Review by Bomisope -- God Versus The Idea of God

[Bomisope]

[Following is a volunteer review of "God Versus The Idea of God" by Thomas Richard Harry.]

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2 out of 4 stars

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God Versus The Idea of God: Divinity Is What We Think, Faith Is What We Experience, by Thomas Richard Harry, is a religious non-fiction book with nine chapters. It expounds on issues such as the person of Jesus, the purpose of God, the person of God, and the idea of God. At the beginning of the book, the author asserts he had a shaky relationship with God that inspired him to write about the idea of God. He employs both philosophical and scientific facts to present his personal opinions on the subject.

Harry states the idea of God is to cater for the yearning of mankind: Protection, Perfection, and Perpetuity. These are mankind’s fundamental needs. The book also tries resolving some long-debated and controversial questions: “What is the purpose of God?” “Does Jesus equal God?” “Who is Jesus?” “Is there a God somewhere?” He further submits some questions that I (being religious) have sometimes considered indeed. For example, “If we were made in God’s image, how could we be bad?” “How could the fall ever have taken place?” “I know, yes, evil entered the world. From where? How?”

In chapter nine, the author states he does not see any obvious external threats to Christianity on the far horizon. The greater potential threat to the church’s fortunes he foresees is an internal one, although it would not necessarily be totally of its own making. His own opinion on the church's key problem is the “changing shape of secular—and even sectarian—liberalism.” He is of the opinion that the church will have to come up with new reasons to observe the idea of God, or it will in time simply fade away.

I appreciate the fact that he leaves the decision to believe in the idea of God open to freewill and choice for everyone. Furthermore, the seventh chapter titled The Jesus Phenomenon is the author’s strongest and most detailed chapter of the entire book. He explains the historical background of Jesus and how he became the divine leader. He points out that “Jesus the man” is vastly different from “Jesus the God.” His writing is most articulate in this chapter, and his intellections flow exquisitely.

Conversely, as the title suggests, the book is quite disputatious. Harry raises a barrage of notions that upset many traditional and preconceived beliefs. Many will classify these notions as a misinterpretation of the Bible. It is crucial to note that Harry sees himself as a Christian freethinker—one with rational humanist sympathies. Because I am a believer in the reality of both God and the idea of God, I harbor serious doubts about a substantial part of what he is presenting.

The book was professionally edited, but I assign it a rating of 2 out of 4 stars. I would recommend it to those struggling and seeking clarity on foundational Christian beliefs. Nonetheless, it is advisable to always draw conclusions based on personal meditation.

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God Versus The Idea of God
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