Customer Reviews

Beyond Opinion: Living the Faith We Defend

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(41)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Beyond Opinion is a good collection of essays united under the broad theme of Christian apologetics, with introductory remarks and a conclusion by Ravi Zacharias that lay out the specific goals and themes of the book--to show the need for apologetics and outline the different kinds one may encounter in our postmodern world.

The individual chapters showcase the expertise and first-hand knowledge of a number of respected authors and apologists, with stand-out sections by Alister McGrath, Joe Boot, John Lennox, and Zacharias himself. Among the topics covered are Islam, atheism (specifically, the virulent strain exemplified by Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins), eastern religions, science, suffering, persecution, and psychology.

The book's weaknesses are few, but obvious given the limitations of space and the breadth of the subject. Some of the material is not treated deeply enough and, in a handful of places, the essays seemed unfocused or rushed. The biggest flaw is nothing peculiar to this book, though--as with any collection of essays, some are just not as good as the others.

That said, whatever problems the book has are easily outweighed by the wealth of information and thought packed into a little over 300 pages. Beyond Opinion is an ideal introduction to apologetics for anyone interested in the defense of the faith.

Recommended.

Beyond Opinion is filled with lots of good, helpful, interesting information, if you are interested in the field of apologetics--and I am. But, I appreciated this book because it does not simply address the same topics that we encounter in all the other books on apologetics. Its fresh approach addresses issues like "Challenges from Youth" and "Challenges from Eastern Religions" and "Conversational Apologetics" and "The Trinity as a Paradigm for Spiritual Transformation" in useful and insightful ways.

Also, the various authors write with an awareness of the fact that although answering questions at an intellectual level is part of the task of apologetics, also, living as an authentic follower of Christ is a key part of the task for one who would be a defender of the faith. Ravi Zacharias addresses that matter in the introduction of the book, writing, "The ultimate calling upon the follower of Christ is to live a life reflecting who he is . . ." Joe Boot reflects that awareness, as well, writing, "few things are more obvious to those engaged in sharing and defending the faith than that the messenger and the method are as important as the message." This important awareness--that living a genuine life of faith is critical to the apologetic task--seems to come through in the writings of all the authors of the book.

The following chapters were particularly helpful . . .

"Challenges From Islam" by Sam Soloman. What Soloman writes about the Doctrine of Takkiya is quite interesting.

"Broader Cultural and Philosophical Challenges" by Joe Boot. Boot writes, "Our priority in apologetics is not to make the nonbeliever listen to us, but to help the person be ready to listen to God and be taught by him." That's a terrific thought.

"The Trinity As A Paradigm For Spiritual Transformation" by L.T. Jeyachandran.

"Book Reviews That Really Excite People" by Dan Marler.

Oh wait, that that last chapter doesn't exist. But what a thrill, if it did, huh?

A book worth reading.

All the essays are quite good but Stuart McAllister's "The Role of Doubt and Persecution in Spiritual Transformation" is alone worth the price of the book.

Overall, the book presents many unique styles for "doing" apologetics, a vast and complicated Christian discipline. Ravi Zacharias, the "godfather" of 21st century apologetics, is the driving force behind the compilation of these essays and the glue holding a rapidly-expanding international movement together. He is quite a deep thinker, as are the rest who have contributed to this book.

Shockingly revealing, too, is the essay by Jeyachandran, "Challenges From Islam."

Some greats minds have written some outstanding essays here. All these essays give the lie to the notion that Christians don't think and that their faith is somehow blind, a false notion being promulgated by vitriolic atheists like Dawkins, Dennett, Harris, Hitchens et al and swallowed whole by a large number of English-speaking readers. This book is well worth any thinker's time and money.

Those familiar with the writings of Ravi Zacharias will not be disappointed in this book, which contains insights from a number of authors, each addressing a specific area of concern to the Christian apologist in today's world. One chapter I found especially helpful, written by a Muslim convert to Christ, describes some of the teachings and debate tactics used by Muslims to make their faith seem compatible with Christianity. Some Christian leaders are making concessions to Islam on the basis of such misinformation. We must learn to share both the love and the doctrinal truth taught and exemplified by the real, historical Jesus if we are to be true disciples and good ambassadors of Christ.

