Writer and Teacher
Posts tagged Apologetics
Responses to the New Atheism
Feb 15th
Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Sam Harris have published best-selling books advocating atheism and attacking religion in general and Christianity in particular.
Evangelical scholars have responded to these atheistic critics. Even though at times these authors have more bombast than substance, Christians need to be aware of these enemies of the Christian faith and be prepared to give an answer to this “new atheism.”
Gary R. Habermas, “The Plight of the New Atheism: A Critique,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 51 (December 2008), 813-827.
William Lane Craig and Chad Meister, eds., God Is Great, God Is Good: Why Believing in God Is Reasonable and Responsible (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2009).
Paul Copan and William Lane Craig, eds., Contending with Christianity’s Critics: Answering New Atheists & Other Objectors (Nashville: B & H Publishing Group, 2009)
Ravi Zacharias, The End of Reason: A Response to the New Atheists (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2008)
R. Albert Mohler, Jr., Atheism Remix: A Christian Confronts the New Atheists (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2008)
David Marshall, The Truth Behind the New Atheism: Responding to the Emerging Challenges to God and Christianity (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2007)
Alister McGrath and Joanna Collicutt McGrath, The Dawkins Delusion? Atheist Fundamentalism and the Denial of the Divine (London: SPCK, 2007).
Forthcoming;
Phillip E. Johnson and John Mark Reynolds, Against All Gods: What’s Right and Wrong About the New Atheism (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2010).
Resources for Preparing for and Surviving Spiritually at College
Feb 3rd
J. Budziszewski, How to Stay Christian in College: An Interactive Guide to Keeping the Faith (Think, 2004). A former atheist and radical, now professor at the university of Texas, gives straight advice on different worldviews and myths that students encounter at college.
Alex McFarland, Stand Strong in College (Tyndale House, 2007). Apologetics youth expert helps the student prepare for the academic, social, emotional, and spiritual challenges he or she will face. Geared to high school students.
Jonathan Morrow, Welcome to College: A Christ-Follower’s Guide for the Journey (Kregel, 2008). This guidebook provides wisdom from biblical truth and practical experience. It discusses intellectual challenges, financial problems, sexual snares, getting enough sleep and more.
Abby Nye, Fish Out of Water (Green Forest, AR: New Leaf Press, 2005). The author tells of her story of facing the anti-Christian atmosphere and pressures she experienced at Butler University and how she survived with her faith intact.
James W. Sire, Chris Chrisman Goes to Colleges: And Faces the Challenges of Relativism, Individualism and Pluralism (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1993). Fictional account of three young men at college and how they confronted the dominant ideologies of the secular university.
David Wheaton, University of Destruction: Your Game Plan for Spiritual Victory on Campus (Bethany House, 2005). Professional tennis player and speaker relates his experience at Stanford University. He identifies perils faced in sex, alcohol/drugs, and humanism and gives a game plan for surviving spiritually.
Where Is God When We Suffer? Soon Available in Russian
Jan 4th
Last year Sergei Golovin, president of the Christian Center for Science and Apologetics (http://www.scienceandapologetics.org/engin.html) requested permission to translate and publish Where Is God When We Suffer? What the Bible Says About Suffering. The book has been translated and is now available in the Russian language. My Christianity Stands True has been in Russian for several years. Dr. Golovin, a scientist, was converted to Christ and has devoted the last several years to a ministry of building faith in God, Christ, and the Bible among his people. He wrote the following comment about Where Is God When We Suffer?
The Good News of Suffering—Lynn Gardner’s Book in Russian
by Sergei Golovin
The people of The Soviet Union have experienced a great exodus from the Egypt of communism and atheism into the desert of democracy. Now, twenty years later, flourishing enthusiasm is replaced with general apathy and disappointment with religion. Wrong expectations were never met, right expectations were not developed. There is an issue however nobody is indifferent to—the issue of pain and suffering. That makes Dr. Gardner’s book, Where Is God When We Suffer? an extremely effective tool for proclaiming Good News of Jesus in the postcommunist part of the world.
Some books on the issue of suffering comfort a reader. Some explain suffering. Some explore the biblical view of it. Some tell how to cope with suffering and help others. The book by Dr. Gardner shows the issue from all these viewpoints. The book is not just theoretical reasoning, but is written out of the personal experience of the author who has suffered a lot. Instead of aborting the human race because of sin God’s plan allowed suffering in the world with the goal of redeeming the fallen world through his sharing suffering at the Cross. The Cross of Christ is the only way to overcome suffering. Clear focus on Christ makes this book on suffering a vehicle for the Good News.
C. S. Lewis, Apologist—a Bibliography
Dec 12th
C. S. Lewis may well be the most influential twentieth century English language apologist. The following resources provide information and perspective on his apologetics.
