• Darrell Bock
• Paul Copan
• Mike Licona
• Gary Habermas

They also have a three part series on dealing with doubt (part 1, part 2, part 3). And other posts regarding doubt:

• Learning to Live with Your Doubts
• Advice to Those Who Are Doubting Their Christian Faith
• Eight Points of Encouragement for Those Who Are Doubting Their Faith
• etc…

I know that some of the things mentioned above may not be applicable to everyone struggling with doubt; as each person’s struggle is unique. However, maybe there is something useful that you can pull out of the above blog posts.

It’s not the most scientific study, but Bradley acknowledges that. There are however interesting trends that are worth noting. Check the blog series out here.

I loved Jason’s honesty and humbleness. I found a Christian who questions the usefulness of prayer, who questions whether Christianity isn’t just manmade, and who gets somewhat cynical about the overly-spiritualized church. Yet, he doesn’t give up on his faith. He struggles with it, but still pushes on. He feels that faith is worth the effort. Why does he choose faith? He says:

Mainly, because I hope. “Faith is being sure of what we hope for,” the author of Hebrews wrote, “and certain of what we do not see” (11:1). I’m not exactly “certain” of anything, but I’m sure of what I hope for: I hope there’s something more than a dust-to-dust, grow-old-and-then-you-die material existence. I hope God exists.

Sure, this is a pathetically weak type of faith. Some may even call it wishful thinking. However, it might be the mustard seed size faith Jesus was talking about.

Doubt is an inherently depressing topic to write about, but Jason infuses his book with comic relief, which helped me to keep on reading. Many times, he had me laughing inside, and a few times, I actually laughed out loud. I also enjoyed that he voiced his skeptical internal voice, which sounded a lot like my internal dialogue.

The one “problem” with the book was that it jumped from topic to topic, however I think that style fit with the subject of the book. Doubters tend to jump from issue to issue because one question leads to another, which leads to another, which makes it hard to stay focus.

I would definitely recommend this book. It is not a big time commitment and it was a very enjoyable read. The book was even small enough to fit in my back pocket as I brought it to a couple of restaurants to read during my trip to New Orleans. (It was so nice to be able to eat at an outside café and enjoy good food and a good book!)

Jason describes a faith that I hope to have one day. It is a weak faith that continues to doubt, but a faith nonetheless. Jason is honest about his feelings but still seeks the Lord. Unfortunately, the skeptic in me still wonders if Jason is just being a hopeful believer.

Note: Jason Boyett also has a great blog.

As someone who has gone through doubt and is now an unbeliever, Rachel captures the struggle of the doubter. In one moment Rachel is questioning a loving God who sends people to hell for eternity, and then a moment later she is clinging fast to a God that loves her. I could feel the tension and the pain of her struggles. It was also comforting to know that I am not alone in my doubt.

The book is a quick and easy read with very enjoyable stories of different people who have influenced her life’s path. The stories make it personal, while also giving a glimpse of the rich variety of different beliefs and experiences. Rachel is an excellent writer and I found myself highlighting many sections in her book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who feels trapped in Christian fundamentalism. Rachel gives an example of a healthy alternative to the absolutes that are often found in Christianity today. I would not recommend this book to someone who is looking for answers. This book is about asking questions, and living out your faith in spite of the uncertainties.

Rachel also has an excellent blog that I would recommend too.

Here the book trailer:

Click here to view the embedded video.

A couple things to keep in mind is that it is a podcast, so you can’t hold them to the same rigor as a published book. Podcasts have more freedom and spontaneity, so arguments are not always fully developed, straw men are sometimes presented, and mistakes can happen. But its a podcast. It’s supposed to be entertaining and informative, both of which they do an excellent job. Some of the podcasts are very one sided and come off as a podcast of  angry atheists, but these have been few (as far as I have listened to). I have liked when they have had on the show someone of the faith, where both sides are presented. I also enjoy the more scholarly segments: “God thinks like you” and “Skeptics Sunday School”.  The three fellas that put the podcast on are all professors, so they bring a scholarly eire to the program. But seldom does the podcast get too think in theological discussions. The three amigos keep it entertaining and have kept me tuning in to their podcast.