Daniel Taylor (1) (1948–)

This book was less mystery and more a satirical, often humorous, review of current Christian culture. Although I enjoyed the commentary, I wish the book had more plot.

This novel hooked me immediately, and it never quite let go. The intellectual meditations don't slow down the narrative much. I was blown away by novel's slow revelation of character and plot. Superbly powerful story.

First published in 1986, this book explores what it’s like to be a Christian caught between two worlds—that of the close-minded Christian and the sometimes equally close-minded skeptic. Such a Christian might feel frustrated by the tendency of some in the church to dismiss difficult questions or to refuse to really engage with thinkers who challenge them. They might feel equally irritated by those outside the church who blithely dismiss any beliefs that cannot be rationally proven and show more paint all Christian beliefs as a sign of anti-intellectualism.

Although I rarely feel all that torn these days, I do I consider myself such a Christian. Most of what Taylor said about the nature of truth and belief resonated with me. And I liked a lot of what he has to say about being willing to listen with care to all points of view and to accept the possibility of being wrong. Taylor intersperses his thoughtful discussion with a narrative about Alex, a literature professor at a Christian college, and his encounters with various not-so-reflective Christians and non-Christians who display some appalling attitudes toward anyone whose beliefs are different from theirs. As head-shakingly entertaining as these anecdotes were, I think they weakened the book and limited its value to those outside Taylor’s core audience. The characters all felt like straw men to me, and their arguments were so silly that they were easy to dismiss.

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An excellent look at Celtic pilgrimage in the sections on Iona, Skellig Michael and the conclusion in pilgrimage takeaways. The pieces in the middle on Lindisfarne and illustrated gospels aren't nearly as strong, and the more specifically travel memoir parts are too light and goofy compared to the first and last chunks.