5.0 out of 5 stars A Review In Two Parts

M.E. · June 19, 2005

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } THE BOOK:I am an agnostic who is looking for something to believe in. I have searched for years now, and generally am met with lukewarm explanations and radical fundamentalism from both camps. I am not self-righteous or pig-headed enough to categorically dismiss atheist or religious arguments simply because their tone bothered me, but it does get tiresome to be on the receiving end of what is usually more bitterness and dogmatic posturing than any kind of intelligent thought or reason.Again, I'm talking about atheists as well as religious zealots.Which is why I enjoyed this book so much.This is a concise, well-crafted, thoughtful and thought-provoking piece of work. There is real insight to be gleaned from the pages, and although the sum total isn't what any open-minded person would call 100% convincing, it definitely gets much closer than anything else I've discovered.There is much talk about this book setting up straw men to be knocked down, and although the book does do that on a few occasions, it is by no means what the ultimate premise is based on. In fact, although there were some sketchy arguments and hastily covered bases, and although there were explanations missing and topics omitted, I still felt, on the whole, that it was one of the more successful books I've read from either camp.The tone (while every once in a while devolving into brief moments of snideness and cockiness) is generally quite intelligent and emotionally removed. There is little here that is bullying or smug, and for that I was grateful. It leant the text, with its vast array of debates and discussions, a snappy and no-nonsense delivery that helped elucidate the more hazily understood, philosophical explanations.Although, in the end, I wasn't entirely convinced by the book, I was pushed much closer to being convinced than I have yet by any book, religious, atheistic, or otherwise.THE CRITICS:In the course of my research, I read the reviews and the comments made by consumers on Amazon.com in order to determine how best to spend my money. I don't want to buy an atheist or christian apologetic book if what I'm going to get is watered down theories and trite cliches.At this point, I think it would be appropriate to point out that this is, in fact, a forum for discussing the merits of the product, and not the merits of the beliefs or arguments espoused within. I understand that it's hard to remove the deeper values of the work from the work itself, but it can be done. So, if, for instance, if you are an honest consumer, you can point out the cinematic brilliance of films like the Last Temptation of Christ in spite of what that film may or may not say about the religion you may or may not adhere to.I was dismayed by how many inflammatory and rather pointless criticisms I found for this book. I'd never read it, but I could tell by the tone and stance of the reviews that they were reacting more out of indignation toward the subject matter than out of any knowledge of the text itself. One reviewer scorned the book for being written by David Limbaugh, when the man only wrote the forward. Another person decried the book for being "all about politics," when, as far as I could tell, there wasn't a word about politics, just beliefs or the lack of them.If you are a critic of christianity, that's fine. Trust me, I understand your point of view. But your clumsily summarized view points and your indignant rebuttals do little to enlighten people who may be interested in buying this book. There are forums in which you can openly discuss and debate these topics, but this is not one of them. This is about saying whether or not the book is worth buying. Instead of doing that, most of you have instead attempted to explain your own beliefs, as if you want to write your own book in response to Christianity, but can't be bothered.For someone such as myself, looking for intelligent and candid help with the question of Larger Purposes (or their absence), your poorly worded rants and emotional appeals -- especially those of you wearing your rage on your sleeve -- do nothing to help me. For future reference, if you really want to help someone like me understand your points of view, instead of typing out some sloppy summation or more key-worded dismissals (argument from ignorance! straw men!), perhaps you could actually RECOMMEND A DIFFERENT BOOK.I am always on the lookout for some way to increase my knowledge of the world, and my knowledge of what that world may do to better explain the validity or non-validity of any religion. Unlike many of you, though, I haven't been convinced yet, either way. I read your reviews in the hopes that you may be able to point me down the same path that led to your own enlightenment of absolute certainty, but all most of you did was make vacuous complaints about the book and then insult people who might actually believe or buy it.So, if you've come online to write a scathing review or to tear apart the praisers of this book, go right ahead. But keep in mind that your own viewpoints -- as right or wrong as they might be -- are less welcome than your criticisms of the actual book in question. And if you DO think you've got it all figured out, and if you DON'T think this book does, you could at least try to share that knowledge by pointing someone like me in the right direction, and by doing that without the same snobbish condecension that you sometimes find in the relgious believers whom you so adamantly decry.

