Moderates Storm The Religious Battlefield

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Finally, coming in March, a surprising confession: the prolific Bible scholar Bart Ehrman, who is known mostly for his work on the historical Jesus, concedes that in spite of his Christian credentials—which include four years at Bible college and a divinity degree from the Princeton Theological Seminary—he can no longer believe in the Christian God. An all-loving and all-powerful God, he concluded after years of struggle, would not cause so much suffering.

This is an old problem in theology called theodicy, but Ehrman's book, "God's Problem," contains so much earnest humility that he will find sympathetic readers even among believers. "Some people think they know the answers," he writes. "Or they aren't bothered by the questions. I'm not one of those people." Ehrman's clarity—and, as Gomes would say, modesty—is something to emulate. What's dangerous about the world today is not belief in God—or secularism or unbelief—but ruthless certainty. If 2008 is the year when we can begin, in private and in public, to concede that we don't know all the answers, then let us say amen.

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Posted By: wothe @ 02/12/2008 7:14:53 PM

I read this book several years ago. I thought it was very good. I was raised in The Church of Christ which is a very new testatment church.
I actually liked the book because everyone has questions. Mine has been for a long time
If God knows the end from the beginning of each life before that soul is created why would he do it if he knew it would be condemed to hell. Also Job is confusing because Satan had been kicked from heaven long before Job was born but there Satan was temping God.
So yes I believe 'thinking' is essential when reading the Bible
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Posted By: Cathexis @ 01/18/2008 1:02:26 PM

Also, i am delighted that *real* Christians are taking back their religion. For too long, the fundamentalists who are Christian in name-only have held the spotlight and have probably done more damage to the Christian faith image than any event short of the Crusades and Inquisition.

Oh wait ... Iraq ... Guantanamo ...

Never mind.
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Posted By: Cathexis @ 01/18/2008 1:00:19 PM

Problems with Pascal's wager:

1. You do potentially lose, depending on what the definition of "living as if God existed" is: You may have squandered the most valuable asset you have -- your time on Earth ... your life. Myriad opportunity costs, as well, depending on definitions.

2. There is no definitive identification of "how to live as if God exists." Whose God? Anyone who claimns they know the will of God is probably merely projecting their own perceptions, biases, and desires on a more powerful figure. The Religious Right are the modern-day Pharisees, corrupted by a need to make sure no one else has motes in their eyes.

Finally: I don't believe that a person HAS to have religion in order to lead a virtuous/good life ... despite what the fire-and-brimstoners would have us believe (up until they give the address to which we should send our checks).