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.
In its favour, I can say that large tracts of Scripture are quoted, in the author’s fresh translation, and I could not take exception to his underlying approach to Scripture. For the earnest seeker, then, we trust that God’s word will speak. But overall I felt it would have little appeal to a reader, be they seeking or believing. The style is readable, but hardly engaging; only on page 13 (in a 62-page book) does the author shift from talking about himself to inviting the reader to identify with his concerns. And they are a curious mix of concerns: is there a creator, and is adultery wrong? The first is addressed vaguely (yes, we think so), and the second very briefly (yes, so stop it!). If there is someone who has these concerns and who is at home with the author’s approach, then maybe this little book will help them. But at nearly a fiver a copy, I think I would wait to see if the need arises.
Ed Moll,
minister of St. George’s Church, Wembdon, Bridgewater, Somerset
