Whether this book will be enough to tempt a doubter is questionable but it is certainly one resource to use in that process. There isn’t really anything new here in terms of answers but as an apologetic resource it has value. Worth reading.

Times are increasingly tough for our society. Inflation is rising while incomes are falling. People are becoming more easily irritable and impatient. As far as faith matters are concerned, many are discouraged and disillusioned about Church and various other religious establishments. The daily news reports we get are often more depressing than uplifting, validating the popular maxim, "No news is good news." Statistics on religious communities also give similar negativity. For instance, we have all heard about an aging Church and an exodus of young people. More are abandoning churches, preferring to keep their faith private and confidential. People are asking questions about the relevance of God. Author Michael Brown summarizes this sentiment with this big question: "Has God Failed You?" Almost immediately, he questions the question, that it in itself is an oxymoron because God will never let anyone down. The real complication will happen if God is non-existent in the first place! That would put us in an even worse position of non-meaning, non-significance, and non-purpose. He engages some prominent atheists and takes issue with some of their arguments through a comparison between different worldviews. Even if one does not agree with Brown, one should also be open to question the alternatives, which too have their own flaws. A key pointer is the atheist common assertion that life began randomly. If that is true, then it throws the spanner in the works of life, that life too could also be random. Without meaning and purpose, life would not be necessarily better. After addressing the question of the existence of God, Brown then deals with the book title with associated questions such as:
- If God exists, what kind God is He?
- Where was God when I was hurting?
- Does prayer really work?
- Is it ok to doubt?
- Is the Bible an outdated book? Is it really bigoted?
- What about the problem of evil?
- What about the question of suffering?
...
Written with the disillusioned in mind, Brown goes through some typical questions that have generated doubt and despair. On Prayer, he covers the issue of unanswered prayers, that not getting what we want does not necessarily mean God doesn't answer nor care. There are other intangibles such as exercise in perseverance, testing of our faith, and sometimes conditions. On faith and doubt, Brown assures us that asking questions does not mean we doubt. It simply indicates our desire to learn. He also points out different kinds of doubts, some that seeks clarity while others could be mischievous. Just like not all doubts are alike, the same applies to the ones asking the question. What if the problem is not the doubt but the theology of the doubter? That is an important point because it helps us understand the context behind the question. Without addressing this, we will not get closer to the root of the issue. From the theological position of the questioner, the author then questions the ontological aspect of people. We are neither saint nor sinner but a little bit of both. That means that our reactions to pain and suffering are mixtures of our humanness. He then deals with the issue of the Bible where he dedicates two full chapters just to deal with it. In the first, he addresses several accusations about the Bible, such as misogyny, gender discrimination, bigotry, gender identities, and homophobia. In the second, he deals with the perception of God as vengeful with rigid laws. Brown addresses these questions thoughtfully and respectfully.

My Thoughts
==============
This is a book that challenges some popular negative views of God. The author does not simply deal with it at an academic or intellectual level. He takes it personally as well, choosing to begin with where disillusioned readers are. Without dumbing down the questions of doubt, Brown begins with a confession that he too has grappled with the same dilemma. He too has a crisis of faith. Sharing his early struggles with drugs, he gives us an insight into his 50 years of belief and how his faith not only strengthened but his conviction in God's love continues to grow each day. Anyone who desires to understand Brown's answers should consider his early beginnings with doubts. Once we realize that the common questions of doubt are also common to him, we will see him more as an ally rather than an enemy of our beliefs. After all, we are all human, seeking to live a life as meaningfully as possible. We all have our own struggles, just like what the author had gone through in his early years. That does not mean the author has sorted out all of his doubts. In his conclusion, she reveals the story of JT whose faith and perseverance paid off eventually. Brown is trying to tell us: Never Give up. Never give up on God.

Our questions about life's struggles can often be condensed into the word "search." We are searchers in many ways. Scientists search for answers. Philosophers search for meaning. People search for relationships and love. At the heart of it all, we are searching for something or someone larger than us. Questions that help us move forward are worth asking. That is what the author of this book has helpfully done on our behalf. Perhaps, we can also learn to ask other questions and learn of the author's approach in finding new answers for them.

How well did the author answer the title of the book? I would say his arguments are fair. It is helpful for him to start with the question of the existence of God first, to lay out the framework for any fruitful discussion. This should appeal to a general audience. The chapters further down are most relevant for believers and seekers. While many of the points are philosophical and theological, what really shines through is the way he personalizes the struggles. At the beginning and toward the end, he shows us his humanness and vulnerability to share that we are not alone in our struggles. He has also struggled through spiritual agony and he does not claim superiority nor perfection. Brown has boldly attempted to answer some of the most crucial questions of faith. All of us ought to do the same. If you are unsure about how to do that, read this book.

