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Finding God in the Questions: A Personal Journey

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Timothy Johnson is a physician-he the staff ABC News doctor of the moment-and an ordained minister. In Finding God in the Questions he has, essentially, written two books in tandem-a deeply thorough and thoughtful theological inquiry and his personal history and faith journey. The two books-in-tandem format works very well as Johnson provides us with both intensely framed questions of faith as well as the clues and basis for understanding his own answers to those questions.

What I especially like about this book is that it is in fact an inquiry, not a demagoguery in wolfs clothing as so many "spiritual examination" books are these days. I'm tired of the slew of books purporting to be examinations on faith that are in fact merely thinly disguised polemics that in fact dictate what one "has" to believe to be Christian. Johnson here is truly in examination mode, providing a challenging list of questions and presenting his own assessment of possible answers without ever becoming dictatorial in the process.

Not all will agree with Dr. Johnson's conclusions. He is obviously deeply skeptical of much of what passes as "acceptable" Christian dogma in these intolerant times. In fact, his skepticism reaches the point where he concludes he cannot even really call himself a Christian given the prevailing ethos but rather refers to himself as a "follower of Jesus". Obviously, those that hold the utterly dogmatic and intolerant viewpoints that so sadden Dr. Johnson will reject his conclusions out of hand-tragic given that they are the ones most in need of a truly thoughtful self examination such as the one Dr. Johnson undertakes here.

In the end one is left with a moving and though provoking book that inspires one to think seriously about many of the questions Dr. Johnson raises. That, obviously, was clearly his intent. That leaves us with a book that is a success from everyone's viewpoint.

This is a truly great book.

Timothy Johnson's book is an account of his own spiritual journey in which he has found God by examining the big questions which trouble many of us. He begins by asking if the universe is an accidental creation and concludes that our inner and outer universes are far too vast and complex not to be created by design. The footprints of an intelligent creator are found everywhere as in the very nature of human conscience and in our basic need to form relationships which shape our lives.

Johnson next turns to a discussion of organized religion which he sees as having a role in trying to interpret and communicate spiritual truths as well as providing a sense of community for its members. He admits that many people seek God within themselves but Johnson chooses to look mostly to the Bible for help in his search. In particular he is interested in what he can learn about Jesus from the Bible and other sources. What intrigues Johnson most is the Jewishness and humanness of Jesus as well as His radical teachings.

Johnson refers to himself as a "follower of Jesus" in the style of the earliest Christian believers before the existence of any creeds or formalized Christian religion. Above all he places great importance on the role of the servant which was valued so highly by Jesus Himself.

This is the first book about Intelligent Design (ID) that I am aware of that made the New York Times best seller list. Timothy Johnson is a professor at Harvard Medical School, and several of his colleagues at Harvard, including the Dean of Harvard Medical School, Dr. Joseph Martin, endorsed his book. Johnson is also the medical correspondent for ABC news where he has done many excellent news broadcasts and documentaries. Johnson's ID book does not just defend ID, but reviews his own spiritual journey beginning from his childhood religious beliefs, common to most of us in the 1930s, to a skeptic, and then back to belief. He then discusses why ID was critical in his journey back to belief. Johnson graduated from high school as valedictorian and, after 2 years of college, decided that he wanted to become a minister. His theology studies at the University of Chicago, instead of deepening his faith, caused him to lose it (not uncommon in my experience). In his words "under the challenge of some very bright and skeptical teachers at the university of Chicago" he began to "doubt most everything" he learned as a child, including the belief that the Bible is the word of God, that Jesus was the son of God, and even the conclusion that God rules the universe. No longer a believer, he graduated and was ordained, but decided not to enter the ministry (he felt he would be a hypocrite if he did) but rather he elected to study medicine, partly due his seminary training to help others and his field placements in the hospital visitation work. He found God many years later by examining in detail the major questions that trouble many of us. He begins by asking if the universe is an "accidental" creation (the outworking of time, natural law and chance) and concluded after studying many books, including especially those by ID advocates, that our inner and outer universes are not only far too vast and complex to be the result of natural forces, but, more importantly, are constructed in such a way as to force the conclusion that they were created by an intelligent designer. The footprints of an intelligent creator, he concludes, are found everywhere in the natural world, including in the very nature of human conscience and in our basic need to form the relationships that shape our lives. Johnson cites the major ID literature, which he recommends highly, and often cites it in the chapters on ID.

Johnson may have been prophetic when he wrote, "Some who admire my secular achievements will be turned off by this spiritual exploration and some who admire my spiritual stance will be disappointed in my conclusions." Though I'm sure there's a large niche audience in between, I imagine that the audience on the far sides will be less than enamored.

The evangelical readers on the right, expecting a more classical presentation of Christianity in an InterVarsity book, will no doubt be surprised by some of Johnson's discussion of Christ's divinity and miracles as well as the nature of the Genesis creation account. The agnostic intellectuals on the left will likely be intrigued but unlikely convinced.

Though written with homespun humor and interesting illustrations, "Finding God in the Questions" is too pithy for the title. Is this a book about questions and doubts, as the jacket cover and promotional materials indicate, or is it a book about answers? Doubt is not probed seriously enough and answers are not explored thoroughly enough. Several times I allowed my hopes to grow, anticipating a soul-stirring, mind-stretching discussion of honest doubt, only to find quick answers that seemed to value closure over exploration.

As an introduction to issues relative to questions of God, Jesus, and personal ethics, "Finding God" is a valuable addition to the literature. As a deep and personal probe into the psyche that wrestles with the idea of a good and personal God in a seemingly evil and impersonal cosmos, "Finding God" left me with too many questions too easily answered.

