When Ian Wishart released his latest book "The Divinity Code" just prior to Christmas, he offered copies to bloggers in return for reviews. Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, and keen to read the book, I accepted his kind offer! It made for great reading while I was away, and it was especially fitting to finish the read on the day we visited the 12th-century rock-hewn churches of Lalibela in northern Ethiopia - regarded by many as the eighth wonder of the world. So, here it is!
The Divinity Code 
Author and investigative journalist Ian Wishart has a knack for polarising opinion, and has endured much odium in recent times for his Investigate Magazine articles, and his provocative book “Eve’s Bite”. His most recent offering, “The Divinity Code” will again divide opinion.
In the Prologue, Wishart takes up the gauntlet laid down by Richard Dawkins in “The God Delusion”, and in fact, uses Dawkins’ own logic and methodology to launch a counter-attack against unbelief. The prologue closes with a question from Wishart – “Do I succeed?”
I struggled with the early chapters, which focus on the Biblical account of creation, and the counter arguments from evolutionists. Perhaps that was due to my perpetual struggles with things scientific; maybe it was due to the after-effects of a long flight – however I persevered, and was glad that I did. One comment though – Wishart’s research is thorough, and his opinions are supported by facts.
For me, “The Divinity Code” comes alive in chapter 9, The Myth of Christ. Over the next eight chapters, Wishart draws together a wealth of evidence supporting the life, death and resurrection of Jesus – and in the process, makes a compelling case. And despite his disagreements with Dawkins, with Christopher Hitchens and with Lloyd Geering, Wishart reserves his strongest condemnation for Bishop John Shelby Spong. In chapter 14, Resurrection – Fact or Fiction, Wishart hoists Spong by his own petard, pointing out the absurdity of the Bishop’s claims about the “central nugget of Christianity”.
Having started with a Prologue, Wishart fittingly ends with an Epilogue where he states:
“I’m not here to force anyone to convert……….Rather, my aim has been merely to argue the case for faith – the sole task of this book has been to document the hard evidence that actually does exist in favour of the God Hypothesis”
Author and investigative journalist Ian Wishart has a knack for polarising opinion, and has endured much odium in recent times for his Investigate Magazine articles, and his provocative book “Eve’s Bite”. His most recent offering, “The Divinity Code” will again divide opinion.
In the Prologue, Wishart takes up the gauntlet laid down by Richard Dawkins in “The God Delusion”, and in fact, uses Dawkins’ own logic and methodology to launch a counter-attack against unbelief. The prologue closes with a question from Wishart – “Do I succeed?”
I struggled with the early chapters, which focus on the Biblical account of creation, and the counter arguments from evolutionists. Perhaps that was due to my perpetual struggles with things scientific; maybe it was due to the after-effects of a long flight – however I persevered, and was glad that I did. One comment though – Wishart’s research is thorough, and his opinions are supported by facts.
For me, “The Divinity Code” comes alive in chapter 9, The Myth of Christ. Over the next eight chapters, Wishart draws together a wealth of evidence supporting the life, death and resurrection of Jesus – and in the process, makes a compelling case. And despite his disagreements with Dawkins, with Christopher Hitchens and with Lloyd Geering, Wishart reserves his strongest condemnation for Bishop John Shelby Spong. In chapter 14, Resurrection – Fact or Fiction, Wishart hoists Spong by his own petard, pointing out the absurdity of the Bishop’s claims about the “central nugget of Christianity”.
Having started with a Prologue, Wishart fittingly ends with an Epilogue where he states:
“I’m not here to force anyone to convert……….Rather, my aim has been merely to argue the case for faith – the sole task of this book has been to document the hard evidence that actually does exist in favour of the God Hypothesis”
So, to return to Wishart’s question “Do I succeed?” In my case, he was preaching to the converted, so the answer is irrelevant. Read “The Divinity Code” for yourself, with an open mind. You’ll find it challenging and thought-provoking, and Ian Wishart makes a compelling case against unbelief.
3 comments:
Well as one who is from a very religious family, I have to deal with the struggle against disbelief most days. But I am keen to see the logical rationales for belief, indeed have some stroed in my memory from university. My approach is to divert from the central committment to religion (which is to 'believe') by suggesting that the true nature of any supreme being is essentially unknowable to us. I use the analogy of staring at the sun. Just as this would burn out my retinae, to commune with God, would fry my brain. So I leave him in peace, and hope he will do the same for me.
Thanks for the comment Lee. Thus far, I don't think that "communing with God" has fried MY brain, bearing in mind that it is a relatively recent occurrence, although some who know me may wish to argue otherwise!
By nature, I'm quite analytical, and that was one of the aspects of Wishart's book that appealed to me - he builds a case based on some pretty comprehensive research. It's worth a read from that perspective alone.
You bloggers are very easy to impress. This is a very weak book in actual fact. It is full of all kinds of red herrings and absurd analogies. The forum on www.richarddawkins.net will explain this in more detail if you are interestd
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