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Summary: No pastor in post-modern America should be without it!
Review: As an Assemblies of God minister, I was naturally a little apprehensive about an Apologetics book by a Catholic. However, I found the book not only thought provoking, but soul-searching as well. It really caused me to examine my doctrinal stances on sensitive issues and sharpen my theology. This work has a sensible and straightforward approach. I appreciate that. It presentd a clear and balanced apologetic for Christians and non-Christians alike. Kreeft and Tacelli's treatment of sensitive issues such as abortion are timely and relevant for today's post-modern relativism. The world is searching for answers to life's questions and the church must be ready to answer quickly, truthfully, and with integrity. This book facilitates that process biblically and logically. Therefore, I would liken this work to a 24" chainsaw as compared to some other authors' "penknives" in cutting down a 100' oak tree. Some jobs require the right tools. This is it. As a senior at Trinity Bible College, Ellendale, ND, I will be taking Christian Apologetics in my final semester. This book is the chosen textfor the class taught by Dr. Ken Smith. I've found Kreeft and Tacelli's book a great complement to Brook's and Geisler's "When Skeptics Ask." As a result, I've also ordered Kreeft's "Fundamentals of the Faith." The combination of these works will assist me not only in the classroom, but in the ministry as well.
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Summary: Sean Granger commentary
Review: For the Christian who doesn't know the "smack" about the various intellectual arguements to defend our faith. A good read, but its like intellectual solitare.
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Summary: This book ROCKS
Review: I'm 19 years old and I taught an apologetics class for my lifeteen youth group. We started with answering protestant objections to the catholic church, then moved onto catholic moral principles, but we saved the best for last. I asked everyone in my group to order this book, for it is the best handbook on the issue of christian apologetics. The arguements for Theism as opposed to Atheism are wonderful, though sometimes they were hard to understand,i.e., the Kalam argument took a lot of rereading and prayer, but it was better that they were hard for us novices. The Challenge this book brought truly weened us off that milk and we are onto solid food for thought. I encourage anyone and everyone to buy this book, for, not only is it informative and challenging, but the authors seemed to go out of their way to make it fun (read argument 17). The section of Christ's Redemption made me realize all the more Christ did for me on the Cross, and I thank the authors for that gift. BUY THIS BOOK NOW!!!
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Summary: Summa Apologetica
Review: This book offers a thorough systematic overview of basic Christian philosophies. What made this book stand out from other apologetic works is the writing style. It is not laden with cumbersome footnotes and citations, yet it still includes a good bibliography to look up further sources on specific issues. It is smooth to read, because Kreeft and Tacelli are good, clear writers. Much like C. S. Lewis and G. K. Chesterton, Kreeft and Tacelli often use quick witty remarks to show the absurdity of the opposing position and the validity of their own. For Christians, this can provide a great overview to explain key elements of the Christian faith (i.e. the existence of God, who Jesus was, how salvation works, the possibility of miracles, the immortality of the soul, etc.). For non-Christians, you will be exposed to the clear crisp thinking of Christian philosophers. If you want to argue against the faith, make sure you are arguing against the REAL face of Christianity and not just a strawman (as so many tend to do). This book is an excellent resource to have handy. I encourage others to buy it, because it has been a powerful tool in my study and life.
