Facing Doubt: A Book for Adventist Believers 'On the Margins'

An extremely interesting and useful book. It is extremely well written and the author has done some very careful research. It should be translated into as many languages as possible.Inga-Beth Hinchliffe

As a member of the Adventist church in the UK I've struggled with many issues, both in the organisation and the sometimes authoritarian edits on how scripture should be interpreted and some of the key beliefs (eg sanctuary doctrine, inerrancy of Ellen White etc). I have struggled too with the statements that we have "the truth" (the truth is Jesus) and the Adventist church is "the remnant ". There have been times when I felt that I should perhaps leave the church as it no longer feels " my home".Bruinsma's book addresses many of my concerns and I found it tremendously helpful, in that it openly addresses these issues and made me realise what is most important .... Jesus Christ...and that being accepted in my local church where I can express doubts and still be loved and accepted is the most important thing.Well done Dr Bruinsma for having the courage to write this book which I found most helpful and uplifting.

I know that the Adventist faith community is far from perfect. But God is putting up with it – and so should we." This final paragraph of my friend Reinder Bruinsma’s latest book is by far my favourite. By writing this book, Facing Doubt: A Book for Adventist Believers ‘On the Margins,’ Bruinsma has done the Adventist church and many thousands of Adventists world-wide a great service.Bruinsma has written this book for the people in the church who place themselves on the margins and who seriously doubt if they should or even want to remain in the church. From personal experience, I know that this target audience is large and growing by the day. It is commendable that Bruinsma has taken their plight to heart and through this book attempts to minister to these believers on the margins. Admittedly, Bruinsma is not straying too far from his own field of experience, as he writes ‘I expect this project will also be good for my own soul! For I myself am as much the target for this book’ (p 18).All in all, Bruinsma has done an excellent job with this book. Naturally there are some minor typo’s, but for a non-native English speaker surprisingly few strange turns of phrase. The prose reads easily, and Bruinsma makes the reader feel that she is included in a journey together with him. The rather extensive footnotes  are enlightening and useful for interested readers looking for more answers; or maybe more doubts. And, of course the most important part, Bruinsma’s answers to and suggestions for dealing with doubt are both tried and tested and innovative.