John Updike's novel Roger's...
Illustration
John Updike's novel Roger's Version is the story of a theological professor who finds himself engaged in a dialogue with a young research assistant who applies for a grant from the seminary to prove the existence of God via the computer. The student, Dale Kohler, is positive that we have come to that moment when all the scientific world will have to admit that God "is a fact." The professor, Roger Lambert, is convinced that such an approach is meaningless. Dr. Lambert would tie faith to the solid revelation which God has made. This contest is not without his parallels in real life. There are also versions of attempts to give witness to God apart from the distinct revelations God has given of himself. In spite of Dale Kohler's good intentions, the fact is that people are not persuaded to be believers through the computer or any other means apart from the Holy Spirit. That is a conclusion the early church came to the hard way very early in its missionary enterprise.
--Huxhold
--Huxhold
