True Christianity: It May Not Be What You Think seeks to define true Christianity and to help persons progress toward practicing it.
The thought-provoking chapters even include one (chapter 49) discussing some almost unbelievable incidents the author has personally experienced.
The third edition includes numerous small corrections, changes, and/or updates, hundreds total, that make it better than the second edition.
The book's introduction is followed by 51 mainly very short chapters that are subdivided into five parts.
The chapters in the first part define true Christianity (also called authentic Christianity or real Christianity) and offer general guidelines for practicing it.
Chapters in the second section discuss specific attitudes and beliefs.
Chapters in the third segment cover specific behaviors.
The fourth portion is probably the most unusual one. It discusses the relationship between Christianity and some other beliefs and practices. This fourth section includes generally very brief discussions of subjects such as atheism, agnosticism, religions other than Christianity, hypnotism, mental illness, and ESP. One chapter in this fourth part deals briefly with some of the unusual events the author has experienced or witnessed.
Part five concludes the book with a brief summary/epilogue.
A few chapters in the book deal much with the author's own views and/or experiences. A few cite numerous other sources to support the author's views. All chapters reflect the author's personal perspective rather than that of any particular Christian denomination or any other person.
Each chapter after the introduction contains two or more sometimes provocative "Questions for Reflection and Discussion."
The author hopes the book will help persons live happier, healthier, longer, more fruitful lives by coming closer to practicing true Christianity.
James E. Gibson has self-published two books, in addition to writing numerous articles for websites. He self-published his first book, True Christianity: It May Not Be What You Think, in 2014 (second edition 2015, third edition September 2017). He self-published his second book, Several True I Think Stories: Can Truth Be Stranger Than Fiction? in 2016 (second edition April 2017). In addition, he has written numerous articles for websites such as Google Blogger, Yahoo! Voices (and its predecessor Associated Content), Newsvine.com, and Helium. James graduated from the University of Kentucky with an MBA, as well as B.S. degrees in mining engineering and civil engineering. His undergraduate electives included several English courses and his graduate school coursework included some Communications courses. Since his childhood he has loved to read and write. As a bivocational freelance writer, he has worked a variety of second jobs to help keep the bills paid while fulfilling his dream of developing a writing career. James remains single and feels that may be God’s will for him for his entire life. He is a former agnostic who became a Christian during his college years. A series of unusual events/coincidences and the author's inappropriate way of speaking about them led to a series of things that resulted in a few brief psychiatric hospitalizations for him and outpatient psychiatric treatment during the period of 1993 to 1996. But he experienced immeasurable blessings during that time and is blessed immeasurably now as well. That period gave him additional insights into Christianity. He would love for everyone to live happier, healthier, longer lives with no sin, pain, or suffering and then go on to live forever in heaven. He feels that as we come closer to practicing true Christianity, we come closer to reaching this ideal, too.
