Rating: 
Summary: Great reference
Review: This is a great reference book "to answer questions challenging Christians in the 21st century." The book is divided into four parts. Part 1 deals with the historical reliability of the Bible and it is probably the best section of the book. McDowell does a great job establishing the reliability of the Bible. Part 2 and Part 3 are the case for Jesus, and the case for and against Christianity, respectively. Although these sections were good, the evidence was not as powerful as in part 1. Part 4 is a section entitled "Truth or Consequences" and explores other philosophies such as agnostism, atheism, mysticism, etc. McDowell does a good job quoting other experts throughout his book, and the reader is sure to find other books that you will want to explore further. I would not recommend reading this book in one sitting; I read a chapter every night before bedtime, and even that was too much at times. Perhaps the best way to read this book would be using it as a reference tool.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent resource
Review: As a member of the top 2% IQ(for those who insist on keeping track of such things - by the way the scores fluctuate, rendering them meaningless in practice), I can honestly say this book is work purchasing. Some readers have taken issue with the use of so many resources, referencing their conclusions only. In the academic world, we call these citations. Referencing anything but is what we call plagarism. Some have accused McDowell of circular reasoning, but this doesn't hold as he often provides more than one argument for a given point(the point of canonicity is actually a quote from a church father, not his own argument). McDowell also provides tons of historical evidences to provide historical corrobaration, such as ancient coins, which in turn builds the trustworthiness of the text (standard historical practice). Also, McDowell avoids discussing topics of no importance, such as the centurion guard (do you know what happened with Kennedy's SS Men? No. Why? They're not important.), using the space to cover the topic of discussion. Further, McDowell uses history and fact to make his arguments for him, rather than relying on emotionally tinged logic (such as Christ's death, which is the best documented death in history - even if you throw out all the Bibles, there still remains plenty of documentation - even without things that didn't exist like autopsy photos...). In short, I whole-heartedly recommend this text for those willing and able to follow a logical argument to the only logical conclusion (not meaning to spoil the ending, but it points to Christ).
Rating:
Summary: A MUST READ!
Review: This book is simply amazing. It's a must read for all Christians. It's a great way to prepare yourself to witness. If you're questioning your faith or if you know someone who is questioning their faith, I urge you to read this book. Thank you Josh McDowell.
Rating:
Summary: A well-organized, comprehensive reference for faith
Review: This book, like any other apologetic work, has its strengths and weaknesses. While it is true that it treats each topic briefly, it nonetheless is a handy reference tool for basic and thoughtful responses to critics. Critics and unbelievers will always be unbelievers unless the Spirit of God softens their hearts, so don't expect any apologetic work in of itself to convert an unbeliver. McDowell's Evidence book does provide a wealth of circumstantial evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ and other Christian beliefs. One's assumptions are ultimately important when reading this book and judging if Jesus truly is the Lord of the earth. If one reads this book with the assumption that miracles are impossible, the Bible writers are all liars, and somehow science has "disproven" everything, then one shouldn't even waste their time. This book succeeds in one incredible way - it emphasizes the historical evidence, the Bible's text. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a historical question, not a scientific one. Science cannot prove nor disprove miracles, for miracles are additions/exceptions to the natural laws and thus cannot be measured or tested by scientific methods. But the event, whether Jesus rose from the dead, is a historical matter. And this book adequately shows that much of the evidence favors the historical resurrection of Jesus Christ. Of course critics and skeptics will come up with all kinds of ways to dismantle this, but the bottom-line is that this book organizes nicely various reasons that the Christian faith has promoted the same message for nearly 2000 years... that Jesus died and rose again, and that this event can be trusted as a historical, objective reality. Is it the type of evidence that modern skeptics would like? Of course not, because modern skeptics demand precise CNN-news style reporting from writers two millennia ago. Even if the resurrection of Jesus were caught on a news camera, a skeptic would find ways to doubt this historical event. Special effects, actors, a false location, whatever, somehow in some fashion something would be proposed to deny this historical event. McDowell succeeds in presenting a book full of helpful circumstantial evidence that when combined overall, provides a most compelling and convincing case for faith in Jesus Christ.
Rating:
Summary: Great reference
Review: This is a great reference book "to answer questions challenging Christians in the 21st century." The book is divided into four parts. Part 1 deals with the historical reliability of the Bible and it is probably the best section of the book. McDowell does a great job establishing the reliability of the Bible. Part 2 and Part 3 are the case for Jesus, and the case for and against Christianity, respectively. Although these sections were good, the evidence was not as powerful as in part 1. Part 4 is a section entitled "Truth or Consequences" and explores other philosophies such as agnostism, atheism, mysticism, etc. McDowell does a good job quoting other experts throughout his book, and the reader is sure to find other books that you will want to explore further. I would not recommend reading this book in one sitting; I read a chapter every night before bedtime, and even that was too much at times. Perhaps the best way to read this book would be using it as a reference tool.
Rating:
Summary: Footnotes in Josephus?
