Answers to Tough Questions Skeptics Ask About the Christian Faith [Mass Market Paperback]

Josh D. McDowell (Author), Don Stewart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2, 1986

The authors tackle 65 of the most-asked questions about the Bible, God, Jesus Christ, miracles, other religions, and Creation in a question-and-answer format.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

JOSH MCDOWELL is an internationally known speaker, author, and champion of the Beyond Belief Campaign. He a traveling representative of Campus Crusade for Christ speaking to more than ten million people in at least 84 countries, including 700 university & college campuses. Josh has authored or coauthored more than 90 books, including 'More Than a Carpenter' and 'The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict'. Josh and his wife Dottie, have four grown children and live in southern California.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Living Books (March 2, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 084230021X
• ISBN-13: 978-0842300216
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,946 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I am Reluctant to Join This Debate, April 1, 2000

By 

Matthew Gunia (Justice, Illinois) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Answers to Tough Questions Skeptics Ask About the Christian Faith (Mass Market Paperback)

McDowell's book has become a sort of an excuse to further their own pre-existing ideas. For this reason, I am reluctant to enter my review of this book. However, I do think I can give those considering buying this book some information. For the record, I am a devout Christian. I enjoyed reading the book and found it interestig and insightful, but I don't think I was reading it for the same reasons as others. I did not read it in order to "arm" myself as I argue God's existance with unbelievers. I did not read it because the book is somewhat fluffy and I could easily argue that McDowell presents shoddy research. I read it simply because I am a Christian and I desired a little more insight into the faith to which I subscribe. Here are some of My Brief Answers to Frequently Asked Questions:

Will this book sufficiently arm me as I do battle with Unbelievers?: Probably not Is this book intened to be the end-all, be-all, convincing me that God definately does exist?: Probably not. Is the research thorough and clearly preented: Not really. If I do not believe in God, will it cause me to question my non-belief a little bit?: Quite possibly.

The reason (I believe) McDowell wrote this book is so that unbelievers would critically think about their faith or lack thereof. The breity and simplicity of the book make it very inviting. Putting myself in the unbeliever's shoes, if I decided it would benefit me to read an apologist's book, I think I'd rather spend very little time doing it then a great deal of time, making McDowell's book all the more inviting. Furthermore, to refute McDowell's arguments, I'd be forced to study history and the Bible more. Imagine that.

So, McDowell's ulterior motive is to get unbelievers to feel a little uncomfortable and make an attempt to reaffirm their belief that there is no God (or at least no Christian God)through researching Biblical truths and the Bible. If we learn a little about McDowell, he was an athiest who was challenged to research Biblical truths in order to refute them and wound up convincing himself that the Bible is true and that God does indeed exist. Do you think he might be hoping the same thing will happen to other unbelievers who pick this book up? To sum everything up this book will be good for you if you read it for the "right" reasons. I enjoyed it and recommend it for a light read.

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars OK for beginners, October 6, 2000

By 

E. Johnson (El Cajon, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Answers to Tough Questions Skeptics Ask About the Christian Faith (Mass Market Paperback)

When this book was written 14 years ago, it was much-needed, and I used it a number of times to help in my research of certain questions. However, in 2000, there are so many other books like this available today that are much more detailed and better organized. Several include When Skeptics Ask and When Critics Ask by Norman Geisler. Even McDowell's A Ready Defense is better than the Answers book. But if you are looking for a simple beginner's manual, then I suppose this could be very useful to you. It's small, inexpensive, and McDowell is very clear about his answers. For many, though, a good look through the apologetics section of Amazon or any Christian bookstore worth its salt will turn up better choices.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In the Tradition of C. S. Lewis, December 15, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Answers to Tough Questions Skeptics Ask About the Christian Faith (Mass Market Paperback)

A well thought out book in defense of the Christian faith. Author Josh McDowell follows in the footsteps of another great 20th Century defender of Christianity, C. S. Lewis, by offering rational answers to the troubling questions that people have about Christianity. While Lewis's "Mere Christianity" and his other books in defense of the faith are brilliant works, they can be a bit "weighty" for younger readers, or readers with no patience for longer philosophical discourses.

"Answers to Tough Questions Skeptics Ask About the Christian Faith" is the short, straight scoop for a generation busy trying to sort through an overload of information, ideas, and agendas. Every Christian needs this book on her bookshelf, and every skeptic ought to consider the arguments it presents in favor of Christianity.