Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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85 of 102 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stunning reconciliation of science and faith, March 19, 2004
By A Customer
Like a lot of people (including the author of this book!), I was turned off to faith in God because I thought Darwinism made theism obsolete. I found Phillip Johnson's book "Darwin on Trial" and Michael Denton's book "Evolution: A Theory in Crisis" helpful in refuting the fundamentals of evolutionary theory, but this book is even more powerful for several reasons.First, this book is not just a critique of Darwinism, although it does contain an excellent interview with Dr. Jonathan Wells, who pretty much decimates the idea that evolution can explain the diversity (or origin) of life. This book also builds a persuasive AFFIRMATIVE case for God from a scientific perspective. Drawing from interviews with scientists and philosophers of science, this book methodically builds the case for a creator from cosmology, physics, astronomy, biochemistry, biological information, and cognitive science, or human consciousness. By the time I finished, I felt like the verdict of "design" was pretty close to being airtight. Second, this book is actually entertaining to read! I've looked at several other books that delve into faith and science, including those that espouse the "intelligent design" perspective, and frankly they were pretty tough to slog through. In contrast, this book has energy, colorful writing, and an intriguing true-life storyline of a one-time atheistic reporter pursuing the facts. The opening chapter really grabbed me as the writer describes a newspaper assignment that confirmed his opinion (at the time) that science has dissolved theism in a vat of nitric acid. By the end of the book, he has shown quite the opposite to be true -- "science, when done right, points toward God." The interview with Dr. Stephen Meyer on the relationship between science and faith was worth the price of the book, in my opinion. If you believe, as I once did, that science and faith are in perpetual conflict, read this chapter! Meyer not only forcefully argues that science and faith actually are compatible, but he then does a phenomenal job of summarizing the evidence from science that points toward the existence of God. This chapter ought to be reproduced and distributed to every science student in the country! I highly recommend this book to anyone whose faith has been undermined by those who claim science has relegated God to the unemployment line. As this book documents, not only does science point toward a creator, but the clear-cut implications of the data are that this creator fits the description of the God of the Bible. That may seem controversial, but the facts speak for themselves. Read this book and decide for yourself.
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177 of 218 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good introductory level apologetics, March 23, 2004
Lee Strobel has written another fantastic book for the beginners-level apologist. This book turned out to be an excellent sequel to his previous two works, "The Case for Christ" and "The Case for Faith." I found the experts that Strobel interviewed to provide excellent cases for "Intelligent Design" based on data from their respective fields of study. Strobel also does a good job of keeping the book entertaining by providing the right mix of technical data and easier-to-immediately comprehend material. This is a good feature so as to keep the reader interested. It must be kept in mind that Strobel discusses 8 or 9 topics, each of which has prompted the writing of a multitude of books covering that topic alone. The reader that wants a comprehensive defense of each individual topic must look elsewhere, and Strobel, as in his previous 2 books, provides a short list of pertinent books at the end of each interview. A solid summary-defense seems to be offered in each case as well as answers to a few objections, but in the limited space devoted to each topic, it is impossible to do complete justice to all of the evidence and to answer every possible objection. One example would be in the first interview with Jonathan Wells where various common evolutionary "icons" (e.g. Java man) are discussed. Wells it seems gives the reader good reason to be skeptical of the evidential value that each icon discussed may actually have for evolutionary theory. However, not all of the icons touted by evolutionists could be discussed, and Strobel rightly concedes as much in his book. One point of this chapter, however, was to evoke a healthy skepticism and desire to scrutinize the evidence that is being touted rather than accepting it as fact uncritically, and I think that Strobel is successful in demonstrating why this should be done by the reader. For a reader wanting to become familiarized with some of the evidence for "Intelligent Design," this book is fantastic. For one wanting to delve deeply into the evidence, this book would still provide a great stepping-stone into deeper-level material, such as the books that Strobel lists at the end of each interview.
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26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Glass more than half full. , April 7, 2006
I could probably have fun criticizing this book, as some below do, if I let myself. Strobel's "ace reporter" routine can get a bit hokey, though he's generally a good writer. His
"skepticism" does appear staged, and critics who complains about the unfairness of interviewing only people who agree with you have a point. (Though it is called "the case for," not "the case for and against.") And as a Christian apologist myself, I might not above petty jealousy at Strobel's success. Beyond that, there are serious problems with the arguments in about half this book. Nevertheless, if truth is your main concern, this book is worth reading, in my opinion.
First of all, the people Strobel interviews have a lot to say. Whatever you think of their ideas, you should hear Craig, Meyer, Gonzales, Behe, Moreland, and Collins for themselves. Despite his bias, Strobel asks many of the right questions. And this may be the most accessible and personable introduction to these issues.
Secondly, the arguments given in chapters 4-7 and 9 are often enlightening, and usually convincing. In these chapters, Strobel discusses the origin of the universe, the "anthropic principle," the "just right" character of our cosmic environs, and the first origins of life. If you look over the 150 or so reviews below, you'll find that very few challenge Strobel on anything he says in these chapters -- only four, by my count, and two of those just complain that Strobel misunderstands
"imaginary numbers." (By contrast, dozens take issue with his treatment of evolution.) There are some amazing facts in these parts of the book. Clearly, many readers would be happy to prove Strobel wrong, and some of these readers seem generally well-informed. It is therefore telling that Strobel's arguments in this half the book go almost unchallenged. Having read a number of books that cover much the same territory, I think he gives a pretty good popular presentation on these subjects: simple, readable, to the point, and mostly accurate.
Strobel's discussion of evolution is something else, I agree. He talks much of gaps in the fossil record, but does not mention the plain and enormous fact that in general, the fossil record shows progress from simple to complex. And as a Christian biologist I know pointed out to Fazale Rana, you don't find fossils radically out of order -- among the critters in the Pre-Cambrian, you won't find a hamster or halibut. Again, Strobel points out that the fossils of early man could fit in a box -- but does not go on to ask, if such recent evolutionary remains are so sparse, why should the Pre-Cambrian record so long ago be anything like complete? His "spin" on the genetic similarities between man and ape -- that it is as consistent with design as with common ancestry -- is post hoc and, frankly, lame. ID does not predict that; common ancestry does. Strobel comments on whether "the evidence" supports Darwinism, but appears to know less about the matter than I do, and I'm a historian, not a scientist. (I'm still trying to make up my mind about some key questions in the debate.) It is not true (as some complain) that Strobel assumes what Wells calls the "icons of evolution" are all the evidence for evolution. But until Strobel confronts meatier evidence and refutes it, the evolution portion of his argument is useless.
Essentially, Strobel's discussion of evolution depends on argument from authority. But if a hundred "scientists" signed against evolution, hundreds named "Steve" signed another list for it. I personally know several Christian biologists who find ID wanting. The argument from authority, or Phillip Johnson-like bad-mouthing of the "atheistic" opposition, simply don't help.
In sum, this book is a mixed bag. On balance, though, I'd say the glass is more than half full.
Some of the skeptics below should be more cautious in their criticism. ("Idiotic Christians once believed the earth was flat" -- an old historical myth that Strobel actually refutes, and rightly so.) The book is a lot better than some attacks on religion I've read lately, like Sam Harris' ignorant The End of Faith, or Daniel Dennett's almost fact-free Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomena. Strobel represents skeptical ideas far more accurately, and in more detail, than those guys explain Christian views. Yet many skeptics praise those books (see the Amazon sites) without showing any sign of noticing their severe shortcomings.
Readers who would like to understand the relationship between Christianity and other religions, a topic several reviewers criticize Strobel for not addressing, will I think find my book, Jesus and the Religions of Man, worth a read.
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