Is Believing in God Irrational? [Paperback]

Amy Orr-Ewing (Author), Ravi Zacharias (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2, 2008

Is God really real? And how can we know if anyone's experience of God is actually valid? Skeptics today are increasingly vocal in their assertion not only that God is unverifiable, but also that believing in God is irrational and even dangerous. Even those who believe wonder if they can speak objectively about the actual reality of God or if they can only appeal to a subjective belief in God. Amy Orr-Ewing addresses key questions and objections that many people today have about God. She explores whether our understanding of God is delusional or merely a psychological crutch. She probes whether the Christian claim to a unique personal relationship with God is plausible in light of other world religions, and how anyone can continue to believe in God in a world of pain and suffering. If you have questions about God, you're not alone. Come consider some possible answers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Amy Orr-Ewing is one of the foremost British evangelists and apologists of our generation. Her writings are clear-thinking, thoughtful and persuasive." (Nicky Gumbel, pioneer of the Alpha Course )

"Brilliant. . . . Defends the truths of Christianity with grace and intelligence." (Beth Redman, songwriter and author of Soul Sister and Blessed Be Your Name )

"A provocative, informed and challenging book, which is certain to stimulate thought and conversation." (Alister McGrath, professor of historical theology, Oxford University, and president, Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics )

"A time of cynicism and shallow slogans is the church's time of opportunity. This book helps us water hard ground and plant seeds that might take root and bear fruit. Here is a guidebook that is elegant, understandable and necessary in our time. Please study it, and disseminate such thoughtfulness in a hurting world." (Kelly Monroe Kullberg, founder of The Veritas Forum and author of Finding God Beyond Harvard: The Quest for Veritas )

"Amy Orr-Ewing takes you on a journey to where the soul is at home with its hungers of mind and heart fulfilled. . . . She lives her message and is a powerful example of the truths she presents. She meets the test of reality, and that is what makes this book so arguably real." (from the foreword by Ravi Zacharias, author and speaker )

About the Author

Amy Orr-Ewing is the European training director for RZIM (Ravi Zacharias International Ministries). She is regularly invited to speak at many universities, churches and conferences. She is the author of Is the Bible Intolerant? and Holy Warriors.

Product Details

• Paperback: 142 pages
• Publisher: IVP Books (September 2, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830833536
• ISBN-13: 978-0830833535
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,272,371 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How "Unbiased" Are The Skeptics? And Are They Too Biased To Really Notice?, September 23, 2008

By 

Daniel L. Marler (Oak Lawn, IL, USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Is Believing in God Irrational? (Paperback)

Amy Orr-Ewing has written an interesting, persuasive and accessible book that deals with very relevant questions she has encountered in the course of her work and travels.

Now, that I read the line I just wrote, it occurs to me that it sounds a lot like something you would read in a book review. But, having re-read it, I stand by the statement. "Is Believing In God Irrational" is a helpful book on the subject of apologetics.

Orr-Ewing does a great job of explaining how atheists often sneak their philosophical presuppositions into their arguments while acting as if they are approaching the subject of God as neutral, rational, scientific observers basing their opinions solely on scientific, empirically verifiable fact.

Orr-Ewing effectively points out how critics of religion and/or Christianity often apply a double standard, exempting their viewpoint from the criteria by which they judge Christianity.

For example, she notes the assumption of skeptics that "you as a Christian are biased by the circumstances of your life"--something that any defender of Christianity has certainly encountered. She continues with the unbeliever's argument, "[however], I as a skeptic am completely neutral in my thinking."

It's remarkable how completely dispassionate and neutral and totally rational all of the skeptics of Christianity are, isn't it? Mr. Spock would be proud.

Orr-Ewing goes on to say, "Isn't it just as likely that the secular thinking of the questioner has been passed on by the environment of the person and is culturally conditioned?"

This is an excellent point and, yet, it is one that seems to escape some very smart people. It makes you wonder if there is a measure of very intentional self-deception occurring.

For a weightier treatment of the subjects she raises you would have to go on to some other books, but this is an excellent response to a number of genuine and valid questions that seems to come from a very authentic Christian heart.

Dan Marler
Oak Lawn, IL

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars relevant,easy read, up-to-date apologetics, October 21, 2008

By 

Mark J. Armstrong "mja" (Omaha, Nebraska ,United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Is Believing in God Irrational? (Paperback)

Amy has done it again. She writes a quick read based on current questions she gathers from her discussions and presentations to today's young people. She is a battle tested question taker in the current of scholastic ideas coming from today's students. Some questions are hostile, some are thoughtful, and some are old objections in new clothes. Her book manages to include her encounters with people and then she offers rational, thoughtful and experientially relevant answers to the posed questions. She takes on the new hardline atheism when they say God is just a disease of the mind to be expelled so its danger does not affect our culture. Her book is easy to read and not a million pages of analytical philosophy. It is very popular and relevant. I would recommend any person from the age 18 to 30 to sit with her and pose her questions. This book is the next best thing. My recommendation to Amy is to get working on her next little but substantial book and someday these will be an anthology for this generation and the next. When Ravi Zacharias' work is over, Amy and her collegues will continue. In summary-- affordable price, easy read, substantial content, and gets at current questions youth are deep down asking but don't know who to ask. Ask Amy and listen.
Mark J. Armstrong

5.0 out of 5 stars Is Christianity Irrational? or are the Skeptics Irrational?, September 3, 2011

By 

R. Theisen "The Brain" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Is Believing in God Irrational? (Paperback)

Great introduction into defending what you believe. Are Christian beliefs irrational? Or are the Skeptics beliefs irrational? This is an outstanding apologetic work.