I just finished a book by author Donald Miller, whose website can be found
here.
Basically, Miller describes his realization ( and opinion) that the Bible and Christianity in general have been misinterpreted by much of the modern church. He believes that the church has looked at religion as a formula--a set of hoops that one must jump through and/or a set of rules and formulas. He maintains that God desires relationship with humanity and that this is why much of Psalms and early Christian writing was done in the form of poetry.
He also imagines what an Alien would think of humanity were one to study us as a species. His conclusion?
Humans, as a species, are constantly and in every way, comparing themselves to one another,which, given the brief nature of their existence, seems an oddity and, for that matter, a waste. Nevertheless, this is the driving influence behind every humans social development, their emotional health and sense of joy, and, sadly, their greatest tragedies. It is as though something that helped them function and live well has gone missing, and they are pining for that missing thing in all sorts of odd methods, none of which are working. The greater tragedy is that very few people understand they have the disease. This seems strange as well because it is obvious. To be sure, it is killing them, and yet sustaining their social and economic systems. They are an entirely beautiful people with a terrible problem.
He also goes into something he calls Lifeboat Theory, but I will get to that later!
Anyway...it was an interesting book!