THE LOGIC OF LIFE
Seeking truth to live
By P.G. Nelson. Avenue Books. 62 pages. £4.95
ISBN 978 1 905 575 046
This is a curious little book. The author appears to enjoy logic, order and rules, and writes in order to appeal to seekers after truth. First science and then biblical studies are sped over in a short space; P.G. Nelson then explains that the best kind of church should be given the label ‘scriptural’, and ends with a timorous appeal to consider joining an evangelistic course if their local church is running one.
It seems to me that Nelson has thought, and probably written extensively, about both science and the Bible. Unfortunately this does not seem to have distilled into a clear short book. Nelson’s own position on science was rather vague. I discussed this with a colleague and we could not agree whether the author is a (non-evolutionary) creationist trying to sound open to the Other View, or the other way round! It was also not clear to me how the ethical teaching of Jesus on divorce made it easier to accept the claim that God spoke through Moses (p.31). The argument there was missing several steps, which was frustrating. These are weaknesses rather than fatal flaws.
