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I picked up the book Is belief in God, good, bad or irrelevant? A professor and a punk rocker discuss science, religion, naturalism & Christianity at 2pm and a few hours later finished reading it. Preston Jones, a professor at a Christian college, strikes up a relationship with Greg Graffin, frontman, singer and songwriter for the punk band Bad Religion. This book tracks their email relationship over the course of a couple of years. Graffin is not only a punk rocker, but he has a PhD in zoology. Check out his dissertation at http://www.polypterus.org/.
Graffin, as an atheist, articulates his worldview of naturalism where biology is religion. They cover many topics, including the classic questions such as, “If there is a God, why is there suffering?” “If God knows the future, why does he allow evil?” and “Can morality exist outside of the existence of God?” “Can science and religion really integrate?” (Graffin would argue no, that ‘enlightened’ Christians can try but in reality they cannot “mesh” science and religion). I appreciate the ways that the two men articulate their respective faiths. And it’s fun (as the reader) to be a fly on the wall and see this friendship develop.
Graffin prides himself as a pure naturalist. Naturalism, in its basic (American Heritage Dictionary) definition is the belief that “all phenomena can be explained in terms of natural causes and laws.” And when some of the questions are still unanswered, Graffin argues that naturilists will just wait and in time those questions will be answered (even if it might take hundreds of years).
I think what Christians can learn is the way that Jones answers some of Graffin’s critiques. It’s not only what he writes but how he responds to him. At times I felt he let Graffin a little off the hook too easily with some of the statements Graffin makes about theism and Christianity. But for the most part, Jones was gracious but firm in his replies. Also, We can learn and understand Graffin’s critiques and ask the question, “How would I respond to this criticism?” Now granted, Graffin is a true atheist. This group is a small minority in our society (about 9%). However, his questions are still very relevant. While most people will not identify as atheists in their beliefs, they probably do in some of their actions and lifestyle choices (this includes Christians).
What I most appreciate about Jones is that he first and foremost developed a relationship with Graffin and then second, defended God and Christianity. After all, Jones confesses, God is big enough to defend himself.
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It sounds like a very good book. Is it a little like “Letters to a Skeptic”? I thought that one was very good.
Another good book on the same subject is “Evidence that demands a verdict” by Josh McDowell.
Thanks for stopping by Terry. I haven’t read either one of the books you mentioned, so I don’t know if it’s like them.
I was just talking to a friend about the fact that majority of the next generation of Christians seem to be growing up with a lot of head knowledge, but not able to defend the faith, or knowing what their faith means. I guess it’s a whole lot easier to create little Pharisees bound by the law than it would be to create children with a passion for God!
Thanks for stopping by MInTheGap (and thanks for that chat widget i saw on your site). I’m not sure that the next generation of Christians are growing up with much head knowledge. In my observations, Christians know less and less about their faith–even some of the most basic tenets.