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Doubter's Guides
En tvilers guide til Bibelen
En kortfattet fremstilling av hele den bibelske fortellingen og av Bibelens veiledning for livet. På en lettfattelig måte oppsummerer forfatteren Skriftens viktigste temaer og løfter opp relevante og vanskelige spørsmål. Slik hjelper han skeptikere så vel som troende til å forstå hvorfor Bibelen har fascinert, overbevist og forvandlet mennesker opp gjennom århundrene.
Australske Dr. John Dickson er historiker med antikken som fagfelt. Han har forfattet over femten bøker, laget flere tv-dokumentarer og er en etterspurt foredragsholder.
Australske Dr. John Dickson er historiker med antikken som fagfelt. Han har forfattet over femten bøker, laget flere tv-dokumentarer og er en etterspurt foredragsholder.
172 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 2, 2015
55 people are currently reading
271 people want to read
About the author
John Dickson
96 books131 followersJohn focuses on the big ideas that have shaped our world.
His journey is an eclectic one. Starting out as a singer-songwriter, he now works as a writer, speaker, historian of religion (focusing on early Christianity and Judaism), media presenter, Anglican minister, and director of a multi-media think tank.
With an honours degree in theology from Moore Theological College Sydney, and a PhD in history from Macquarie University, John is also an Honorary Fellow of the Department of Ancient History (Macquarie), and teaches a course on the Historical Jesus at the University of Sydney (Department of Hebrew, Biblical and Jewish Studies) .
John is a founding director of the Centre for Public Christianity(CPX), an independent research and media company promoting informed discussion about social, ethical and religious issues in modern life.
His book “The Christ Files: How Historians Know what they Know about Jesus” was made into a four-part documentary which aired nationally on Channel 7 in 2008. Now a best-selling DVD, it also won the 2008 Pilgrim Media award (see www.thechristfiles.com.au). His more recent Life of Jesus also aired on Channel 7 in 2009 (see www.lifeofjesus.tv).
His journey is an eclectic one. Starting out as a singer-songwriter, he now works as a writer, speaker, historian of religion (focusing on early Christianity and Judaism), media presenter, Anglican minister, and director of a multi-media think tank.
With an honours degree in theology from Moore Theological College Sydney, and a PhD in history from Macquarie University, John is also an Honorary Fellow of the Department of Ancient History (Macquarie), and teaches a course on the Historical Jesus at the University of Sydney (Department of Hebrew, Biblical and Jewish Studies) .
John is a founding director of the Centre for Public Christianity(CPX), an independent research and media company promoting informed discussion about social, ethical and religious issues in modern life.
His book “The Christ Files: How Historians Know what they Know about Jesus” was made into a four-part documentary which aired nationally on Channel 7 in 2008. Now a best-selling DVD, it also won the 2008 Pilgrim Media award (see www.thechristfiles.com.au). His more recent Life of Jesus also aired on Channel 7 in 2009 (see www.lifeofjesus.tv).
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 1, 2015
A Doubter's Guide to the Bible is written for those who have doubts about the truth of the Biblical account. However as someone who trusts the Bible, I also benefitted from the teaching in this book. Dickson presents an overview of the Bible touching on those passages that cause the most angst, such as creation, the violence in the Old Testament, Jesus' kingdom bringing peace etc.
Dickson points out the difficulties of context—we are reading a book written thousands of years ago, yet most people read nothing else from this time period. We are also reading a book made up of many different genres and these must be read as they were intended.
Dickson helped me see the Bible from the wider perspective of the overarching themes and how many of the difficulties make sense when you look at the overall aim and purposes of God. For example, I liked the way Dickson explained the violence we find in Joshua. He pointed out that if we believe the Bible's descriptions of the violence then we must also believe the Biblical reasons for that violence, which has nothing to do with ethnicity, but with God's justice.
Included in the book are many recommendations for further reading. These are placed within the appropriate topics with a brief overview outlining the level of detail. This makes the book an even more helpful resource as it allows the serious thinker to do the necessary research to satisfy their own needs.
An enlightening read.
Dickson points out the difficulties of context—we are reading a book written thousands of years ago, yet most people read nothing else from this time period. We are also reading a book made up of many different genres and these must be read as they were intended.
Dickson helped me see the Bible from the wider perspective of the overarching themes and how many of the difficulties make sense when you look at the overall aim and purposes of God. For example, I liked the way Dickson explained the violence we find in Joshua. He pointed out that if we believe the Bible's descriptions of the violence then we must also believe the Biblical reasons for that violence, which has nothing to do with ethnicity, but with God's justice.
Included in the book are many recommendations for further reading. These are placed within the appropriate topics with a brief overview outlining the level of detail. This makes the book an even more helpful resource as it allows the serious thinker to do the necessary research to satisfy their own needs.
An enlightening read.
