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Book: The Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel
Genre: Nonfiction / Apologetics
Length: 340 pp., including appendix, discussion questions, bibliography and index
Grade: A
Amazon Summary: Strobel, whose apologetics titles The Case for Christ and The Case for Faith have enjoyed strong popularity among evangelicals, approaches creation/evolution issues in the same simple and energetic style. The format will be familiar to readers of previous Case books: Strobel visits with scholars and researchers and works each interview into a topical outline. Although Strobel does not interview any "hostile" witnesses, he exposes readers to the work of some major origins researchers (including Jonathan Wells, Stephen Meyer and Michael Behe) and theistic philosophers (including William Lane Craig and J. P. Moreland). Strobel claims no expertise in science or metaphysics, but as an interviewer he makes this an asset, prodding his sources to translate jargon and provide illustrations for their arguments. At times, the interview format loses momentum as seams begin to show between interview recordings, rewrites, research notes and details imported from his subjects' CVs (here, Strobel's efforts at buffing his subjects' smart-guy credentials can become a little too intense). The most curious feature of the book—not uncommon in the origins literature but unusual in a work of Christian apologetics—is that biblical narratives and images of creation, and the significance of creation for Christian theology, receive such brief mention. Still, this solid introduction to the most important topics in origins debates is highly accessible and packs a good argumentative punch.
My Thoughts: It's no surprise to me or the people closest to me that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This is the first actual book I've read that goes over the creation/evolution debate itself. I've read Christian apologetic books before, of course—most recently, Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis and The Reason for God: Belief in An Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller—but this is the first one that really delves deeply into the whole creation/evolution battle, and I think it explained everything a lot. This book is most definitely going to be in my possession for a long time. This is my first read of it, and I've already learned so much.
Lee Strobel is an amazing writer. Since he's a journalist, that's to be expected, but the way he explained everything in his book just felt so understandable. He tried not to use terribly big words and, as he interviewed some of the best people in scientific fields, he asked for examples to explain certain "science stuff" that normal people can't really understand in a way that even a fourteen-year-old teenage girl can understand. Not once in this book did the big words cause me to need to reach for a dictionary. Some things went slightly over my head, but that's to be expected on my first read through it. I'm certain that when I start reading this book again, as I know I will, that some of the foggier stuff will begin to make sense.
Part of the reason why I enjoyed this book so much is the way he laid it out. He didn't just cite sources. He gave us pretty much the entirety of interviews he had with numerous scientists from various fields, giving us a taste of what scientists are actually saying. And he didn't just interview one or two people. He interviewed people from various fields—cosmology, physics, astronomy, biochemistry—and areas of expertise—biological information and human consciousness—giving us a sense of what some of the smartest men in these various fields of studies think about certain issues and why they think that.
This really cemented my belief that hey, people who believe in God and reject evolution aren't as stupid as people make us out to be. We can be great thinkers, great scientists, great people. Just because we don't believe in evolution doesn't make us stupid. I am so sick of people telling me that I have ideas that are utterly ridiculous, just because I'm a strong Christian and a creationist, because... well, I have a bit more self confidence than that, and I hate it when people tell me I'm stupid, especially when I know I'm not.
This book helped me along. Now I have yet more basis to believe what I do and, regardless of what some people may say, I'm not going to go back on my beliefs just because people say they're ridiculous. I loved the way Lee Strobel laid out everything in this book. I loved the way it made so much sense, and I just know that I'll be able to explain a great majority of this to people if they ask me.
That's pretty much the main reason for liking this book. It's not the main reason—the main reason is that it is so scientifically sound—but me being able to explain my faith is such a great feeling. Admittedly, I have to learn to step back a bit and learn to act out my faith instead of explain it, but I'm going to need this knowledge. I just know I will, and I'm so lucky that I have a copy of this book to hand out to people in case they would like to read it.
However, there was one thing that set me on edge. It was the insistence of the "scientific" Big Bang that kind of made me grit my teeth. However, for me, at least, the Big Bang is a way for scientists to explain the creation of the universe in a purely naturalistic way, and you know what? I respect that. I disagree with it, personally, because I don't believe things can be explained purely by naturalistic means, but I respect the people who have an honest reason for believing in naturalism.
How odd, I know, but it's true.
And this book helped me gather my feelings on those issues. Like I've already said, it helped me formulate some of the best arguments for creation in my own mind for myself and for the people around me. This book is a great study tool, and I'm going to read it again soon. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in the creation/evolution debate and is willing to look at things with an open mind, because this is a great nonfiction book explaining this controversial issue.
