Apologetics, Lee Strobel and others

[Ron Davis]

In reading in the book review forum about Lee Strobel's book "A Case for Christmas" I wondered how many people really find such endeavors satisfying. I have read "A Case for Christ" but haven't read any more of his books.

I find that as good as his logic and arguments are it seems there are critics that dispute many of his claims. If I wanted to go down the same path and determine who is right and wrong it might be helpful but I don't have that kind of time.

Since the Hebrew people that saw first hand the parting of the Red Sea, the pillar of fire by night and cloud by day, and manna dropped from heaven, still wandered from God I wonder what good it does to logically and physically prove the existence of God and the stories in the Bible.

[Bruce Carriker]

While I believe that Strobel's style of apologetics appeals to some, it appeals mostly to those who believe in propositional truth. I was probably one of those who would have appreciated his work ten or fifteen year ago, but I've come to believe now that once Strobel, McDowell, et al, can "prove" their propositions, then faith is no longer required.

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

I haven't read "Case for Christmas" but I have read "Case for Christ" and "Case for Faith."

Frankly, I have never thought a whole lot about Christian apologetics one way or another. It isn't my cup of tea but I can see that in a society that has so much disinformation about Christianity that there is a place for such information. The whole premise of Case for Faith was that some people have honest questions that hinder their ability to embrace Christ. For instance, the "How can a loving God send people to heaven" issue. A person from the "outside" who has never been around Christianity might have a big problem with this.

Since I am so poor at apologetics I am thankful for people who approach things from that point of view. They don't really "help" me but I can see that they might help some secular, struggling person out there.



In reading in the book review forum about Lee Strobel's book "A Case for Christmas" I wondered how many people really find such endeavors satisfying. I have read "A Case for Christ" but haven't read any more of his books.

I find that as good as his logic and arguments are it seems there are critics that dispute many of his claims. If I wanted to go down the same path and determine who is right and wrong it might be helpful but I don't have that kind of time.

Since the Hebrew people that saw first hand the parting of the Red Sea, the pillar of fire by night and cloud by day, and manna dropped from heaven, still wandered from God I wonder what good it does to logically and physically prove the existence of God and the stories in the Bible.

[Gina Stevenson]

... now here's a guy who's really good at this "stuff." You're right about its perhaps not helping "the Church." However, the church isn't where he goes ... this guy goes to many secular universities ... where it does seem to help those who have those genuine questions, not having any Christianity in their background for even a small basis to have any "faith."

Don't figure it hurts me -- or any of us -- either, to listen to Ravi, or someone similar, as a learning tool to give us some answers for those we find around us in our particular world with the same types of questions they tend to answer. Therefore, Ravi's definitely caught my ear. [edit (to ask a clarifying question): Afterall, it is about helping to get them to Him, it is not? We don't necessarily listen to apologists completely for our own good ... "others."]

gina

PS * yes, the guy can "just preach," too; first saw/heard him at a camp meeting decades ago. gs


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I haven't read "Case for Christmas" but I have read "Case for Christ" and "Case for Faith."

Frankly, I have never thought a whole lot about Christian apologetics one way or another. It isn't my cup of tea but I can see that in a society that has so much disinformation about Christianity that there is a place for such information. The whole premise of Case for Faith was that some people have honest questions that hinder their ability to embrace Christ. For instance, the "How can a loving God send people to heaven" issue. A person from the "outside" who has never been around Christianity might have a big problem with this.

Since I am so poor at apologetics I am thankful for people who approach things from that point of view. They don't really "help" me but I can see that they might help some secular, struggling person out there.

[Ian Gentles]

As interesting as these books are, its just a certain group who read them, the normal person in the street, and most often in the church, doesnt!

[Bruce Carriker]

Please don't misunderstand what I was saying. I think there is a place for Christian apologetics, particularly in ministering to well-educated non-believers. But I think that as one's faith matures, you depend less and less of attempts to empirically "prove" the existence of Jesus, the veracity of Scripture, etc.

