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Rating: 
Summary: Great Place to Start
Review: After some consideration, I think that this book is probably the best of the lot for beginners. Especially usefull was the part regarding logic and self refuting statements. The authors did a fine job on all the other major topics like; authenticity and reliability of New Testament documents, the historical Christ, pluralism, morals, evolution, the existence of God etc.
Rating:
Summary: Great for research
Review: As a researcher/writer for Christian curriculum, I am always looking for new sources from which to pull material. Unshakable Foundations by Bocchino and Geisler is a must-have for my library. This book provides clear and concise answers that are also relevant in today's society. It is one of the only apologetic books I have found that is both contemporary and easy to understand. It will make my entire research process a lot easier.
Rating:
Summary: The New Standard for Popular Apologetics
Review: Bocchino and Geisler have put together the best popular case for the Christian worldview in print. Assuming nothing, they begin by pointing out the validity of first principles (which are foundational for all thought) and then go on to address questions regarding: truth, worldviews, science, the origin of life, macroevolution, intelligent design, law, justice, God and evil, History and Jesus, the Deity of Christ, ethics and morals, and Heaven and Hell. They do all this while driving home important points through charts and illustrations--a must in today's visually-oriented culture. This is a book that will not only enlighten and sharpen you, but also provide you an excellent foundation from which to teach. In fact, a CD of the book's illustrations will be available summer 2001 for those who would like to present these truths in the classroom. This truly is a foundational work!
Rating: 
Summary: Sharp minds, thinking book
Review: Geisler is a thinker, no question about it. And this book is made for those who are thinkers. Divided into 16 chapters, this book discusses issues that will help Christians obtain an overall orthodox worldview. We have, the authors state, an "unshakable foundation" from which to work, and they do a good job documenting their theistic Christian position. Much of the first half of the book deals with scientific issues, and I have to admit I was a little lost on some of the points (they got a little too deep for my background, i.e. the section on DNA). I do wish they could have simplified it a little more. Also, I am taking a "star" away from this book's rating mainly because most of the information can be found within the pages of the Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics, an excellent resource book edited/written by Geisler. Having read that as well as the book at hand, I was able to recognize numerous places where whole sections were lifted out and placed here. Bocchino does add some of his own original material, but overall, if I had limited funds, I'd spend a little more money (OK, twice as much money) and get the Encyclopedia as there is so much more there.
Rating: 
Summary: Bold Stance for Truth, But Bad View of Law
Review: I appreciate the sections on Logic, the nature of Truth, and Creation. However, I changed my rating because I had a major problem with the author's view of "natural vs positive" law. The author includes a quote by Thomas Jefferson, who I regard as my "policital" hero. "God, who gave us life, gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation remain secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?" I'm responding as a fellow Christian. The author acknowledges that our constitution protects our "God-given" rights, but does not mention that our Founding Fathers were mostly Deists who purposefully did not mention the word "God" in the U.S. Constitution. Was this a mistake or on purpose? When the U.S. was founded, western society was going through the Enlightenment era when Deism (the idea that the universe was created, but God is no longer involved) was prevalant. Nevertheless, the author reinterprets "natural law" as the Ten Commandments, in contrast to how people such as John Locke might have viewed it. The author also assumes that all Christians agree that the government should rule on the basis of the "Ten Commandments." Many of our Enlightenment-era Deist founders, such as Thomas Jefferson, believed that government is merely a social contract that maintains justice, security, and welfare between the people. Escaping from countries of great religious persecution, our ancestors recognized the need to govern from non-religious interests--this is the reason why our first ammendment declares the separation of Church and State. I believe God has blessed western countries like the U.S. because of the freedoms established. Many Christians today forget the importance of democracy in protecting the freedom of conscience. As long as we live in this sinful world without God's visible presence, we don't need some zealous people trying to establish a theocracy--we should cherish the democracy we live in with its "natural" freedoms. Even if God was visible to us, He would have given us the freedom to choose to follow Him--without that freedom, there would be no real love. It's not the role of government to dictate to the conscience what is morally right and wrong, unless it has an interest in protecting national health, security or welfare. Christians acknowledge as first and foremost their accountability to God. They seek balance between the exercise of individual liberty and their accountability to the faith community and the larger society and its laws. Christians make their choices according to scripture and the laws of God rather than the norms of society. Any attempts to coerce people through laws to follow established "moral principles" should be rejected as infringements of personal freedom.
That's my only (big) problem with this book, otherwise I would have given it five stars.
