Choosing Your Faith: In a World of Spiritual Options [Hardcover]

Mark Mittelberg (Author), Lee Strobel (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 20, 2008

In a world of spiritual options, people constantly tell us what to believe. Yet, while we hear these pleas, we're already functioning with existing beliefs—even if they are beliefs by default. So how do we choose what to believe—especially in the area of faith? Do we need to choose? In Choosing Your Faith, Mark Mittelberg encourages us, as Socrates does, not to lead an unexamined life. He invites us to examine why we believe what we believe. This examination will resonate with Christians and seekers alike.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mark Mittelberg is a best-selling author, sought-after speaker, and a leading strategist in evangelism and apologetics-oriented outreach. He is the primary author (along with Lee Strobel and Bill Hybels) of the recently updated Becoming a Contagious Christian Training Course, through which more than a million people around the world have learned to effectively and naturally communicate their faith to others.

After receiving an undergraduate degree in business, Mark earned a Master's Degree in Philosophy of Religion from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He lives in Southern California with his wife, Heidi, and their two teenage children.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 269 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (February 20, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414315791
• ISBN-13: 978-1414315799
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #508,319 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mark Mittelberg is a best-selling author, sought-after speaker, and a leading strategist in evangelism and apologetics-oriented outreach. He is the primary author (with Lee Strobel and Bill Hybels) of the updated Becoming a Contagious Christian Training Course, through which more than a million people have learned to effectively and naturally communicate their faith to others.

Mark's newest book, The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask, is based on a survey of 1000 Christians commissioned through the Barna organization, and deals with the ten issues that believers most want to avoid--but must not! Prior to that Mark collaborated with Lee Strobel to develop The Unexpected Adventure, a six-week devotional designed to inspire Christians and churches to enter into the excitement of sharing Christ. His previous book, Choosing Your Faith ... In a World of Spiritual Options, strengthens the faith of believers and is a great resource to give to friends who are figuring out what to believe -- and he's developed a DVD study course for Christians based on that book, Faith Path: Helping Friends Find Their Way to Christ. Mark also wrote the articles for the Choosing Your Faith New Testament. His other books include the updated Becoming a Contagious Church, which sets forth an innovative blueprint for mobilizing churches for evangelism, and the classic best-seller Becoming a Contagious Christian, which he co-authored with Hybels. In addition, Mark was contributing editor for The Journey: A Bible for the Spiritually Curious, and a contributor to Reasons for Faith: Making a Case for the Christian Faith, edited by Norman Geisler and Chad Meister, and God Is Great, God Is Good: Why Believing in God Is Reasonable & Responsible, edited by William Lane Craig and Chad Meister -- which won the 2010 Christianity Today award for best book in the area of apologetics and evangelism.

Mark was the evangelism director at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago for seven years and for the Willow Creek Association for a decade. He is a frequent contributor for Outreach magazine, and he was an editorial consultant and periodic guest for Lee Strobel's Faith Under Fire television show. He and Strobel have been ministry partners for over twenty years. After receiving an undergraduate degree in business, Mark earned a Master's Degree in Philosophy of Religion from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. In recognition of his achievements in the areas of evangelism and apologetics, he was recently honored by the conferring of a Doctor of Divinity degree from Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mark and his wife, Heidi, have two teenage children, and live near Denver, Colorado.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent step-by-step thinking tool, March 17, 2008

By 

Tom Carpenter "- www.sysedco.com" (Marysville, OH) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Choosing Your Faith: In a World of Spiritual Options (Hardcover)

If you are curious as to why many have chosen Christianity over other religions this book would be an excellent read for you. Of course, it is impossible for a professed Christian to write a completely unbiased book on choosing a faith, but Mark Mittelberg does about the best that one can do. The first few chapters cover the different paths that lead one to a faith:

-Relativism
-Tradition
-Authority
-Intuition
-Mysticism
-Logic and Evidence

The author is quick to admit that Christians use all the first five methods as well as the sixth. In other words, he acknowledged that many Christians cannot give a logical reason for believing in God and they rely on tradition, authority, intuition or mysticism. If faith in the Christin God is the right faith, then it won't hurt them at all. If it is not, they are in big trouble by their own account.

