| God: a Guide for the Perplexed: A Guide for the Perplexed | 
 enlarge | Author: Keith Ward
Publisher: Oneworld Publications
Category: Book
List Price: £15.99
Buy New: £11.09
You Save: £4.90 (31%)
New (11) Used (10) from £8.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 560655
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 320
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 9.5 x 6.4 x 1
ISBN: 1851682848
Dewey Decimal Number: 291.211
EAN: 9781851682843
ASIN: 1851682848
Publication Date: March 15, 2002
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: New book. WE USE PRIORITY AIRMAIL ONLY for books from the USA. UK & European delivery is 7-10 days. Over 2,000,000 books sold to Amazon customers
|
| Customer Reviews:
 Excellent. January 4, 2004
24 out of 25 found this review helpful
There are lots of great things about this book and it's certainly given me lots to think about.
Wards informal, jokey style was a bit hard at first, but by the end of the book I was enjoying it.
It's not a christian book exactly, but he's coming from a Christian perspective and a lot of the philosophers that he looks at are Christian.
I was interested to learn how much Christainty owes to Plato. He also gives an excellent explanation of the trinity. The first one I've been able to understand.
He offers a vision of God which avoids happy-clappy born-again optimism, but manages to be be hopeful. Well, I felt quite hopeful when I finished the book and I'm usually a miserable, pessimistic, materialist atheist, so that's quite an achievement.
Ward, wit and philosophy August 18, 2002
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
While covering his familiar hunting-ground of theological philosophy, Keith Ward has made a dramatic departure in style from his previous books. Although he is covering very profound material, his style is conversational and witty, and even illustrated with quirky pictures. This certainly makes the book more readable, although one also has to work a bit at discerning the serious meaning behind the wit.
The book is essentially an overview of the evolution of understanding of God, starting with Greek polytheism, and ending with the present day; passing through some philosophers who don't appear to adhere to much concept of God at all. The eclectic author skips in one paragraph between Hegel, Plato, the Indian philosopher Ramanuja and Augustine.
I found the book entertaining and enlightening, although I was disappointed that Ward appears to apply his characteristic humility and objectivity with even more scrupulousness than usual. The result is a work less inspiring than others of his, in which his own convictions are allowed freer expression.
Look out for a veiled reference to the young Ward crossing swords with A.J. Ayer!
Brilliant! It is exactly what is says on the cover. April 27, 2002
15 out of 19 found this review helpful
As a doubter who approached this book to find out 'what it is I don't believe', I found its clear open style a breath of fresh air. Keith Ward avoids sentimentality, mysticism and moralising while discussing mankind's concern with the gods and with God.
 A narrow view! April 24, 2002
16 out of 33 found this review helpful
Of the three books which a have recently been published about God the most informative (if you want the bottom line on what history has taught us that God is like) is God by Alexander Waugh. The Hebrew God by Bernard Lang is a very scholarly in depth study of the Israelite god Yahweh, while this book, Keith Ward's Guide to the Perplexed, treats God (outside the context of sacred scripture or modern scholarship) on a purely philosophical and theological front.Much of Ward's theology is in the form of retreat. Ever stepping backwards into obscruty to avoid the scrutiny of atheist logic or the simple message of scripture. In the end he settles for the view that God cannot be translated into words - but where does this leave the role of scripture? I admire Keith Ward's prose and his dogged sincerity, but philosophers who attempt to uphold their own cherished systems invariably end up chasing chimeras. A proper Guide to the Perplexed (unlike Ward or Maimonides) must at least admit to an open mind, but this book's narrow critical starting point will leave many of its readers under-nourished.
Excellent! March 31, 2002
9 out of 22 found this review helpful
This is an outstanding book from one of Britain's best philosopher/theologian. It's beautifully written and I recommend it very highly.
|
|
|
