Gum, Geckos, and God: An Interview with Jim Spiegel

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Gum, Geckos, and God: An Interview with Jim Spiegel

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 11:01 PM CDT
Below are a few questions from our interview with Jim Spiegel, regarding his new book, "Gum, Geckos, and God: A Family's Adventure in Space, Time, and Faith"(Zondervan, 2008). For some additional description of the book itself, check out our post from yesterday; and remember, Dr. Spiegel will be available today to answer additional questions from our readers that post in the comments thread- enjoy!

1. Norm: "I love the concept of this book! I think its original amidst the barrage of books available to teach children about God. What would you say to those who, despite the readability and accessibility of this book, are reticent to take on the challenge of answering their children's questions themselves? Perhaps they would like to punt those questions to their pastor or Sunday school teacher; do you see additional value in answers coming directly from the parent?"

Dr. Spiegel: "It is common for parents to be apprehensive about addressing the really hard questions of faith and doctrine with their children. And while this is understandable, since most parents are not theologians, we need to remember that sometimes the most impactful aspect of our discussions with our kids is not the content of our answers as much as the manner in which we answer. I have found that my kids appreciate it when my answer to their question is "I don't know, but that's a great question." This simple admission of ignorance affirms their thinking ability and invites them to probe further regarding God's truth-hopefully about issues regarding which the answers are more obvious! The point is that teaching a child to inquire into theology is one of the main objectives in spiritually nurturing them. Whether we have solid answers to their questions or are completely stumped by them, we can model this humble quest for understanding in a way that builds our kids' faith as well as our relationships with them."

2. Norm: "Beyond providing a tool for parents to use as they prepare for the inevitable questions that will come from kids about God, what are some additional situations where you think this book will prove to be a valuable resource?"

Dr. Spiegel: "My primary audience in writing Gum, Geckos, and God was not parents specifically, but Christians who desire a dynamic primer on basic doctrine. The book will work as a text for small groups and Sunday school classes where teachers want to reinforce core Christian beliefs. (Readers can download the free book discussion guide at my website: www.jimspiegel.com .) Also, since the book explores the good reasons for these core beliefs, it is also a useful resource for anyone interested in basic Christian apologetics. Incidentally, just a few days ago I was interviewed for the www.apologetics.com radio program. Your readers can listen to the podcast of that interview at their website or read a condensed transcript of the interview at my blog: www.wisdomandfollyblog.com ."

3. Norm: "It seems pretty clear that your family experiences inspired you to write this book; what else was it that inspired you to take on this project? Was it an observation about the typical Christian family, or perhaps an observation about how these questions are handled in the church? What made it clear to you that there was an opportunity to meet a need?"

Dr. Spiegel: "It seems to me that there is a significant need in the church for a book that teaches Christian doctrine in a way that is both substantive and entertaining. (Though I admit, as an academic, it is hard for me to use that "E" word!) There is also a need for a book that tackles the hard questions of the faith (e.g. Where did God come from? Why does God allow suffering? How can Jesus be both God and man?) and gives answers that anyone can understand, though without oversimplification. Gum, Geckos, and God is my attempt to fill this void. The semi-narrative style of the book, featuring conversations with my kids, just happened to be a format which gave me the best shot at actually pulling this off. Fortunately, my children provided me with plenty of fodder for the task!"