Customer Reviews

Reasons

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Those who come to this book not willing to rationally entertain any evidence or idea that contradicts their preconceived notions (that God does not exist, evolution is absolutely true, and Jesus is just a man) will find little value in this work--or any work, for that matter, regardless of its scholarship or reliability.

Yet, the one who comes to this book as a seeker of truth and not one who believes he has absolutely already found it without question will find reasonable and rational evidence in support of the authenticity of Christianity that should be carefully considered as the search for truth continues.

It also contains some great resources on various translations of the Bible that will allow the reader to discuss the legitimacy of each based on knowledge rather than conjecture.

In summary...

Hardened skeptics will disdain its content. Devoted Christians will embrace its content. Seekers of truth will appreciate its content as a good supply of food for thought.

"Reasons" provides easily understandable refutation of Darwinism. McDowell and Stewart demonstrate the irrationality of evolution and how it flies in the face of scientific fact. Other books on the subject are more comprehensive; this book is intended as a resource for quick information. Chapters are brief and concise. Footnotes are provided for those wishing to pursue more indepth research. This book is in my top ten for easy apologetics.

Josh McDowell, organizer and minister to the Campus Crusade for Christ, co-wrote with Don Stewart, the infamous book _Reasons Skeptics Should Consider Christianity_. The introduction states that Reasons was "written to give various reasons why we believe in the inspiration of the Bible as God's message to man." Almost in anticipation of, or perhaps in guilt of their deception, the authors go on to explain that it is "not meant to be a scholarly treatise, rather is has been written to increase the understanding of the average person." This disclaimer should forewarn any serious reader right away, not because all arguments must be presented in some kind of highbrow "scholarly" manner, but because the risk for fallacy is much higher when the material is "played down" right in the introduction. _Reasons_ scarcely addresses the real concerns of skeptics at all, and the book can hardly be called apologetic in this regard.

I can't believe this rehashed stuff in support of "creation-science". Perhaps if I had not educated myself on both sides of the issue beforehand I would be easily swayed. I find it amazing this man implies he stands for truth, honesty, and integrity but of this is ultimately half-truths. I honestly wonder if these books written by McDowell are written out of scholarly intention or just to prove his ideas right. It's unfortunate McDowell's work feeds quick and easy answers to people who will readily accept anything to make them feel better.

Over half of "Reasons" is a promotion of the so-called "creation science", where MacDowell spews forth a number of arguments to try to discredit evolution. As a scientist, I was appalled to read this section, because he was so wrong on many points! MacDowell has used "evidence" which was completely discredited well before he wrote the book; he has used irrelevant points and misleading arguments; he has attempted to expose "serious problems" with evolution but failed even to acknowledge that there are even more serious problems with "creation science"; he has ridiculed evolution for past errors which have since been fixed yet failed to see that he's using creationists' errors that haven't been fixed. These are unacceptable in any book which claims to show the truth.

MacDowell asks, in the book, why more scientists don't accept creationism. The miserable scholarship in this book is a sample of the real reason why. This, I'm sorry to say, is a book to be avoided.