Foundations Of Faith
SERIES
This Is Why I Write the Foundations of Faith Series
I didn’t begin this series as a scholar, a theologian, or even a trained lay leader. I started it as someone who grew up in the towns and smaller cities of Oklahoma, attending whichever church was available — Methodist or Evangelical United Brethren — long before those two traditions joined together in 1968 to become the United Methodist Church. Later, during my years at the Academy, I visited churches of several denominations while searching for a better personal fit, eventually converting to Roman Catholicism at age 20.
My faith journey has never been about credentials or expertise. It has been about trying to understand, trying to learn, and trying to find clarity in the middle of life’s questions. I believe many people are on that same path. The Foundation of Faith Series is my way of making foundational stories and teachings clear enough for anyone to follow, while honoring the depth and dignity of every faith tradition.
These books are not meant to be in‑depth studies or detailed theological examinations. They are broad, general, but faithful retellings — written to give readers a clear, accessible understanding of the foundations of each tradition. I write them because I once felt unsure about the very faith I grew up in, and I don’t want anyone else to feel that way. This series comes from my heart, from my own search for understanding, and from my hope that others might find clarity along the way.
Shared Ground
Across Faiths
As I began studying other traditions, I was struck by how many faiths share a version of the same moral teaching — the idea that we should treat others the way we want to be treated.
Christianity:
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Judaism:
“What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor.”
Islam:
“None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.”
Buddhism:
“Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.”
Hinduism:
“This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.”
Different words. Different histories. Different cultures. But the same moral heartbeat.
Seeing that shared foundation reminded me that every faith has its own sacred texts, its own traditions, and its own depth — and that nothing I write is meant to replace, reinterpret, or stand in the place of those foundational documents. My goal is not to rewrite scripture. My goal is to make the stories and teachings accessible enough that anyone can understand them, even someone like me who once felt unsure about the very faith I grew up in.
What These Books Are — and What They Are Not
The Foundations of Faith Series is:
A broad, general overview of foundational texts
Written in
modern prose
Organized for readability
Respectful of every tradition
Meant to help people understand without confusion
Designed for families, teachers, and lifelong learners
The Foundations of Faith Series is not:
A reinterpretation or doctrinal revision
A commentary or argument
A replacement for any faith’s sacred texts
An in depth theological study
A comparison between religions
An attempt to convert or persuade
These books exist to help readers follow the story, the doctrine, the history, and the meaning — without needing a seminary degree or a lifetime of study.
A Journey Shared With Anyone Seeking Clarity
I write these volumes with humility and respect. I want members of every faith to see that my intentions are sincere and grounded. I want readers to feel honored, not misrepresented. And I hope that by presenting these texts clearly — without jargon, without barriers, without confusion — I can help others begin their own journey of understanding, just as I began mine.
This is the Foundation of Faith Series. This is why I write it. And this is where understanding begins.
FOUNDATIONS OF FAITH
ROME: Rise, Glory, and Fall of a Civilization