Hard Questions, Real Answers [Paperback]

William Lane Craig (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 17, 2003

Why doesn't God answer my prayers? If God is so powerful, why does evil exist? And if He is so good, why do we suffer?

Nonbelievers, and even Christians, are often troubled by questions about suffering, doubt, failure, and unanswered prayer. Yet careful, compassionate answers are hard to find, in part because evangelicals have not taken the life of the mind seriously enough. The intellectual currents of our day are just too strong for simplistic responses.

In Hard Questions, Real Answers, William Lane Craig doesn't offer trite phrases or pat answers-he offers honest insights gained from a life of study and ministry. Readers in the midst of doubt and confusion will find real answers to these perplexing questions and learn to stand on the only sure foundation for hope-God Himself. This expanded new edition includes chapters on abortion and homosexuality to help readers know how to think about these volatile social issues.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Crossway (October 17, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581344872
• ISBN-13: 978-1581344875
• Product Dimensions: 0.5 x 5.6 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #168,852 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am the Research Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, California. With my wife Jan, we have two grown children.

At the age of sixteen as a junior in high school, I first heard the message of the Christian gospel and yielded my life to Christ. I pursued undergraduate studies at Wheaton College (B.A. 1971) and graduate studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (M.A. 1974; M.A. 1975), the University of Birmingham (England) (Ph.D. 1977), and the University of Munich (Germany) (D.Theol. 1984). From 1980-86 I taught Philosophy of Religion at Trinity, during which time we started our family. In 1987 we moved to Brussels, Belgium, where I pursued research at the University of Louvain until assuming my position at Talbot in 1994.

I have authored or edited over thirty books, including The Kalam Cosmological Argument; Assessing the New Testament Evidence for the Historicity of the Resurrection of Jesus; Divine Foreknowledge and Human Freedom; Theism, Atheism and Big Bang Cosmology; and God, Time and Eternity, as well as over a hundred articles in professional journals of philosophy and theology, including Philosophia Christi, The Journal of Philosophy, New Testament Studies, Journal for the Study of the New Testament, American Philosophical Quarterly, Philosophical Studies, Philosophy, and British Journal for Philosophy of Science.

My CV can be read here: http://www.reasonablefaith.org/site/PageServer?pagename=curriculum_vitae

Publication list: http://www.reasonablefaith.org/site/PageServer?pagename=publications_main

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 57 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Even the layman can understand it March 22, 2005

By E. Johnson

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

With 2 Ph.D.'s in his hip pocket and many scholarly writings to his name, William Lane Craig could go through life as a pompous ivory tower dweller. Instead, Craig has made himself available to the common man. From the information he provided Strobel in his layperson works to works like Hard Questions, Craig is understandable for any Christian willing to hear. This is a simple, 8-chapter book that hits issues like doubt, unanswerer prayer, and suffering and evil that would be a benefit to anyone struggling with these issues. The book is not meant to be comprehensive, and certainly with only 8 topics, there is much left out of the book. But what is here is very concise and straightforward. I don't agree with Craig every step of the way, though I understand the process of his thinking. (If you have ever heard him debate, from atheists to Muslims, you would understand why it would be intimidating to disagree with him to his face!) Overall, I recommend this book--have it on the shelf--and when an issue comes up (such as abortion, homosexuality, or whether or not a person can reach God through Christ alone), you will be ready with good information.

38 of 47 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover; Take a Look at Its Author First September 9, 2005

By Goj

Format:Paperback

"Don't judge a book by its cover." Everyone has heard that phrase a few times in their life, right? Well, this book -- which upon first sight appears to be a soft evangelical text for teenagers, ala those found in your local Christian book store -- is actually very deep in its thought, and thorough with every area it covers. That is to be expected from Dr. William Lane Craig.

Craig addresses all eight subjects covered in "Hard Questions, Real Answers" very well (the two chapters on the 'problem of evil' were simply top-notch). Contrary to another reviewer who expressed a somewhat incoherent disagreement with Craig's chapter on homosexuality, I believe Craig tackled homosexuality (which is a very difficult topic in the first place) with insight, and showed none of the alleged ignorance.

He also tells of his own personal experiences in several chapters (e.g., the conversion of his two parents nearing the end of his father's life, and how his first attempt at getting a Doctorate in theology failed, despite prayer). Besides merely illustrating a topic, personal sories such as these let the reader know that Craig has experienced and is hence familiar with at least most of the subjects he writes about in his book.

In conclusion of a brief review, this is not typically the type of book one would expect from Dr. Craig, the author of such titles as "The Kalam Cosmological Argument" and "Atheism, Theism, and Big Bang Cosmology". But it is a good read nonetheless for insightful answers to a few specific (but very significant) questions.

21 of 26 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Powerful and Scholarly July 20, 2004

By David J Davis

Format:Paperback

The only reason that I haven't given this book 5 stars is because I am working under the assumption that any man-made work can be improved.

However, Craig has outdone himself with this book. Much of his earlier writing contains the same concise logic and strong argumentation, but "Hard Questions, Real Answers" accomplishes this in language anyone can understand. Perhaps this is the book's greatest strength, it does not sacrifice intellectual reasoning and Craig's ability to analyze problems from a variety of perspectives, for popular approval. I mean, it is one thing to write on the relationship of God to Time or to defend the physical resurrection of Jesus; but it is another to tackle the most complex and volatile social issues from a standpoint that is both Christian and scholarly.

Also, this book does not deal merely with 'Christian' problems. The chapters probe the depths of the modern human struggle. The chapter on failure is extremely poignant and insightful in its analysis of how one should react to and come back from personal disappointments and tragedies.

Ultimately, this book is not only a great read, it is an excellent tool for evangelism and discipleship in our postmodern world.