Surprised by Faith

Rating:
Summary: A Great Disappointment
Review: "Surprised By Faith" is weak and superficial. With all its faults and failings "The Case For Christ" by Lee Strobel is a much better book.

Rating:
Summary: "Surprised By Faith" was a pleasant surprise!
Review: As an analytical and skeptical kind of person, I was very surprised and impressed with Dr. Bierle's book. He paints a compelling case for the rational belief in the Christian faith by using the tools of the scientist. A great book for those who seek objective truth.

Rating:
Summary: Lots of pointless diagrams!
Review: Dr. Bierle's book is a curious collection of anecdotes and diagrams with little actual content. While the book notes that he holds an M.A. and Ph.D in the life sciences, he also has a M.A. in New Testament Studies, which leads the reader to assume that all his conclusions are due to his scientific expertise. However, many of his arguments are weak, although they are accompanied by bizarre, incoherent diagrams. The copy of the book I have is a special edition printing by the Billy Graham Association, which lends the book some credit, but for the most part I found very little in the way of conclusive evidence to present to unbelievers.

Rating:
Summary: Lots of pointless diagrams!
Review: Dr. Bierle's book is a curious collection of anecdotes and diagrams with little actual content. While the book notes that he holds an M.A. and Ph.D in the life sciences, he also has a M.A. in New Testament Studies, which leads the reader to assume that all his conclusions are due to his scientific expertise. However, many of his arguments are weak, although they are accompanied by bizarre, incoherent diagrams. The copy of the book I have is a special edition printing by the Billy Graham Association, which lends the book some credit, but for the most part I found very little in the way of conclusive evidence to present to unbelievers.

Rating:
Summary: This isn't meant to be a science textbook.
Review: Fortunately, most of the people who have actually read this book can appreciate it for what it is (an understandable application of reason and logic as applied to the concept of God), as opposed to the piece of writing which some individuals incorrectly assert that Bierle was trying to write (a concise one-volume work that extensively answers every possible argument conceived by all scientific elitists). "Surprised By Faith" is an even-handed, fair look at a topic which far too many other books approach with a presupposed agenda--political, theological, or otherwise.

Sadly, a few "readers" failed to pick up on this. D. McGowan, for example, expected the wrong things from this book while simultaneously purporting the tired arguments of an overtly biased humanist (see his other reviews for further evidence of this). His review isn't entirely without merit--his writing was clear, and hopefully his opinions will help us all in one way or another--but his arguments come across as a little narrow-minded and intolerant.

The vast majority of the other reviews, however, help prove that Bierle's research has been deftly presented with a helpful dose of reality. But perhaps what makes the argument of "Surprised By Faith" most effective and indisputable is the author's personal accounts of legitimate revelation.

Rating:
Summary: "Sales-Pitch for Faith"
Review: It is always a pleasure to come across unexpectedly clear and concise arguments on a topic typically laden with poor and wishful thinking. "Surprised by Faith" is no such pleasure. It is most of all a demonstration that the title "scientist" is without meaning if the person in question only feigns scientific rigor. The arguments in this book are so disappointing, so easily refuted --- and their refutations have in some cases been sounded by far more articulate voices for over a century. Bierle makes errors not even a student of science should make, embracing unexamined assumptions that therefore lead to his predetermined hypotheses. Example: on p. 13 the author begins an especially weak argument by positing a universe in which only "soil" exists, then asking, "What is its purpose?" --- as if purpose is a necessary condition of existence. The argument proceeds through additions to this closed universe until all elements have purpose --- eventually necessitating God. This caricature of reason is not science. Unfortunately, Bierle knows that many of his potential readers have little experience with the deconstruction of argument. They trust his pose as a "scientist" and follow him into absurdity after absurdity.

One of the most serious breaches of the scientific method is his refusal to address the long history of counterarguments. Since he cannot refute them, he pretends they do not exist, depriving the reader of a truly enlightening search for the truth.

One of the finest articulations of many of the counterarguments is A.N. Wilson's "Jesus." Works such as Wilson's are an excellent tonic for the illogic and misrepresentation in Bierle's book. One particularly good comparison is their respective treatments of text reliability for the New Testament. Bierle's charts and graphs are mighty impressive to the impressionable and lend a certain aura of "science" --- until it is utterly laid waste by Wilson's mere facts.

The bibliography, filled with like-minded sources only, leaves the reader nowhere to go for a real dialogue. The greatest disservice done by the careful omission of all dissenting voices is that most readers will think there is no more to hear. There is a great deal more, including many far better Christian apologetics texts.

Rating:
Summary: "Sales-Pitch for Faith"
Review: Ohhhh, this book is so bad on so many levels I don't know where to begin. First, it's obvious the writer is no more than casually familiar with the theological, philisophical, archaeological and even scientific literature.

2nd, I'd be ashamed to be a scientist and publish something that is obviously so one sided. As correctly pointed out by other reviewers, the philosphical arguments (e.g., First Cause) have been addressed and debunked over the past 2-hundred years. The archaeological evidence that he claims shows that the bible is historically accurate have been soundly criticized. the text itself contains many internal inconsistencies, etc. This is a book of blind faith and salesmanship, not a scholarly work. Unfortunately, it pretends to be the latter

3rd. Oh yes, the author needs a refresher course in the scientific method, the historical method, the scholarship of the bible, etc., etc.

Rating:
Summary: A concise, very readable book for the seeker and/or skeptic.
Review: While there are many books in the area of Christian apologetics that go into much greater depth and detail, Dr. Bierle's book is a well-written piece delivered from a skeptics point of view. The book weaves Dr. Bierle's personal faith journey as a Ph.D. scientist who believed that science held the right answers to living life with purpose and meaning, until he studied the objective findings of archeaology and ancient manuscripts in verifying the truth of the Christian faith. Nearing 200,000 copies in print, "Surprised by Faith" is changing the lives of thousands of people around the world. Thanks to a massive distribution of the book in the summer of 1998 by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, the offices of Faith Studies International (formerly H.I.S. Ministries) where Dr. Bierle serves as Executive Director has received hundreds of letters from seekers, skeptics, cynics as well as believers telling wonderful stories of how the information presented in the book has changed their lives and the lives of loved ones in extremely positive ways. The book also serves as the main text for the seminar "The Faith Study" which has now been delivered to hundreds of churches in 16 states. Faith Studies International is a non-profit Christian organization helping churches become more efficient and effective in mobilizing their members for outreach and discipleship. Feel free to call for more information at 612-361-0850. More than that, read the book. You'll be delighted with what you learn. In my case, I read the book and got so excited, I joined the staff of Faith Studies International! Check us out.

Rev. Dale A. Witherington, Director of Ministries, Faith Studies International

Rating:
Summary: Amazing! Life-Changing Book.
Review: Written by a former skeptic, it gives a step-by-step approach to understanding the TRUTH behind Christianity. Filled with REAL EVIDENCE it is convincing to anyone who is willing to accept the truth.

Highly recommended.