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What Kind of God?
¿Qué tipo de Dios...?Dice Michael Ots en la introducción al libro «que la mayoría de las preguntas que las personas me hacen son sobre Dios mismo. No preguntan tanto sobre su existencia, sino sobre su carácter. ¿Cómo puede ser bueno si autoriza guerras, permite el sufrimiento, reprime la sexualidad, castiga a su propio Hijo y excluye a las personas en base a sus creencias, condenándolas al infierno?».Este libro empezó como una serie de charlas que el autor dio en diversas universidades. A aquellos temas, se fueron sumando otras cuestiones y preguntas. Y el producto final es un esfuerzo por responder a preguntas reales, a veces difíciles, de una forma razonada y a la vez sincera.Si hay cosas que no te cuadran sobre el tema de Dios y la fe, pero sí te interesan los temas trascendentales, la espiritualidad, o te preguntas por el sentido de la vida y cómo vivirla de forma coherente, este libro puede ser para ti.«‘¿Quién es Dios?’. No se me ocurre una pregunta más importante para el ser humano. Este libro actual y sincero, sin jerga religiosa, rompe esquemas y prejuicios sobre el Dios de la Biblia, mostrando su coherencia y su belleza».Andy Wickham, Director de la Fundación RZ para el diálogo entre fe y cultura
160 pages, Paperback
First published September 19, 2008
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62 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 24, 2024
Este libro propone dar respuesta a las 10 preguntas/acusaciones más comunes sobre Dios (cristianismo): sobre el sufrimiento, la violencia, el castigo, la sexualidad, etc.
La idea me parece muy interesante, pero se queda corto en algunos argumentos y no profundiza como me hubiera gustado.
Creo que funciona muy bien para un público que ya es creyente, pero no creo que cumpla su propósito de convencer, con sus argumentos, a los lectores ateos.
En resumen, es un buen acercamiento al tema y da algunas ideas para seguir profundizando, pero algunos argumentos no son lo suficientemente sólidos para poderlos sacar de la manga en cualquier contexto.
La idea me parece muy interesante, pero se queda corto en algunos argumentos y no profundiza como me hubiera gustado.
Creo que funciona muy bien para un público que ya es creyente, pero no creo que cumpla su propósito de convencer, con sus argumentos, a los lectores ateos.
En resumen, es un buen acercamiento al tema y da algunas ideas para seguir profundizando, pero algunos argumentos no son lo suficientemente sólidos para poderlos sacar de la manga en cualquier contexto.
April 11, 2010
What Kind of God is a collection of 10 short answers to common questions, or ‘accusations’ made by atheists, of religion, such as: What kind of god doesn't prevent suffering? What kind of god sends sincere people to hell? What kind of god would limit my sexuality? It’s written by a Minister of Evangelism at Landsdowne Baptist Burch in Bournemeth, but by happenstance grew up just down the road from where I did.
I wanted to review this book not on the arguments presented, but on the writing and book itself, but realised that would be a impossible and not entirely useful. I won't spend time dissecting the answers given to these questions, save to say that, as is par for the course with these kind of books, they are just one long non sequitur. Paraphrased answers to the questions posed above are: ‘God, in his justice, is perfectly fair in punishing our sin, but, in his love, he is patient with us, and thus every day the world continues is a sign of his patience’, ‘just like ourselves God does not tolerate the evil that is inherent in us and demands justice – it would be evil of God not to judge and punish us for our sins’ and ‘when it comes to sex, it is because it is good and precious that God places restrictions on it’ (and what I found most laughable as a ‘Christianity isn’t a homophobic religion, honest’ defence: ‘there is a difference between the orientation and the act’).
The book is written in an affable, blokey style and is peppered with little snippets of the author’s life, which I suppose is meant to appeal to the Christian Union students it is aimed at and demonstrate that ‘Christians are people too’. It’s not the worst kind of book in defense of Christianity, but don’t read it expecting a serious theological discussion – it’s well short of any solid argument or philosophical discussion, and as I’ve already said, is just a series of illlogical appeals to emotion built around a scaffold of biblical quotes.
It’s a quick enough read, and it’s always good know what the religious feel is something resembling the antidote to amassing and incisive anti-religious literature.
I wanted to review this book not on the arguments presented, but on the writing and book itself, but realised that would be a impossible and not entirely useful. I won't spend time dissecting the answers given to these questions, save to say that, as is par for the course with these kind of books, they are just one long non sequitur. Paraphrased answers to the questions posed above are: ‘God, in his justice, is perfectly fair in punishing our sin, but, in his love, he is patient with us, and thus every day the world continues is a sign of his patience’, ‘just like ourselves God does not tolerate the evil that is inherent in us and demands justice – it would be evil of God not to judge and punish us for our sins’ and ‘when it comes to sex, it is because it is good and precious that God places restrictions on it’ (and what I found most laughable as a ‘Christianity isn’t a homophobic religion, honest’ defence: ‘there is a difference between the orientation and the act’).
The book is written in an affable, blokey style and is peppered with little snippets of the author’s life, which I suppose is meant to appeal to the Christian Union students it is aimed at and demonstrate that ‘Christians are people too’. It’s not the worst kind of book in defense of Christianity, but don’t read it expecting a serious theological discussion – it’s well short of any solid argument or philosophical discussion, and as I’ve already said, is just a series of illlogical appeals to emotion built around a scaffold of biblical quotes.
