Home
Print E-mail

 

This book takes the form of a dialogue between philosopher of religion John Hick and someone – anyone – who is a religious skeptic or is somewhere between faith and doubt. Neither of them is dogmatic and their discussion is honest and fair. It covers a range of questions:
 

  • Is the pervasively sceptical character of today's culture well founded or only an assumption?
  • Is the usual idea of God viable, and if not what is the alternative?
  • Can God's existence be proved?
  • Is religious experience authentic, particularly in the light of modern neuroscience?
  • What about the contradictory beliefs of the different religions?
  • Can we have religion without transcendence, as advocate by the Sea of Faith movement?
  • Can there be a good God, or a friendly universe, when there is so much pain and suffering?
  • Can there be a life after death?

Between Faith and Doubt also includes some fascinating autobiographical revelations: of Hick's evangelical conversion and subsequent development to much more liberal beliefs, of being involved in a heresy trial, of being in an earthquake, his own powerful religious experience, and witnessing a materializing séance. This short, briliantly written book is and accessible and concise way of understanding both Hick's views, and quickly gaining a grasp of some of the central issues in philosophy of religion.

"John Hick presents the case for and against religious faith lucidly and concisely in the form of a dialogue, opposing a wide range of assertions and arguments from the great world religions to the principles and counter-arguments of science-based materialism.  Although the author makes his own position clear, the work is not didactic, and the reader is made to test his/her own faith against the various arguments put forward.   This book is an illuminating, timely, humane contribution to a debate which often generates more heat than light, and for anyone with a serious personal interest in the subject it is an enthralling as a good play."  David Lodge