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding introduction to apologetics from the classical viewpoint

D.C.L. · January 28, 2011

Drs. Geisler and Turek have crafted a very succinct and wide ranging apologetic work that approaches the issue of apologetics from the classical viewpoint. When I say classical apologetics, this is as opposed to presuppositional or evidentialism. While some will defend one means of apologetics to the death over another, the basis of these different schools of apologetics is where they begin their arguments, rather than what they are defending. They all have the same goal in mind of promoting the Gospel. Classical apologetics begins with the natural world and reason, showing how different philosophically and logically based arguments prove design. The progression then moves through a variety of different paths before getting to the Bible to prove the Christian God is The Designer. This classical viewpoint is markedly different from presuppositionalism that begins with the Bible, presupposing its validity. It is also different from evidentialism in how it uses/explains miracles, although both rely on external evidence before moving to Scripture. With this short intro in mind, just know this book hails from a classical viewpoint.The book follows a general path through a 12-step argument outlined in the authors' introduction (paraphrased for brevity):1- Truth is knowable2- The opposite of true is false3- Evidence shows God truly exists--Cosmological/Teleological/Anthropic Principles/Moral Argument)4- If God exists, miracles are possible5- Miracles can be used to confirm God's message6- The NT is historically reliable--Early testimony/eyewitnesses/authentic testimony7- NT records Jesus' claims of deity8- Jesus's claims miraculously evidenced--prophecies/sinless life/prediction & accomplishment of the resurrection9- Jesus is God.10- Jesus' teachings are true11- Jesus taught that the Bible is the Word of God12- The Bible is true and opposing teachings are falseIn the authors' pursuit of the above outline, the first 200 pages cover the first 3 topics with the preponderance going to evidence of God. Throughout, the authors use a variety of references across the disciplines of science, philosophy and theology. It's quite impressive how much information they pack into such a small package without seeming to gloss over the information too quickly, or leave too many stones unturned. They even discuss the genetic improbability of evolution in enough detail for the novice to grasp the basic concepts. Very impressive!The evidence supporting the Bible's reliability/historical accuracy is impressive. In just a few short pages, the authors cover over 100 points of proven historical accuracy in both Luke's and John's Gospels. Then, the authors discuss why the Jesus Seminar cannot be correct with their late dates due to the early witnesses quoting the NT.Each chapter ends with a conclusion summarizing the contents of the chapter before pressing on to the next topic. These serve to wrap up all the evidence provided in the chapter in one coherent argument.When reading the book, I suggest a bookmark be kept in the endnote area, as the references are frequent. The amplifying information in the endnotes is very helpful. I really wish they had included them as footnotes, instead, as I hate flipping to the back of the book.Three appendices follow the logical flow of the outline that just doesn't fit in the rest of the text despite them being highly relevant questions. First, the authors discuss the problem of evil. Next, the authors answer critics that call the rest of the book "just their interpretation." Finally, the authors refute the atheist Robert Funk's Jesus Seminar's ability to speak for Jesus.Overall, this is a great place to get a full overview of a logic-based argument for the Gospel. Many might not like starting from a place other than the Bible, but with the hostility some have towards the Bible, having an understanding of how to approach apologetics in this manner can help point people to the Bible, which is where we all want to end up.

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for non believers and new believers

D.D. · June 4, 2025

The media could not be loaded. This is a great book and very well done. I think it’s appropriate for believers and non believers to read this book. It will strengthen your ability to defend your faith and give a non believer the actual facts of what we have for the Bible. It’s kind of long but actually reads pretty fast. The two writers mesh really well together. I like that it proves God exists without the bible and with the bible along with scientific evidence. The conclusion was so GOOD! It’s also a book you can refer to time after time when people ask you certain questions about Christianity in addition the graphs and charts are an awesome tool in this book, again for future reference and clear explanations. Its one of those books you can get a lot of new reading material to read from it with their references to all types of books and writings.

Systematisch en humoresk

J.B. · April 11, 2016

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Illuminante

C.F. · June 23, 2017

Il libro è arrivato il giorno dopo l'ordine e ho subito iniziato a leggerlo, libro illuminante che d'ha spiegazioni logiche e intelligenti alla fede Cristiana. Purtroppo la chiesa Cattolica continua a dire: "Misteri della fede" invece la fede è certezza di quello che si crede no misteri. Grazie agli autori per il lavoro svolto.

Good read for Atheists

N. · February 26, 2025

Amazingly good book can't recommend enough

An excellent work

I.P. · May 15, 2025

As a Catholic reader - an overall fantastic book. It was much much better than what I could have imagined. I could not believe how easily the atheistic and materialistic philosophies were so convincingly despatched with. The scientific evidences were enthralling. Out of some 444 pages there is only one small thing. In some ways it isn't negative as it highlights how beautiful the Catholic Faith is. The only thing is that there is difference when it comes to miracles. The book assigns miracles to the apostolic era. For Catholics miracles and healings occur all the time, whether from the intercession of the Saints, or directly from Christ Himself. In the lives of the saints you see saints like St Francis Xavier and St Vincent Ferrer rising so many people from the dead and other fantastic miracles.This issue aside - the book is fantastic and very faith affirming. I didn't buy it to look at the historical evidence for Christ and the Gospels and wasn't going to look read those section at but I am so glad I did. It was really incredible the level of factual detail and historical evidence that was put forward.I would say if you are drawn to this work - just do it. You will not be disappointed.

Thorough, intelligent, conversational apologetics

h. · September 24, 2025

I've only begun & this book is jam-packed with logical reasoning & argumentation presented in a clear, digestible way. I'm very pleased so far. Small print, lots to get through. Very thorough discussion.