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Loading... Letters From a Skeptic: A Son Wrestles with His Father's Questions about…by Gregory Boyd
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will love Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book.  PointedPundit | Mar 25, 2008 |  Good answers for atheists, bad doctrine for Christians (imputed righteousness) (  ) liguori | May 15, 2007 | Most apologetic books focus on proving God's existence and Jesus' life through science and other proofs. While there's a place for this, Dr. Boyd's correspondence with his father shows that there is another side to apologetics. His father left his faith - not because he doesn't believe in God but because he doesn't understand God's nature. Dr. Boyd's answers to his fathers questions and doubts explain God in a way that leads people to a deeper faith and better understanding of God. It's a short book that is easy to read. I highly recommend it. (  ) abelcl | Apr 6, 2007 | Not perfect, but filled with well reasoned answers and explanation of conservative Christian belief. (  ) mr_rhumba | Aug 18, 2006 |  no reviews | add a review
Amazon.com Amazon.com Review (ISBN 0854768890, Paperback)Edward Boyd's agnosticism rested "not ... too much on any positive position ... but rather on a host of negative ones" about Christianity. In an attempt to address these negative issues, his son Greg, a professor of theology, asked his father, a strong-willed, highly intelligent, and stubborn 70-year-old, to enter into a correspondence in which "all of their cards would be laid on the table." Greg would give his father the opportunity to raise all his objections to the veracity of Christianity, and Greg would "answer these objections as well as give positive grounds for holding to the Christian faith."Three years and more than 30 letters later, Letters from a Skeptic was published and Edward Boyd came to accept Christ. During his journey, he and his son hash through such topics as why the world is so full of suffering; why an all-powerful God needs prayer; how you can believe in someone who rose from the dead; and how another man's death can pardon others. Despite their brutal honesty, both men exhibit respect and love toward one another as they address these volatile subjects. In Edward's second response to Greg, he boldly says, "Well, your distinction between the 'Christian Church' and 'Christians' is interesting and novel, but frankly, I don't buy it." Greg responds, saying, "I've got to admit that you are raising some extremely good points in your letters. You are raising the most difficult questions a theist can face." --Jill Heatherly (retrieved from Amazon Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:00:21 -0500) The first test round has been closed. Visit the Open Shelves Classification group for details. |
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Wikipedia in English (1)
Edward Boyd never had a chance.
As the skeptic in this duo, his conversion was never in doubt. The book details three years and more than 30 letters which resulted in Edward Boyd decision to accept Christ.
During his journey, he and his son hash through such topics as why the world is so full of suffering; why God needs prayer; how you can believe someone rose from the dead; and how another man's death pardons others.
Not that his son, Dr. Gregory Boyd, a professor of theology at Bethel College in St. Paul, MN, was all that convincing. Too often, the apologetics professor restructured or rephrased his father’s legitimate arguments and doubts to ones premised on the acceptance of the faith. This technique is far more effective with believers who have already made the leap of faith and are looking for a rational justification for their decision than a true skeptic.
Despite the letter’s brutal honesty, both men exhibit respect and love toward one another as they address these volatile subjects. There is never a doubt that the son is persistent and determined. During the three year long correspondence, Greg reveals he is training for a 100 kilometer running road race championship. In it, he finished as the seventh American and 23rd overall.
My only issue with the book lies in its effectiveness at persuading a skeptic without as dedicated a mentor as Greg to make the leap. For those who have already made it this book is a must read. (