God is No Thing
Rupert Shortt
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From the publisher
This coolly written tract argues eruditely and eloquently for the importance of Christian values in modern life
‘God is no thing, but not nothing.’ These words from the renowned thinker Herbert McCabe point to a fallacy at the heart of New Atheist polemics against religion: the deity rejected by Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris and their followers is not God as taught in classical tradition, but merely a blown-up thing. From this basic error flow many more misunderstandings about Christianity and other creeds. As a result, debate on life’s biggest questions has grown vitriolic as well as confused.
Although parts of the Western world now appear almost totally secularised, Christianity remains the most potent worldview on earth alongside Islam. In this compelling book, Rupert Shortt gracefully argues that Christianity is a much more coherent, progressive body of belief – philosophically, scientifically and culturally – than often supposed by its critics. Alert to the menace posed by religious fundamentalism, as well as to secularist blind spots, he shows how a self-critical faith is of huge consequence to wider human flourishing, including through promoting peace and environmental sustainability.
‘This is a case for Faith which will trouble the doubting with reason’s light.’ — A. N. Wilson
‘A powerful indirect commendation of Christian faith … [T]his is an excellent book, spirited, lucid and plainspoken without losing generosity. It deserves a place alongside the best of the recent crop of intelligent responses to the New Atheism.’ — Rowan Williams, The Guardian
‘Rupert Shortt takes no prisoners. This is Christian apologetics with shirt-sleeves rolled up.’ — Diarmaid MacCulloch, Professor of the History of the Church, University of Oxford, and author of A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years
‘[Shortt] is in a line stretching back to C. S. Lewis, Dorothy Sayers, and G. K. Chesterton … his evident learning, combined with an engaging style and light touch, makes this a book that can be confidently placed in the hands of even the most stubborn sceptic with some hope of a fair hearing … This short book packs a punch.’ — Bishop John Saxbee, Church Times
‘Shortt offers a conception of nature which grants us the right to say that it brims over with intimations of the divine.’ — The Times Literary Supplement