Baggett, David, Gary R. Habermas and Jerry L. Walls, eds. C. S. Lewis as Philosopher: Truth, Goodness and Beauty. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2008.
Burson, Scott R. and Jerry L. Walls. C. S. Lewis & Francis Schaeffer: Lessons for a New Century from the Most Influential Apologists of Our Time. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1998.
Cunningham, Richard B. C. S. Lewis: Defender of the Faith. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2008 reprint of 1967 ed.
Dorsett, Lyle W. Seeking the Secret Place: The Spiritual Formation of C. S. Lewis. Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2004.
Downing, David C. The Most Reluctant Convert: C. S. Lewis’s Journey to Faith. Downers Grove: Inter Varsity Press, 2002.
Duriez, Colin. “Lewis, C. S.” New Dictionary of Christian Apologetics, W. C. Campbell-Jack and Gavin McGrath, eds. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2006, 402-403.
Duriez, Colin. The C. S. Lewis Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to His Life, Thought, and Writings. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1990.
Farrer, Austin. “The Christian Apologist,” Light on C. S. Lewis, ed. Jocelyn Gibb. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1965, 23-43.
Geisler, Norman L. “Lewis, C. S.,” Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1999, 420-425.
Kilby, Clyde S. The Christian World of C. S. Lewis. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1964.
Lindsley, Art. C. S. Lewis’s Case for Christ: Insights from Reason, Imagination and Faith. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2005.
Lindskoog, Kathryn Ann. C. S. Lewis: Mere Christian. Glendale: G/L Publications, 1973.
Macdonald, Michael H. and Andrew A. Tadie, eds. G. K. Chesterton and C. S. Lewis: The Riddle of Joy. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989.
Purtill, Richard L. C. S. Lewis’s Case for the Christian Faith. San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1981.
Walsh, Chad. C. S. Lewis: Apostle to the Skeptics. New York: Macmillan, 1949.
Walsh, Chad. The Visionary Christian. Touchstone Books, 1996.
Dinnertable Apologetics
Sep 9th
Jeff Vines in Dinner with Skeptics: Defending God in a World that Makes No Sense tells of a fascinating dinner conversation he had with unbelievers in New Zealand. The story revolves about a young lady named Laura who was living away from God but was helped to ask her deepest questions and find solid answers in Christian faith.
I first heard Jeff tell this story at the Preaching-Teaching Convention at Ozark Christian College in Joplin. I then read an abbreviated story in the Christian Standard. Now you can learn a practical approach to defending the faith in this book-length version.
Vine’s book reads like a fast-moving novel. It is interesting, entertaining, and informative. For more information see www.collegepress.com.
Common Skeptical Objections to Christianity
Sep 6th
Timothy Keller in his well-written The Reason for God (Dutton, 2008) lists the seven most common questions/objections he has encountered from skeptics in his successful ministry in New York City.
- There Can’t Be Just One True Religion
- How Could a Good God Allow Suffering?
- Christianity Is a Straitjacket
- The Church Is Responsible for So Much Injustice
- How Can a Loving God Send People to Hell?
- Science Has Disproved Christianity
- You Can’t Take the Bible Literally
Keller gives helpful responses to these objections.
Recently I have been doing research on the history of apologetics. Most of these objections have been voiced by skeptics through the centuries and answered by Christian apologists. As times and conditions change new dress is given to these questions. We must make intelligent and fresh responses to the specific questions being asked.
As postmodernism has become more widespread the first objection, “There Can’t Be Just One True Religion,” has become more prominent. Also since 9/11 the fourth objection, “The Church Is Responsible for So Much Injustice,” has been voiced more frequently by skeptics. However Christians need to be prepared to respond to each of these seven.
Local churches, campus ministries, and youth ministries could develop a series of seven classes preparing believers to respond to these objections. A sermon series could be developed dealing with these issues.
Evidence for the Resurrection
May 15th
If Jesus rose from the dead, Christianity is true. If he did not, Christianity is nonsense. Jesus’ deity and role as Savior as well as the gospel message depend upon his resurrection. This important issue demands we give our best and most serious attention to the evidence. Convincing evidence establishes beyond a reasonable doubt that Jesus of Nazareth rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion.
Exhibit A: Witnesses
Four eyewitnesses of the risen Christ—Matthew, John, Peter, and Paul—record written testimony within 20 to 60 years after the event. Luke and Mark affirm the resurrection in their Gospels receiving information from eyewitnesses. Other eyewitnesses saw Jesus alive—the 11 apostles, five specific women, Cleopas and a friend, James and more than 500 brethren (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20, 21, Acts 1, 1 Corinthians 15). More >
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