True Paradox: How Christianity Makes Sense of Our Complex World (Veritas Books)

Review "In his short book Mr. Skeel touches on a variety of eternal questions?from the mystery of human consciousness to the relationships between law and justice. He addresses the problem of evil in an especially compelling way?not by 'solving' it in some philosophical air-tight way, but by questioning its premise. . . . "True Paradox is written by a Christian in defense of Christianity, but most nonbelieving readers will not find it off-putting. Mr. Skeel expresses great respect for those with whom he disagrees?a good deal more respect, in fact, than some prominent materialists have accorded their believing interlocutors. Which may be precisely what this subject needs." -- Barton Swaim, The Wall Street Journal, November 22 - 23, 2014"Skeel's approach to apologetics is remarkably original and fresh. It promises to engage seekers who grow cold when they hear phrases like 'ontological argument' and defensive when discussion turns into debate. . . . If received in the right spirit True Paradox offers a complementary approach with the power to widen the witness of Christianity to those in search not of formulas and propositions, but a story to help explain their experience of being human." -- Louis Markos, Christianity Today, March 2015"David Skeel is one of my favorite law professors for his writing on bankruptcy (and literature, for that matter) and one of the truly good guys in this business. . . . Rather than seeking directly to persuade the reader of the truth of Christianity, Skeel's apologia instead reads like a journey through Skeel's mind as he comes to try to explain (rather than justify) how he came to believe in Christianity. In this sense, Skeel's book has many of the hallmarks of classical Christian apologies such as C.S. Lewis's Surprised by Joy. . . . I found the book to be thoughtful, intelligent and wise." -- Todd Zywicki, The Washington Post "The Volokh Conspiracy" blog, February 2, 2015"True Paradox treats perhaps the most important issue of our time?the contest for minds and hearts between traditional Christian faith and a secular, materialist worldview?and it does so with lucid and convincing arguments, remarkable grace and good humor, scrupulous fairness to its opponents, and wide and delightful erudition. David Skeel has placed his light on a lampstand." -- Robert T. Miller, First Things, February 2015"The complexity of the contemporary world is sometimes seen as an embarrassment for Christianity. But law professor David Skeel makes a fresh case for the plausibility and explanatory power of Christianity. The Christian faith offers solid explanations for the central puzzles of our existence, such as our capacity for idea making, our experience of beauty and suffering, and our inability to create a just social order." -- Facts Trends, Dec/Jan/Feb 2015"Christianity, which is so simple that a child may understand and believe, is also filled with complexity. Those who have sung with Isaac Watts, 'When God the mighty maker died,' know that they live with much that cannot be explained simply. David Skeel's unusually thought-provoking book offers on one level a careful response to literature from the New Atheists. On a deeper level it explains why trying to understand the complexities of Christian faith may leave those who make the effort lost in wonder, love and praise." -- Mark Noll, Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History, University of Notre Dame"True Paradox is a truly great book. David Skeel, a brilliant Ivy League scholar who is one of America's most widely respected legal thinkers, illuminates what Christianity does?and does not?teach about beauty, tragedy, justice and eternal life. True Paradox should be read (along with the Bible) and discussed (with no questions off limits) by thinking people of all faiths and of no faith. I will be giving the book as a gift not only to fellow Catholic friends but to friends who are agnostics and atheists." -- John J. DiIulio Jr., first director of the White House