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The Case for Faith: A Journalist Investigates the Toughest Objections to Christianity

The Case for Faith: A Journalist Investigates the Toughest Objections to Christianity

List Price: $12.99
Your Price: $9.74
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Questionable
Review: I was very hopeful that this book would be meaningful and inspiring. And although some parts were, I found it to be void of feeling and spirit. It was almost as if Strobel missed being an atheist, because compared to Christianity, atheism is more rational. As a constant thinker, I can identify with Strobel's constant desire to have tangable evidence for beliefs. But my faith is one of the only things where I can put aside my desire for answers and for truths, and follow feelings and emotions. Christianity is about following your heart instead of your head. And for this reason, I because extremely annoyed by Strobels simple, and scientific descriptions of Jesus Christs. The whole point of faith is not knowing, is being suprised, and trusting. That is hard for intellectual individuals, but it's something that needs to be done.

Also, I was very dissatisfied with the introduction, and the references to Mr. Templeton, who is an atheist. Strobel included such strong arguments against God, it took me back to times when my faith was plagued by the same thoughts. I understand that it's necissary to defend faith by knowing the arguments of the other side, but it was almost as if Strobel missed the days when he also believed such things.

Although it completely contradicts science and knowledge, there are some questions about faith that need to remain unanswered. By seeking constant answers, faith is hindered. When it comes to God and Jesus Christ, quiet the questions in your head and listen to your heart.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Not for everyone
Review: Hands down, this book gets five stars under two conditions. You're already a Christian, and you are a deep thinker. A lot of people are quick to criticize this book saying how it doesn't get deep into the topics, or gives too little information. To those people; Strobel didn't intend to do that. He wanted a simplistic book that answers questions in a simple way. No book is going to completely answer questions 100% for all people who read it. In order to do that, the book would have to be five times as long, and if it was, people would write about how it goes on and on.
This book is meant for the reader to read, think about, and discuss. That's why you can often find this book in multi-packs with a leaders guide.
Also, people have to remember what this book is and isn't. It is a good simple way to get basic answers to tough questions. It isn't the Bible. When Strobel writes how the fires in Hell are not literal, people shouldn't jump down his throat immediatly screaming that hell is a pit of fire. Strobel assumes the reader will open their Bible and read about Hell's many discriptions such as a place of darkness. Fire creates light. Light and darkness contredict each other. Thus why the purpose behind Strobel's explination of hell as figurative. He's not saying it doesn't exist. He's supporting the Biblical view that hell is eternal seperation from God, and everything that God is. God is love, hell is hatred. God is joy and perfection, hell is sorrow and brokeness. Anyone who has stubbed their toe can tell you that it hurts, but not as much as the emotional pain of losing a loved one, or realizing you've made a lifelong mistake.
If you're thinking about buying this book, simply ask yourself, "Do I have a mind, open enough to examine things before I react?" If the answer is yes, you'll love this book.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: only 8 major points? I know there are more than that.
Review: One of my many Christian acquaintances at Tech gave me this book hoping that it might "answer" my questions. I read this book in no time, telling me that either it was dumbed down to the lowest common denominator or it made absolutely no sense. For me, I understood what he was trying to prove, yet his solution didn't close the voids. Strobel brings up some very good issues, many of which are stumbling blocks for those who doubt.
I do not recommend this book for someone seeking answers to their own doubts about religion/faith/God/etc. The evidence leaves a lot to be desired. It's well written, but poorly researched. When attempting to make a "case" for something, one hopes to read a work that is more scientific and less opinionated.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: New words, new stories, same old information.
Review: If the book is like the exerpts I personally would have trouble getting into this book. New believers and seekers on the otherhand might find it interesting.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Strobel's Book is "Theology Lite" - keep looking
Review: I am a stuggling Christian, who agrees with Christians and skeptics alike who have criticized this book, as well as Strobel's "The Case for Christ" book. I recommend looking elsewhere for much more thoughtful, intellectually challenging, and better written books on Christ and faith.

Strobel writes in a very hackneyed way, which makes it hard even for this believer that Jesus is the Christ to take Strobel seriously. It's as if he is bending over backwards to "prove" he is a hard-nosed, "just the facts, ma'am" newspaper reporter. In so doing, he merely parodies himself. In one "interview" (I do not have the book in front of me-sorry) he asks what he apparently presumes to be a devastating devil's advocate question, and pounds his fist, saying "Case closed." Then Strobel goes on to breathlessly say how his interviewee is taken aback by his brazenness. The writing style is indeed very contrived, and, however unintentionally, it comes across as insincere. No wonder so many skeptics have given him one-star ratings.

