Letters From a Skeptic: A Son Wrestles with His Father’s Questions about Christianity

by Gregory A. Boyd (Author)

Edward Boyd’s agnosticism rested “not … too much on any positive position … but rather on a host of negative ones” about Christianity. In an attempt to address these negative issues, his son Greg, a professor of theology, asked his father, a strong-willed, highly intelligent, and stubborn 70-year-old, to enter into a correspondence in which “all of their cards would be laid on the table.” Greg would give his father the opportunity to raise all his objections to the veracity of Christianity, and Greg would “answer these objections as well as give positive grounds for holding to the Christian faith.”

Three years and more than 30 letters later, Letters from a Skeptic was published and Edward Boyd came to accept Christ. During his journey, he and his son hash through such topics as why the world is so full of suffering; why an all-powerful God needs prayer; how you can believe in someone who rose from the dead; and how another man’s death can pardon others. Despite their brutal honesty, both men exhibit respect and love toward one another as they address these volatile subjects. In Edward’s second response to Greg, he boldly says, “Well, your distinction between the ‘Christian Church’ and ‘Christians’ is interesting and novel, but frankly, I don’t buy it.” Greg responds, saying, “I’ve got to admit that you are raising some extremely good points in your letters. You are raising the most difficult questions a theist can face.” –Jill Heatherly

REVIEW: Brian Lehman

I have found this book very useful in helping me to combat some of the logical arguments against the faith given to me by non-believers. Dr. Boyd’s logic flows very well and provides a great logical argument to many important complaints about Christianity. Don’t rely on this book as your only source, though! It contains only one man’s opinions. Personally, I have found some of his reasons to be a little weak, and on one point I think he is wrong. His point about how God does not know the future is based on what I feel is incorrect theology. A few other points he makes might also be seen as based on some abnormal theological ideas. This is still a very good book, though, as long as it the reader reads it for what it is – one man’s logical defense of Christianity – and also uses other sources (especially the Bible) in defense of the faith. If this book shows you anything, it shows you that Christianity is more than blind faith or emotionalism, it is actually a very logical and intelligent view of the world, one which I am convinced is the correct one.