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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

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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Selective Interviewing and Truth Twisting
Review: On page 137 of Strobel's book Geisler says he has studied 800 Bible contradiction allegations and hasn't found a single error. Strobel mentions what he says are some of the most common contradictions mentioned. "Matthew says that there was on angel in the tomb; John says that there were two." This is an example of what Strobel and Gesiler have had the fairness and objectivity to mention!

Given their propensity to cite some of the weakest contradiction allegations I have ever heard, their readers will likely come away with a greater conviction but not likely a greater understanding. For example, Strobel could at the very least mentioned that Luke (24:4) says that Matthew's one angel was two men. Lets take a close look at the two versions in context:

The two Marys seen one angel roll the stone to the sepulchre away and sit on top during an earthquake according to the author of Matthew (Ch. 28). According to the author of Luke (Ch. 24) the two Marys, Joanna, and other women came up to the sepulchre, found the stone already rolled away, and visited with two men standing inside.

While it is true that the basic jest of the story is there. That someone (at least Mary perhaps others) came to the tomb, found no Jesus, and listened to something (whether angel (s) or man/men). However, the story about the ladies watching the stone being rolled away by an angel who sat on top of the sepulchre and the other story of the ladies going to an opened sepulchre and listening to a couple of men inside, gives us a very good indication of the authors willingness to write fiction intermingled with fact.

Throughout the scriptures this intermingling of fact and fiction, although more than fiction in many cases (i.e. symbolism) is very difficult to discern. Here is a brief sampling of serious contradictions not mentioned by Strobel:

Genesis 6:19 "And of EVERY living thing of ALL flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark."

or


Genesis 7:2 "Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female."

Psalms 145:9 "The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over ALL of his works."

or

Jeremiah 13:14 And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, saith the Lord: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them."

Exodus 20:5 "For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation."

or

Ezekiel 18:20 "The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father."

Matthew 5:22 "Whosoever shall say Thou fool, shall be in danger of hellfire." [Jesus speaking]

or

Matthew 23:17 "Ye fools and blind." [Jesus speaking]

Overall, Strobel finds only the information he wants to find. Note that he never interviews anyone from mainstream scientific circles (i.e. Stephen Jay Gould) concerning lifes origins. If you want to strengthen your faith this book is for you. If you want the truth, read from sources that are academically honest enough to include mainstream scholars and multipule perspectives.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Logically sound, scientifically respectable
Review: I read this book at the tail end of my "seeking" days and it was partially responsible for pushing me over that last hump into that leap of faith to become a Christian, after 52 years of Jewish atheism (No, that's not a contradiction).

As a logical, rational, reasonable "show me" person with no life-crisis around which to frantically base a death-bed conversion, Strobel's logic and research were so convincing that I can credit him (right behind the Holy Spirit) for pushing me that one last step into Christianity.

The gist of his book, which consists of archeological, medical, pathological, forensic, psychological and other evidence, plus many interviews of unbiased (and yes, some biased) scientists and theologists - is that it takes more twisting yourself into a pretzel to NOT believe that God the Father raised Jesus from the dead than it does to believe that He did. One winds up thinking, "If God can create the Universe, raising somebody from the dead is a piece of cake for God."

Strobel effectively debunks the feeble attempts by anti-Christians and atheists to explain away Jesus' resurrection, then he goes on to tell us why such attempts don't hold up under close scrutiny. His reasoning is sound.

Lifetime atheists do not abandon their convictions with ease so it took a lot of evidence to convince me of the wisdom and logic of belief in God and of Christ in particular. That is to say that reason and logic often paves the way to leaps of faith and Strobel has been there himself.

There is nothing illogical nor unreasonable about belief in Jesus, and Strobel gives every indication why that is so. His writing style is that of the journalist he once was. It's very good. Literarily, he's no Thomas Merton, but what he does he does well. He should be proud of his contribution to Christian Apologetics.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Strobel addresses some tough questions
Review: The former atheist Lee Strobel answers some of the most common objections to Christianity. For each objection Strobel gives a very scholarly answer to. Included in his responses are interviews from authorities on each issue. Some of the apologists include J.P. Moreland, William Lane Craig and Ravi Zacharias.

