Award-winning reporter and author Lee Strobel (The Case for Christ) once again uses his investigative skills to address the primary objections to Christianity. As a former atheist, Strobel understands the rational resistance to faith. He even names the eight most convincing arguments against Christian faith:

1) If there's a loving God, why does this pain-wracked world groan under so much suffering and evil?
2) If the miracles of God contradict science, then how can any rational person believe that they're true?
3) If God is morally pure, how can he sanction the slaughter of innocent children as the Old Testament says he did?
4) If God cares about the people he created, how could he consign so many of them to an eternity of torture in hell just because they didn't believe the right things about him?
5) If Jesus is the only way to heaven, then what about the millions of people who have never heard of him?
6) If God really created the universe, why does the evidence of science compel so many to conclude that the unguided process of evolution accounts for life?
7) If God is the ultimate overseer of the church, why has it been rife with hypocrisy and brutality throughout the ages?
8) If I'm still plagued by doubts, then is it still possible to be a Christian?

answers a lot of everyday questions

Being a lost and reborn, crash-and-burn-but-rebuilt believer, I found this book a very strong source of answers to questions that have once plagued believers around me. I had a Catholic friend once grow disillusioned with Christianity for the same reasons Charles Templeton did, and I did not want to face the same problems. Overall, this book really clarified all sorts of questions that seemed to challenge Christianity.

I especially liked the chapters on evolution and human suffering because of the ways that Strobel went about asking questions and presenting the material. The material was easily digestible and presented all sorts of aspects surrounding the questions.

Overall, it was a great book and I recommend it for anybody who is young in faith or anybody who's looking to find some way to anticipate questions that nonbelievers may come up with to try and undermine Christianity. This book has been a good source that strengthened my faith.

Faith or the Blind Leading the Blind?

I think if a writer undertakes to widely publicize a work intended to prove or add credibility to a belief he commits himself to doing so successfully or risks accomplishing the opposite of his intended purpose. In this case I think Mr. Strobel has weakened the cause for Christian fundamentalism as is pointed out by most of the revewers here who are not committed believers.

Nevertheless, I believe that Christianity is by far the greatest thing that has occurred in the history of mankind to further civilization on this planet. I believe it is the religion that has mostly promoted love to the world. It has shown its greatness when it stressed the love of God for His creation and the requirement of God for love for one's fellowman. It has shone brilliantly when people have forgone their pursuit of selfishness in the service of others both as individuals and in groups be it churches or otherwise. And it continues to seemingly be the best source of support and guidance for families and communities in an otherwise confused world.

However, it has shown its weaknesses and failures when its proponents have become overly fixated on interpretation, rules, rituals and exclusivity as evidenced by the Inquisition, Salem witch hunts, religious wars, etc.

Conflicts arise when others are viewed as outside or condemned. Is it any wonder then that we find the Jews, Muslims and Christians in continuous conflict with no end in sight and no sign of improvement for thousands of years? If history has a lesson it would seem to me to be saying that love, tolerance, non-judgement and acceptance is the way. If that isn't consistent with the Bible or the Koran then those teachings should be brought into question instead of continued blind following while dismissing one's questions and doubts as advocated by the proponents of these religions. How else can we ever hope for reconciliation or advancement in human society? Would God really prefer his followers to be non-questioning?

I believe this begs a re-examination of the belief. perhaps Jesus was simply the most inspired and greatest teacher of love and enlightenment the world has ever known. It is obvious from the Gospels that the disciples never really understood what He was saying. Jesus expressed his exasperation at their lack of understanding. No one was more surprise than the disciples at His death. How then can we be so sure we so clearly understand it now? Perhaps afterward looking for answers and being devout Jews they very sincerely read Him into their scriptures and the new scriptures reflect that interpretation.

After all, isn't it obvious that we are creatures of our conditioning? For the most part the people of the world reflect the beliefs of their respective cultures. Most are sincere in their pursuit of God and truly believe they are on the right path. They are simply doing the same as the Christians, following the teachings of their upbringing. My `toughest objection' regarding Christianity is not addressed by Mr. Strobel but is, what more can anyone do but be sincere? Will this loving God who created all these billions of people say to them at judgement, "Well, I'm sorry, you thought you had it right but you should have listened to the fundamentalists. Their faith was right, your faith has failed you. Too bad you were born on the wrong side of the planet, into the wrong family or that my missionaries never quite reached you. Away with you to everlasting punishment and no second chances for you either".

The Christians are the ones who claim a God of love and yet they can see no contradiction here.Yep, this requires a heap of blind faith. It does not follow sound reasoning. Some have said, "well, maybe God will judge these people based on what they know". But that would make the crucifixion meaningless because then everyone could just be judged on what they know.

One of the world's biggest problems is that which is advocated by the Jews, Muslims and Christians. Let your faith overcome any questions or doubts you have about this belief and you will be greatly rewarded by your heavenly Father for your blind acceptance or FAITH. (...)

The Case For Jehova's Witnesses

I recommend 'Evidence That Demands A Verdict' by Josh Macdowel or 'Mere Christianity' by C.S. Lewis. In this book, 'The Case For Faith', the chapter about hell claims that the bible is just a figurative book. It says there really is no weeping, gnashing of teeth, or fire in hell. They then try to 'prove' the bible condtradicts itself by bringing up the verses where the bible claims that there is fire in hell, but also that it is a place of outter darkness. Therefore, they claim, since there cannot be both fire and darkness at the same time in the same place, then the bible is contradicting itself so we cannot know what hell is like. I personally do'nt believe the bible contradicts itself. If there is fire in hell, then there is also smoke. In fact, the bible says that "...the smoke of their torment (probably speaking of the author and his false prophet buddy) arose forever and ever." Take a burning house, for example. When the fire department shows up, they use infra-red goggles to help them see through the thickness of the black smoke. There are other reasons why there could be fire in hell as well as darkness, but I'm curious as to why the author would be so willing to jump to the conclusion that the bible was merely contradicting itself. Also, I'm curious why he came up with the conclusion that the fire was the figurative part, but not the darkness. He was pretty selective with what he was trying to throw out.
They go on to tell about how they think that sinners would feel discomfort if they were in heaven because they are sinfull and God is Holy, so God lets them go to hell because He does'nt want them to feel any discomfort. Basically, heaven is for people who enjoy walking around in robes and going to church, and hell is for people who enjoy watching the football game and doing naughty stuff.
I am an avid reader of Christian books and have been for the past 12 years, and I can say with all honesty before God that this is the most terrible piece of trash I have ever read.