An Inquirer's Guide to Christian Believing

Book excerpt: Living by a biblical faith requires of us a yes, a yes to the God continuously present to us within the life opportunities continuously offered us. Questions of 'belief', in contrast, require a yes 'and' no. Genuine faith, declares Brother David Steindl-Rast, holds its beliefs firmly, yes, but ever so lightly. And the I 'don't' mean maybe!? This has to do with the intensity in our questioning. Our ultimate concern, after all, is living a relationship in which we know ourselves not just as those who ask questions but as those who 'are' the question, and seek to know God not just as the one who gives answers but the one who 'is' the answer. This book consists . . . of a series of questions about basic Christian beliefs, the answers to which have been, and continue to be, controversial. Each chapter will try to make clear why the answer to its particular question has to be a yes 'and' no and how the response can also include, nevertheless, an emphatic And I 'don't' mean maybe! For those with some knowledge of Christianity but finding themselves confused about certain beliefs they have been led to identify as Christian, this book can provide a greater clarity in their understanding of this familiar yet strange religion--thus addressing, perhaps, what pollster George Gallup, Jr., identifies as the knowledge gap in the religious experience of Americans: the often vast difference between Americans' stated faith and their lack of the most basic knowledge about that faith. Non-Christians may find here a useful survey of Christian belief presented in nontechnical style and noncoercive rhetoric.