Rating: 
Summary: In the Tradition of C. S. Lewis
Review: A well thought out book in defense of the Christian faith. Author Josh McDowell follows in the footsteps of another great 20th Century defender of Christianity, C. S. Lewis, by offering rational answers to the troubling questions that people have about Christianity. While Lewis's "Mere Christianity" and his other books in defense of the faith are brilliant works, they can be a bit "weighty" for younger readers, or readers with no patience for longer philosophical discourses. "Answers to Tough Questions Skeptics Ask About the Christian Faith" is the short, straight scoop for a generation busy trying to sort through an overload of information, ideas, and agendas. Every Christian needs this book on her bookshelf, and every skeptic ought to consider the arguments it presents in favor of Christianity.
Rating: 
Summary: It's still just as bad
Review: After reading the book from a friend whose minister told me this will answer my questions, it doesn't. I sent him the book back with questions to be answered six months ago. I have heard nothing which is what I expected. Beware of people who don't criticize enough, they are gullible but perfect candidates for deception. This book might be good enough for them but that's okay by me. The book certainly does not reveal god to us because it's only a book about mythology. Precise example of a logical fallacy. It wasn't god but the Greeks that said the righteous will live by faith, faith is believing in something you know isn't real. That's the same level of circular reasoning I was talking about. The bible most certainly has never been proven except some instances of history. There is a reason to believe Josh and the bible, more money for guys like Josh. So the claims he presents are most certainly false. There is no other level of reasoning to buy this book or believe Josh. Josh could certainly prove his case if god did reveal himself, but Josh and I both know that won't happen. It's mythology we are talking about here. Mark_464@hotmail.com
Rating: 
Summary: Concise treatise for the Christian faith by a former Skeptic
Review: Anyone who is a real seeker of truth should read this book. Answers to Tough Questions is one of the greatest concise compilations of evidence for the Christian faith. Josh McDowell, a former skeptic himself, answers questions about the claims of Jesus Christ, His miracles, Biblical authenticity & difficulties. He contrasts Christianity with other world religions while providing historical and archeaological confirmation of the validity of the Christian faith. This book read along with "Reasons Skeptics should consider Christianity" by Josh will convince any truth-seeker that Jesus Christ is who He claimed to be....God. Josh quotes some of C.S. Lewis' writings and arguments which convince people to consider the evidence of Christianity. Lewis was a former atheist but found that after investigating the overwhelming verification of Christianity, he was dragged "kicking and screaming into the kingdom of God".
Rating:
Summary: very helpful
Review: First, I had a good idea what this book would be before I read it. And I was correct. It is a book that contains the thoughts and beliefs of a mainline, 'traditional' Christian. But as I disagree with most of the contents, I refuse to chastise the authors because of what appears to be a well-thought out apologetic defense of traditional Christianity. I tend to be on the more 'liberal' side of religion, but the danger in any difference of opinion is reducing that difference to name calling and condemnation of beliefs. We are living in a most chaotic time, with many traditional thoughts and beliefs about Christianity in particular and religion in general, being in question. The last thing we need in these times is the broadening of the gulf that seperates us all. This is a time for understanding and open dialogue without condemnation. If the authors, through their beliefs and theology have condemned those of us that do not fall within the parameters of that theology, then that is unfortunate, but after seventeen hundred years of Christian tradition and teaching, it is understandable. But for a liberal to do likewise is but adding fuel to a fire that is already threatening to consume us. We can all talk all we want, but the true measure of your belief is if you can live it. Perhaps if the folks that have a more liberal view of theology would make those views part and parcel of who they are in their daily lives, some of the barriers between us all would slowly crumble. It wasn't the 'answers' that the authors gave that were so disagreeable to me, but the thought that so much of what they addressed HAS a definite answer. But I'll say this, as much as I disagreed, the book forced me to think of why I disagreed. And that is the reason I gave it 4 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Here's Why I gave This Book 4 Stars
Review: First, I had a good idea what this book would be before I read it. And I was correct. It is a book that contains the thoughts and beliefs of a mainline, 'traditional' Christian. But as I disagree with most of the contents, I refuse to chastise the authors because of what appears to be a well-thought out apologetic defense of traditional Christianity. I tend to be on the more 'liberal' side of religion, but the danger in any difference of opinion is reducing that difference to name calling and condemnation of beliefs. We are living in a most chaotic time, with many traditional thoughts and beliefs about Christianity in particular and religion in general, being in question. The last thing we need in these times is the broadening of the gulf that seperates us all. This is a time for understanding and open dialogue without condemnation. If the authors, through their beliefs and theology have condemned those of us that do not fall within the parameters of that theology, then that is unfortunate, but after seventeen hundred years of Christian tradition and teaching, it is understandable. But for a liberal to do likewise is but adding fuel to a fire that is already threatening to consume us. We can all talk all we want, but the true measure of your belief is if you can live it. Perhaps if the folks that have a more liberal view of theology would make those views part and parcel of who they are in their daily lives, some of the barriers between us all would slowly crumble. It wasn't the 'answers' that the authors gave that were so disagreeable to me, but the thought that so much of what they addressed HAS a definite answer. But I'll say this, as much as I disagreed, the book forced me to think of why I disagreed. And that is the reason I gave it 4 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Are you kidding me?
Review: How many times do these authors appeal to Biblical authority as an answer to Tough Questions Skeptics Ask About the Christian Faith? For example, the author's first reason for the existence of God appeals to biblical authority. The authority may be warranted, as the authors believe, but the first reason is an assertion nonetheless. They might claim that it is supported, as it may be (somewhere), but it is not supported here. The second reason appeals to the authority of Jesus. They convince me that the Biblical authors, whom ever they might have been, were convinced that Jesus had been convinced that his authority was authentic. But it does not attempt an answer as to whether or not the assertion is true (which you would think would be required in an objective inquiry), perhaps because doing so would violate religious commandment that the authors seem to take seriously. But for whatever reason they may yet be right and justified for taking it seriously and I will respect that. However, since they do not support the author's depiction of Jesus' assertion, their reason for "knowing" that God exists can not be logically more convincing than any other assertion, given without supportive information, that anyone has made about anything at any point in time.
Rating:
Summary: Are you kidding me?
Review: How many times do these authors appeal to Biblical authority as an answer to Tough Questions Skeptics Ask About the Christian Faith? For example, the author's first reason for the existence of God appeals to biblical authority. The authority may be warranted, as the authors believe, but the first reason is an assertion nonetheless. They might claim that it is supported, as it may be (somewhere), but it is not supported here. The second reason appeals to the authority of Jesus. They convince me that the Biblical authors, whom ever they might have been, were convinced that Jesus had been convinced that his authority was authentic. But it does not attempt an answer as to whether or not the assertion is true (which you would think would be required in an objective inquiry), perhaps because doing so would violate religious commandment that the authors seem to take seriously. But for whatever reason they may yet be right and justified for taking it seriously and I will respect that. However, since they do not support the author's depiction of Jesus' assertion, their reason for "knowing" that God exists can not be logically more convincing than any other assertion, given without supportive information, that anyone has made about anything at any point in time.
Rating:
Summary: Good job Josh!
Review: I have not read this Josh Macdowell's book, but by seeing how some "believers" and unbelievers grind their teeth, I can only say it is a good book. If this book brings one soul to God, it has accomplished its job. Beware of people that criticize too much. Most of the time they do nothing to bring people to God, but openly criticize people who do. They claim this book is not good enough, but guess what? Nobody is good enough on God's eye. That is why He sent Jesus. That is the whole point of Jesus coming to earth. Using the Bible is circular reasoning? How can we know about God if He does not reveal Himself to us? Through our "intelligence"? "The righteous will live by faith" Rom.1:17, Hab.2:4)
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Summary: Not to be taken seriously
Review: I started reading this with great enthusiasm, since McDowell is frequently referenced as a leading apologist. I was extremely disappointed with this book. His arguments, without exception, can be summed up as "even though the Bible may appear wrong here, if you accept it as God's word, you can jump through these hoops to make it true." It is interesting to note how often McDowell expects the reader to go to extraordinary lengths to believe certain parts of the Bible (even though Mark and John give different times for the crucifixion, they are both correct because of how the Jews measured time), and accept others at face value (the world really was created in 6 days). He goes to great lengths to explain the contradictions in Genesis 1 and 2, spending 36 pages on this question alone, while barely filling 3 pages with arguments for the existence of God. But the best example of McDowell's refusal to accept reality is his contention that the earth is 6000 years old, dinosaurs were omitted from the Bible because they didn't interact with man in any significant way, men really did live to the ripe old age of 900 in Genesis, and that fossils appear in various strata because of Noah's flood. The book is difficult to take seriously. With sentences like "A handwritten manuscript is known as a manuscript." [p. 21] it becomes clear how little thought was put into the quality of the book. Reading the article on Jonah and the whale, and his use of the James Bartley urban myth, it is clear how little thought was put into the quality of the arguments. Indeed, it is a book intended for Christians who may be teetering a bit, rather than as a serious apologetics text for a skeptic. Despite the title, McDowell and Stewart have not answered any tough questions, except to their own satisfaction, and have avoided many questions altogether (such as, "Why does God seem to favor the Jews throughout the Old Testament?") Franky, they should be ashamed for their attempt to sound legitimate. I was intending to read _Evidence that Demands a Verdict_, but after reading this, I realize it would be a waste of time.
Rating: 
Summary: Circular reason worse than C.S. Lewis
Review: I will have to admit that the questions that immediatlely came to mind were answered somewhere later in the book. So he does get credit for thinking like a skeptic. However, he fails miserably at answering them. You can't answer the questions about God by citing the same book you use to believe he exists, the bible. That's a logical fallacy, the only way you know about god is to read the bible. If that book wouldn't have survived the book burnings of the past, we would have millions less christians. I noticed some people referenced C.S. Lewis, a man who simply calls good-God. That's all his writings are about, if it's good then it's from God. I think he's dyslexic or just makes typos on the word. If you read his material and simply add the letter o, you read what good truly is, not needing to say it's god but good. Josh is just as simplistic. He asserts what God has said by using mostly the Bible. You can't do that and expect any kind of credibility. Throw out the bible and most of this book has no facts to back up his answers. Several of the questions he answers he fully admits there were councils who voted on what the bible should contain. The bible was written and edited by men, nothing to do with some inspired being. The Trinity, apocrypha and other chapters were voted on by men to see if they were worthy of becoming the 66 books of the bible. If anyone considers this book a skeptical view of Christianity, they are already Christian and Josh knows it sells many books, just like C.S. Lewis. That's no different than the idea of your church passing around the collection plate, social acceptance sells and pays well.
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