October 4, 2016
I love John Dickson's books. A very intelligent historian and Christian. His books are so easy to read. Dickson gave me a good tour through the Bible and it was most helpful. Maybe it was me but it took me a little while to get really into this particular book (which is most unusual) but once I was into it it was most revealing. Note to Mr Dickson: please use an index. I think this would really help readers.
March 9, 2025
Loved this. It was exactly what I was hoping for which is rare, even for a good book.
October 17, 2022
A really great crash-course overview of the Bible, useful to those investigating for the first time and mature Christians alike. Provides insights to big questions and extra resources to read more on topics of interest. I found some fresh perspectives here, would recommend
December 15, 2015
A clear and easy to read book explaining the basics of Christianity quite well and providing many examples of other books if the reader should have more questions on a particular topic.
Read
January 28, 2016Easy to read, good overview & gives a good perspective - worth a read.
January 4, 2018
In this book, Dickson aims to provide both biblical theology (showing the Bible is one story) with a taster of apologetics and common objections to those points. For me, unfortunately this meant both were done too shallowly and somewhat arbitrarily to be of much use. I would recommend his other books but I would not recommend this book to a sceptic or someone investigating Christianity.
June 11, 2018
I think this book is very thought provoking and an interesting read for christians and non-christians alike. But I think it’s important to keep in mind that this is Dickson’s interpretation of the bible message and that the only true way to learn about the bible is to read the real thing not a summary of it.
June 14, 2022
I bought this book to give away by recommendation. The intended recipient is a smart cookie who would bring it up frequently, so I read it carefully first.
Turns out, I will have to buy him another copy as it is worth keeping.
The only downside: Jesus speaks 7 times more about hell than he does about heaven, though it barely gott a mention here.
Turns out, I will have to buy him another copy as it is worth keeping.
The only downside: Jesus speaks 7 times more about hell than he does about heaven, though it barely gott a mention here.
March 14, 2025
Meh. I wasn't sure what the book was meant to cover, but it wasn't what I thought it was. Dickson has a particular theological bent and walks through the biblical narrative in way that connects it as a whole. Does he succeed, I think he THINKS he does. Its not terrible, I just don't think it is as good as some of his other works.
May 3, 2022
well written and argued
Succinct overview of God’s plan for mankind. Recommended for Christians and seekers who want to remember the reason for Christ or rethink why you should consider His offer of a free gift.
Succinct overview of God’s plan for mankind. Recommended for Christians and seekers who want to remember the reason for Christ or rethink why you should consider His offer of a free gift.
November 14, 2025
Good Overview the Bible
While this is not an in depth book, it covers about what the Bible is about. It moves along at a good pace any has plenty of references. This is a good book to anyone skeptical about the Bible
While this is not an in depth book, it covers about what the Bible is about. It moves along at a good pace any has plenty of references. This is a good book to anyone skeptical about the Bible
September 30, 2019
Leste denne på norsk. Utrolig godt oversatt! Og god bok!
December 21, 2019
Absolutely wonderful basic introduction and apologetic for the christian faith
January 28, 2016
John Dickson provides a great introduction the Bible. After stressing that is the most influential and best-selling book of all time, he provides a guided tour through the major events of the Bible, from creation to Abraham to the exodus to kings and prophets to Jesus to the new creation. The particular strength of this book is how Dickson shows that the Bible addresses the issues that confront all human beings. Though it is not a work of apologetics, it has a bit of an apologetic edge, in that he at times makes the case for the truth of the Bible, even though this is not his primary goal. He writes of his own book, "It is an attempt to explain to curious doubters what it might mean if the Bible turned out to be true" (p. 217).
The book is well written and it is clear that Dickson has quite done his homework, though the book is not bogged down with secondary references. He does offer some helpful suggestions for further reading along the way.
I'm sure I'll recommend this book to people who want to know what the Bible is all about. I think it will be my first choice, though I appreciate two slightly shorter books: Vaughan Roberts's God's Big Picture and Chris Bruno's The Whole Story of the Bible in 16 Verses.
The book is well written and it is clear that Dickson has quite done his homework, though the book is not bogged down with secondary references. He does offer some helpful suggestions for further reading along the way.
I'm sure I'll recommend this book to people who want to know what the Bible is all about. I think it will be my first choice, though I appreciate two slightly shorter books: Vaughan Roberts's God's Big Picture and Chris Bruno's The Whole Story of the Bible in 16 Verses.
September 5, 2015
Overall, a beautifully written summary of the Christian Bible and is interpretation into doctrine by a minister of the Anglican church in Australia. There is much personal experience and anecdotes from pastoral care that can touch a reader, and less of the dogmatic nature of many apologetics. In fact, I would say that this book isn't focused on explaining every doubt about the Bible, but more on clarifying and explaining what the Bible actually says from a Christian perspective. The text is easy to read and interesting, but if you were expecting a point by point rebuttal of historical, archaeological, theological, or scientific arguments, this is not the book.
February 17, 2015
Very accessible.
April 8, 2015
short and pretty sweet. Strangely he resorts to block quotes at the end on the NT, but some good info, short, easy to read, my kind of book
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews