Case for Christ, Revised & Updated: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus by Lee Strobel
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Summary
A seasoned journalist chases down the biggest story in history. The Project: Determine if there's credible evidence that Jesus of Nazareth really is the Son of God. The Reporter: Lee Strobel, educated at Yale Law School, award-winning former legal editor of the Chicago Tribune -- with a background of atheism. The Experts: A dozen scholars, with doctorates from Cambridge, Princeton, Brandeis, and other top-flight institutions, who are recognized authorities on Jesus. The Story: Retracing his own spiritual journey, Strobel cross-examines the experts with tough, point-blank questions: How reliable is the New Testament? Does evidence exist for Jesus outside the Bible? Is there any reason to believe the resurrection was an actual historical event? . . . This audio adaptation of Lee Strobel's remarkable Gold Medallion Award-winning book packs the energy of a captivating, fast-paced novel. But it's not fiction. It's a riveting quest for the truth about history's most compelling figure. What will your verdict be in The Case for Christ?
One major concern with this book is that the author takes on the role of a devil's advocate, arguing for an atheist position that most well-informed atheists do not actually hold - the belief that there is no God, rather than the belief that there is insufficient evidence to support the belief in God. Overall, there is a heavy reliance on emotional arguments and a failure to address or understand common objections to the presented evidence. For instance, the author does not acknowledge the idea that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, beyond what would hold up in a court of law. Additionally, there are instances where the author makes claims that are simply not true, such as declaring that "no reasonable scholars disagree" or that "the vast majority of scholars agree" on certain matters. Furthermore, the author fails to interview any individuals who hold a different perspective, despite claiming to be representing the skeptical position. In my opinion, this portrayal is poorly executed.
As a final point, I had initially been prepared to give this book four stars, even though I disagreed with it, until I reached the chapter on "finger-print evidence." The author sets up the expectation of presenting actual fingerprint evidence for Jesus, but then disappointingly switches gears by referring to it as a "metaphorical fingerprint" of Jesus fulfilling Old Testament prophecies. This level of deception is truly disappointing and feels like a book version of clickbait. If it were not for this misleading aspect, I would have been more than willing to recommend this book to those interested in apologetics, despite my disagreements with the majority of the arguments presented.
In his book, "Case for Christ, Revised & Updated: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus," Lee Strobel claims to present an unbiased investigative perspective. However, it becomes evident that his approach is limited as he solely interviews conservative scholars and dismisses alternative sources without conducting interviews. A genuine investigative reporter would explore all aspects of the subject, allowing readers to form their own conclusions. It is clear that Mr. Strobel has a hidden agenda, aiming to persuade his audience towards his conservative beliefs.
Strobel's inclination towards Christianity was clearly evident both prior to and during the writing process of this book. He engages with theological scholars who possess a clear bias towards their craft. The investigative aspect of the book can be seen as far from credible. The evidence presented to support his change of perspective lacks genuine historical foundation. If you happen to be a believer and have no desire or requirement for conversion, then this book may be suitable. Personally, I found it to be deceitful and lacking in integrity.
The author's journey in "Case for Christ, Revised & Updated: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus" is quite transformative. Initially egoistic and immoral, he found himself at a crossroads when his wife embraced Christianity. This led him to explore the morals of Christianity, although he struggled intellectually with its concepts. Seeking answers, he sought out the insights of various Christian scholars who provided him with convincing apologetics.
It would have been interesting to see the author engage with skeptical scholars and present the apologetics he encountered to atheist scholars. Unfortunately, this never materialized. Instead, he wholeheartedly accepted all the apologetics presented to him, proclaiming their validity without a shadow of doubt. Some readers may find his unwavering acceptance a bit underwhelming, with phrases like "there can be no doubt" sounding rather melodramatic.
Furthermore, the author displays an overwhelming sense of awe when a historian, writing a century after Jesus' death, mentions Jesus. This raises questions for some readers. If the evidences and apologetics are truly robust, why didn't the author have the courage to present them to a critic? What was there to fear in sharing this information?
This audiobook played a crucial role in guiding me back to my faith in Christ. It came at a time when I was living a half-hearted Christian life, merely pretending to be dedicated.
Lee appears to be selectively targeting atheistic ideas and easily dismantling them with the help of biased experts who are all apologists. The so-called "evidence" presented is exaggerated and lacks credibility. It is disappointing that no opposing experts were considered, as it would have provided a more balanced perspective on the subject matter.
As someone who does not adhere to a religious belief, I enjoy engaging with different perspectives to maintain an open mind and a well-rounded viewpoint. However, I found this particular book to be troubling as it begins each chapter by providing a detailed background of the person being interviewed, only to present weak atheist arguments as easy targets. The book then proceeds to ask these individuals if their faith was challenged or strengthened by their scholarly research, to which they always respond that their faith was strengthened. This repetitive pattern becomes tiresome. Moreover, the text contains excessive narration that focuses on irrelevant details such as office descriptions, settings, and body language, without providing much substantial content. Given these shortcomings, I cannot recommend this book to anyone.
The book was going pretty well until this particular point caught my attention...
According to the author, there is a lack of evidence to support the existence of Book of Mormon cities, people, names, artifacts, scriptures, inscriptions, and anything else that would prove its authenticity. This claim is backed by the author's correspondence with the Smithsonian, which apparently convinced him. It's disappointing to see that the author, who claims to approach the debate with critical thinking and thorough journalism, didn't bother to explore the opposing viewpoint. Had he done so, he would have realized that this quote was an exaggeration.
By stating that there has never been any evidence of the Book of Mormon, the author tries to make an absolute claim. This should raise concerns about his supposed investigative skills. There are numerous books that present evidence in support of the Book of Mormon, so it's questionable that the author solely relied on one quote from a Smithsonian historian. This shows a lack of journalistic integrity. A reporter should be willing to consider multiple perspectives.
Even a cursory examination of the topic would have revealed many scholars who present an opposing view. These scholars deserved to be acknowledged, but the author chose to present the historian's exaggerated opinion as fact. This is an example of sloppy journalism.
I recommend exploring the works of Truman Madsen, Robert Millet, and Royal Skousen, as well as organizations like FAIR Mormon and the Maxwell Institute. It's important to examine evidence both for and against the Book of Mormon to arrive at your own conclusion. Making a sweeping statement that "nothing which demonstrates that the Book of Mormon is anything other than myth or fiction has EVER been found" is simply uninformed.
Before making unfair criticisms about my faith, I would appreciate it if you actually followed through with your claims of examining both sides of the issue.
This book tackles the common doubts that non-religious individuals may have regarding the existence of Jesus as a historical figure. In simple terms, it doesn't provide enough evidence to convince someone to believe in Jesus as the Christ. I had high expectations for the book because there are logical and reasonable arguments for Jesus being a significant figure in history. If you already have faith, then give it a read. It may enhance your understanding. However, if you're not a believer yet, it's better to save your money. Instead, just ask for the truth to be revealed to you. If Jesus is truly who this book claims him to be, you will find your answer. :)
As someone who appreciates Psychology, Philosophy, Science, and my Christian beliefs, this book has provided me with a well-organized approach to addressing critiques or questions that arise regarding the origins of Christianity. Great job!
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