Letters From a Skeptic: A Son Wrestles with His Father's Questions about Christianity

信仰是怎麼一回事？當一個人排斥基督信仰時，心裡的癥結是什麼？
本書的作者是一對父子。爸爸對信仰抱持的態度是死硬不信，兒子卻是個「護教學」的博士教授。兒子為了和老爸談及信仰真諦，面談溝通無效的情況下，採取了信件溝通的方式，本書就是父子在三年內往返的三十封信。 爸爸在每封信中都毫不留情的提出對基督信仰的犀利質疑，兒子也針對問題予以說明。問題有時尖銳，有時感性，兒子的回答都至情至性，婉轉有條理，令讀者讀來有一份過癮的感覺。 show more 此外，讀者隨著他們父子一起探索信仰真意的當兒，也會禁不住沉浸在濃郁的父子之情中，是一本感性與理性交織而成的書。 對渴求了解人生信仰的朋友而言，這本書值得一讀。 show less

A profound book. I will keep this around for the excellent answers to skeptic's questions. Greg Boyd's gentle and humble approach to engaging his skeptical father should be a model for all of us.

Wonderful series of letters between a theologian son and a rationalist, doubting father. I’m not a big fan of apologetics per se, nor of open theism, but it was good to read how an adherent of the latter successfully engaged in the former.

This Skeptic Never had a Chance

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 show more 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. show less

I really liked this book. No, it doesn't go deep. No, it doesn't anser every question a non-believer might throw at you. However, what it does very well is display a non-confrontational approach to answering the questions of people who are interested in the bible and perhaps investigating their own faith. I see it as a great example of how dialogue can happen between Christians and their friends and family about their faith and why they choose to believe. It also does a very good job of explaining how to deal with those "unaswerable" questions, that often arise.

A good book, illumined some points on Christianity that I had questioned. May not satisfy everyone, but it is compelling.

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.