I first came across Ravi Zacharias on TV conducting one of his Q&A sessions at a college. BEYOND OPINION follows the flow and substance of one of these sessions but with the kind of elaboration and elucidation that a series of 60-second sound bites does not allow. Really a series of well-thought, well-written, and well-sequenced articles by a number of apologists in addition to Zacharias, BEYOND REASON will inspire, motivate you to learn more, and challenge a lot of things you think you "know." It also makes clear those things you don't know and should. I really enjoyed this book and it makes me want to be a better Christian and to be better prepared to give a defense of the hope that is in me. THANK YOU, Ravi!

This is a collection of essays by members of the Ravi Zacharias International Ministries team. Except for two Oxford Professors - Alister McGrath and John Lennox - all the other authors are part of RZIM, working fulltime in various places around the globe.

In the fourteen essays contained here the authors seek to connect Christian apologetics with Christian living. Subtitled "Living the Faith We Defend", the heart of this book is to show that good apologetics is not just providing the right answers, but is about living a life that reflects the one we seek to defend.

The authors remind us that we are called to defend the faith, by meeting intellectual and worldview challenges. But we are also to be a living example of the faith, and show the reality of a Christ-transformed life. Providing honest answers to honest questions is obviously what apologetics is all about. But as Zacharias reminds us, "the role of the apologists is to win the person, not just the argument".

The various essays featured here cover many important areas. Some of the major topics covered include postmodernism, atheism, Islam, eastern religions, challenges from youth, challenges from science, the problem of evil and suffering, cross-cultural challenges, and the place of doubt.

One of the chapters by Zacharias, on the church's role in apologetics and the development of the mind, is alone worth the price of the book. The task of getting the church of Jesus Christ to actually use its mind for the glory of God is a most pressing need. Indeed, the title of Zacharias's radio show, "Let My People Think" has to be one of the great challenges facing believers today.

He begins the chapter by reminding us of the need to lead well-rounded apologetic lives: "I have little doubt that the single greatest obstacle to the impact of the gospel has not been its inability to provide answers, but the failure on our part to live it out."

He mentions a Hindu friend he had known long ago and his objections to the gospel. He felt Christian conversion was just a move to moral reform, without any supernatural element to it. He asked a question which really troubled Zacharias: "If this conversion is truly supernatural, why is it no more evident in the lives of so many Christians?"

Zacharias says Christians must first be willing to grapple with the difficult questions of the sceptics, and work through them ourselves. Then we must internalise the answers and live out these answers before a hurting and hungry world.

But we must not ignore or downplay the many honest questions which sceptics have. It is vital that we interact with them. "There is an exponential growth of knowledge in our time," says Zacharias, "and it is part of our Christian calling to work hard at understanding as much as we can the themes that must be addressed."

Yet this is rarely happening in the church today. Zacharias takes a dim view of the Christian mind. Walk into any Christian bookstore and the great majority of titles are simply fluff and froth, lacking in any theological or intellectual substance.

And in an age of intellectual mushiness, and a war on truth, Christians more than ever need to stand up for Christianity's absolute truth claims. Says Zacharias, "The first and foremost task of the apologist, then, is to stand for truth and to clarify the claims of the gospel."

Other chapters can be mentioned. L.T. Jeyachandran's article on Hinduism, Buddhism and the New Age Movement is a helpful and concise introduction to the Eastern worldview. Danielle DuRant's piece on idolatry and self-deception provides helpful insights and observations.

Taken together, the different parts of this book make for a powerful whole. They deal with intellectual and ideological issues, but also cover them from a personal and practical point of view. This is the way apologetics should be done: reaching both the head and the heart. This book is a most welcome addition to the apologist's library, and deserves a wide reading.

Dr. Ravi steps back and his colleagues run the gridiron of fielding tough questions returning with Rock-solid answers. This isn't some peripheral look at volatile issues such as the political pandering to Islam and its looming influence. The authors selected to handle hot topics are not only research-savvy, but have 'field' experience serving extended time with University Students & Faculty, Teen forums, etc. and have had 'hand-to-hand' encounters with (seekers and skeptics) exhibiting enormous amount of compassion for those who genuinely seek to answer burdens which burn within thier souls. This I have witnessed first-hand, with both Joe Boot and Stuart McAllister. If you are searching for a book which speaks from 'experience' and consistently holds to the Integrity of GOD's Word as the indepth reservior for parched and frustrated souls, this is the book to dive into. Leave the Osteen mantra to those interested in popcorn theology, "Beyond opinion" is the nourishment that most other sources only vaguely resemble.

