Book Review

Questioning Faith: Indirect Journeys of Belief through Terrains of Doubt By Randy Newman

Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2024, 152 pages

We live in a skeptical and confused culture in which many, if not most, people wrestle with and discuss questions of faith. In Questioning Faith: Indirect Journeys of Belief Through Terrains of Doubt, Newman employs narrative, research, and guided apologetic reasoning to help readers navigate from doubt to faith in Jesus. Newman provides Christians and church leaders insight into the uncertainties and spiritual journeys of others while providing skeptics with a resource to guide their journey from doubt to faith in Christ.

Newman sets his stage and audience in the preface; the target audience for this insightful guide through terrains of doubt includes those unchurched, de-churched, skeptical, spiritually interested, and disillusioned by faith and the church. Chapter by chapter, Newman develops an apologetic, employing six questions: motives, trust, confidence, differences, pain, and pleasure. Drawing from ministry experience and his own story, Newman challenges readers to tune out the mist of culture and past experiences, which may cause deafness, and tune in to the stories of others with fresh ears to hear the real faith journeys of fellow travelers.

Newman develops his apologetic and the foundation for the journey from doubt to faith in chapters one and two, beginning with the question of motive. Newman challenges the oversimplification of motives regarding faith, often providing a flimsy foundation for embracing or disregarding spiritual concerns. Next, Newman builds upon motives, addressing the question of trust. Newman suggests, "We are multifaceted creatures. We accept reductionist views of who we are at our own peril" (p. 42). While people approach faith with varying motives, Newman argues everyone must wrestle with questions of faith; faith is not optional.

Chapters three and four strengthen Newman's apologetic answer to doubters and disillusioned. In chapter three, Newman asserts that confidence is more reasonable than certainty, urging readers to look for pointers rather than proofs on their journey to faith. Next, Newman discusses the divisiveness of Western culture, which seeks peace by highlighting one another's similarities. However, Newman advocates clarifying pointers toward faith in Christ by focusing on how following Christ differs from other belief systems.

Chapters five and six conclude Newman's apologetic argument, tackling questions of personal pain and pleasure and drawing from Newman's own story and connection with the work of C.S. Lewis. Newman previously argued that faith is essential. Now, Newman concludes his apologetic, asserting that questions of faith require a belief system that provides perspective for pain and pleasure and resources to endure pain and enjoy pleasure—a belief system only found through faith in Christ.

Newman’s narrative style and argument structure produce an appealing discourse that invites a response. Although the book's title suggests a possible road map addressing indirect journeys of belief, Newman delivers a resource that opens doors for conversations with the skeptics, doubters, and disillusioned in each of our lives. Questioning Faith is a book you invite a seeking friend to read with you.