All Christian book readers and sellers are invited to vote on the nominated titles in February and March 2019. The winners of the award will be the books that receive the most votes.Complete guidelines, eligibility, categories, and the nomination form can be found on the Christian Indie Awards’ website at https://www.christianaward.com.

About Christian Small Publishers Association (CSPA)
CSPA exists to represent, promote, and strength small publishers and independent authors in the Christian marketplace. The association represents over 200 members producing materials for the Christian marketplace and is a supplier member of CBA. Christian Small Publishers Association can be found online athttp://www.christianpublishers.net.

Contact:  Sarah Bolme, Christian Small Publishers Association  cspa@christianpublishers.net  704-277-7194

Evangelicals deeply confused about core Christian beliefs

A major new survey released today reveals that evangelicals are confused about some core doctrines of the Christian faith.

Ligonier Ministries’ 2018 State of Theology survey was conducted by LifeWay Research, which interviewed a representative sample of 3,000 Americans. The full survey results are available online at TheStateOfTheology.com.

Evangelicals

A majority of evangelicals said (1) that most people are basically good, (2) that God accepts the worship of all religions, and (3) that Jesus was the first and greatest being created by God the Father. However, all these beliefs are contrary to the historic Christian faith.

• Some 52 percent of evangelicals agreed that everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature. This contrasts with the Bible’s teaching that human nature is fundamentally sinful (Rom. 3:10).
• A majority of evangelicals (51 percent) agreed that God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. However, Jesus insisted that access to God is only possible through faith in Him (John 14:6). (The proportion of those who agree is an increase from the 2016 survey, when 48 percent of evangelicals agreed.)
• Almost all evangelicals (97 percent) agreed that there is one true God in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. But more than three-fourths (78 percent) also said that Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God. The idea that Jesus was the first and greatest being created by the Father is contradicted by the Bible (John 1:1) and has been rejected by the church down through the centuries.

More positively, 91 percent of evangelicals affirmed that people are justified by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.

U.S. adults

Overall, U.S. adults appear to have a superficial attachment to well-known Christian beliefs. For example, a majority agreed that Jesus died on the cross for sin and that He rose from the dead. However, they rejected the Bible’s teaching on (1) the gravity of man’s sin, (2) the importance of the church’s gathering together for worship, and (3) the Holy Spirit.

• More than two-thirds (69 percent) of Americans disagreed that the smallest sin deserves eternal damnation.
• A majority of U.S. adults (58 percent) said that worshiping alone or with one’s family is a valid replacement for regularly attending church.
• A majority of U.S. adults (59 percent) say that the Holy Spirit is a force, not a personal being.

Other revealing results from the survey, covering ethical issues and age variations, will be released separately at later dates.

Chris Larson, president and CEO of Ligonier Ministries, said:

“The State of Theology survey highlights the urgent need for courageous ministry that faithfully teaches the historic Christian faith. It’s never been popular to talk about mankind’s sinfulness or the exclusive claims of Jesus Christ, but at a time when a darkened world needs the light of the gospel, it’s disheartening to see many within the evangelical church confused about what the Bible teaches. We hope this survey provides local churches with a little more insight into what people in our neighborhoods and in our pews actually believe.”

Dr. Stephen Nichols, chief academic officer of Ligonier and president of Reformation Bible College, said:

“These results are a serious cause for concern. It is the depth of man’s sin that led Jesus to die on the cross. How, then, can a majority of evangelicals say most people are good by nature? Down through history, Christians have proclaimed that Jesus is truly God, not some sort of created being. The evangelical world is in great danger of slipping into irrelevance when it casually forgets the Bible’s doctrine.”

LifeWay Research interviewed a demographically balanced online panel of American adults and received 3,002 completed responses. The survey was carried out from April 24 to May 4, 2018.

Ligonier’s previous State of Theology surveys took place in 2014 and 2016. More information can be found at TheStateOfTheology.com.

Evangelicals were defined by LifeWay Research as people who strongly agreed with the following four statements:

• The Bible is the highest authority for what I believe.
• It is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior.
• Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin.
• Only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of eternal salvation.

About Ligonier Ministries

Ligonier Ministries exists to proclaim, teach, and defend the holiness of God in all its fullness to as many people as possible. To that end, Ligonier’s outreach today is manifold and worldwide. Founded by Dr. R.C. Sproul in 1971, teaching fellows now continue and help lead Ligonier’s work of discipleship that Dr. Sproul began more than forty years ago. These teaching fellows are Drs. Sinclair B. Ferguson, W. Robert Godfrey, Steven J. Lawson, R. Albert Mohler Jr., Stephen J. Nichols, Burk Parsons, and Derek W.H. Thomas. Ligonier publishes Renewing Your Mind broadcasts, the Reformation Study Bible, Tabletalk magazine, books through the Reformation Trust Publishing division, and hundreds of teaching series. 

The ministry also offers an undergraduate degree program through Reformation Bible College. In addition, Ligonier hosts national and regional conferences, provides an online learning community through Ligonier Connect, answers biblical and theological questions through Ask Ligonier, streams twenty-four-hour Christian Internet radio through RefNet, pursues numerous translation efforts in other countries, and makes available thousands of unique educational resources online at Ligonier.org.

Contact: Deborah Finnamore | Publicity Manager | 407-333-4244 x1158 | definnamore@ligonier.org

Actor, model, and most recently author John T. Prather recently won the Gold Medal in the Christian Thriller category from the Readers’ Favorite “International Book Award Contest” for his book “The Nephilim Virus,” which released last November via Deep River Books.

In endorsing “The Nephilim Virus,” fellow actor Megan Fox has pitched the book as a potential movie story saying it is “a cohesive, fun ride through some of my most beloved topics: science, the supernatural, and the apocalypse.” Prather, however, says whatever becomes of the novel in the future, he wants the central message to remain constant.

“All the great themes, like redemption and sacrifice and love, of all the great stories, are just tiny versions of the greatest story, God’s story,” Prather says. “That is the reason a reader can feel them in his or her soul-regardless if the work is Christian or non-Christian.”

“I want readers to connect to the greatest story by reading a book that has little glimpses of that story woven into it,” he explains. “The overall theme of ‘The Nephilim Virus’ is the idea that every human has been infected with a blood disease, but there is a cure. I want readers to be entertained while subconsciously connecting to the truth – sometimes in ways they might not even realize.”

Since the book’s release, Prather says both believers and non-believers have offered positive reviews of “The Nephilim Virus,” which he hopes fulfills the directive of one of his favorite authors.

“C.S. Lewis said something that has always stuck with me. He said, ‘What we want is not more little books about Christianity, but more little books by Christians on other subjects–with their Christianity latent,'” Prather reflects. “I hope my book will appeal to believers who like stories that can be taken seriously by the world while still holding deeper truths.”

The Readers’ Favorite contest honors books in over 140 genres, with genres judged separately. Past winners include New York Times bestsellers J.A. Jance, James Rollins, and No. 1 best-selling author Daniel Silva, as well as celebrity authors such as movie star Jim Carrey, and actor Henry Winkler.