Customer Reviews

The God Problem

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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.

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.

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.