Doubting: Growing Through the Uncertainties of Faith (Paperback)

~ (Author), Ravi Zacharias (Foreword)

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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Product Description

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.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 155 pages
• Publisher: InterVarsity Press (January 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830833528
• ISBN-13: 978-0830833528
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #91,071 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	rodboomboom (Dearborn, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

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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 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dealing with doubt in christian faith, April 12, 2007

By	Gary in Texas (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

This excellent book is easy to read, but addresses hard issues that often arise in one's christian faith. Especially relevant to college age christians and seekers.

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

By	J. Mccray "Adverage Jon" (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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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.