It’s a quick enough read, and it’s always good know what the religious feel is something resembling the antidote to amassing and incisive anti-religious literature.
September 2, 2016
A good overview of the typical problems people have with believing in Jesus and God, typical questions and stumbling stones that usually turn people away from God but that are actually lies. Very straight to the point, logical, full of truth and grace - a good read.
June 12, 2024
(Definitely 3.5 stars rather than 3!) Thjs is a really helpful introduction to the Christian response to some popular objections to Christianity. It’s very easy to read and I would recommend to anyone interested in learning more about apologetics! However it was written in 2007 so it’s important to keep in mind that the examples are slightly outdated- but this provides a fun exercise in how we can apply what Ots says to the world in 2024!
November 30, 2021
Dobre jednoduche citanie. Autor rozobera a odpoveda na vseobecne otazky sveta na krestanstvo a obhajuje vieru v Krista. Nejde az tak do hlbky, knihu by som odporucil niekomu kto premysla o zivote, o Bohu, hlada odpovede na tazke otazky zivota. Kniha podla mna idealna aj ako darcek. Vdaka EVS ze preklada aj taketo knihy.
July 26, 2015
I do lots of evangelism training and so am constantly on the lookout for books I can recommend either on how to do evangelism or books to be lent to non-Christians. This book is of the second kind, although any thinking Christian will learn a great deal from the answers that Michael gives. I found myself not only being encouraged personally but also planning to use some of his points and illustrations in my own conversations on these issues. The chapter headings will intrigue anyone and the content of each chapter more than meets expectations. The writing is clear, simple (not at all simplistic), humorous and challenging. This book joins my top three books to lend to non-Christians.
Chapter headings are intriguing:
2) Outdated, out of touch and old-fashioned? What kind of God is still relevent?
3) Rape, child abuse and AIDS What kind of God doesn't prevent suffering?
7) petty, intolerant and exclusive? What kind of God allows only one way?
9) Condemning, unjust and Arbitrary? What kind of God sends sincere people to hell?
10) Vicious, sadomasochistic and repellent? What kind of God would send his Son to die?
11) Awesome, loving and amazingly gracious What kind of person would reject a God so good?
Chapter headings are intriguing:
2) Outdated, out of touch and old-fashioned? What kind of God is still relevent?
3) Rape, child abuse and AIDS What kind of God doesn't prevent suffering?
7) petty, intolerant and exclusive? What kind of God allows only one way?
9) Condemning, unjust and Arbitrary? What kind of God sends sincere people to hell?
10) Vicious, sadomasochistic and repellent? What kind of God would send his Son to die?
11) Awesome, loving and amazingly gracious What kind of person would reject a God so good?
August 2, 2020
In What Kind Of God, Michael Ots looks at 10 different reasons that people sometimes give as to why they don't believe in God. He looks at topics such as why does God not make himself clearer, why does he allow suffering, why does he send people to hell to mention just a few. If you have looked at any books on Christian Apologetics then you will likely have heard similar arguments before.If you have not looked at the subject before then this is as good a place to start as any. It is very easy to read and the chapters are all quite short ( about 10 pages mostly). I would see this book as a first steps kind of book, designed to give you something to think about and he has a short section at the back of the book of recommended books for further help on each topic. These other books no doubt go into more detail if he has given you something to think about. It's worth reading and maybe passing on to someone you know who is a bit sceptical regarding God and faith.
June 18, 2025
Don’t know how to rate this book as I have many mixed feelings, so I choose to not rate it. I can’t rate it low because of how I don’t agree with some things he wrote, since the book was technically and literarily written well. I also can’t give it a high rating because I do not subscribe to his viewpoint of the world. I am on a journey to figure that viewpoint out, and books like this help me dive into it and think about it more. Ots did get me thinking and did give me one viewpoint on some of the questions I have for staunch Christians. This is the reason I picked it up in the first place and why I didn’t put it down even when I was mentally questioning some things. I would love to talk to Ots further!
January 2, 2022
Michael Ots is a gifted evangelist with years of experience of engaging with European university students and answering their questions about the Christian faith. He gave me a personal copy of this book at European Leadership Forum a few years ago and I have only just got around to reading it. It is a quick, simple and accessible read with lots of great original illustrations dealing with ten common objections to Christianity - the usual chestnuts of 'why does God allow suffering?', 'how can Christ be the only way?' and 'what kind of God sends sincere people to hell?' but also chapters on sexuality, hypocrisy, Christian violence and the environment. A useful addition to the apologist's armoury.
January 19, 2013
Useful compilation of different objections people claim to have to Christianity and some responses to them; nothing too deep but good as an inspiration to think through for oneself some implications of belief.
July 31, 2016
Sugestivo.
El presente libro es una buena lectura para aquellos que tienen dudas serias sobre la fe en Dios y el cristianismo. El autor aborda el tema con claridad y contundencia. Excelente lectura para iniciar una serie de estudios en apologética.
El presente libro es una buena lectura para aquellos que tienen dudas serias sobre la fe en Dios y el cristianismo. El autor aborda el tema con claridad y contundencia. Excelente lectura para iniciar una serie de estudios en apologética.
February 23, 2016
Contraargumenta muy claramente acusaciones y prejuicios comunes en contra del cristianismo. Lo hace utilizando bibliografía tanto atea como doctrinaria.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews