I discovered that I've been an agnostic all these years

books:


	• Finding Faith: A Self-Discovery Guide for Your Spiritual Quest Brian D. McLaren Zondervan, 2000 - 304 pages average customer review:based on 18 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A Faith to think about

Brian McLaren is one of today's foremost Christian thinkers. Not everybody agrees with all that he says. But he is not afraid to engage in the important debate about how christian faith can operate within and influence a postmodern world.

This is simply a book about faith. It is written for those with no faith at all, those with an interest in faith and those who are keen to re-think their faith in the context of our present culture.

McLaren begins by looking at the relationship between faith and knowledge. He moves on to look at how we might view and then find God. He then examines the role of scripture and the church in our search for faith. What I particularly like is his ability to explain difficult philosophical matters in a way that is easy to follow.

I find his approach refreshing and challenging. He doesn't necessarily give answers. Nor does he expect universal agreement. But what he does do is encourage us to go away and think about what we believe, why we believe and how that can be relevant to the world in which we live.

If you are looking for a comfortable read then you may be disappointed. But that may be all the more reason to go and get a copy of this and read it.

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Finding the words to discuss faith

This is a valuable book for wherever someone is on their faith journey from atheist to agnostic to strong believer. It's very respectful of where a person is and gently requests that the person continue to explore their beliefs.

During the past two years I have been God's instrument in working with two people who shared our home at separate times for 4-5 months each. Both were drawn closer to God by our actions, but I felt I fell somewhat short on having the right words to share what motivated the unconditional love we gave both of these individuals. Towards the end of our seconds guest stay my pastor recommended the book "More ready than you realize" by the same author, which helped me understand that our slow way of sharing our faith was a good way.

I still felt somewhat unprepared because I didn't always have a ready answer to very good questions. Having a strong faith and finding the words to describe it are two different things. I most certainly have a strong faith, but am working to better share it with others in an open, honest, respectful, caring and factual way.

I'm using this book to better prepare me for whatever God has planned for me next. I also bought a copy for one of the people who shared our home.

God loves you, and so do I. I hope this book helps all who read it to better share God's love.

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Get this book & suggest that all your friends read it!

I certainly wish this was the first book I read when I began my spiritual quest (which eventually led me to become Christian). It would have made certain things a lot easier! To someone who is interested in "finding faith" but has no real experience with anything spiritual (the position I was in), I recommend this book. It covers a lot of issues that "beginners" are going to want to explore, and it does so in an open, patient and caring manner.

I would also like to respond to the review "SELF-motivated SPIRITUALITY". The reviewer complains that McLaren says: While this is clearly not the proper motivation for seeking God, it is often true that people begin their search for God for these reasons! Mr McLaren is not saying that this is the proper motivation; he points out only that it is common and must therefore be acknowledged. While I now know that this sort of initial selfishness is not right, it can very well lead a person to come to faith ... as it did for me!

In sum, I recommend this book wholeheartedly for all readers: atheists, agnostics, seekers and committed Christians. One of the few books I've read that deserves 5 stars!

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I discovered that I've been an agnostic all these years

Wonderful book. Written in a straight forward and honest style. I discovered that I've been using the word agnostic in error all these many years. I had always thought that an agnostic was someone who believed in God but didn't believe in religion. After reading Brian's book and consulting the dictionary, I now know that an agnostic is someone who doesn't know if there is a God. Brian's book touches on many of my obstacles to faith. Most convincing for me is Brian's idea that what most of us call fact is truly just faith in something else (possibly misplaced). Brian has given me a new foundation to move forward from in my spiritual quest. Thanks!

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Opening doors to faith

McLaren zeros in on the precise barriers that seem to stop people from entering into, or growing in, a life of authentic, personal, and dynamic faith in God. He shatters a lot of the myths of "absolutism" and other man-made conditions to faith that people have used to exclude and control others according to their own, often self-serving, theology.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4

Finding Faith aims to help spiritual seekers progress through their spiritual search by confronting questions -- in non-Christian language -- about God, the nature of faith, truth, and religious life.

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