[Paul Whitaker]

I would say that the presentation by Strobel is what I needed too many years ago. However, to read it now puts new confidence in my belief structure.

His book, The Case for Creation, would be a very good book for students in Senior Level Colloquium courses offered by Science departments.

I was a member of such a department for many years and would have been thrilled to death to have such a book for consideration during a colloquium course.

Reading books by Stroebel, et al along with viewing images from the Hubble Telescope serve to bolster my beliefs. We get both the verbal and the visual images of creation, etc.

For math/science type thinkers I believe that Strobel has many things to say.

[Billy Cox]

I have encountered people who appreciate the reassurance that Christianity is 'a reasonable faith'.

I also have observed that as people encounter Christ in their lives, these 'proofs' are less important because experience is far more difficult to disprove than arguments based on reason.

So...it's okay to get into apologetics, just don't assume that it's a mature place to live.

[Gina Stevenson]

....
So...it's okay to get into apologetics, just don't assume that it's a mature place to live.

Right! Not a place to get to, and then sit on one's haunches ... or laurels ... whatever they happen to have (sometimes one ... sometimes the other ... sometimes both). But, again, it can very much be for others ... just like other sorts of education helps one be effective in helping others. So, not to be left behind when one "matures" necessarily ... perhaps seeing to it that we understand enough apologetics with which to help others make the leap of faith which stands a better chance sometimes with a "knowing" basis for one's faith ... at least initially, with many.

Blessings at Christmas,

[Paul Whitaker]

Having read several of Strobel's books this year I am very thankful for the experience.

It may not be what he said or how he said those things I needed to hear.

As a result of reading those books I have come into a much closer relationship with Christ than before. He is Real, not to be dreamed-up or ignored.

I am not an intellectual (obviously) and do not have the gift of writing(even more obvious).

However, I have received the new relationship with Him.

Not all of the blind were healed in the same manner - but they all determined to follow Jesus.

I was partially blind in my relationship with Christ and am thankful for the manner in which He finally got my attention.

[BobHunt]

I think that Christian apologetics is the most valuable in a College or University setting, where there are people who are far more educated than you or I. Take for example Ravi Zacharius, who I love to hear. He goes to places like Oxford and many other settings of this kind to speak. To me, when I listen to him sometimes, its like he is trying to stretch my thinking. Im sure well educated people can understnd him so much better.

[William Hunter]

In reading in the book review forum about Lee Strobel's book "A Case for Christmas" I wondered how many people really find such endeavors satisfying. I have read "A Case for Christ" but haven't read any more of his books.

I find that as good as his logic and arguments are it seems there are critics that dispute many of his claims. If I wanted to go down the same path and determine who is right and wrong it might be helpful but I don't have that kind of time.

Since the Hebrew people that saw first hand the parting of the Red Sea, the pillar of fire by night and cloud by day, and manna dropped from heaven, still wandered from God I wonder what good it does to logically and physically prove the existence of God and the stories in the Bible.

Such efforts as Strobel's and others in this effort are a throw back to the modern era which started to die about 1950. Such efforts do not get very far with the postmodern culture we have today. Rather, for so many, the "proof" of God/Christ is a community of believers who live out their faith in ministry, who have a strong sense of unity, and who make others feel as though they have finally found the family they have been searching for. Robert Webber and Thom Rainer address this issue really well and make solid common sense points that we can actually see around us.

[Ron Davis]

Such efforts as Strobel's and others in this effort are a throw back to the modern era which started to die about 1950. Such efforts do not get very far with the postmodern culture we have today. Rather, for so many, the "proof" of God/Christ is a community of believers who live out their faith in ministry, who have a strong sense of unity, and who make others feel as though they have finally found the family they have been searching for. Robert Webber and Thom Rainer address this issue really well and make solid common sense points that we can actually see around us.

I would agree. I am reading Webber now after reading several Brian McClaren books. Although I don't think I can classify myself as fully postmodern I seem to fit better in that culture than I do the modern one.