Surprised by Doubt

May 29, 2023
In this vigorous outing, Beeson Divinity School professor Chatraw (Apologetics at the Cross) and Carson, director for the Center for Apologetics and Cultural Engagement at Liberty University, urge Christians struggling with doubt to ask questions of their faith instead of suffering in silence. Drawing on C.S. Lewis’s analogy of faith as a house, the authors warn against “attic Christianity,” a “narrow” notion of faith whose adherents are convinced that their “room... is the entire house,” and which was “built in fear to protect from the dangers of the world outside.” Instead of abandoning Christianity, those who have become disillusioned with such limited notions of faith should venture to the main floor—a richer, more expansive form of Christianity, which is built on “sturdy foundations” and allows space for productive questions. There, they can tackle sources of doubt, including the question of “salvation for people outside of Israel before Christ came” (the authors point to Augustine’s view that “final judgment is our Creator’s prerogative, not ours”) and the relationship between science and religion, which the authors argue is not antithetical. Drawing on the work of such thinkers as Blaise Pascal and René Descartes, the authors set out a methodical approach to a thorny topic and deliver it with a down-to-earth approachability readers will find refreshing. Those at a faith crossroads will want to pick this up.