Doubting: Growing Through the Uncertainties of Faith [Paperback]

Alister E. McGrath (Author), Ravi Zacharias (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 26, 2006

We live in a culture that doubts everything as a matter of principle. In such an environment, how can even faith be immune to doubt?

Can I really trust in the gospel?
Does God really love me?
Can I really be of any use to God?

We are taught to doubt but commanded to believe. Somehow we think that admitting to doubt is tantamount to insulting God. But doubt is not a sign of spiritual weakness--rather it's an indication of spiritual growing pains.

Alister McGrath, no stranger to a faith born of doubt, here offers good news to doubters: your faith can grow, and strengthen as it grows. It needs to take root in your experience of God, it needs to take in the nourishment of instruction in the words and ways of God, it needs to be stretched into greater obedience to the commands and calling of God--but it can grow beyond doubt into a thriving relationship.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Western culture is going through an anti-Christian phase, writes McGrath, an Oxford theologian and president of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. Doubt, he says, is currently fashionable, hence the continuing need for books of Christian apologetics, which explain and defend the faith. Doubt is normal, according to McGrath, its presence simply an indication that a person's faith needs to grow. In concise, readable and encouraging language, he examines various kinds of doubt (of God, Jesus, the Gospel and ourselves) and offers orthodox theological and biblical teachings as antidotes. Emphasis on feelings and experience in matters religious are fine for new converts, but in Oxfordian fashion, McGrath recommends academic study of the Gospels and Christian faith as well as engaging in traditional devotional practices and spending time with mature Christians as tools for growth in understanding and faithfulness. The book covers well-trod ground, adding little new content, but the language and examples are contemporary and engaging. Some confusion about the audience arises when McGrath alternates between speaking directly to college-age students, the book's primary audience, and providing instructions to counselors, clergy and friends who are caring for doubters. (Jan.)
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About the Author

Alister McGrath (D.Phil., Oxford University) is president of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics and professor of historical theology at Oxford University. His numerous and wide-ranging historical and theological studies include Iustitia Dei: A History of the Christian Doctrine of Justification (2 vols., 1986), The Twilight of Atheism, Theology for Amateurs, "I Believe," Exploring the Apostles Creed, The Genesis of Doctrine: A Study in the Foundation of Doctrinal Criticism (1990), The Intellectual Origins of the European Reformation (1987) and Evangelicalism and the Future of Christianity (1995).

Product Details

• Paperback: 156 pages
• Publisher: InterVarsity Press (December 26, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830833528
• ISBN-13: 978-0830833528
• Product Dimensions: 0.5 x 5.2 x 8.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #372,259 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alister E. McGrath is a historian, biochemist, and Christian theologian born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. A longtime professor at Oxford University, he now holds the chair in theology, ministry, and education at the University of London. He is the author of several books on theology and history, including Christianity's Dangerous Idea, In the Beginning, and The Twilight of Atheism. He lives in Oxford, England, and lectures regularly in the United States.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Make Doubt an Opportunity for Spiritual Growth March 1, 2007

By rodboomboom HALL OF FAMEVINE™ VOICE

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A McGrath fan, this is yet another of his fine works. This one is not of the scholarly, academic genre, but rather a more practical, down to earth, layperson oriented effort.

And a fine one at that it is, focusing in on the important area of doubt. He begins by showing great empathy for it, showing that it is normal for not only the infant Christian, but equally so for the mature believer as well. The difference between the two is how different each copes with doubt. Herein lies the usefulness of this book.

The mature learn to cope with doubt by immersion in their faith practice, not falling away from it, which will and does only serve to sever the nourishment lines and cause the faith seed to expire. He provides workable, usable, doable suggestions for such immersion, e.g. daily Scriputre reading, pastoral counseling, journaling, etc. His analogies are excellent, e.g. the water spider's survival in hostile environment and the way it survives. (you'll have to read this to find out the wonderful parallels)

Add another excellent resource to your suggested reading here: Nancy Pearcey's "Total Truth". Apologetics is useful area to aid not only the individual's doubt, but also allow then to aid others.

Recommended for doubters and those that assist doubters.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Warm, practical and theologically accurate. November 7, 2010

By Discerning Reader

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I highly recommend this book. The author used to teach at Oxford and fascilitated a number of small-groups for students. He writes off of his experience in what Christians doubt the most. He says it is aimed toward those who are new to the faith or College aged, but it seemed just as applicable to any age.

The author begins by noting we Christians wrongly deny our doubts (but all of us have them!) and hide them out of guilt and shame(instead of dealing with them).

One of the reasons we doubt come from what the author calls "growing pains." So instead of seeing them as bad, we should see them as opportunities to grow. For instance, when people first come to Jesus it is often because he offers them something they need (i.e. forgiveness or a relationship with God). So we enter the relationship and push the doubts aside. But later on they pop up again.

This is perfectly normal and we usually enter into other relationships without all of our questions answered. But for any relationship to grow we must dig deeper or it will die. So when old doubts pop up again or someone questions our faith it is time for us to dig deeper and learn the answers we need for ourselves or for others (i.e. Bible Study, Theology, Apologetics).

Another reason for doubt comes from an unrealistic expectation. We expect to know everything before we commit to something. But this is an unattainable goal since we are finite and can never know all there is to know. We see through a glass dimly as the Apostle Paul stated. In reality, we are required to commit faith everyday in everything we do because of this same issue.

Sometimes we doubt because we judge what is right by how we feel or our own experience at the moment. It may not seem like God is going to provide for us and we are headed toward a train-wreck. But what do we do in those times? We must choose to trust in the promises of God even if his face is veiled at the moment. We know God loves us and this is proved in the cross. We know he is faithful because he raised Jesus from the dead.

Finally, we sometimes doubt because of spiritual neglect. If we have accepted Christ the seed of his word was planted on good soil. But in order for a seed to continue to grow it takes work! Neglect will cause weeds to grow up and choke the seed. For our faith to grow we must continue to be in fellowship, grow in the knowledge of him, learn from our doubts, repent of sin and live the Christian life.

And there are many more doubts this author deals with! I found the book very useful and comforting for any Christian. He speaks with the warmth and experience of a Pastor: simply but clearly. He also speaks with theological accuracy without getting complicated. A useful but quick read!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshingly honest book November 19, 2009

By J. Mccray

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I thought this book was unique in it's kind. It was well written (stucturally) and was written unlike his other books. His approach in this book was written easily to understand and follow. It was refreshing because it was honest, and not so dogmatic as others pushing their beliefs often are. I highly recremend this book.