Some of the highlights include the objection that its offensive to claim that Jesus is the only way to God. Strobel correctly points out that every religion or belief has a claim of exclusivity. If all religions and beliefs contradict each other than they can't all be the truth. Since Jesus is the only messenger in history who rose from the dead, it put his message ahead of all others.

His chapter on hell was also excellent. I agree with him that hell is real but it is not a literal lake of fire. Hell is simply eternal separation from God. Eternal separation is the best God can do for those that reject Him. Because God respects the existence of everyone He does not annihilate those that reject him.

His chapter on the problem of evil was overall good but there were a couple of weaknesses that I know will probably not satisfy all skeptics. For instance in addressing the problem of carnivorous activity he correctly points out that God did not originally create higher animals as carnivorous. The problem is he gives the impression he accepts the big bang and with the big bang comes billions of years and a fossil record that is millions of years old with carnivorous activity going on for millions of years before man. He really should have made it more clear that big bang model simply demonstrates a crucial beginning to the universe but we need not accept all its assumptions and mechanistic timescales. The fossil record is a record of catastrophe because of man's sin not because of ages of death and disease before man's existence. Also, on the issue of free will I agree with him that free will by definition requires the possibility and certainly the existence of both good and evil. However I wish he made an attempt to explain the afterlife and how, or if, free will can exist in heaven and yet evil does not exist. But overall this book is packed with a lot great information and highly recommended.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Case for Christ
Review: This book is an honest and very readable treatment of the evidences and proofs that Jesus Christ IS the Son of God. He was a historical person confirmed by NON-Biblical writers of the time, who recorded important events of history. Jesus Christ was in fact crucified and rose from the dead three days later. THIS book is the Apologetics primer; all Christians must read today to defend our faith with love and facts. No other faith has a fraction of the documentation that Christians do not one of them!
Hindus, Buddhist, Moslems, and all people who seek a real relationship with God, must read this book. It will address all of your doubts, with hard researchable evidence.

Not only does the author have legal training (Yale) he starts out as a Skeptic (non-Believer) and discovers that Jesus Christ was God on this earth and came to save us ALL.
Read and believe, read and remove all doubts, read and remove doubts that you have not even heard about yet. Most of all read with love, and learn to love everybody as Jesus does, sinner and Saint. Use this book to spread our faith with confidence and assurance.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A good introduction to some more difficult questions.
Review: This book, in my own opinion, is a gem for those who need a place to start to think about issues such as hell, church atrocities, and so on and so forth. These issues are issues which are too often dodged by Christians, maybe because of the fear that these questions don't have much of an answer. While the questions are not completely answered here (who could answer these questions completely, anyway?), the book gives the sense that there are Christian answers which are solid in substance. I do agree with one reviewer when he says that the arguments presented in the book can be torn up rather quickly, but then again, these arguments are presented in such a way that common people can understand, and not just the academic elite. With these things in mind, the book does fill its niche rather well, and is definitely worth buying, no matter which side of the debate you are on. Yes, the book is biased, but so is ANY book you will buy, so get a few on the Christian side, get a few on the non-Christian side, and see how they stack up against each other (and don't forget to use your own brain too).

