[Note: This is one post in a series on Greg Boyd’s book Letters from a Skeptic: A Son Wrestles with his Father’s Questions About Christianity. The aim of these posts is to help you start conversations with people in your community. Invite someone to read this book with you and discuss it together. You don’t need to agree with each other or the author to benefit from doing this type of activity.]
Greg Boyd is a pastor, theologian, and scholar who has written numerous thought-provoking books over the years. If you’d like to learn more about him, you should check out his website.
Letters from a Skeptic is a series of correspondences between Greg and his dad, Edward Boyd. For the next couple of months, we’ll work through the book. Each week you will receive a summary of the reading, intriguing quotes, and conversation starters.
The idea behind this series is for you to invite someone to read this book with you. Books provide a great way to enter into conversation with other people. It offers a neutral third party to help you have better conversations. You and your friend can direct your thoughts, questions, and frustrations at the author and not one another.
So, let’s get started…
For the first session, we’ll cover the Preface, Invitation, and Correspondence 1.
Summary
This book is closely based on a series of letters between Greg Boyd and his father, Edward Boyd. It chronicles their correspondence over nearly 3 years. Unlike other books about defending the Christian faith, Letters from a Skeptic reads like a conversation between two people who love each other and genuinely care for one another regardless of the outcome of their conversations.
In his invitation to his dad, Greg invites his dad to engage in a conversation about the Christian faith as a means to increase their understanding of one another and strengthen their relationship. Though Greg is perfectly clear about his desire for his dad to follow Jesus, nothing in Greg’s approach suggests their relationship depends on the result of the conversation. It’s a great example of how faith conversations are best held in the context of loving relationships.
The book dives right in as Greg’s dad asks about all the harm Christians have done in the name of Christ. From the crusades to the Inquisition and everything in between, Edward powerfully notes the shortcomings of Christians and suggests this should invalidate the Christian faith because the Church is supposed to be Christ’s representation.
Boyd addresses this question by distinguishing between Christians who follow Jesus and the institution of Christianity. SInce God is love, God grants humans freedom. And, since free creatures can choose either good or evil, the evil done by Christians is due to sin and not God.
If you feel like Greg’s initial answer leaves some things unsaid, just wait. Greg’s dad won’t let him off easy. As we’ll see in the next few letters, their correspondence probes these issues deeply.
Intriguing Quotes
“This correspondence is a testimony to the transforming power of persistent love and honest communication in sharing the gospel.”
“It also just seems right, as a part of our father-son relationship, that we be open with one another about our worldviews.”
“Also, unlike you, I’m not a trained philosopher, so if you write to me like you wrote in your dissertation, forget it! I won’t be able to follow you. So you’ll have to keep it simple. “
“Well, you wanted an objection: You’ve got one. I look forward to your response. Give my love to Shelley and the kids.”
Conversation Starters
What do you like (or not) about how Greg initiates this conversation with his dad?
Greg and his dad write letters because it gives them more space to talk. Why do you think the context of difficult or intricate conversations matter?
What do you think about Edward’s objections? Do they resonate with you? What about Greg’s response?
If you’d like more questions, make sure you pick up a copy of the book. It has several questions for each correspondence.
Next week we’ll cover correspondences 2-4.