a refreshing account of renewed interest in God, the Bible, and the Christian faith

It’s always refreshing to dive into a positive and encouraging book about the Christian faith. In recent years, much has been written about the decline of Christianity, and the Church has faced multiple scandals and disappointments. At times, it seems a distorted version of the faith has been hijacked by unsavory political leaders and influencers. Amidst such challenges, it’s uplifting to find a book that offers a hopeful perspective.

The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God by Justin Brierley is a refreshing account of renewed interest in God, the Bible, and the Christian faith. The book primarily focuses on the positive shift among writers, academics, and public intellectuals. While some content might be a stretch for the average person in the pew, it’s encouraging to note that what happens in academia eventually filters down to the rest of us. Not all these thinkers are Christians, but many are sympathetic to the faith, and some seem to be on a journey to, or back to, faith.

Justin Brierley, well-known for founding the “Premier Unbelievable?” podcast, is uniquely positioned to write this book. Through his podcast, he has had a front-row seat to the debates and conversations among many of these thinkers. I’ve previously praised the podcast and the way God is using Brierley to engage with these challenging topics.

In The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God, Brierley traces the views of various individuals and his conversations with them, demonstrating the ongoing relevance and appeal of belief in God. His influence extends beyond the church, as shown by his article in The Spectator earlier this year. Brierley states that engaging with these thinkers has affirmed his belief in the intellectual integrity and strength of the Christian faith.

This book isn’t just for Christians. It’s also a great read for those who aren’t believers but think seriously about ultimate questions. Brierley invites readers to consider profound questions of existence and to engage thoughtfully with questions about meaning and purpose. As writer Philip Yancey commented, “It represents apologetics at its best, a fearless engagement with the most daunting issues of our time.”

The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God should encourage Christians who often feel on the defensive. The book highlights a turning tide among some of the significant thinkers of our time, showing renewed interest and engagement with the Christian faith. If you’re not much of a reader, consider listening to some episodes from the accompanying podcast. We’re also seeing signs of awakening in other sectors of society, but we should all be encouraged by the intellectual engagement happening among thinkers, philosophers, and intellectuals. Because what happens among them usually filters down to help shape the wider culture. I was greatly encouraged!

[Note: I feel I can’t include reference to Jordan Peterson without expressing some concern. There is much that I value in what he brings to the public conversation about faith, especially about the significance of myth and his insights into the Bible. But I also have deep concerns about some of his views, how he expresses them at times, and the fact that, for example, he recently gave a platform to someone that many would consider a right-wing extremist. He seems too often to contribute to the dangerous polarisation in our world rather than use his platform and his intellectual ability to argue for more considered and nuanced perspectives. Greg Boyd wrote a helpful series of posts about Peterson when he was first becoming an internet sensation back in 2018. It is still a very helpful analysis and showed that Peterson’s worldview, then at least, is sub-Christian.  We don’t want to be part of the merciless cancel culture, but Christian influencers must distance themselves from some of the views, attitudes and approaches of those they are commending for other reasons and views. And we do desperately need high profile Christian leaders who, in our polarised world, can show appreciation for insights from differing perspectives, from right and left. We must not allow the Christian faith to be hijacked by either conservative or progressive agendas, something which sadly seems to be happening, on social media at least].