Questions for Christians, by John Morreall

Blind acceptance of received religious beliefs and practices leaves one a spiritual infant. Although many people are comfortable living in that state, it’s not spiritually healthy to do so. The risks involved in questioning one’s beliefs and practices are worth taking. To borrow from Anselm, we are well served when faith pursues understanding.

John Morreall, a professor of religious studies at the College of William and Mary, wants Christians to ask questions of their beliefs and practices, following the example of Peter Abelard, who put theological statements to the test in Sic et Non. He envisions his book Questions for Christians as a modern rendition of Abelard’s work. Even though Morreall insists that Jesus did not teach doctrines, but rather offered his followers a way of life, in this book he focuses his attention on the rationality of Christian doctrines and beliefs.

Morreall examines nearly every facet of Christian belief, from the authority and interpretation of scripture to the nature of the church, with chapters examining Christology, the Trinity, the nature of God, the afterlife, and even the existence of angels and demons and whether angels have wings and demons have horns. He checks these varied beliefs against what he believes are the central teachings and practices of Jesus.