Reasons for Faith: Making a Case for the Christian Faith [Paperback]

Louis Markos (Contributor), Norman L. Geisler (Author), Chad V. Meister (Author, Editor), Norman Geisler (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 26, 2007

Many Christians want to witness for their faith, but they areafraid they will not be able to answer questions that others mayask of them. First Peter 3:15 reminds believers to always beprepared to "make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason forthe hope that is in you." Norman Geisler and Chad Meister realizethe fear of facing questions about the Christian faith. Their bookReasons for Faith gives believers grounded biblical apologetics tohelp them defend their faith.

By covering the importance of apologetics and then applyingapologetics to popular culture and theological issues, theseauthors give all Christians the tools they need to stand firm intheir faith and to be able to share that faith in today'ssociety.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Reasons for Faith, edited by Norm Geisler and Chad Meister, is a handbook for defending the biblical worldview that every pastor should have on his desk and every thoughtful layperson could study with benefit. This is a timely and timeless book."
—Charles Colson, founder, Prison Fellowship and the Colson Center for Christian Worldview

"Norman Geisler and Chad Meister have gathered together many of today's top apologists in Reasons for Faith, a fresh, new book that serves as an excellent resource for anyone seeking answers regarding matters of faith. Well-documented, yet accessible for the everyday reader, this book sets a new standard for collaborative writing in the area of apologetics. I highly recommend it!"
—John Ankerberg, Host of The John Ankerberg Show; President and Founder, The Ankerberg Theological Research Institute

"The church today faces a bewildering array of issues that challenge the truth or plausibility of Christian claims. Reasons for Faith provides an informative and helpful response to many of these issues. Even those who may not agree with every argument or conclusion will benefit from careful reading of this significant work."
—Harold J. Netland, Professor of Philosophy of Religion and Intercultural Studies and the Naomi A. Fausch Chair of Missions, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

"Chad Meister and Norm Geisler have delivered a tour de force for apologetics in Reasons for Faith, a treasure trove of rich apologetical information addressing a myriad of relevant subjects. For saints and seekers alike, this is a must read and an apologetics classic in the making."
—R. Phillip Roberts, President, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

"Provides just the formidable, relevant, wide-ranging, and winsome defense of the faith necessary to equip any believer to participate effectively in today's marketplace of ideas."
—Hank Hanegraaff, President, The Christian Research Institute, Host, Bible Answer Man

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Crossway Books (October 26, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581347871
• ISBN-13: 978-1581347876
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #340,758 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice group of essays to consider, December 28, 2007

By 

Mark J. Armstrong "mja" (Omaha, Nebraska ,United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Reasons for Faith: Making a Case for the Christian Faith (Paperback)

Reasons for faith contains a lot of background information about apologetics--a nice 400 pages in a text that feels good to handle. This work includes a thoughtful background for the reason for apologetics, about 60 pages. I like the essays on historical theology and literature's role in apologetics--more needs to be done on this topic. I was pleased that the Editor Norman Geisler offered a good chapter on the essentials of the faith. This was well written and a missing piece in many apologetics works. I found the science articles technical yet a simple sample of the standard design arguments covered in many other texts. If you want a book that goes beyond easy answers and into essays on a wide variety of topics than read this book. I'd recommend this for the seasoned apologist and maybe not for the novice.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Apologetics Handbook!, March 18, 2008

By 

Sam Ochstein (Mishawaka, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Reasons for Faith: Making a Case for the Christian Faith (Paperback)

"Reaons for Faith" is informative, thought-provoking, and relevant. What impresses me most about the book is how Geisler and Meister (editors) have succeeded in striking the difficult balance between scholarship and accessibility. There's plenty of meat to chew on for the non-specialist yet relatively informed apologist. On the other hand, the novice will find introductory chapters exlaining what apologetics is and why it's important.

The Christian who's been timid about engaging difficult questions and intellecutal obstacles will find encouragment and instruction in this book, while the open-minded seeker will find peruasive arguments for the existence of God, objective, aboslute truth, and a reponse to the problem of evil and suffering. I found the chapters critiquing many of today's major religious movements in light of Christian teaching extremely informative.

Bottom line? For all those interested in giving a defense for the hope that is them, this is a must-have handbook!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exploring a Variety of Reasons for Christian Theism, May 5, 2010

By 

Mike Robinson "Mike A Robinson: Apologetic An... (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Reasons for Faith: Making a Case for the Christian Faith (Paperback)

One spring morning in L.A. I walked to an empty field and sat down and declined on the grass to rest. I looked to my side and I focused on some blades of grass next to where I was positioned on the ground. The grass appeared blurry and unclear because it was so close to my eyes. This short-ranged focus not only strained my peepers but it made everything beyond the tip of my snout blurry and indistinct. I needed to rise up to a higher position as I adjust my sights to clear my focus, and in "Reasons for Faith: Making a Case for the Christian Faith" one can discover outstanding apologetic essays that exhibit clear precision intermixed with a few that lack lucidity for they should arise and find a loftier epistemic position. Herein prolific author Norman L. Geisler and Chad V. Meister edit a fine but at times flawed compilation of Christian apologetic essays. Geisler presents a wide variety of essential topics encased in a mostly classical and evidential approach.

Within this very readable volume one can find chapters on:

- The reason for apologetics

- Historical theology

- Essentials of the Christian faith (Geisler)

- The need for apologetics suited for young people and method one should employ (Josh McDowell)

- An appreciation of Bob Passantino by inimical anti-Van Tilian E. Calvin Beisner

- Postmodernism and Truth (JP Moreland)

- Aslan in the Public Square

- An essay opposing an inchoate version of Bahnsen's TAG by Sean Choi

- Faith and the Separation of Church and State by former evangelical Beckwith

- An exceptional but brief essay on Mormonism by Kurt Van Gorden

- And additional material.

Within the 400 pages are distinctive and important essays covering vital apologetic subjects from several top scholars. Various chapters present difficult philosophical answers in a simple-to-understand manner; this work is geared for the layman who desires short essays on wide ranging issues.

This volume is endorsed by:

- John Ankerberg

- Hank Hanegraaff

- Chuck Colson

- Harold J. Netland

- R. Phillip Roberts

This book is a collection of essays in honor of the Bob and Gretchen Passantino with the Forward by Lee Strobel.

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See the New Book that contends for the existence of God using moral absolutes by Mike Robinson:

There Are Moral Absolutes: How to Be Absolutely Sure That Christianity Alone Supplies

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or additionally see the dynamic new book on apologetics:

"Presuppositional Apologetics Examines Mormonism: How Van Til's Apologetic Refutes Mormon Theology"

or

One Way to God: Christian Philosophy and Presuppositional Apologetics Examine World Religions