Crabb's "Finding God" examines similar terrain in a way that felt more personal. Curtis' "Sacred Romance" discusses reason and faith in ways that seemed more intellectually credible. Ross' "Creator and the Cosmos" presents scientific research on the uniqueness of planet Earth that appeared more plausible.

Reviewer: Dr. Bob Kellemen, author of "Soul Physicians: A Theology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction" and "Spiritual Friends: A Methodology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction."

Kudos to Dr Johnson for bravely sharing his faith and his doubts in this very inspiring book. Dr Johnson breaks his thoughts into three major sections. The first deals with the existance of God and issues involving science and creation, etc. Dr Johnson carefully weaves through a lot of discussion on both sides of the fence, so to speak, and does so with an honesty that comes off as genuine. The middle section deals with the character of God and related discussions about the Christian believed son of God, Jesus Christ. Here is where Dr Johnson really poured out his heart over the significant themes in the four gospels of the New Testament, and talked a lot about how his interpretations sometimes differ from organized religion. The final section goes into a discussion of how your belief system should shape your life. Here is where Dr Johnson deeply examines his own life, and almost expresses regret over not using his time, talents and wealth more perfectly (I felt like he should forgive himself a little in that regard).

Dr Johnson warns the reader early on that he feared the book would offend both the left wing (for being too pro-God and Jesus) and offend the right wing (for challenging some organized religious views). He may be right, but I found his views honest, refreshing and interesting to consider.

As a physician/academician myself I personally like Dr. Johnson and how he portrays health and medicine issues on television. So, I impulsively purchased the book when I saw it on the bookshelf of a local (Methodist) bookstore. I am an ordained deacon in a moderate Southern Baptist Baptist church. I consider myself somewhat of an intellectual (Masters, M.D. and Ph.D. degrees) but I am a down to earth fellow (I love to hunt deer and play golf). In spite of my religious background and strong faith I continue to have many "questions" about God, Jesus and what we are all here for. Dr. Johnson verbalizes what I feel in my heart and instinctively know through my Bible study and he says it all in a very straight forward, easily understandable fashion. I found the book helpful for "connecting the dots" between what I "know" (scientifically and intellectually) and what I believe from a faith perspective. For a non-believer or one "unsure" of all this religion stuff I think he makes a very convincing argument for a God and His Son Jesus Christ and our personal "mission".
I cannot debate the "super intellectuals" or theologians about some of the finer points Dr. Johnson makes (or doesn't)in his book but because he delivers his message in such a straight forward, easy to read and understand manner I have recommended it to my friends and family. I am buying 16 books for Christmans gifts for my friends and family. Enjoy!

I have read MANY apologetics. This is by far the best. It doesn't attack other religions like so many other writings(big turnoff for me). It has depth and scientific research to back it up. Great for an Athiest to read if they want knowledge. This book has helped me in my faith extremely. You will not regret the buy.

I found this book to be excellently written, easy to understand, and well organized. Dr. Johnson does a wonderful job of explaining how faith and science enahnce each other instead of being opposites. I would recommend this book to anyone confused over the issue or anyone who just wants to review Christian principles.

Dr. Timothy Johnson is best known as a medical expert for ABC news. What many people might not be aware of is that he is also a minister, having graduated from the seminary forty years ago. In "Finding God in the Questions," he attempts to dig deeper into his own beliefs and how he has come to them. He is also attempting to integrate the spiritual and secular aspects of his life in a more meaningful way. Perhaps as a means of doing that, he is donating all his profits from the sale of this book to organizations that serve the poor and disadvantaged.

Section One deals with "Does God Exist?" Dr. Johnson relies heavily on scientific evidence to make his case for his belief in an omnipotent intelligent being. One often comes across those who believe that science and faith are incompatible. For those who believe, however, an examination of our physical world only serves to reinforce that belief. At times, his scientific inquiry can be somewhat intense for those without scientific backgrounds. To his credit, he does tell readers they can skip those few pages of his book without losing the point of his book.

Section Two focuses on "What is God Like?" Dr. Johnson offers a brief history of how the Bible came to be and then turns his attention to what one can learn about God by studying Jesus. He encourages people to read the Bible with fresh eyes, to simply sit down and read the four Gospels straight through as if it was your first experience with them (for some, it may very well be.) He believes many people will be surprised by what they find there. For example, Jesus says nothing against homosexuality, but preaches heavily against divorce. He speaks strongly against the accumulation of material possessions, yet many Christians seem to make this their prime goal in life. Also, "Jesus clearly shows more sympathy to the outcast and to the sinful than he does to the righteous and formally religious." Johnson then goes on to discuss Jesus' parables and miracles. Lastly, he investigates the Resurrection, coming to the conclusion that it was indeed a physical resurrection.

The last section is "What Difference Does it Make?" In this section, Johnson explores the way faith should manifest itself in our lives. He studies the Sermon on the Mount and the high standard it sets for our lives. He acknowledges that one must leave space for mystery, and that the questions will never be completely answered in this lifetime. Yet, he encourages readers to follow Jesus' example, not because it will bring us "comfort and ease and even financial reward. The truth is that Jesus himself never painted such a rosy picture. . . . The only gift he promised for sure is that if we attempted to follow his teachings, we would be closer to the heart of God than we would otherwise be."

Overall, Johnson's inquiries will resonate with many. He brings his journalistic mind and medical knowledge as well as his theological background to investigate these questions. Time spent with "Finding God in the Questions" is put to good use.

I absolutely love this book. It is written in a way that shows faith is possible in today's world without being a religious freak or weirdo like so many fundamentalists are in my view. This book is respectful and insightful and wonderful. I absolutely recommend it.