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In two minds: The dilemma of doubt & how to resolve it
1 SOFTCOVER BOOK
302 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
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102 people want to read
About the author
Os Guinness
77 books345 followersOs Guinness (D.Phil., Oxford) is the author or editor of more than twenty-five books, including The American Hour, Time for Truth and The Case for Civility. A frequent speaker and prominent social critic, he was the founder of the Trinity Forum and has been a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution and a guest scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Studies. He lives near Washington, D.C.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 21, 2012
If you know a better book on doubt let me know.
September 6, 2024
THE FAMED CULTURAL APOLOGIST LOOKS AT A TROUBLING ISSUE
At the time he published this book in 1976, Os Guinness (b. 1941) was working with Francis Schaeffer at L'Abri in Switzerland. He has also written books such as 'The Dust of Death - a Critique of the Counter Culture,' 'The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life,' 'God in the Dark: The Assurance of Faith Beyond a Shadow of Doubt,' 'The Case for Civility: And Why Our Future Depends on It.'
He wrote in the first chapter, "What is faith? And what is the misunderstanding or mistreatment of faith which causes doubt, and how can it be avoided? And, above all, what does it mean to let faith be faith to such an extent that it will in turn let God be God? These are the questions we will examine and that is our goal---to let God be God.
"What will be our approach in this book? In part one... our objective is to examine the nature of doubt... Part two... is the heart of our discussion. The objective here is to examine the seven most common categories of doubt and to develop a framework in which we can understand and analyze our specific doubts. In part three... [we] examine what is involved in caring for and counseling a person in doubt... In part four... we will look at two specific types of doubt which are especially difficult and important today." (Pg. 20)
He observes, "At first the remedy for this doubt may seem all too simple. The doubt may be a result of forgetting, but is the remedy only a matter of remembering? In terms of WHAT happens, yes, it is just that simple. Remember honestly, remember fully and the present moment will be so vividly contrasted with the 'once and might have been' that a hard heart will be melted and sealed lips broken open by praise." (Pg. 79)
He points out, "There are elements of unhealthy repression in many areas of contemporary faith... This mistake has been brought sharply into focus today by the exaggerated teaching on thanksgiving. In its extremes it strains for a praise which is unnatural. The new emphasis on praise and thanksgiving is so welcome that it seems churlish to question it...
"This is a dangerous travesty of biblical teaching. Jesus did not give God thanks for everything. Face to face with evil he was outraged; face to face with suffering and sin he wept. And if it were not for that anger and those tears and the resolute road to the cross which they marked, we would not realize how outraged by evil God is and how seriously he takes sin." (Pg. 279-280)
He concludes with the Postscript, "We cannot guarantee that our faith will not fail, even when faith is single-minded. And when we are in two minds, we cannot enjoy God and we do not feel we can count on him. But God is more certain, more faithful and more gracious than our doubting views of him. So the better we know ourselves the more inappropriate we know it is to trust in our own promises of vows." (Pg. 302)
Though written nearly fifty years ago, the issue Guinness addresses is one of ongoing concern to Christians, and this book will be of continuing interest to Christians dealing with doubt.
At the time he published this book in 1976, Os Guinness (b. 1941) was working with Francis Schaeffer at L'Abri in Switzerland. He has also written books such as 'The Dust of Death - a Critique of the Counter Culture,' 'The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life,' 'God in the Dark: The Assurance of Faith Beyond a Shadow of Doubt,' 'The Case for Civility: And Why Our Future Depends on It.'
He wrote in the first chapter, "What is faith? And what is the misunderstanding or mistreatment of faith which causes doubt, and how can it be avoided? And, above all, what does it mean to let faith be faith to such an extent that it will in turn let God be God? These are the questions we will examine and that is our goal---to let God be God.
"What will be our approach in this book? In part one... our objective is to examine the nature of doubt... Part two... is the heart of our discussion. The objective here is to examine the seven most common categories of doubt and to develop a framework in which we can understand and analyze our specific doubts. In part three... [we] examine what is involved in caring for and counseling a person in doubt... In part four... we will look at two specific types of doubt which are especially difficult and important today." (Pg. 20)
He observes, "At first the remedy for this doubt may seem all too simple. The doubt may be a result of forgetting, but is the remedy only a matter of remembering? In terms of WHAT happens, yes, it is just that simple. Remember honestly, remember fully and the present moment will be so vividly contrasted with the 'once and might have been' that a hard heart will be melted and sealed lips broken open by praise." (Pg. 79)
He points out, "There are elements of unhealthy repression in many areas of contemporary faith... This mistake has been brought sharply into focus today by the exaggerated teaching on thanksgiving. In its extremes it strains for a praise which is unnatural. The new emphasis on praise and thanksgiving is so welcome that it seems churlish to question it...
"This is a dangerous travesty of biblical teaching. Jesus did not give God thanks for everything. Face to face with evil he was outraged; face to face with suffering and sin he wept. And if it were not for that anger and those tears and the resolute road to the cross which they marked, we would not realize how outraged by evil God is and how seriously he takes sin." (Pg. 279-280)
He concludes with the Postscript, "We cannot guarantee that our faith will not fail, even when faith is single-minded. And when we are in two minds, we cannot enjoy God and we do not feel we can count on him. But God is more certain, more faithful and more gracious than our doubting views of him. So the better we know ourselves the more inappropriate we know it is to trust in our own promises of vows." (Pg. 302)
Though written nearly fifty years ago, the issue Guinness addresses is one of ongoing concern to Christians, and this book will be of continuing interest to Christians dealing with doubt.
October 7, 2019
I first bought this book years ago when it first came out 1976 after reading Os's book," The Dust of Death" (another book I would highly recommend), and due to a counseling situation I was in; and still in the midst of doing that counseling, I picked up this book and began reading it again. If you believe as I used to that doubt is all bad, then you need to read this book. It is one of the best that delves into the topic of doubt. The author shows definitively that there are categories of doubt not just doubt per se. I believe that it is important when doing apologetics, counseling, etc. to understand these categories it will go a long way in helping to not only communicate but reach people in making their lives better. This is one author that I continue to follow because his writings are so astute and cogent and I learn so much from him every time I pick up one of his books.
March 8, 2022
This was fascinating, if at times a bit wordy, work on doubt. Personally I found myself fading through several sections, though it also has passages which are very enlightening. Especially "The Value Of Understanding Doubt," which lays out our need and tug-of-war with doubt and how it is a constant companion in our lives. Guinness clearly shows how doubt is not unbelief and how doubt is really like a sword that cuts both ways. but can work to strengthen our faith. Mostly though this is a brave book tackling a subject we all struggle with daily (hourly) but we try to hide like a dark and unmentionable shameful thing. I like the way Guinness breaks things down into families of doubt: from ingratitude, doubt from a faulty view of God, doubt from weak foundations, doubt from lack of commitment, doubt from lack of growth, doubt from unruly emotions and doubt from fearing to believe.
May 29, 2023
It's been a near 3 years since I read it, but from what I remember it's understanding and thoughtful, it was just what I needed
July 26, 2010
The Sunday after Easter I was speaking on Thomas and finally read the British edition of this book. It very helpful and challenging at the same time. Doubt is an untenable position because it is to be in two minds, not choosing one position or another. But humans cannot live this way claims Guinness eventually you have to make a choice.
June 16, 2015
Deep but good, comprehensive explanations of doubt [what it is, what it isn't, how to cope with it, etc.].
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews