The God Problem [Paperback]

Nigel Leaves (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2006

The twenty-first century has witnessed a dangerous shift in focus about belief (or non-belief) in God. God is not to be debated but defended at all costs. In short, God has become a problem. How then might we return to a reasoned debate about God's existence? In this book Nigel Leaves evaluates four ways of addressing the "God Problem" - panentheism, non-realism, grassroots spirituality, and religious naturalism. These are the current responses to the increasing difficulty of God-talk in the context of the latest critical and scientific thinking. Leaves provides an excellent point of departure and a resource for a discussion on how we may speak of God today.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Engaging, insightful and illuminating. --karen Armstrong, autor of "A History of God"

About the Author

Nigel Leaves is Warden and Dean of Studies of John Wallaston Anglican Theological College, Perth, Western Australia. An Anglican priest who served in Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong, and Australia, he is the author of "Odyssey on the Sea of Faith" (2004) and "Surfing on the Sea of Faith" (2005).

Product Details

• Paperback: 98 pages
• Publisher: Polebridge Press (September 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0944344984
• ISBN-13: 978-0944344989
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #642,293 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Reforming Christianity from Within, November 3, 2006

By 

Thomas W. Hall Jr. (Foster, RI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The God Problem (Paperback)

Nigel Leaves has written an eminently readable book on an important issue: how can we speak of God in a post-911, post-tsunami, postmodern world? He defines four different approaches -- panentheism, non-realism, grassroots spirituality, and religious naturalism (awe and wonder at the beauty of nature) -- and discusses the contribution of each to an understanding of God.
Subtitled "Alternatives to Fundamentalism," the book registers Leaves' concern at the violence done in the name of religion, and focuses on those trying to to reform Christianity from within so that the world may become a more humane place. He leaves the reader to decide whether the alternatives presented match this aim.
The text is clear and engaging: one need not be a theologian to read and enjoy the book, but even trained thelogians will find it a well-footnoted and useful resource for viewing the present state of the debate.
I highly recommend this book.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Alternative Interpretations of God, May 31, 2007

By 

Alton R. Jenkins (Cincinnati, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The God Problem (Paperback)

In this book Nigel Leaves clearly presents some current, alternative interpretations of the traditional, theistic understanding of "God" for the readers' consideration. These include panentheism as exemplified by Episcopal Bishop John Shelby Spong, non-realism in the works of theologians/philosophers Don Cupitt (England) and Lloyd Geering (New Zealand), and religious naturalism found in the writings of the cell biologist Ursula Goodenough. An additional alternative interpretation is described in a chapter on "grassroots spirituality" on offer by millions of individuals throughout the world in a plethora of offerings.

This is a wonderful and very accessible presentation for people who no longer find the traditional understanding of God to be meaningful in their lives as lived in our contemporary world. I highly recommend the book for those who find themselves in this situation but are hesitant to cast their lot with the shrillness so apparently common in our world.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The God Problem is a rational discussion of how to address a reasoned debate about God's existence, June 9, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The God Problem (Paperback)

Written by Nigel Leaves (Warden and Dean of Studies, John Wollaston Anglican Theological College), The God Problem is a rational discussion of how to address a reasoned debate about God's existence, especially in an increasingly secular modern society where God needs to be all-out defended. The God Problem explores four ways of confronting the "God Problem": pantheism, non-realism, grassroots spirituality, and religious naturalism. Juxtaposed amid the framework of critical and scientific thinking, The God Problem shines brightly as an example of reasoned theological and philosophical discourse.