The author opens his discussion on relativism by pointing out that an atheist (Richard Dawkins) was correct when he says that something is either true or not true when he was discussing religion with Bill O'Reilly and that O'Reilly was wrong when he said that Jesus was true for him. The arguments against relativism are fullproof and show that no one really believes that "all religions lead to God" (before you get upset by my comment, read the books arguments, trust me - there is no logical way to hold onto that view - you'll see).

There is no question that the author is more critical of Mormonism, Islam, and Buddhism (among others) than he is of the Christian faith. For a critical analysis of the supposed Christian faith, see Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices. You can also find books that defend these other religions. Of course, a seeker using this book's sixth method of choosing a faith (logic and evidence) would want to read such books. I have and find them insightful and also have seen a lot of errors in the traditional "Christian" faith that I no longer believe in.

Overall, I think this is one of the best religious books to come along in a long time. I highly recommend the book.

Tom Carpenter

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fair, Balanced, and Deep, June 22, 2008

By 

IndySteve - See all my reviews

This review is from: Choosing Your Faith: In a World of Spiritual Options (Hardcover)

I teach a course called Theory of Knowledge at a large public high school in the Midwest and was thrilled to find Mark's new book, which could easily be viewed as a theory of knowledge applied to the area faith. The overwhelming impression one gets from this book is that it is fair and balanced. Does Mark have a particular position regarding? Of course he does. And so does everyone as he rightly points out. Would he like for you to adopt his position? Yes, and he is upfront about that. At no time, however, does he force his position on anyone. In fact, that is the point of this book. Faith is not something that should be forced on someone or blindly and uncritically accepted. Faith, contrary to what many would think, is something that can be evaluated, analyzed, and considered in a thoughtful, intelligent, and logical manner. This idea alone should prompt even the religious skeptic to read the book. Let's face it. Christianity has earned a bad name among many because of an aggressive style of proselytizing among some of its followers. Isn't the notion of a serious, intelligent Christian who wants to explore his faith with you in a rigorous and honest way, with no hidden punches, an intriguing idea?

Mark begins by exploring the nature of faith itself, then moves into a discussion of six common paths to faith. He is quite fair in two different ways. First, he is fair in his representation of these paths to faith, frequently acknowledging where they have strengths. But he is also fair to the truth and will not shortchange the truth for the sake of political correctness. If something is wrong or inconsistent, he will draw that out. What he does not ever do, however, is ridicule any position he disagrees with. He gives it its due, points out shortcomings on solid grounds, and then moves on.

From here he moves into a discussion of the arguments for the Christian faith, including logical and scientific criteria, a solid look at the textual tradition of the Bible, and an examination of the historical and experiential criteria. He concludes with a look at barriers to belief and the benefits of choosing one's faith wisely.

Throughout Mark employs solid logic and reasoning and references some of the greatest thinkers of the ages. What I find particularly admirable is that he makes all this accessible to a broad audience. Mark's background in philosophy shines through every page, but at no time does one feel confused or bogged down by unnecessary philosophical terminology. His study informs his presentation, but never obscures it.

I would end by saying that he achieves a nearly impossible task of showing how much he cares about his readers and how committed he is to truth even when it is unpopular. He never pulls punches, yet is never offensive or arrogant in having obtained some moral high ground. Reading this book is like having a conversation with someone who is truly capable of engaging respectfully and meaningfully your most serious questions.

If you are a skeptic or someone who has been put off by Christians, read this book. Mark will treat you and your questions with the respect they deserve. If you are a Christian, read this book to learn how to respond to your questions and those of others. Read it, too, to learn how a thoughtful Christian engages matters that matter.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Choosing Your Faith - Add This One To Your Library Now!, February 21, 2008

By 

Randall Niles (Colorado Springs, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Choosing Your Faith: In a World of Spiritual Options (Hardcover)

Just when I thought we didn't need another book on comparative faith systems and Christian apologetics, here comes Mark Mittelberg and "Choosing Your Faith." I'm pumped! This is truly the book we needed to bridge the intellectual scholarship of apologists such as Craig, Geisler, and Habermas with the postmodern seeker looking for genuine connection. This is apologetics with authentic heart! This is experiential worldview application, rather than mere truth and logic. I heartily congratulate Mark on a fantastic book - I read it earlier this week and already built some of the principles into a college "Comparative Worldviews" class I taught last night. Even if you library is packed with the best in Christian apologetics and Christian worldview, add just one more - "Choosing Your Faith" by Mark Mittelberg!
Randall Niles