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Perfect for your non-christian friend
Review: this is perfect for the average college student. it's not too dense, but dense enough to get them thinking about it. it was an essential book in helping one of my friends come to Christ. strobel definitely has talent to portray complex philosophical ideas to the average reader. i keep several of them within reach to give to that one person that God has put on your heart.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Power of Faith
Review: This book is really great; well written and excellent layout. Someone who says Strobel puts forth weak arguements and no logic
are sadly insulting other atheists. Look in the back of the bok for yourself, he quotes quite a lot of other atheist books. I really would like everyone to read this book and see how good it really is for yourself. Faith gives people hope and makes MOST people BETTER people. Atheism has no hope within itself, atheism cheapens everything it touches. If you believe and are wrong you have lost nothing and lived a good life but if thou believest not and are wrong you have lost everything and gained nothing.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Complete poppycock
Review: In case you suspect otherwise, yes I've actually read this book; and Strobel's companion, The Case For Christ. Though it was quite a struggle to continue reading page after page of nonsense. Strobel and his "experts" selective use of facts and logic to arrive at their pre-determined conclusions is pathetic...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Concise, compelling, and convincing
Review: "The Case for Faith" takes on a seemingly impossible task -- respond to the top eight objections to Christianity in one book and yet keep it interesting, fast-paced, and easily understandable by the average person. In my view, this book succeeds in its mission! Obviously, one book cannot plumb the depths of each one of these weighty questions; if you want more information, the author suggests books that can help you delve deeper. However, this book does manage to provide well-reasoned answers at an introductory level -- answers which, in my opinion, are well articulated and convincing. Rather than have the author merely provide his own analysis, he has interviewed some brilliant scholars, including Peter Kreeft (whose chapter on pain and suffering is terrific; probably the best I've read in summary form); Ravi Zacharis (who does a great job of dealing with Christ's exclusivity claim); and Walter Bradley, who does an amazing job of showing that scientists have been unable to account for the creation of life. If you're a Christian, as I am, you'll find that this book not only increases your faith but will equip you to help your seeking friends. I've already given out several copies to people who have been asking me questions about Christianity. By the way, the author's previous book, "The Case for Christ," does a great job of setting forth the evidence for the historical Jesus.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Best For Beginners
Review: To not repeat what all the other reviewers have already said I am only going to give my unique take on the book. Overall I think this book is best for beginners. It is definitely not suited for the more advanced skeptic or Christian. Although I realize that each answer could fill up an entire volume, I still think more could have been done with some of the chapters. With that said, let me start with what I liked in the book.

For one, the author, being a former journalist, writes very well. His writing style is such that you can read the entire book in one sitting. He also gives great indexes at the end of each chapter. Giving the reader the ability to buy other books that specifically deal with that question in more detail. Another plus is that each chapter is independent of the other. So you can simply go to your favorite chapter, read it, and come back to the others if you so desire. The book also does try to answer the toughest questions. Which in and of itself is a difficult thing to do in one book. And last but not least, the author includes a short summary of The Case for Christ. Which is the historical defense of Jesus (a far better book).

To now move on to the books negatives. First let me say that I did very much enjoy Peter Kreefts chapter, who in my opinion, was the only well-rounded answerer of them all. Nonetheless, I still have some disappointments with the rest of Strobel interviews. The worst of them all, is that of Dr. Woodbridge and his answers to the history of Christianity and its violence. What frustrated me most of the chapter was that there were no [tragic] numbers given to any of the events. One searches in vain to find out exactly how many (or even an approximation) people died during each tragic event. This is especially important information since most people are extremely ignorant of the actual numbers (by comparison to other tragedies, very small). Another disappointing chapter was that of Dr. Bradley and his talk of evolution. Although I did find his summary of evolution very informative, I still wish he would have explained exactly what part of evolution contradicts Christianity (many people are not aware), and which part does not. After all, one may walk away from this chapter thinking that the Christian is (or must) arguing for the 6-day creation account in Genesis, which is definitely not the case. Another disappointing chapter was that of Dr. Craig's. Although he does lightly address the topic of miracles, his whole chapter is basically a proof for the existence of God. Another disappointing chapter was that of Dr. Moreland's. Although he did talk a little bit about a painful hell, and made interesting points on another subject, I think his whole chapter focused too much on the "you'll feel better in hell", and "you wouldn't like heaven anyway" aspect. This type of response was common from a lot of the interviews. Where your left thinking that they really never get to the heart of the objection. That they are trying to dodge around the question, never really getting at the heart of it. Or they are trying to paint Christianity in a new light, a light that has not been preached.

All in all though, the book is great for beginners, for people who want easy to understand, beginning answers to the most difficult questions against the philosophical side of Christianity. The book is not as bad as some people claim it is, but it is not as good as others claim either. A lot of it depends on your level of understanding before reading the book. So, buy it if you're a beginner, look to another book if you're a little more advanced(Greg Boyd's "Letters from a Skeptic" is a better start).


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