Currently Reading:
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Next Up:
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
The Complete Evangelism Guidebook by Scott Dawson (editor)
Genre: Nonfiction / Apologetics
Length: 340 pp., including appendix, discussion questions, bibliography and index
Grade: A
Amazon Summary: Strobel, whose apologetics titles The Case for Christ and The Case for Faith have enjoyed strong popularity among evangelicals, approaches creation/evolution issues in the same simple and energetic style. The format will be familiar to readers of previous Case books: Strobel visits with scholars and researchers and works each interview into a topical outline. Although Strobel does not interview any "hostile" witnesses, he exposes readers to the work of some major origins researchers (including Jonathan Wells, Stephen Meyer and Michael Behe) and theistic philosophers (including William Lane Craig and J. P. Moreland). Strobel claims no expertise in science or metaphysics, but as an interviewer he makes this an asset, prodding his sources to translate jargon and provide illustrations for their arguments. At times, the interview format loses momentum as seams begin to show between interview recordings, rewrites, research notes and details imported from his subjects' CVs (here, Strobel's efforts at buffing his subjects' smart-guy credentials can become a little too intense). The most curious feature of the book—not uncommon in the origins literature but unusual in a work of Christian apologetics—is that biblical narratives and images of creation, and the significance of creation for Christian theology, receive such brief mention. Still, this solid introduction to the most important topics in origins debates is highly accessible and packs a good argumentative punch.
My Thoughts: It's no surprise to me or the people closest to me that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This is the first actual book I've read that goes over the creation/evolution debate itself. I've read Christian apologetic books before, of course—most recently, Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis and The Reason for God: Belief in An Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller—but this is the first one that really delves deeply into the whole creation/evolution battle, and I think it explained everything a lot. This book is most definitely going to be in my possession for a long time. This is my first read of it, and I've already learned so much.
Lee Strobel is an amazing writer. Since he's a journalist, that's to be expected, but the way he explained everything in his book just felt so understandable. He tried not to use terribly big words and, as he interviewed some of the best people in scientific fields, he asked for examples to explain certain "science stuff" that normal people can't really understand in a way that even a fourteen-year-old teenage girl can understand. Not once in this book did the big words cause me to need to reach for a dictionary. Some things went slightly over my head, but that's to be expected on my first read through it. I'm certain that when I start reading this book again, as I know I will, that some of the foggier stuff will begin to make sense.
Part of the reason why I enjoyed this book so much is the way he laid it out. He didn't just cite sources. He gave us pretty much the entirety of interviews he had with numerous scientists from various fields, giving us a taste of what scientists are actually saying. And he didn't just interview one or two people. He interviewed people from various fields—cosmology, physics, astronomy, biochemistry—and areas of expertise—biological information and human consciousness—giving us a sense of what some of the smartest men in these various fields of studies think about certain issues and why they think that.
This really cemented my belief that hey, people who believe in God and reject evolution aren't as stupid as people make us out to be. We can be great thinkers, great scientists, great people. Just because we don't believe in evolution doesn't make us stupid. I am so sick of people telling me that I have ideas that are utterly ridiculous, just because I'm a strong Christian and a creationist, because... well, I have a bit more self confidence than that, and I hate it when people tell me I'm stupid, especially when I know I'm not.
This book helped me along. Now I have yet more basis to believe what I do and, regardless of what some people may say, I'm not going to go back on my beliefs just because people say they're ridiculous. I loved the way Lee Strobel laid out everything in this book. I loved the way it made so much sense, and I just know that I'll be able to explain a great majority of this to people if they ask me.
That's pretty much the main reason for liking this book. It's not the main reason—the main reason is that it is so scientifically sound—but me being able to explain my faith is such a great feeling. Admittedly, I have to learn to step back a bit and learn to act out my faith instead of explain it, but I'm going to need this knowledge. I just know I will, and I'm so lucky that I have a copy of this book to hand out to people in case they would like to read it.
However, there was one thing that set me on edge. It was the insistence of the "scientific" Big Bang that kind of made me grit my teeth. However, for me, at least, the Big Bang is a way for scientists to explain the creation of the universe in a purely naturalistic way, and you know what? I respect that. I disagree with it, personally, because I don't believe things can be explained purely by naturalistic means, but I respect the people who have an honest reason for believing in naturalism.
How odd, I know, but it's true.
And this book helped me gather my feelings on those issues. Like I've already said, it helped me formulate some of the best arguments for creation in my own mind for myself and for the people around me. This book is a great study tool, and I'm going to read it again soon. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in the creation/evolution debate and is willing to look at things with an open mind, because this is a great nonfiction book explaining this controversial issue.
Currently Reading:
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Next Up:
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
The Complete Evangelism Guidebook by Scott Dawson (editor)
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no subject
Date: 2008-07-21 10:37 pm (UTC)From:Thanks for the review!
Date: 2008-07-21 11:57 pm (UTC)From: (Anonymous)no subject
Date: 2008-07-22 05:59 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2008-07-22 10:29 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2008-07-22 12:33 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2008-10-10 11:39 pm (UTC)From:Sorry if it feels like I'm spamming you, btw - I'm just commenting on any entries that catch my eye. :)
no subject
Date: 2008-10-11 01:27 am (UTC)From:And the book isn't entirely about the creation/evolution debate. It's basically going back over Lee Strobel's journey from atheism to Christianity, interviewing real scholars and such. It's not the journey (as many people tend to say it is, hence the many comments about him somehow being "biased"), but it goes back over his journey. It explores evidence for creation, basically. So it's not the debate itself, but the evidence for one side. If that makes sense. :)