Is Believing in God Irrational?

by Amy Orr-Ewing

Is God really real? And how can we know if anyone's experience of God is actually valid? Skeptics today are increasingly vocal in their assertion not only that God is unverifiable, but also that believing in God is irrational and even dangerous. Even those who believe wonder if they can speak objectively about the actual reality of God or if they can only appeal to a subjective belief in God. Amy Orr-Ewing addresses key questions and objections that many people today have about God. She explores whether our understanding of God is delusional or merely a psychological crutch. She probes whether the Christian claim to a unique personal relationship with God is plausible in light of other world religions, and how anyone can continue to believe in God in a world of pain and suffering. If you have questions about God, you're not alone. Come consider some possible answers.

Genres: Christian

142 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2008

About the author

Dr Amy Orr-Ewing is the Co-Director of The Oxford Centre of Christian Apologetics, and speaks around the world on how the Christian faith answers the deepest questions of life.

Reviews

[Rhonnie Cough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was about to donate this book because I've had it forever and I assumed it would be ultra basic. But what an awesome little book! For a book that is organized simply, and is only 130 pages, she gets into some good apologetics. I love the material she includes-from people like c.s. Lewis and Blaise Pascal. She's got a bunch of fancy degrees and went to Oxford but she seems so down to earth and her writing is straight forward. I can't get enough of anything Apologetics and Amy Orr-Ewing is an awesome teacher.
1 Peter 3:15
"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."

[Kameron Nettleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed and appreciated Orr-Ewing's writing style, which was approachable and tempered, unlike some other books in this genre that can be a little bit high-brow. The arguments she makes are very interesting to me and are convincing. I will be recommending this book to students and friends alike.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a neat little read on the basic questions of whether it makes any sense at all to believe in God. I confess I was drawn to it in significant part because it was short, and I've been reading a lot less these days than I used to. But that's one of the pluses of this book. Amy Orr-Ewing does a good job presenting complex philosophical arguments in bite-sized, easily understood pieces. She makes some great arguments and exposes the often large logical holes in the popular arguments against belief in God. The short nature of the book is also its biggest weakness. I suspect that a well-educated skeptic might have a hard time buying all the arguments made here because they aren't argued in thorough detail. It would be easy to respond to one of her arguments by saying, "Well, that's a very good answer, but what about this other aspect?" Also, this might not be the best book for someone who has little familiarity with the questions discussed since Orr-Ewing devotes so little space to explaining the reasoning behind the questions.

So I'm not sure who this book is best for: perhaps the open-minded skeptic, and the Christian who has already done some reading on these questions. I wouldn't give it to a fierce, philosophical opponent to Christianity, or to anyone who isn't already at least a little into apologetics.

[Tim Baumgartner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic Christian apologetics [defense of the faith] book!

Amy Orr-Ewing is a great teacher [currently on staff with RZIM] who lives in Oxford, England and who covers a wide variety of pertinent questions for our times. When applicable, she traces the origin of a question and uses stories or convincing arguments from reputable theologians in history to respond.
If you are searching for truth yourself and/or yearn to communicate your faith to others, I highly recommend this book!

Here are the titles for each chapter:
1) What About Other People's Genuine Experience of God? (This is the only chapter I would have personally liked it if she wrote from a different angle.)
2) Your "Experience of God" is Delusional, Not Real...
3) Your Relationship with God is Just a Psychological Crutch!
4) How Can You Say You Have Found the Truth If You Haven't Tried All the Alternatives?
5) If Christianity is About Relationship with God, Why Does He Let Bad Things Happen to His Friends?
6) If Christianity is About Transforming Relationship with God, Why are Christians So Bad?
7) If God is So Loving and Relational, Why Did He Go Ahead and Create When He Knew People Would End Up in Hell?
8) Belief in God is Dangerous
9) I Used to Believe, but I've Given It All Up...
10) How Can I Know?

[Michael Locklear · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author, Amy Orr-Ewing is the European training director for RZIM (Ravi Zacharias International Ministries). She discusses various questions ("What about people's genuine experience of God?", "Have you tried all the alternatives?", "Why does God allow bad things happen to those who trust in Him?", "Why are some Christians so bad?", "Why did a loving God create Hell?") and statements with the reader, using her own experiences and knowledge of God's Word.
The book was good and solid... yet, I guess I was expecting more since she is connected with Ravi Zacharias. That's more likely my fault and not the author's.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, firstly for encouraging me to think more upon how and why I believe in Christ and many aspects of being identified as a Christian. I secondly loved this book for giving me a better perspective, and to an extent understanding, of other world religions. And with both of these things in mind, I would recommend both Christians and non alike to give this book a read as a way of challenging yourself in your way of thinking and believing.

[Meghann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well worth the read.