Review: The remarks of the "A Disappointment" critic in--where else--Cambridge, MA, are so delightfully funny, I couldn't let them pass. The critic regards Josh MacDowell as "not a scholar of anything," which is true, his training was in law and his primary talent is as a speaker. Like any good lawyer, he is less interested in what's currently fashionable in academica and more interested in what's plausible and hence more likely to be true. But this critic then makes a scholarly blunder that is miles beyond anything he attributes to McDowell. I quote: "Furthermore, Josephus only briefly mentioned Christian beliefs in a footnote, which the vast majority of scholars regard as a fabrication." A footnote? Has this self-appointed scholar any awareness of how Josephus actually wrote so long ago? Has he ever stepped outside "My professor told me...." and into the real world? Footnotes are a modern invention. The fact that one particular modern edition of Josephus might put in a footnote texts that "scholars regard as a fabrication" has nothing to do with how Josephus actually wrote or how his writings were preserved in ancient texts. Personally, I think some pious monk, passing along the text, edited it to say something nice about Jesus. But I regard that as my opinion. The ancient texts have those remarks and scholars who doubt them are simply guessing. And if you know anything about the history of 'higher' textual criticism, you know that scholarly guessers have a poor track record. For what it is worth, I wrote (without being credited) the seventh or "Trilemma" chapter for McDowell for the original first volume many years ago (August 1972). And that brings up something else this critic seems to have missed in his all-too hurried look at the book. The book was written by a team of college students working under McDowell's direction for a summer. That explains the book's uneven style and, to some extent, varying quality. The book is actually quite good if what you're looking for are sensible arguments. If you want to know what academia believes this year, you'll have to go to Harvard. --Michael W. Perry, Seattle
Author: Untangling Tolkien
Editor: More to William Morris
Rating:
Summary: A truly true book.
Review: In his book, Josh McDowell uses very true evidence. I have looked into his sources and most of what his is exactly as he says. I even found that he left out a few things even supporting him that were not quite sure. This is an exelent read, even for younger kids (if there nerds, like me :)
Rating:
Summary: Awesome and Inspiring Book
Review: This is truly and awesome and inspiring book! I have long been amazed at how much God has inspired Josh McDowell, and have had the privelege of meeting him in person several times. I would love to write more, but something else needs to be addressed. Those who assume that Josh will benefit from this book, or any of his books, is wrong. Josh Mcdowell signed a contract 30 years ago turning over ALL income made by his books to a private Christian organization for them to determine in what ways this money is used. All of this money is used towards home and international missions. Josh is not getting any richer from having written over 80 books, but rather has given all the money to God.
Rating:
Summary: How can you argue with the Truth?
Review: I have read most of this book passionately over the last several days. As a life long lover of history and a long time believer of Christ I am touched by the alignment of both in this book. This book gives to us lovers of hard scientific proof an ability to love the LORD our God with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our mind. (see Matthew 22:37) Consider: The Bible has 300 prophecies contained in the Old Testament that foretold of Christ's life. (consider Psalm 22 alone which contains 5 references to events that were fulflled by Christ's life!) All prophecies came true and were fulfilled by events that took place concerning Him. Evidence supports the fact that The Old Testament Scriptures were completed some 250 to 500 years before Christ dwelled among us. So, clearly the Old Testament is validated as Truth. Also, consider that orginal, hand written Old Testament scriptures date back to the first century A.D. Until 1947, when a shephard boy who was searching for his lost goat discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest copy of the Old Testament Scriptures were thought to have been created around 900 A.D. Also, consider other facts found: Pagan, and secular historical accounts acknowledge that on the day that a man named Jesus died, the sun was blotted out and a solar eclipse occurred. (Solar eclipse being man's explanation for the mid-day darkness that took place after Jesus' being crucified)
This darkness is spoken of in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 27:45) All of these facts are written about in this great, faith affirming book. I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to increase his/her faith or to discover the Truth.
Rating:
Summary: Atheistic Antagonism
Review: While I would like to write some perceptions of this book, I need use this limiting space to counter the previous atheistic reviews in order to encourage others to consider this book for their library. First of all, antagonist's who hate evidence that points to a real God and real Christ Jesus WILL NEVER ADMIT TO IT, because their religion lies in their own philosophies... which are not really their own. This book is just one of many that presents positive evidence for Christianity's basis of faith. Consider Dr. Carl Baugh's book, " Why Do Men Believe in Evolution... Against All Odds?" or "How Life Began" by Thomas F. Heinze; et.al such as "Darwin's Black Box". All make shambles of any notion that there is ANY EVIDENCE OF TRUTH in evolution. With evolution literally disproven, except for obstinate minds as some reviewers have revealed, it leaves only the option of a Creator. What Creator? What is the identity, nature, or purpose of this Creator? Even if the negative reviewers are multi-dimensional in their beliefs, it includes an antipathy for Christian doctrines. There is nothing to rely on in their review that isn't burning with hatred. They are, "professing themselves to be wise", simply... savant idiots who have decided to put on the checkered uniform of a preferee rather than that of a proper referee of truth. Fact is that the further technology takes us into deeper explorations of archeology, astronomy, biology, chemistry, cosmology, eschatology, et.al., many sophist scientists scramble to find new theories while others acquiesce to what their scientific research is simply proving to them: "In the beginning, God created...". Josh's book is just one of the many resources of evidence that crushes the soul and squelches the mouths of these prejudicial sciolists and sophists while making faith in God and Christianity a matter of practice more so than of faith. Yet their beliefs still rely solely on faith and preconceived notions placed upon evidence. That's not science, it's mythology.
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