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| Christian Apologetics | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (based on 27 reviews)
Sales Rank: 61897
Category: Book
Author: Norman L., Geisler
Publisher: Baker Academic
Studio: Baker Academic
Manufacturer: Baker Academic
Label: Baker Academic
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 400
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6 x 0.9
ISBN: 0801038227
Dewey Decimal Number: 239
EAN: 9780801038228
ASIN: 0801038227
Publication Date: March 1, 1988
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| Customer Reviews:
 Very Thorough June 29, 2006
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
A very thorough treatment of numerous philosophical systems. Well reasoned and complete regarding the systems addressed. One reviewer criticized Geisler for not addressing certain subjects, but that does not appear to be Geisler's intent, and is therefore an unfair criticism. That being said, I prefer Kreeft and Tacelli's book, and they do address additional questions of interest. Over all, a valuable addition to your library.
Best Apologetic Text I've Encountered March 14, 2006
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Admittedly, I'm not thoroughly read in Christian but have sufficient background to recognize Geisler as standing head and shoulders above others. I do have some criticism of this text, particularly the first several chapters. To put things briefly, Geisler is not a historian of philosophy and presents interpretations of key philosophers that are not entirely accurate in order to make his counterarguments seem more powerful. I think is important because there are stronger and more convincing readings of these philosophers that would strongly challenge Geisler's arguments. This has the unfortunate dilemma of Geisler either being unaware of what these thinkers may be saying or unable to confront these stronger arguments. Bottom line, though, pretty good stuff as long as you're not arguing with a philosophy professor.
Great text on Christian apologetics April 1, 2005
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
Dr.Geisler is a well known and respected bible scholar and apologetist. His book is used in seminary and bible colleges all over the U.S. and Canada. He is a defender of the truth of the Christian faith and world view. In this text Dr. Geisler covers these world views in his assentment and then exposes them in light of Christian world view, views like rationalism, agnosticism, fideism, experientialism, evidentialism, pragmatism, combinationalism, deism, pantheism, panentheism, atheism, theism, etc. This text will and has stand the test of time. Dr. Geisler, the church of Jesus Christ thanks you for your service to the Lord.
A true textbook of protestant apologia February 17, 2005
11 out of 13 found this review helpful
Dr. Geisler's book is excellently organized, mostly well-written, and makes a valiant effort to establish the truth of evangelical/protestant Christianity. It is by far the best book of its sort. As it draws to a close, however, the methodical march of its earlier sections begins to rush headlong to conclusions that it ultimately cannot sustain.
Dr. Geisler divides the attempt to demonstrate the truth of Christianity into three distinct sections. In the first, he attempts to find a test for truth by examining (and discarding) many of the ways that people have defined truth and reality over the centuries. He rightly perceives that to assert "Christianity is true" requires that one know what it is which makes a proposition true or false, and furthermore that one must establish that such a thing as truth exists at all.
Dr Geisler then examines a series of views about how the world really exists, and applies his test of truth to them. This section, like the first, is well-organized and has a methodical approach that is easy to follow. Yet it is here that his arguments begin to weaken. This happens for a number of reasons.
First, the test of truth that he is using to defeat these non-theistic systems of belief is not a big enough club to beat them down. He says truth is "undeniability" and falsity is "unaffirmability". One thinks of the sort of trite logical paradoxes with which Captain Kirk might try to make a robot malfunction, like "everything within these quote marks is a lie". Geisler's attempt to make it seem that his tests apply to more than such trivialities amounts mostly to hand-waving.
Secondly, take his argument against Deism. It amounts to something like "surely god wouldn't create the world and then walk away from it." Well, that argument has little to do with his test for truth and everything to do with his inherent prejudices as a Christian about what god is like. A deist might counter by saying that divine intervention amounts to petty tinkering and is uncharacteristic of a perfect god. Who knows which conception is right? Geisler's test for truth provides no guidance. This is an error he repeats in the third section, because he is too ready to skip ahead to conclusions that are easy for him to reach only because he's been believing these things for most of his life.
The third and final section is that in which, having concluded the truth of theism in the second section, he now moves on to attempt to demonstrate the truth of Christianity. Here, he loses the methodical pace of the earlier chapters and rushes headlong to his conclusion.
Many a well-read Christian trying to convince a non-believer focuses solely on the second step, proving the existence of god. Most debates between atheists and Christians tend to settle there. Geisler gives attention to the steps both before and after that one, and that makes his book a complete text. Perhaps he fails simply because his conclusions are wrong and Christianity is not true. If so, he cannot be faulted for giving the best defense of those conclusions but falling short. If not, if Christianity is true, then surely Geisler's book provides a clear roadmap for arriving at that truth.
Overall, this is a great summary of Christian apologetics that starts at ground zero and leads methodically towards its conclusion. As a skeptic who has read more than his share of Christian apologetics, I recommend this book to anyone interested in a persuasive intellectual treatment of this religion.
Comprehending The Argument December 19, 2003
8 out of 11 found this review helpful
Christian Apologetics written by Norman L. Geisler is not an easy read. Twenty years ago I had taken an introductory class in philosophy. My readings included Berkley, Kant, Hume , and Decartes. Depending heavily on lecture notes, I received B's in my reports. I have also listened to R.C. Sproul's series on Philosophy titled the Consequences of Ideas and his serious on Apologetics titled The Consequences of Ideas. I did not read R.C. Sproul's book on apologetics also titled Defending Your Faith. Geisler's book demands a more thorough understanding of critical thought than I have. The book is a text book and may be easier to understand if one has a professor guide a student through Geisler's thoughts, the other theologians thought, and philosophers cited in this book.
This book covers thoughts and philosophies in a couple of pages that the original author of these ideas took hundreds of pages to articulate and defend. Geisler also limits himself to a page or two debunking each theory. Understanding each theory was easier then comprehending the argument against. This despite my own disagreement with the original theory. Geisler's argument I usually read a second time and on occasion a third time before getting some sort of a comprehension and moving on. In the preface, the purpose of this work is to prove Jesus is the Christ and the Bible is the word of God.
The first part of the book deals with methodology; The process in determining the truth through a prior knowledge or lack of knowledge before moving forward. One must know God's attributes before one can make arguments about His existence. The discussion starts with agnosticism: The ability to know God and some of His attributes. The discusion continues in six different sections about Rationalism, Flideism, Experientialism, Evidentialism, Pragmatism and Combinationalism. These are six different arguments in how to determine truth.
The second part deals with six theories on who God is: Deism, Pantheism, Panentheism, Atheism, and Theism. Geisler calls these World views. Each has its defenders and Geisler discusses philosophers thoughts on each and makes an argument against those accept Theism. Which he defends. Which leads to the third part where he attempts to prove Christianity. By arguing for the existence for the Supernatural, the ability to know history, and the reliability of the Bible.
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