Rating: 
Summary: Volume II: better for referencing than reading
Review: This book (formerly called MORE EVIDENCE THAT DEMANDS A VERDICT) is heavier reading than MORE EVIDENCE, Vol. 1, and is more amenable to using as a resource, for selective perusal of topics, rather than reading it all the way through. (You can read it cover to cover, but it's not easy.) This second volume addresses things like archaeology, form criticism, literary criticism, and historical research into the claims of the Bible. Volume I deals more with the life of Christ and New Testament events.
Rating:
Summary: All open minded agnostics should read this book
Review: If you are a truth seeking agnostic or atheist who does not categorically deny the possiblity of the supernatural you should read this book. You should also read this book if you are a Christian who does not know why you believe what you believe. This is the most comprehensive defense of Christianity that I have found.The case it makes is so convincing I was at first "certain" the evidence had to be tainted somehow. But, by using the references given in the footnotes, both for and against the argument, I verified (as can anyone else) that the evidence is presented fairly. This book is very dense and it will take perseverance to follow the argument from beginning to end. However, it is very well divided into individual criticisms which do not depend on the answers given in other areas. I recommend this book highly to everyone who is willing to spend time and thought searching for the truth. A less comprehensive, and perhaps more readable, book covering much of the same material is The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel.
Rating: 
Summary: Just a polemic
Review: Is there much evidence to exist that Jesus existed? In fact there is not a lot. There is one ancient writer who was born six years after Jesus died who mentions him. That is Josephus but a majority of historians including Christians think that the reference is something that has been forged by copyists at a later date. Then there are the Gospels which were probably written in the second century AD but one may have been written about 30 years after the death of Christ. This suggests that the actual evidence is rather thin. In fact there is a substantial school who say that he was likely to be a mythical figure. This school represented by Doeherty concentrates on the differences between the portrayal of Jesus by Paul and what is written in the Gospels. Now the fact that there is not much in the way of evidence to suggest that Jesus existed as a historical figure is not a reason to reject him. It is a question of faith. However McDowell tries to suggest rather ambitiously that the evidence for the existence of Christ is overwhelming and the evidence also suggests that he is of a divine nature. To suggest that there is evidence of Jesus relies on a series of polemical or logical tricks. This consists of characterising the Gospels eye witness accounts which purport to describe something which is so unique that it can only be a record of the divine. Thus the Gospels suggest that a large number of people saw Jesus after the resurrection, saw the empty tomb. The resurrection showed that Jesus was divine and the large number of accounts are thus historical evidence for both Jesus existence and his status as a God. However this type of argument is based on the assertion that the Gospels are more than religious or legendary material and are factual. This lies at the nub of the argument and in fact sceptics argue that the Gospels seem to have been written not by actual witnesses of the life of Jesus but by people who lived sometime after he died. The basis of suggesting this is the fact that the Gospels were written in Greek not Aramaic, they are not widely mentioned in Christian literature to about 120 AD and their contents suggest they were written by non Jews. Through the book the author acts as if this problem does not exist. In fact the book is not something which is aimed at serious scholars it is a book aimed at believers who are looking at something to bolster their faith and have little background in the more complex area of biblical scholarship.
Rating:
Summary: Look closely at the actual basis of the arguments!
Review: As a Christian, I found this book very interesting to read, and I learned a lot of things I had never realized before. I will address some of the criticisms I have read of it. Some people write that the "evidence" it presents consists of Bible quotes and support from Christian scholars. It does use the Bible extensively to give the reader background on the events written about -- AFTER spending several chapters discussing the reasons why the Bible is the most authentic historical document ever written, and pointing out that with so many eye-witnesses still alive at the time the Gospels were published, they couldn't have gotten away with misrepresenting even minor details of the events or of Jesus's words. Furthermore, McDowell's arguments DO NOT rely solely on Biblical evidence, but on common sense. An example is the story circulated by the soldiers guarding Jesus's tomb -- they claimed that the disciples stole Jesus's body while they slept. McDowell asks, If the soldiers were asleep, how could they know who stole the body? The soldiers' story is clearly false; McDowell goes on to tell the reader such things as why the soldiers would not have been sleeping in the first place, and why they would not have stayed asleep while the stone was rolled away. McDowell does fill a lot of space with selected quotes from scholars and writers who agree with his point of view, but I see these as simply different ways of looking at it. His arguments DO NOT rely on this support. His arguments do, however, rely on the reader to approach the subject with an open mind; in other words, if the reader has already decided that the miraculous events of the Bible are impossible, then there is nothing that will convince him/her that they are possible and did, in fact, happen.
Rating:
Summary: Only for those who already believe
Review: This book serves only to give false confidence to those who already believe. As an honest seeker for truth, it offers nothing. I found some of the quotes in it were actually anti-Semitic and could arouse hatred and misunderstanding for non-Christians. It basically says that non-Christians who read this book and afterwards do not believe in Jesus are "unwilling to believe." It says that such people most often are unwilling because of the moral changes they would have to make in their lives! What a way to dismiss all critics! He might as well say there's no reason to listen to any critics of my book, because they know that Jesus is God, they just reject him anyway. They are immoral, and that is why they reject! If you are of that mindset, then this book is for you.
Rating:
Summary: Who was Jesus?
