God, Godel, and Grace: A Philosophy of Faith

by Clifford Goldstein

Book Overview

Is life absurd, without purpose and meaning, or is there a formula beneath the ferment? Is religion merely canonized illusion, morality a mirage, and the only remaining sin, as Nietzsche says, the sin... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0828017298
• ISBN13: 9780828017299
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Review & Herald Publishing
• Length: 111 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 7.1" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Best in Class!

This is one of the most profound books I have ever read. If you have issues with knowing IF God exists, this is the book for you. Many today believe God is a crutch for the weak-minded; surely those who are intelligent and educated need not lean on something so unknown, so unproven, as a belief in God. Goldstein answers basic scientific questions about the universe and how it works, and step-by-step leads the reader down a path of understanding of things such as quantum physics (which will stretch your mind unless you have already mastered that field!) and other scientific and logical arguments. By the time you finish this book, you will see that the only LOGICAL thing to do is to believe in a supreme God who created you, loved you, and died for you. Goldstein is a brilliant man and gifted author. You will enjoy this book even if you just want to read a logical, thoughtful, excellently written piece of literature. Shelley Bacon

Above and Beyond

Original: 10 Oct 05 As one with a doctorate in Comparative Literature and with a deep interest in the problem of faith in the modern world, I am absolutely blown away by the depth of Goldstein's knowledge and the height of his intellect. He has read everything, it seems, which ever tried to touch on the subject of faith and science--from Plato to Nietsche to C.S. Lewis to Paul Davies and beyond--and his grasp of the fundamental issues approaches the terrifying. His analyses of the ultimate logical conclusions of atheism and of the meaning and purpose of the Cross of Christ are more illuminating and challenging than anything else I have ever read. I would rate this book as an absolute must read for anyone who has ever questioned the place of God in the universe and the meaning of human suffering. This is not a large book--about a hundred pages with larger than normal typeface and more space than usual between the lines--but its weight cannot be counted in avoirdupois, or even troy. It is not an easy read--most readers would do well to have both a dictionary and a collegiate encyclopaedia at hand--but well worth the effort. Update: 24 Feb 2006 I find rather curious T. Hanson's misunderstanding (or ignorance) of Godel's theorom. It did deal a death blow to a certain set of formalistic concepts, but it also bears directly on all of science and logic. It is, in essence, simply an exploration in mathematical terms of an ancient paradox of self-reference--which may be summarized in the disconcerting sentence: "This statement is a lie." If the statement is true, then it is false. If it is false, then it is true. One implication of Godel's theorem is that there will always exist certain true statements which cannot be proven to be true. Alan Turing provided a variant to the theorem which, even though stated specifically in terms of the computing machine, nevertheless extends the problem of the undecipherable proposition to every aspect of the real world. Gregory Chaitin of IBM constructed a "Diophantine equation" which infuses all of mathematics, and the universe, with a degree of randomness which even further extends the implications of Godel's theorem. Which brngs us back to Plato--and hence to Goldstein's insightful application of Godel's theorem to all of science and theology. As Goldstein correctly analyzes the theological implications of the theorem: Some truth stands beyond proof; the truth of God cannot be proven to be true. Hence the claims of atheism fail in that they attempt decipher the undecipherable and to apply logic to that which operates on a level which logic cannot touch.

The Big Questions

Science does not answer the big questions life hits us with. Science cannot. Neither can logic. (However they are very useful tools and needful pursuits) Goldstein demonstrates why this so. And then provides some very satisfying alternatives and thought provoking reason. I recommend this book for any philosophy student or person plagued by any unanswered questions. This book is a wonderful balance to new "science" philosophies that exalt their _faith_ simply because they call themselves "Scientists". They fail to realize that their _beliefs_ are no more _scientifically_ valid than any other faith, because science cannot touch on these issues.

A metaphysical masterpiece

From quantum physics, to string theory, to cosmology, and relativism; from the Russian literature of Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina" and Dostoevesky's "Brother's Karamazov", to the existentialist absurdism of Beckett (Waiting for Godot), Camus and Sartres; from the philosophy of Aristotle, Neitzsche, Pascal, and Kant; Clifford Goldstein's God, Godel, and Grace is a tour de force of unparalleled brilliance. In this work he explains, explores, and then cogently resolves (all in the most elegant prose) questions and answers to the foundational issues of relevance and life. This is not a light read,then again neither is it a dull stifling book. I highly recommend it to any thinking man or woman who has ever wondered how do you make sense of it all. It is a classic just waiting to be discovered.

Goldstein shows how truth can be found anywhere.

A former Pastor of mine once told me an intelligent person is not so much the one who gives the right answers, but one who asks the right questions. Clifford Goldstein is a very intelligent man. He is truly gifted. A Molecular Biologist told me Goldstein is far beyond her level of intelligence. Well, when it came to me, I disagreed with her assesment. It was not that I thought I knew everything he wrote in the book, I didn't know half of it. It is just that I found that Clifford asked the same questions I had been asking since my childhood. And, most of them were answered. For example, I always questioned whether I perceive reality as it truly is or is the way I percieve it uniquely mine? You would say, who would ask a question like that? Who cares, anyway? Well, Clifford, I, and millions of other philosophically minded individuals in the world. In this book you discover that philosphers, scientists, and many other thinkers, were not asking the wrong questions, they just found the wrong answers. They've yet to understand that religion and denominations do not have all the right answers, but God Himself does. In the person of Jesus we have all the answers and solutions to any question or problem we have. Yes, God has blessed Clifford Glodstein. Glodstein has shared his blessing in this book. It has been a blessing to me.