A MERE CHRISTIAN

Debut author Smith offers Christians a lively discussion of the core beliefs of their faith.
Smith, a physician, pits the laws of science against Scripture, and demonstrates a profound mastery of both. He writes that the birth of his disabled daughter, Laura, was the impetus and inspiration for this project, as it forced him and his wife to weigh and measure some of their Christian beliefs. The heavy influence of C.S. Lewis, author of the famous 1952 theological work Mere Christianity, strengthens and provides a framework for this thoroughly researched work. Smith’s book seeks to reassure Christians that modern science can’t provide all the answers to big questions in life, such as how the Earth was formed or why humans were created. The author takes the position that man can’t know everything, because he’s limited to time and space, whereas God exists outside of such boundaries. The author focuses narrowly on discussions about such issues as predestination versus free choice and the creation of woman out of man. The dichotomy of good and evil also plays a significant role in the work, as it explores both moral law (a “Good Force”) and the reality of evil (a “Bad Force”). Although the book is intended for an audience which already believes in the truth of Scripture, it still lays out each point of view convincingly, with attention to detail and careful contemplation. The chapters flow easily and build upon one another’s concepts. That said, the prose, though solid, is somewhat awkward at times (“There are four cardinal virtues, so-called because they are pivotal. There are three ideological virtues that I will discuss later”), and the flowcharts comparing Lewis’ and the author’s thoughts aren’t always easy to understand.
An often engaging book that uses straightforward moments of faith to address much-debated Christian discussion points.