The Case for Christ (1998)

Interesting interviews. This book chronicles Strobel’s quest for proof, not that Jesus existed, but that he was the son of God. I was a bit disappointed because the proof is from a legal definition rather than a scientific one.

So, a person could reject the preponderance of the evidence or refute Strobel’s subject matter experts; thereby rejecting the conclusions. From that perspective, the discussions are more about the author’s personal spiritual journey than a proving of Christianity.

Interesting to read, but by no means a presentation of fact. I guess that’s what faith is all about. ( )

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I find religion fascinating and being from England I had assumed that my school lessons about Christianity had given me a solid foundation of knowledge on the subject. As a result I have read about many of the other major religions in the world but had neglected to read further on Christianity. The synopsis for this book had me intrigued as it promised to present an evidence based exploration on the existence of Jesus.

Strobel starts off by explaining he was a crime reporter and had attended many court cases over the years as part of his job. He stated that he wanted to investigate Jesus by looking and the evidence on both sides just as they do in court. This is the first failure on his part as he only speaks to experts who support the existence of Jesus. At no point does he interview sceptics and this hurts the book in a big way in my opinion. It's not all bad though. I found the evidence presented well thought out and has inspired me to read deeper on the subject. The writing is simple enough for a layman like me to understand what is going on without it feeling too dumbed down. After finishing the book I read a rebuttal online and it revealed to me that there is a lot more to scholarly Christan knowledge than I had ever imagined. Someone with little knowledge of the minutiae (like me) could be easily swayed by many of the arguements in the book without realising there is a strong counterpoint to be made by others. I really wish this had been a more balanced book as it would have improved it greatly in my opinion. ( )

I doubt there's much I can add to what's already been said about Lee Strobel's The Case for Christ. Read it! This is a book that has the potential to change your life.

Christianity is perceived by many as something intelligent people don't take seriously (this despite the fact that many of the greatest minds in history have been Christians; but I digress). As the former legal editor at the Chicago Tribune and with a law degree from Yale, Strobel is no mental slouch, and he sets out to interview 14 experts on various aspects of Jesus's life and resurrection, as well as the Bible itself and other historical sources. His journalistic training shows not only in his bulldoggish tenacity to get to the heart of the matter, but also in his ability to tell a great story.

The Case for Christ is intended for a popular audience, yet has numerous end notes, as well as a helpful reading list for further study at the end of each chapter. (As I've noted elsewhere, "popular" and "academic" titles and topics do not have to be mutually exclusive). It is a book that can be used as a quick reference, and one that challenges you to pick it up again.

There is a reason why millions of copies of The Case for Christ have been sold. There is a reason why it has been translated into multiple languages. There is a reason why it has been made into a motion picture. That reason is the truth and clarity of its message. Read it: you will not be disappointed. ( )

When I review religious books, I feel that I should state that I am an atheist. Nonetheless, I try to review the book from the point of someone who may disagree with me. It is necessary to distinguish between "Jesus" and "Christ." I know a number of liberal Christians, and indeed, some atheists, who are certain that Jesus did exist, but they don't believe that he was the messiah, or, Christ. Some of these Christians still think that he is a prophet, even if not divine. Strobel takes a more conservative view: he is arguing that the Christian Testament can be taken literally and that Jesus is indeed the messiah.

Given the number of editions and spinoffs of this book, obviously mainly Christians find it inspiring. I am always rather annoyed with Strobel because in this and The Case for a Creator, he is falsely claiming to be asking tough questions. No, he is clearly choosing speakers who will say what he wants to hear. They have impressive credential, but they would get a lot of argument from other qualified professinals. Strobel mixes the interviews with stories from his time as a journalist, which I suppose is intended to convince the reader that he is, as he claims, asking tough questions. No, he's lobbing softballs, if not snowballs. He will tell his experts: you know, some people disagree with you, The expert will firmly announce that whoever disagrees is wrong, and as far as Strobel is concerned, that settles that. I assume many of his readers feel that same.

I would only caution believers that trying to use these arguments with knowledgeable people can be risky. The fact is that experts disagree more than Strobel lets on; believing readers who want to debate with others are poorly served by not being told this. I know a man with a Ph.D. in New Testament studies, who taught religion at a well-regarded private college, and while he believes that Jesus is a prophet, and religion is central to his life, he doesn't believe in miracles, salvation, eternal life, or even that Gods listens to prayers. He likes Paul Tillich's view of God as an impersonal being who is "Being Itself." If Strobel were to ask him, he could marshal a number of other experts to support his interpretation. The reader may find that the arguments of Strobel and his experts are not as effective with everyone as they might suppose.

My point is, before one goes out to argue as a sheep among wolves, one should know what the wolves might argue -- getting caught flat-footed is embarrassing. A lot of atheists and other non-Christians are actually quite knowledgeable. According to the Pew Forum, atheists actually score higher on tests of knowledge about Christianity than most Christians do. Look through Richard Carrier's The Case Against the the Case for Christ, just to have an idea of what one might be up against. ( )