Beyond Beliefs

A search for permanent meaning in a world where modernity can potentially obscure reality. 

This religious treatise begins by describing—quite elegantly—our perception of the world as being forever altered by two events: the creation of manufactured drugs (namely LSD) and the invention of nuclear weapons. Almost simultaneously, humanity entered both the Atomic Age and the psychedelic era, inviting deep skepticism, reliance upon and trust in technology, and, in the author’s opinion, disinterest in the search for a universal truth. Geib writes of his own experiences growing up in this environment, stating that he didn’t hear a convincing argument for a supreme being until he was 20. What he seeks to do in this slim, intelligent and persuasive work is counter what he sees as the solely empirical foundation of our thoughts so that readers might “experience what is beyond our current imaginations to experience, unity with God and with one another.” Denominational significance is treated with secondary importance, if at all; dogma is considered an impediment to a direct relationship with God—a relationship that Geib considers universal for all. Yet this isn’t a mere confirmation of faith or declaration concerning the ills of modern life. Instead, the book laments a thought process that, due to the exclusion of God, is crucially incomplete. Geib states that the Word of God enables us to transcend the natural, human understanding of the world by allowing us to break free from our innate limitations, thus reaching something greater than ourselves. Irreligious readers may get bogged down by continual references to biblical passages, but Geib also uses pop culture and modern history to make his points—in most cases, a refreshing change. Even casual readers will embrace the precision of Geib’s language, his salient points and the apparent soundness of his logic, which concludes that man is unable to achieve total understanding and social unity without the aid of something more. Whether readers will be convinced that Jesus Christ provides that something will, of course, vary from reader to reader, but appreciation for Geib’s taut arguments will be easier to accept.

A thought-provoking theological work that will provide even skeptics with a compelling intellectual argument.