Not that his interviewees necessarily constitute a think tank, either. In response to an agnostic's quote that 'God cannot possibly exist because of the presence of terrible human suffering', certainly a valid concern even Christians struggle with, Strobel's interviewee commits a terrible faux pas: he begins by criticizing the quote! The interviewee says the quote is an "arrogant" one, keying in on the phrase "cannot possibly exist." I, as a Christian, was thoroughly offput by this response! I can only imagine what a skeptic or non-believing but genuine seeker would make of the passage.

I don't doubt Strobel's good intentions (his "Unchurched Harry and Mary" book is OK; he should have stopped there), but what he has created in his two "The Case for..." books are annoyingly simplistic works that will be loved by the "God says it, I believe it, that settles it" crowd, but thoroughly irk just about everyone else, including struggling Christians and non-believing but genuine seekers alike.

Some passages may fare somewhat better than others, so Strobel eaks out 2 stars from me instead of one, somewhat reluctantly.

I have started reading Faith on Trial, by Pamela Binnings Ewen, which I can say definitely runs rings around Strobel's "theology lite." If nothing else, Ms. Ewen definitely writes at a much higher intellectual level than Strobel. Her perspective as an attorney, asking if the evidence for Christ can withstand a true legal review, offers far more insight than Stobel's banal writing style and sometimes insensitive interviewees.

Sorry Lee Strobel, but the book is not recommended...
(pounding fist with contrived exaggerated motion on able)...case closed.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: I wish I could give it 0 stars
Review: Rather than analyze the entire book, I'll try to capture its character by giving you a single example from it. The book tackles, among other things, why God kills children. Specifically, why would God order the killing of children?

The book gives two excuses for God's behavior. First, children are not really innocent (born into sin), so God is not killing an innocent person. Second, God gave everyone life so, in the same way that we can uproot the shrubbery in our own back yards, so God can kill us anytime he likes. He owns us.

Only a Christian would find these answers satisfactory. An argument for faith that convinces only the faithful is not a successful argument for faith.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A must read for anyone struggling with the concept of faith
Review: Both this book and Lee Strobel's "The Case for Christ" are concise, informative and read like gripping novels. This book provides evidence, support and solid answers for the most frequent questions that come up when people are struggling with their faith. If you have any questions at all about your faith, or if people have been asking you questions you can't find answers to, you MUST read this book.

Unlike many scholarly books, "The Case for Faith" is easy to read and understand. Lee Strobel's presentations of interviews with many different scholars make you feel like you're right there in the room with him. I honestly couldn't put it down.

I have given "The Case for Faith" as a gift to 5 other people and have just purchased it in bulk (along with "The Case for Christ") to give to many more.

A must read.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent Defense of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Review: Lee Strobel will be rewarded in heaven for his work that has been used to reach thousands for Jesus Christ, Lord of Lords and King of Kings. All of us, including the atheists and agnostics, will someday soon bow our knees to the God of the universe. I pray for those who because of their own rebellion refuse to acknowledge God and therefore condemn themselves.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: buyer beware
Review: There are some good points in this book mixed in with a lot of theologians opinions. Basically what the author did was go to a lot of people, theologians, etc, and ask them the difficult questions that keep people from accepting Christianity. Unfortunately a lot of these are just opinions, like when they were talking about hell and one theologian said that the bible described hell in a figurative way. I don't want to burst anyone's bubble but God described hell as a real place filled with real fire. A lot of opinions make up this book, and their not necessarily the truth.

A better book would be

Know What You Believe, Revised and Updated
by Paul Little

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: The Case for Faith Removal
Review: I loved Mr. Strobel's 'Inside the Mind of Unchurched Harry and Mary' as well as 'The Case For Christ', but I literally believe this book was birthed in the pit of hell. You will notice the New Ager's review who commented that Lee's view on hell was 'comforting'. The reason he stated that is because Lee's answer to the question 'How could a loving God send anyone to hell?' was defended by asserting that the scriptures that describe hell as a place of fire is only figurative and that there really is no fire at all in hell. Maybe Mr. Strobel would like to write a follow up book answering questions such as,
1.'If there is no fire in hell, why should I care if I go there or not?',
2. 'Since there is no fire in hell, does that mean that God is really not as serious about sin as we thought?'
3. 'If there is no fire in hell, then why do we need Jesus?'
4. 'If there is no fire in hell, will it be as wild a party as the lead singer for ACDC says it will be?'
These are the questions that I woould like answers to. Two thumbs down.


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