I MET GOD IN BERMUDA: FAITH IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Steven Ogden
O Books, UK
Dr Steven Ogden, Principal of St Francis’ Theological College Brisbane, attempts to provide a 21st century understanding of faith and the “God-problem”: the question of suffering. He considers his theology “mainstream” but in many circles it would be called “liberal”. I’m left with the question that if the Bible is a collection of myths and legends, God is absent from the world and Jesus is merely a human representative of God’s grace in spite of His absence, then why bother? He talks about the life of faith, but faith in what? Although this book is an attempt to enlighten on issues of faith, in many instances it does the opposite. WN
I MET GOD IN BERMUDA
Steven Ogden
O Books
Where is God in suffering? Where is God when bad things happen to good people? In his book I Met God in Bermuda Steven Ogden attempts to explain these complex, difficult issues. He analyses the 21st century mind-set and redescribes God for a post-modern atheistic world where people have voted and Christianity has been voted out - at least in the Western world.
The reality that exists in suffering highlights what is described as the absence of God. It seems that in our day the presence of God is most likely to be experienced in the shared experience of the gathered community. When this happens we not only survive as Christians but we can thrive with dignity and courage.
I Met God in Bermuda is a serious and scholarly, apologetic and theological work. Ogden deftly explores signs and symbols and the work of the German theologians Paul Tillich and Karl Rahner and their insights into the presence and absence of God.
DS
I MET GOD IN BERMUDA: FAITH IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY
Steven Ogden
O Books
The author observes that Christianity is considered out-of-date in our postmodern world and that religion is not a popular discussion topic. He encourages readers to explore the Christian faith and to resolve the way they feel about God. He deals with the concepts of the absence and presence of God. He deflects platitudinous stereotype images of God, seeing faith as ‘a dynamic attitude to life’. Such a positive approach enables believers to answer challenges such as ‘Why do bad things happen to me?’, ‘Where is God when I need him?’ and ‘Why does a God who allows suffering become the litmus test for believing?’ Insightful, thought provoking and easy to read. NS