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Summary: Logic and Art
Review: Someone once told me that he thought Art with a capital A was the antithesis of logic. I suppose that from his point of view, fully in line with the "Art for Art's sake" school of thought, he was right, but from my point of view, I have always thought that art and logic were two sides of the same coin, as it were, both tools to be used to learn about the nature of Ultimate Reality. And, as art transcends, so often does logic, and in this book we find an example of that. Kreeft and Tacelli's book is so finely-crafted and well-presented that it is a thing of beauty to behold, and art form in itself perhaps. The book begins at the beginning, with a discussion of the nature of Apologetics and a realistic appraisal of its scope and limitations. It then moves on through Faith and Reason, with a description of each and the differences between them, and their mutual interdependence. I particularly enjoyed the little paragraphs on Dualism and how it fits in with private vs. public experiences. Section Two gives twenty arguments for the existence of God. They are called "arguments" here, and not "proofs" and the discussion was more realistic in this book than in other philosophy books I have read over the years. The authors are careful to sort them out and explain each one thoroughly, including objections and limitations, from the most often seen "First Mover" and "Argument by Design" to the very short and delightful "Argument from Aesthetic Experience" which reads: "There is the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. Therefore there must be a God." The authors' comment is: "You either see this one or you don't." Bravo! My favorite argument! The balance of section two discusses the nature of God, and what we can, and cannot know, by reason. Section three talks about God and Nature. This includes the section that discusses the problem of evil. I found this to be well written, but there was one little part in it that was of particular interest to me. I have been reading a lot Alan Watts' books lately, because he wrote well from a certain viewpoint. One of the themes that comes up over and over throughout his books is non-dualism. He is writing from a rather classic Hindu perspective, and I have been trying to understand this from a Catholic Christian point of view. Was not having too much success in this, until I got to pp. 124-125 and the section on evil and the 'mystery of solidarity.' This was brilliantly done and very useful to me. Part four goes into the Divinity of Christ and the Resurrection. Pretty standard argumentation here, but very well thought out and presented. The section titled "The Bible: Myth or History," was magnificent. Especially having read Watts' "Myth and Ritual in Christianity," this was a refreshing antidote. Also useful if you need, as I do, to sort out the competing views of Scripture from liberal to conservative to fundamentalist point of views. Part five covered life after death, heaven, hell, and salvation. Typical arguments; very well presented. Part six was the best part of a wonderful book. It discussed the similarities and differences between Christianity and other religions, both Eastern and Western. The chapter on Objective Truth was a real gem. You should read this chapter first before going through the rest of the book. The final chapter contained a lenghthy and wonderful quote from C.S. Lewis called "Man or Rabbit?" Which identity do we choose and why? The index is very, very thorough and useful. I have read this book so many times and it never fails to satisfy. If you are a Catholic or mainstream Protestant with perhaps just a little philosophical training (maybe just Phil. 101 from college), or even a non-believer who is interested in understanding WHAT Christians believe and WHY they believe it, you might find this book to be both interesting and beneficial.
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Summary: Great Book
Review: A previous reviewer stated that the authors use the Bible throughout as proof. I must say it would help if reviewers actually read the books they are reviewing instead of a writing a caricature that doesn't fit the book at all. One of the strengths of this book is the fact that the authors don't rely on the Bible for most of their proofs. As an example they list 20 proofs for the existence of God using philosophical arguments. They tackle most issues concerning God and Christianity with the same approach. It's a refreshing change if you are used to reading evidential apologetics. A great book for anyone wanting to look at a scholarly approach to Christianity's big questions.
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Summary: Don't expect too much if you are non-believer
Review: When I bought this book I was non-believer of Christianity who expect dramatic break through about Christianity from this book and I got badly disappointed. While the author did great job on some field but overall the book contains fundamental problems of Christian apologetics such as mentioning the bible to back up his logistics. For non-believer, it wouldn't work if you choose bible as primary reference for your explanation, since non-believer do not believe the bible itself. It is like explaining gravity to someone who doesn't understand the Newton's law itself. "Because Newton says so" wouldn't work. To make it work the author should see things as non-believer but it is as much hard as the non-believer tries to understand the believer. It is a good book but I have a doubt if it is useful book.
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Summary: Too sympathetic towards evolution
Review: This book is great in several areas, but it seems like these professors do not know how to write a popular-level book, so their attempts at trying to sound loose and relaxed often come off as arrogant and annoying. Also, the authors are way too sympathetic towards evolution. It seems that they actually believe in evolution, but they do not say that directly. I recommend Norman Geisler's "When Skeptics Ask" over this book.
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Summary: Lewis-esque
Review: Kreeft and Tacelli's work is wonderfully useful for any lay philosopher and theologian. It occasions wonderful moments of wit even within its rigid outline format (which is actually good for me). It does a wonderful job of incorporating the works of many of the late great Christian minds--Aquinas, Augustine, Lewis, etc., showing that while modernism and 20th century moral subjectivism is largely a new culrtural trend, rational Christianity and apologetics isn't. The wit and humor is wonderfully remaniscent of the great Christian mind CS Lewis. If you liked (or loved as I did) his works in apologetics, you would be well served to drop everything and pick up this book.
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Summary: Excellent in every way
Review: I know Father Tacelli from earlier days, before he was ordained, and after he was ordained. The book he and Professor Kreeft have put together is, as I expected, brilliant. I* wish father Tacelli himself would write more and give us the benefits of his truly great mind. I recommend this to all Catholics and anyone interested in intelligent theology. Clear, concise, and spiritual in every way. Buy it now.
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