Customer Reviews

Faith Under Fire 1: Faith & Jesus

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"Faith and Jesus" is the first of a four-part DVD set meant to help answer some of the most pressing questions asked about the Christian faith. This particular edition is designed for small group use. Each of the four DVDs contains four individual sessions, making 16 sessions altogether. Each one deals with a particular question or objection to the Christian faith.

Taken together they provide an important Christian apologetic, dealing with the common difficulties people have with Biblical Christianity. Lee Strobel is well placed to host this serious, based as they are on his television series, Faith Under Fire. Strobel was an atheist and an investigative journalist who came to faith after an examination of the evidence.

He has penned three best selling books about his examination of the evidence: The Case for Christ, The Case for Faith, and The Case for a Creator. Each book featured interviews with recognised experts in their fields, be they theologians, philosophers, scientists, or academics.

This DVD series also features experts, but this time in debate format. Thus 13 of the episodes feature one-on-one debates, with another one being a three-way debate. Two remaining episodes feature simply a single presenter, dealing with tough questions asked about Christian faith.

The 14 actual debates are hardly one-sided. Not only are the best Christian thinkers and apologists featured - such as J.P. Moreland, Gregory Koukl, Ben Witherington, Albert Mohler and William Lane Craig.- but their opponents are first class in their fields as well, be they atheist, skeptic, Muslim or Jew. Thus leading atheist Sam Harris is featured, as is the director of the Skeptic Society, Michael Shermer. Liberal theologian John Shelby Spong is there, as are leading Muslim and Jewish apologists.

So the heavy artillery is wheeled out on both sides, and Strobel allows both camps to duly make their cases. All the sessions are brief, lasting no more than 15 minutes each. What is presented here is edited for time considerations, but the gist of each argument is featured, and time is left for group discussion about what was featured in the debates.

Study guides are included with the DVDs, and Strobel offers a concluding thought after each session. Taken together, the 16 sessions offer thought-provoking and stimulating debate and conversation. Most of the major objections to faith are covered here.

The problem of suffering and evil is covered, as is the question of the Bible's reliability, the doctrine of the Trinity, the reality of hell, and the resurrection of Christ. Other issues include: do all roads lead to God?; is the supernatural real?; do Muslims and Christians worship the same God?; and is Christianity arrogant?

Biblical Christianity never shies away from dealing with the hard questions, and those vexing questions are here in abundance. Strobel is not heavy-handed, and allows the viewers to make up their own minds on the difficult issues being addressed here. Thus this series is great for non-believers and spiritual seekers, as it is for those already in the Christian camp, looking to strengthen their own faith.

In an age where truth is frowned upon, vigorous debate is avoided, and a mushy tolerance is encouraged, these robust and challenging debates are all the more needed. It is hoped they will have a wide audience, in both Christian and secular circles.

I was disappointed with this DVD, I'm sad to say. I was a fan of the TV show, so I assumed that all of what was on the TV show would be on the DVD (or perhaps a little more). I was wrong. It was obviously (and badly) edited from what was shown on the TV show. For example, they would cut from what was previously a commercial break, but when they would start the next segment, they would be talking about things that were not included on the DVD. I thought, "This is a DVD, why are they including even less than what was on the TV show? Why aren't they including more?" I won't be buying another one.

I saw many of the TV episodes on PAX-TV and am thrilled that some f those excellent "debates" have been re-packaged as discussion starters. I purchased both the DVD and the Discussion Guide and will be using them in late December and early January with our university students during Sunday School. I recorded the audio track and have transcribed the first episode so that we have our facts straight during the discussions.