Greetings and ignorance
This is my first post here. So I think I’ll introduce myself, my name is Andrew, I’m currently 21 years old(born in 1986), I’m currently going to college studying journalism. I also am a Christian and have been since I was 16 or 17. I bring this up because it leads me to what is going to be the main point of this post.
I was going to keep this post to introductions, but then I ran into this little article: http://ebonmusings.org/atheism/apologetics.html It’s a review of The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel(actually its several reviews, and I may take a look at some of the others at a later date, but for now I’m focusing on CFC). Oddly theres much of his review that I can agree with. I’v read all of Strobel’s books(except for Case for a Creator, because the creation/evolution debate bores me). And he’s absolutely correct that Strobel tends to simplify complex issues, and leaves out some technical information that’s vital to understanding the issues he touches upon(especially in regards to the cultural differences between the modern world and the world the Bible comes from). I’d also add that he tends to get off on tangents a lot, which can make his case difficult to follow. To that extent I can say that much of his critque of CFC is largely valid. But then I came this line that left ice tea on my keyboard from trying to hold back laughter:
do not doubt that The Case for Christ is the best that modern Christian apologia has to offer, and that speaks volumes about the weakness of their case.
If the review really believes this(and I see no reason to doubt he does), then it speaks volumes for his ignorance. Strobel’s work(including and especially CFC) is the best introduction to Christian apologetics I have found, but it is far, far from the best Christian apologists have. I doubt the review will read this blog, but if he does I’m making a list of books by far more qualified people than Strobel who attempt to demonstrait the historical truth of Christianity. Some of these names my be familar to those who’ve read his work, since they are the very people he’s interviewed for his books. But unlike an interview with a journalist a book gives them practicaly unlimited time to actually develop their thesis’s and arguments, without getting sidetracked as all conversations inevidibly do. This list is far from exahustive, but it’s a good start
N. T. Wright: Jesus and the Victory of God, The New Testament and The People of God, and The Resurrection of The Son of God
Ben Withington III’s Jesus Quest, Paul Quest and The Many Faces of Jesus(really anything by Ben Withington is excellent, but these three are his best imo).
A Marginal Jew: Parts I, II and III by J. P. Meier
Also there is some excellent apologetics work online, heres two the best imo:
http://www.christian-thinktank.com
So I challange the reviewer of CFC to take a look at some of the works listed above and tell me that it is still the best Christian apologists have to offer. And really anybody who’s interested in challanging Christianity.
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