I thought this book was an excellent defense of the Christian faith. It is a collection of essays from various apologists at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. Some essays are better than others, and some essays require more thought than others, but overall this book is a must-read for anyone interested in going deeper in their faith.

I particularly like the chapters titled Challenges from Science, and Challenges from Islam.

I appreciate every time I have the chance to hear Ravi Zacharias teach on Moody Radio. He makes you think and motivates you to search out truth and understanding for yourself. So, I jumped at the opportunity to read his book Beyond Opinion from Thomas Nelson Publishers. They gave me a copy of the book in exchange for my review.

First Peter 3:15 exhorts us to "set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."

Dr. Zacharias and his colleagues in Beyond Opinion equip the reader to do just what that scripture says intellectually, spiritually and relationally. In this work you get to hear from 12 other apologests besides Dr. Zacharias himself. They cover the following topics:

* Postmodern Challenges to the Bible
* Challenges from Atheism
* Challenges from Youth
* Challenges from Islam
* Challenges from Eastern Religions
* Challenges from Science
* Conversational Apologetics
* Broader Cultural and Philosophical Challenges
* Existential Challenges of Evil and Suffering
* The Trinity as a Paradigm for Spiritual Transformation
* Cross-Cultural Challenges
* The Role of Doubt and Persecution in Spiritual Transformation
* Idolatry, Denial, and Self-Deception: Hearts on Pilgrimage

In the introduction to Beyond Opinion Dr. Zacharias says,

"We are fashioned by God to be thinking and emotional creatures. The emotions should follow reason, and not the other way around."

In Beyond Opinion the reader is taught how to relate to the questioner and how to make sure that the answers are couched in a relevant context. He explains that if apologetics is to be done effectively, it won't be the experts doing it; rather, it will be me and you connecting on a personal level with those that ask us for the reason for the hope that we have.

The book is 360 pages long and is not a book you will sit down and just read through easily. However, the book is very well organized into three sections:

* Part 1: Giving an Answer. The reader will take a look at skeptics' and believers' difficult questions. "We will suggest that we cannot begin to understand these questions until we ourselves have also wrestled with them intellectually and personally.
* Part 2: Internalizing the Questions and Answers. In this section the reader takes a look at how one's answers must be internalized - the essential, lifelong process of spiritual transformation.
* Part 3: Living out the Answers. The reader begins to understand the importance of living out the answers with the compassion for the lost and a passion for the gospel.

Because there are multiple smaller chapters within each section, the reader can take a small portion at a time and not feel so overwhelmed with all the material. This is how I approached the book and it was helpful in digesting such rich information.

I highly recommend this book. It is one I will go back to often.

One last quote from Dr. Zacharias:

"I have little doubt that the single greatest obstacle to the impact of the gospel has not been its inability to provide answers, but the failure on our part to live it out."

This book was written by a team of apologists and it has some sections better than others. Such is the case with any work of art compiled by a team rather than a single person. The book's grand editor was none other than Ravi Zacharias. So even though it was worked on by an array of different talents, it was all under the grand vision of Zacharias himself.

I recommend this book to anyone who seeks to gain a better understanding on different worldviews. As many of the apologists in this book come from vastly different backgrounds, they are well versed to write on many disparate and diverse subjects. Apologetics is not about winning arguments. It is about leading people to Christ. Ravi states that the most powerful apologetic defense is understanding different worldviews and leading people to Christ through understanding.

Apostle Paul said "I am all things to all people". He was a man who understood the worldviews of his time and fearlessly brought people to Christ. The world today with all of it's cultures and ideas needs to be addressed. Beyond Opinion is not meant to give the reader an exhaustive worldview on every idea or religion in the world today. Rather, it is written tread the waters of our society today. Each of the apologists writing in the chapters focus on a particular intellectual/spiritual/emotion objection and presents the answer interwoven in the worldview that corresponds to what people experience today.