Review: Who was Jesus? After reading this book you should have no doubt! If you are really interested in knowing the truth about Jesus Christ, then research what this book says! You will become a believer, if you really want to know the truth! This book puts the intellect on the back burner! Thanks, Josh for your wonderful book!
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Summary: man this book is big
Review: but complete.. if you question something, it can be found in here. Anyone still refusing to believe after truly seeking the truth is simply trying to justify a life without God..or they are so closed off to the truth they fail to see what is there. If this cannot be seen as truth to you, then you must discount any book you have ever read. There is more proof in Christ than in anything the world has produced. Be like the author, truly attempt to prove it wrong, you will find the truth. Some people will need the day of judgement as proof, sadly by then it's too late.
Rating:
Summary: Jesus was god...or he was a DEMON!
Review: 1A. Sister gave me this book of "evidence" to help me find the lord.
1B. At first this book looks like a well footnoted and documented reference into biblical evidence. Author on back cover looks like a nice guy.
2B. Holy Cr*p! After reading it a little, I find that it is just strangely structured fluff.
3B. "Ad Populum" logic fallacy found on page 24, section 3B. 2A. Chapter 3, book getting boring fast...no evidence found yet. No verdict yet.
1B. Useless details and minutia still being posed as evidence of something.
2B. Bizarre structure getting hard to follow.
22Z. No longer able to follow it.
69F. "I'm quoting something." 3A. Skimming this book faster and faster.
1B. Verdict so far - Yes, the bible was written and translated to various languages.
2B. Some people believed it.
3B. Dead Sea scrolls prove that original biblical nonsense is the same nonsense you read today. 4A. Section 2, Jesus believed he was god, therefore he was.
1B. Jesus is helping O.J. find the real killers.
2B. This book has lots of pages of stuff. Must be true.
7Q. Bible quoted as evidence that the bible is true? Ok, whatever.
4B. Lots more quotes from people. Quotes is evidences. 5A. Chapter 7 is hilarious.
1B. Logic diagram concerning Jesus' claims to be god(page 104, sec 1A) is insane, assumes existence of demons.
2B. Koran used as character reference for Jesus.
3B. More quotes from people that never knew Jesus or witnessed anything.
4B. Eyes blurring. Book sucking.
2AXYZ. Quoted material completely out of control at this point. Wish I had taken speed reading class.
YYZ. This book is ridiculous. Here is a new take on the trilemma: The author is either too dumb to know this book is false, he knows it and is a liar or he wants to believe so badly that he is deluded into believing his own B.S. 6A. Verdict: This book is a long, rambling diatribe of quotes and footnotes. No hard evidence at all.
1B. In spite of book's structure and size, no cogent arguments are put forth.
2B. Lots of bad assumptions and poor logic.
3B. Volume and organization of contents intended to impress and intimidate.
8Z. Complete waste of time by author and myself.
33iddqd. Book resembles research paper written by a highschool student the day before it is due.
256A. Considering writing stupid books like this to make bucks.
512L. Some christians think this is impressive stuff. Sorry sister, I don't.
Rating: 
Summary: Oh, my eyes!
Review: Plenty of people have reviewed the content of this book (which, by the way, I would give five stars) but I must warn you of the horrible publishing in this mass market edition! Sure, it's cheeper, but it looks like a bad photocopy of McDowell's lecture notes from the 70's. Spare your eyesight and buy the newer edition.
Rating:
Summary: Evidence Ruled Inadmissable!
Review: What is the best and most highly recommended book on the market is actually in my not so humble opinion the worst book on the market! ... A HUGE problem is that McDowell seems to state his thesis, bury his readers in an advalanche of quotes, and then draws a highly questionable conclusion! McDowell has in my opinion several pointless chapters that don't need to be included in his book! The first chapter is pointless. How is the uniqueness of the Bible evidence of it's reliability or of it's divine inspiration? ...And why a chapter on the Trilemna? Rather than try to argue that Jesus was more than just a liar or a lunatic..why not just get to the meat of the debate between the faith and it's critics and go straight to the resurrection? These chapters along with that pointless chapter on how the Bible was prepared is excess baggage and is non-essential to forming a good case for Christianity. The chapters that I would see as essential are chapters on the reliability of the Bible ( chapter 4) and the chapter on case for the resurrection. ( What about fulfilled Bible prophecy and Christian experience? I will comment on why these are unnecessary as well)...McDowell merely quotes some of the NT authors for the internal evidence test and doesn't defend their reliability of as eye-witnesses... McDowell doesn't explain away any alleged Bible contradictions... McDowell does nothing to defend the reliability of the Bible against various attacks such as contradictions, inconsistencies, etc.
... McDowell than goes into some of the archeological findings. Here again readers are getting buried with quotes from authorities. However, there was one or two quotes I found questionble! Consider his quotes regarding the tower of Bable and the diversification of languages! ... No tests are shown, no studies are referenced, no arguments are put forth! ... Refuting alternative theories of the resurrection is helpful, but not convincing... McDowell failed miserably in the most important chapter of the book... In conclusion, McDowell's case is only slightly better than Henry Morris' case for the Christian faith. I would recommend this book only to test the effiency of a document-shedder. For Christians who think highly of McDowell's works..for crying out loud! Raise your standards! No wonder the Secular Web had a field day picking this book apart! No judge in his right mind would allow evidence like this to be presented to a jury in the first place!
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