Cross Examined: An Unconventional Spiritual Journey [Paperback]

Bob Seidensticker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 9, 2011

“A fascinating novel of ideas … puts a whole new light on apologetics.” — Dr. Robert M. Price, author of Deconstructing Jesus, The Case Against the Case for Christ, and many others

“Bob Seidensticker’s Cross Examined is a great read on two fronts. You won’t find a better book on Christian apologetics and the rebuttals … and the story is compelling, with a startling climax. Highly recommended.” — Paul Gabel, author of Inventing Jesus: The New Testament Narrative as Fiction

In 1906, three men share a destiny forged by a prophecy of destruction. That prophecy comes true with staggering force with the San Francisco earthquake and fire, and young assistant pastor Paul Winston is cast into spiritual darkness when his fiancée is among the dead. Soon Paul finds himself torn between two powerful mentors: the charismatic pastor who rescued him from the street and an eccentric atheist who gradually undercuts Christianity’s intellectual foundation.

As he grapples with the shock to love and faith, Paul’s past haunts him. He struggles to retain his faith, the redemptive lifesaver that keeps him afloat in a sea of guilt. But the belief that once saved him now threatens to destroy the man he is becoming.

Paul discovers that redemption comes in many forms. A miracle of life. A fall from grace. A friend resurrected. A secret discovered. And maybe, a new path taken. He realizes that religion is too important to let someone else decide it for him. The choice in the end is his—will it be one he can live with?

CROSS EXAMINED challenges the popular intellectual arguments for Christianity and invites the reader to shore them up … or discard them. Take the journey and see where it leads you.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

After graduating from MIT in 1980, Bob Seidensticker designed digital hardware, about which he wrote his first book, The Well-Tempered Digital Design (Addison-Wesley, 1986). He has programmed in a dozen computer languages and in environments ranging from punch cards, to one of the first windowing environments, to MS-DOS, to Windows (starting with version 1.0). He is a co-contributor to 14 software patents and has worked at a number of technology companies from a 10-person startup to Microsoft and IBM.

Since leaving Microsoft, he has focused on writing. Future Hype: The Myths of Technology Change (Berrett-Koehler, 2006) explored technology change—how we see it and how it really works. Cross Examined is his first novel.

Product Details

• Paperback: 278 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (December 9, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1468011332
• ISBN-13: 978-1468011333
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,552,426 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

After graduating from MIT in 1980, Bob designed digital hardware, about which he wrote his first book, "The Well-Tempered Digital Design" (Addison-Wesley, 1986). He has programmed in a dozen computer languages and in environments ranging from punch cards, to one of the first windowing environments, to MS-DOS, to Windows (starting with version 1.0).

Bob is a co-contributor to 14 software patents and has worked at a number of technology companies from a 10-person startup to Microsoft and IBM.

Since leaving Microsoft, Bob has focused on writing. "Future Hype: The Myths of Technology Change" (Berrett-Koehler, 2006) explored technology change--how we see it and how it really works.

"Cross Examined: An Unconventional Spiritual Journey" is his first novel.

Bob lives in the Seattle area with his wife Sandy and dog Wheezer.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Reason and Faith - Christianity December 12, 2011

By Benjamin J. Barrett

Format:Paperback

Since the beginning of Christianity, people have debated whether god exists.

Written in the form of a novel, "Cross Examined" takes us through many of the arguments that people have used as proof that god does or does not exist. In the end, "faith" is a critical part of religion.

I liked the story, and even more, liked the way Seidensticker moves through the arguments so they can be enjoyed in the same leisure way as a novel.

Disclaimer: I have known the author for a number of years and read different drafts of the novel.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The courage to think about it December 13, 2011

By Chris Doerr

Format:Paperback

A book that engages on several levels, Cross Examined: An Unconventional Spiritual Journey both challenges and entertains. The historical setting pulls you quickly into the story, the characters are richly-drawn and sympathetic, and the presentation and rebuttal of apologetics arguments causes you to look at Christian belief--an emotional and subjective experience--in a rational way. The author makes his case against the existence of God, but he also shows the high cost that the protagonist pays for his loss of certainty and faith. The ambiguous ending leaves you wondering if the void caused by discarding a belief system can be filled, and by what.

Readers who have the courage to ponder the questions raised by the book might move forward or back on their own spiritual journey as a result. But thanks to Bob Seidensticker, they will do so in a more thoughtful and reasoned way. I've enjoyed discussing these concepts with Bob during the years he's been writing the book, and am delighted he was able to weave them into a most readable story.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing novel March 20, 2013

By Rev Heidi

Format:Paperback

The book does what is promised - it definitely challenges some intellectual arguments for Christianity. But I can't say I recommend it, for several reasons.

First, it's an apologetics text masquerading as a novel. The writing is fair if not eloquent, but the story is pretty simple and the long stretches where the story is interrupted for teaching are awkward. Second, the biased nature of the story is not helpful. The atheist is good. The Christian pastor is bad. The Christian parents are old-fashioned tyrants. The Buddhists are nice. There is no nuance, every character is fairly one-sided.

Finally, I find the apologetics to be tiring. Full disclosure, I am a Christian and a minister. But the intellectual debate around Christianity has never held much sway for me. I'm not interested in proving my faith, I'm interested in living it. There is enough in following Jesus, trying to love as he loved and proclaiming resurrection - light in the midst of darkness for me. Arguing philosophical points doesn't make or break my faith.

Maybe this book is for others for whom these arguments are energizing. I had hoped that the novel would help to make the process less annoying for me. Unfortunately, I did not find that to be the case.