In our day and time, the need for solid Christian apologetics is great. With the continued rise of false religion, it is becoming more and more necessary for a clearly articulated and straight-forward defense of God’s Word to be put before this false teaching. In their new book, “Reasons for Belief; Easy to Understand Answers to 10 Essential Questions”, authors Norman Geisler and Patty Tunnicliffe have written such a book. In tackling these ten questions, they are in essence, dealing with the ten “straw-man” arguments that non-believers give as their “reasons” for unbelief. The ten challenges are:

1. “Real truth does not exist. ‘Truth’ is just truth to you.” 2. “God does not exist.” 3. If God exists, he isn’t necessarily the God of the Bible.” 4. “Miracles don’t happen.” 5. The New Testament’s many errors make it unreliable. It’s more like a collection of myths and legends.” 6. “Jesus never claimed to be God.” 7. “Jesus didn’t prove he is God.” 8. “Jesus did not rise from the dead.” 9. “The Bible isn’t the only true religious book.” 10. “Christianity is too narrow. There are many ways to God besides Jesus.”

From the beginning, the writers share how they will approach these challenges. They write, “We’ll approach this as a defense attorney would when seeking to prove a defendant innocent of a charge. They’d present solid evidence. They’d establish a fact-based alibi. To prove innocence beyond a reasonable doubt, they might appeal to fibers, prints, marks, tracks, even DNA. We’ll look at many facts. We’ll examine eyewitness accounts. We’ll appeal to science, to history and archaeology, and to prophecy. We’ll appeal to manuscript evidence and more.” Their chart on p.13 shows, in reverse order, this case-building process. Their responses to the ten challenges are, in order:

1. Truth exists and we can know it. 2. God exists 3. He is the God of the Bible. 4. Miracles are possible. 5. The New Testament is reliable. 6. Jesus claimed to be God. 7. Jesus proved to be God. 8. Jesus rose from the dead. 9. The Bible is the only true holy book. 10. Jesus is the only way to God.

The design of this book is beautiful. In each chapter, the argument against belief is presented, given in the form of a potential problem. Then, the writers lay out arguments; theological, scientific that refutes the problem at hand. At the end of the chapter, the natural and logical conclusions are drawn from the evidence. Throughout the book, the writers focus on four major worldviews: Pantheism, Atheism, Deism, and Theism. They filter all the evidence through these worldviews and allow the reader to see the only accurate biblical worldview is Theism. The most help tool in this book is the multiple charts that are included. The charts cover topics such as prophecies, religious comparisons, miracles, truth claims, and may others. Although written by a scholar, it is not written over the head of the average Christian wanting to know more on how to defend their faith. Smart. Informative. Sharp. Go read it.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”