Michael L. Brown (PhD, New York University) is the founder and president of FIRE School of Ministry in Concord, North Carolina, and has served as a visiting or adjunct professor at seven seminaries. He hosts the nationally syndicated daily talk radio show The Line of Fire and has written more than 40 books. Learn more at www.askdrbrown.org.

Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Chosen Books and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

From the title, I would expect this to be targeting somebody currently suffering a crisis of faith triggered by some event in their life … and it does sort of do that in the first part (Chapters 1-4); however, it makes an unexpected and unwelcome pivot into apologetics starting in Chapter 5: “Perhaps It Was Wrong Theology That Failed You.” Then the author doubles down on blaming the person’s moral formation specifically attacking anybody who does not hold the orthodox view of sexuality amongst other short-coming. What follows is so ham fisted that I serious doubt it would do anything other than reinforce the belief of superiority on the part of current believers and does nothing to bring those fallen away back to Christ.

I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#HasGodFailedYou #NetGalley.

This book is for people who deny the existence of God, and for people who want to know what atheists believe.
Michael Brown uses atheists' own experts testimonies as evidence for what they believe and that they need to ask questions about their own beliefs.
"Christian author Randy Alcorn illustrates the difference between an atheistic worldview and a Christian worldview.
First, the atheistic worldview: You are the descendant of a tiny cell of primordial protoplasm washed up on an empty beach three and a half billion years ago. You are the blind and arbitrary product of time, chance, and natural forces. You are a mere grab-bag of atomic particles, a conglomeration of genetic substance. You exist on a tiny planet in a minute solar system in an empty corner of a meaningless universe."
Christian worldview:According to Alcorn, you have been designed and fashioned by a God who is powerful and good. Not only this, but He has created you in His own image, meaning that you can think, you can love, you can hate, and you can worship.
Michael Brown also deals with the topics of unbelief and doubt as they relate to Christians and he mentions how circumstances affect our faith and belief in who God is and that we can go to God when we lack faith and doubt Him.
This book will challenge both atheists and Christians to examine their lives and their beliefs.

I am among the target readership this book was written for. I believe that God exists. I accepted Jesus 31 years ago. But after a four year trial that dragged me through the mire and ended with spectacular loss, failure and unanswered prayer, I no longer trust Him as before. I want to but don't know how to. What's the point of praying and persevering in prayer? Who can know when God's promises actually apply or not? I struggled and fought a fight of faith for four years and came out with less than I went in with. The main matter involved was a done deal with no do-over. I made mistakes during this time but I was honestly asking, seeking, knocking, pursuing the best I knew. I picked myself up a million times to keep believing Him when all seemed hopeless. And I actually did believe He was going to intervene and help me, and answer. I thought I was pleasing Him by holding on to faith in His promises. Then it all went up in flames for the final time. It really had been hopeless. I'm six months into the final implosion of my situation and the layers of delusion are fresh. This book made me cry to see questions I've asked and it aroused feelings of pain and regret. I was cynical at points but did hope there would be some miracle cure for me (I'm tired so a miracle would be nice). Nope. But okay that was an elevated starting point.
Dr. Brown's starting points in some places are completely different from where I am. In considering some questions for atheists, he considers free will and desire to exist. He seems to zip past this to consider that everyone wants to protect their life. I would prefer to have never existed than what my life has been and continues to be.
I recognized thoughts and phrases in this book that could be easily be made into the 'christianese' memes I used to amass on Instagram and really think that: all would turn out well, that God would make it work for good, that persevering would bring a reward, that God allows the bad knowing He could use it to mold us into something better, some loss now for something greater later. Meme material galore.
Now, I'm tired and not trying anymore to believe God for much more than salvation in the hereafter. Everything else seems hit and miss. The scenarios Dr. Brown touched on didn't get close to what I experienced and I was hoping there would be more I could relate to. His chapter on prayer was the most difficult for me. It was simplistic and shallow. I used to pray for hours, poured myself out in intercession and saw God do miracles for others. But for me, nothing. He just let me be made the biggest fool of when I asked him for something for myself. The chapter on the book of Job was the chapter that was the most useful to me. I wouldn't say comforting. There hasn't been any comfort. But I appreciated this chapter. It contained some more Christianese meme and cliche material but at least it was honest. There are no answers here on earth at times. God could ignore prayer and some Christian preacher will quip about how that's because some prayers are answered in the age to come. Ok then. That's a nice, neat and convenient answer. I prefer someone to say they just don't know why God doesn't answer some prayers. I still pray sometimes and dare to ask for this or that, but I know He'll answer if He wants to or ignore me if He doesn't - for whatever His mysterious reasons are.

I wouldn't dissuade anyone from reading this book. I would even encourage it. Someone else might be helped. But for me, it did nothing except stoke the pain of disappointment with God.