The Unknown God: Searching for Spiritual Fulfilment

By Alister E. McGrath

"So what is it that really satisfies us?" On the first page of The Unknown God, author Alister McGrath walks us into this central question of our lives and proceeds to answer it by taking the reader... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802838642
• ISBN13: 9780802838643
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Eerdmans Pub Co
• Length: 123 Pages
• Weight: 0.96 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.5" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

A wonderful little book...

Having never read McGrath before, I had no idea what to expect when I cracked open this attractive book. What I found inside was absolutely delightful!! What the author attempts to accomplish in this book is not unlike other recently published books like Andy Stanley's "How Good is Good Enough?" McGrath is simply trying to lay out a basic and understandable explanation of Christianity. The first half of the book deals with the human desire for God, borrowing some ideas from C.S. Lewis to characterize this desire as an argument for the existence of God. The second half of the book deals with several important theological points of Christianity, including the need for Jesus and an explanation of His atoning death and resurrection. I wouldn't suggest that McGrath offers a great deal of profoundly new insight in this book. However, it is extremely well-written, both readable and challenging. He is a British theologian, and his writing demonstrates those parts of his identity in subtle ways that distinguish it from a similarly themed book if written by an American pastor. It is somewhat wordy and academic, but again, manages to maintain an engaging readability. One of the best assets of the book is his citation of numerous stalwarts of Christian thought, including Augustine, Solzhenitsyn, Thomas Aquinas, C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, and many others. He also refers to Scripture throughout the book to buttress his points. Another unexpected bonus was the beautiful artwork, both photographs and paintings, included throughout the book. Though I'm not an art lover, they certainly added value to the text. This book can probably be read in one sitting and certainly within a few days. Though not offering particularly new ideas, it is written poignantly and intelligently as a great resource to introduce people to the Christian faith or to solidify the faith of someone who already follows Christ. I would recommend it to anyone.

THE UNKNOWN GOD

Alister McGrath slowly weaves into the fabric of human intellect the silver cord which draws one to the ever flowing springs of living water. In "The Unknown God" the search for fullfillment, wholeness,and totality of the human heart is found in the belief of "The Known God". The spiritual hunger and emptinees that occupies the human heart cannot be fullfilled by the physical. They are diametrically opposites. The depth and breath of God's love for all mankind is shown at Calvary. The pilgrims find spiritual restoration and completeness. A masterfully written book on the plan of salvation.

Towards Spiritual Fulfillment

McGrath certainly is a prolific and articulate Christian writer. Here, he takes a rather different path than his other writings, a short, consise presentation of the search and fulfillment of spiritual wanderings.He begins with that emptiness, that meaninglessness that thrives in the soul of each human. In essence, he begins with the natural knowledge of God, cf. Romans 1 and 2 (natural knowledge of God in creation and conscience) and then moves to supernatural knowledge of God through the Word Incarnate, Jesus Christ.This book is beautifully done, with clean layout and sidebars of quotes, photos and artistic prints gracing the pages.What McGrath chose to omit needs to be included. How does this knowledge of Christ and all His benefits to be received by the individual?While the Calvinist and others struggle with this answer, the Bible declares this saving knowledge of the crucified comes through the gospel in the Word and Holy Sacraments. I resonate more to Senkbeil's excellent approach to this in the first forty pages of "Dying to Live: The Power of Forgiveness," and in Gene Veith's "The Spirituality of the Cross." Both provide the one searching for spirituality to be confronted with the true knowedgle of God proclaimed to them in the church's holy means of grace.McGrath's fine book, although lacking a clear step from the natural knowledge to supernatural without speaking of God's means, is still a fine work which will benefit its readers.

REFRESHING!

This is a wonderful book. If you're struggling with the idea of God or looking for a portrayal of Christianity that's intellectually and aesthetically sensitive, check this out! One of the few explanations of Christianity I'd actually share with non-Christians.

A high quality apologetic of the Christian faith

Alister McGrath has written an excellent apologetic of the Christian faith. He starts with our human predicament, illustrated by Plato's "cave" and Rene Magritte's "The Human Condition". He then uses our culture's spiritual longings to bring us to a place where only God (in Christ) can satisfy. The excerpts from great theologians and writers through the ages are very relevant to his argument.I am buying several copies of this book to give to friends and family and would recommend it for any seeker of true religion.