Evidence for God: 50 Arguments for Faith from the Bible, History, Philosophy, and Science
William Dembski and Michael Licona have pulled together a top rate group of scholars to contribute to this work.
You may be thinking what I thought when I received this book: “Not another one. Don’t we have enough of these books?”
Hold that thought.
I just got off the airplane. Sat next to Jason. Don’t know the guy, but I am glad to have met him. Quite open to spiritual things, but has the typical questions that most people in this culture have concerning religion. These all hold him back.
We talked for a while about many things. I told him why I am a Christian, about my convictions, and held back some on things that I could tell he was not ready for. However, I did want to leave him with something. I thought about the many books that I have given in the past, but none of them would have really worked with this guy (I did not have them on me anyway). Then it hit me. I have Evidence for God in my bag right here. Yes, marked up quite a bit, but it is perfect for him. I took it out and showed him the various chapter headings:
- Did Jesus really exist?
- Did Jesus really raise from the grave?
- Is Jesus really the only way to God?
- What about those who have never heard the gospel?
- Is today’s Bible what was originally written?
- What about recently publicized gospels that aren’t in the Bible?
- Is intelligent design really a credible explanation of the origins of our world?
Then I showed him the list of contributors:
- Craig L. Blomberg
- Darrell Bock
- L. Russ Bush III
- Paul Copan
- William A. Dembski
- Craig A. Evans
- Gary R. Habermas
- Guillermo Gonzalez
- Phillip E. Johnson
- Andreas J. K
- Michael R. Licona
- Paul L. Maier
- John McRay
- Nancy Pearcey
- Jay W. Richards
- Daniel B. Wallace
- Ben Witherington III
I assured him that it does not really get much better than this. These are the best questions out there with the best people answering them.
What I love about this book is that each question is answered in just a few pages. In our fast paced society, this is the way it has to go. This is tactful. It is the most clear and concise (yet impactful) book that I have seen in the area of evangelism and apologetics. As in all books, some chapters are better than others, but that is the beauty of its concise layout…you just skip to the next question/chapter!
This is my new go-to book when it comes to giving books out. Keep ten of these on you at all times. No matter what the question you or someone God puts next to you on an airplane, its a good bet this will have the answer (from a qualified scholar!)
Thanks to Mike, William and all of the contributors.
11 replies to "Book Review: Evidence for God"
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Thanks for the recommendation – downloaded and reading! Living in a post-Christian society I find apologetics helpful for the breaking down the barriers to belief. Books like this are great for clearing the ears and eyes of non-belief that have been filled with secularized straw men. I do believe that it depends on God to consummate faith for any individual but the putting forth of His people (Go!) is with the purpose of using them in this process of salvation. Be ready in season and out – don’t get shown up by a rock!
How dependent is this book on Intelligent Design? With Dembski, Johnson, and Gonzalez I’m guessing it’s quite a bit, but I’m wondering if they weren’t so forceful with it that I could give it to my scientific colleagues.
I wonder how this will go over with thoughtful non-believers? Seeing Philip Johnson on the list may impress the faithful but it sets off red flashing lights among some atheists.
Scott, with “God” in the title, that is enough to set off flashing red lights, lol. The atheists that I have spoken with believe whatever is in the heart to believe. They accept whatever they wish to accept. Books in this category are only a tool, a tool for those who are honestly searching. Still, I would like to see a more diverse panel, where are the philosophers? I mostly see ID scientists and Bible scholars.
Isn’t Dembski technically a philosopher?
Your probably right, J Paul. I guess there are those on the fence who might be interested but let’s face it, this discussion has been virtually moribund for decades. We are mostly talking past each other and to our own camp. I don’t know if there is anything that can be done when some of the arguments on both sides go back centuries. I generally settle on accommodation although I still dip my toes in the pool every once in a while.
Recently I have become interested in Christians who try to face a faith married with uncertainty head on. Michael seems to explore his own thoughts here on occasion. Jim McGrath claims to be in the thick of the process but comes across mostly as a liberal Christian. I hope that is not all this amounts to.
Copan and Dembski are philosophers…I believe.
Well, atheistic arguments can’t really go back too many years (few if any atheists dontchaknow). Historical Christian arguments involved establishing the truth of Christianity against competing religions, and is the reason that the neo-paganism that the atheists have birthed is such a good thing.
We conquered the pagan world once. We can easily do it again.
We conquered the pagan world once. We can easily do it again.
Wow. And since you have the testicular fortitude to make such a statement, do you have the mental capacity to also know your history well enough to know how you conquered the pagan world? You really willing to go that far again?
HINT: It wasn’t through scripture that Christianity conquered the pagans.
[…] started reading Evidence for God based on a review by C. Michael Patton that can be found here. When I found that it had been edited by Mike Licona—a well-known author that (I found out later) […]