Rating:
Summary: Bold Stance for Truth, But Bad View of Law
Review: I appreciate the sections on Logic, the nature of Truth, and Creation. However, I changed my rating because I had a major problem with the author's view of "natural vs positive" law. The author includes a quote by Thomas Jefferson, who I regard as my "policital" hero. "God, who gave us life, gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation remain secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?" I'm responding as a fellow Christian. The author acknowledges that our constitution protects our "God-given" rights, but does not mention that our Founding Fathers were mostly Deists who purposefully did not mention the word "God" in the U.S. Constitution. Was this a mistake or on purpose? When the U.S. was founded, western society was going through the Enlightenment era when Deism (the idea that the universe was created, but God is no longer involved) was prevalant. Nevertheless, the author reinterprets "natural law" as the Ten Commandments, in contrast to how people such as John Locke might have viewed it. The author also assumes that all Christians agree that the government should rule on the basis of the "Ten Commandments." Many of our Enlightenment-era Deist founders, such as Thomas Jefferson, believed that government is merely a social contract that maintains justice, security, and welfare between the people. Escaping from countries of great religious persecution, our ancestors recognized the need to govern from non-religious interests--this is the reason why our first ammendment declares the separation of Church and State. I believe God has blessed western countries like the U.S. because of the freedoms established. Many Christians today forget the importance of democracy in protecting the freedom of conscience. As long as we live in this sinful world without God's visible presence, we don't need some zealous people trying to establish a theocracy--we should cherish the democracy we live in with its "natural" freedoms. Even if God was visible to us, He would have given us the freedom to choose to follow Him--without that freedom, there would be no real love. It's not the role of government to dictate to the conscience what is morally right and wrong, unless it has an interest in protecting national health, security or welfare. Christians acknowledge as first and foremost their accountability to God. They seek balance between the exercise of individual liberty and their accountability to the faith community and the larger society and its laws. Christians make their choices according to scripture and the laws of God rather than the norms of society. Any attempts to coerce people through laws to follow established "moral principles" should be rejected as infringements of personal freedom.
That's my only (big) problem with this book, otherwise I would have given it five stars.
Rating:
Summary: a great concise, comprehensive book
Review: I gave this book five stars, because altough it does touch on many things Geisler has addressed already, it is still a great book. this book covers just so many of the daily issues that Christians face every day. the book has some great illustrations, and instructs Christians how to think critically and to use apologeics practically which is a need. If anyone want's an apologitic book that covers many different issues, this is the book.
Rating:
Summary: They're Not Afraid to Speak Truth!
Review: I'm happy to see Christians sincerely trying to answer honest questions for today's times. We have to face it--in this age of information, Christianity will face its toughest challenge from increasingly educated people. No longer can Christians witness or evangelize with uneducated or illogical responses to intellectual questions. This book, "Unshakable Foundations" provides an excellent resource for Bible Christians. I am thankful for the authors' bold stand for truth, especially in the realm of issues such as the nature of truth, Creation, law, and God-given human rights. I am especially glad that these authors share ideas based on fundamental principles and ethics derived from the Bible that have been thoroughly thought out, and not just passed on because somebody else told them so--an "updated" and refreshing "worldview" based in Bible truth.
Rating:
Summary: Compressed Apologetics, Easy, Thought Provoking Reading
Review: If you have never read any apologetics books, read this one. The size may seem daunting, but start it and see if you don't find it easy going and thought provoking. I read it smiling at times as the text flows along touching on many areas where Geisler has gone in great depth in other books. This is a book that will introduce you to the world of apologetics and will give you a framework for talking with others. As an avid apologetics reader I like the way this book starts with first principles to construct a lens with which to view things. Most people I talk with use their personal "Common sense" or "Personal preference" style of reasoning when defending their beliefs. This is common place within the church, any church, and makes for poor answers to the worlds questions. I have been able to teach 3rd thru 6th grade children these concepts during half hour talks on Wednesday nights over the past two years. I bought this book just after the start of classes this year and was amazed that it started where I had started! So I have been following it's methodology all year and the children sit on the edge of their seats and raise their hands and get involved! If I can teach this to young children in half hour dialogue once a week, you can profit from it also.
Rating:
Summary: A Method for the Madness of Evangelism
Review: This book gives a comprehensive argument for the overwhelming reasonableness of the Christian Faith. Bocchino and Geisler not only give information, but develop a practical and effective method for apologetics and evangelism. Starting with "first principles" (assumptions necessary for rational thought), they delineate the basic beliefs of the major worldviews (i.e. theism, naturalism), and then critique each worldview to determine which one stands up to first principles, science, and law. He then examines some potential problems with Christianity(i.e. the origin of evil), and finishes the book by addressing ethical questions, such as abortion and euthanasia.
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