Why Christian? For Those on the Edge of Faith

by Douglas John Hall

In these dialogues with doubt, Hall enters into an earnest search with a young inquirera composite ofundergraduates, graduates, clergy, working people, his own childrenwho is on the edges of Christianfaith. Half familiar with superficial aspects of Christianity, hopeful of there being greater depth than has beenfound so far, she or he is curious, insistent, looking for something to believe in but not ready to leap without good reason. Such a person is asking, "Why be Christian?"In a passionate and personal way, Hall probes fundamental religious questions and wrestles with thecogency of basic Christian convictions about Jesus and God, about religious belief and the human predicament, about inauthentic forms of Christianity, about what is missing in human life today. QuotingUnamuno's dictum that "Faith that does not doubt is dead faith," Hall's accessible and straightforward book helps readers to reclaim a Christianity of personal, intellectual, and moral integrity. This book maywell prove a modern religious classic.

Genres: Theology, Religion, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Church, Academic, Christian

192 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1998

About the author

Douglas John Hall was an Canadian emeritus professor of theology at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, and a minister of the United Church of Canada. Prior to joining the McGill Faculty of Religious Studies in 1975 he was MacDougald Professor of Systematic Theology at St Andrew's College in the University of Saskatchewan (1965–1975), Principal of St Paul's College in the University of Waterloo (1962–1965), and minister of St Andrew's Church in Blind River, Ontario (1960–1962).

Reviews

[Larry Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoughts on “Why Christian” by Douglas John Hall

Written as a conversation between an older, even elderly, but very sharp, follower of Jesus and an inquiring, honest seeker in his early 20s, “Why Christian” is a great book in helping believers understand where 21st century people are typically coming from in Western, occidental society. Not that I agree with every part of it, and not that I don’t wish Professor Hall had put greater emphasis on the resurrection of Christ, but his answers to the inquirer’s questions speak to the modern mind and give insight into the three generations of entirely unchurched people now living in North America -- people who have never been inside a church except perhaps for a wedding.

While I’m not on that side of the fence, I think it would also speak to young urban seekers confronted with a multiplicity of religious choices, postmodern relativism, and a longing for authenticity.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Q & A style of the book comes off a bit hokey in my opinion, but regardless...

I liked this book for it's rather straightforward and moderate explanation of the ways one can get by some of the misunderstandings and myths about (orthodox/traditional) Christian belief. There are no outlandish theories or hokey tricks or appeals to emotion, reason alone suffices.

I might have had perhaps a few doctrinal issues with Hall, but those were pretty inconsequential to the purpose and strength of the book. This is a good intro to anyone on the hump of considering mainstream Christianity. It addresses a lot of issues I know I found troublesome myself.

[Brad Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in a question and answer session Hall covers basic apologetics of why a person should become a Christian. He steers a path between conservative literalism and liberal radicalism to hit a sweet spot for me. Holding scripture high without making it an idol, Hall covers topics such as why Jesus? why church? He persuasively leaves you with a strong foundation to move into a deeper personal walk. I found the question and answering a little contrived at times and enjoyed the answers so much more, leaving me feeling like he could have left out or shortened the questioning section. It’s a worthy book for someone already in the faith who has hit a hard patch in his walk.

[Dorinda Violante · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not like the format of the book. But there were a few nuggets worth holding onto.

[Will Waller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is fabulous. It’s the type of book that is not fit for a seminary (where it was assigned and thusly read) but for a coffee house to be picked up at random by a seeking soul. This is a “chewy book,” not a “pill-swallowing” one that we are often consuming in the academic world. Pill swallowers go down quickly, do the job, and head out on the old Toilet Bowl Superhighway. Chewy books take time to enter the system and sustain you longer. It’s a chewy one because of magnficient little gems like the following:

“I doubt it would be untrue to say that most of the marriage failures in our society are directly or indirectly reated to our great social dishonesty about the darker, ambiguous side of love- which is dark and ambiguous, not because love is dark and ambiguous, but because we are. (113)” That just makes my heart all warm and fuzzy like!

Seriously though this book excels because I think Hall really does walk the middle way (82). That invisible? line between conservative and liberal that disgusts me and does so much to divide us and use Satan’s power of disconnection against us. Where’s the reconciliation and love for the stranger, the widow, the orphan in our worlds of fanciful words in our cold walls of The Church? Hall I think finds it in a single punctuation mark: the question mark. In our questions we’re given space for God to work, rather than closing Him off to our own understanding of faith. The middle way is Job’s way: sitting back after getting put on your ass by God’s magnificence that all you can say is “I know that thou canst do everything, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. (ain’t the KJV funky fresh?)” Sometimes we need to shut up and listen to God rather than saying how it is or what’s worse declaring another’s faith null and void because it isn’t ours.

Great book for those wanting to shut up.

[Rebecca Fuller · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm the kind of person that appreciates a straight answer to a straight question. Unfortunately, "Why Christian?" did very little of that. Each chapter has the same problematic structure; intro, long elaboration, cut off. For such lengthy set ups I expect much more satisfying payoffs. I was often struck by the feeling that Hall needs drop the wishy washy beating around the bush and make a definitive statement.

He seemed to be so concerned with making Christianity as easy to swallow as possible that he only made Christianity appear incidental.For example, in the chapter dealing with Why Jesus? the whole chapter could be summed up as 'because he acts as an illustration of the generalities of God in a specific example.' The issue is that at the end of chapter the reader is still left with the question 'Why JESUS?' If Jesus is merely a specific through which we access the general God then Jesus is incidental. You could substitute Buddha, Mohammed, even the Flying Spaghetti Monster for Jesus! And if that is the case then Christianity as a particular religion is incidental. If all roads lead to Rome so to speak then it doesn't matter which you pick. And we are right back at that unanswered question 'Why Christian?'. And if that isn't annoying then I don't know what is.

I would not recommend this book to anyone. It's just too uncertain, bland and takes too long to go in circles.

[Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique book that works fairly well with its imagined dialogue between this seasoned theologian and a young college age inquirer. It is certainly nothing like a typical christian apologetic work, mainly because the theologian is anything but typical and is trying to speak theology in relation to what he supposes are actually common terms and concerns of today. It is challenging especially if the reader is from a more fundamentalist /evangelical tradition. Some may think it is actually devoid of real theology, because it is poles away from the "proof texting" method. In reality, it seems to me to be very theological, being almost painstakingly put into more understandable terms for our post-christian society. If anything, because it becomes quite focused it is challenging and demands concentrated reading. But it was also enjoyable and interesting because of this depth, and I could hardly put it down. The main drawback is that it seems aimed at educated and intellectual folk, so it's application in real life may be limited in that way.

[Tylor Lovins · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book, written in a style similar to email exchanges, uses simple language to talk about some very basic points in theology. This guy is a Tillich pupil and the influence is evident. I appreciated the simplicity and depth of this work, as short as it was. I'd recommend it to those who are just beginning to think about theology.

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb book, just as it says--for those on the edge of faith. Useful for personal reflection and teaching for adult inquirers. Douglas John Hall is one of my favorite contemporary theologians. Lutheran

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

very influential on my life. helped clear up a lot of questions. I highly recommend to anyone who has grappled with christianity.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hall does a great job of formulating and addressing many of the questions of the modern, thinking skeptic.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

A reread of this may be in order.

[John P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Professor Hall is fantastic! I've had the privilege of hearing him speak. On the strength of this read I've ordered his massive trilogy.

[Jackie Fancher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for a class. Mandatory...what can I say.