Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
 A wonderful book November 11, 2008
This book provides a logical view of Christianity in todays world. It's not pushy or condicending, "just the facts mam". Well worth the read. Well worth passing it on.
 Not Perfect, but a Worthwhile Read June 25, 2008
Lee Strobel was a journalist and former atheist who converted to Christianity. In his book "The Case for Faith" he askes Christian scholars and philosiphers eight major objections many Christians face in the world. These include topics such as pain, doubt, evolution, the eternity of hell, intolerance, and the character of God (why would He order violence). Naturally, the title itself implies that the book is in favor of faith so it is not being dishonest in that regard. Also, readers should not think that this is going to be some sort of scholarlly masterpiece taking on every objection because it isn't. So, why is it a worthy read?
First of all, Strobel is a talented author and the book has a nice flow to it. "The Case For Faith" like "The Case For Christ" is a good introduction to Christian apologetics and some of the people featured have written very good books themselves. Okay, but what about the interviews themselves. Strobel plays devil's advocate to create some opposition. Could he have been more intense? Almost certainly, though once again this is not meant to be the most detailed apopogetics book in the world. I thought the chapter on evolution was the weakest as Strobel's books often focus too much on intelligent design. I wish he would have interviewed a Christian evolutionist such as Francis Collins, Kenneth Miller, or Robert T. Bakker. Most of the rest of the book is quite good. Kreeft, Geisler, Zacharias, Woodbridge, and the others make some good points. Sometimes there arguements are better than others and I don't always agree with them. That said, this is a book which offers some interesting perspectives on important topics and has the power to get one thinking. Overall, a worthwhile read that I would recommend especially to those just getting in to Christian apologetics and young readers in particular. Just don't expect it to solve every question you have.
 good for young christians March 30, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I would recommend this book to young christians or to sceptics of Christianity that want to hear some other angles to the "problems" with faith.
 Master of Strawmen January 1, 2008
7 out of 16 found this review helpful
The premise of the book "The Case for Faith" seems to be an exploration of Biblical Christianity through its better-known proponents by a curious and impartial skeptic. Of course, that is not the case and it is only a dishonest marketing ploy to call it a journalistic investigation and a laughable ruse to say it is the toughest objections. There is an intentional and cleverly fashioned flow in the book through a sequence of interviews by a (supposedly skeptical) journalist in a deliberate progression. These interviews are used to persuade under the illusion of investigation as the author posed questions in a manner that could be dismantled by a clever apologist. Any of Strobel's questions of the apologists' theories are short and feeble, they are strawmen. If you are a believer and want to feel more reassured, then you might find it here provided you don't apply critical thought. Also, if you are a believer - ask yourself if you want to support an author and marketing staff that distorts truth for gain. If you are not a believer, you would have to lack the ability to realize fallacious arguments and strawmen to be persuaded.
Redemption and mercy are the base case for faith September 13, 2007
0 out of 7 found this review helpful
Moreland says, "In the bible, hell is separation or banishment from the beautiful being in the world-God himself. It is exclusion from anything that matters, from all value, not only from God but also from those who have come to know and love him." "Its not torture. The punishment of hell is separation from God, bring shame, anguish, and regret. And because we will have both body and soul in the resurrected state, the misery experienced can be both mental and physical."
>>Hell is painful and prior to resurrection: The part of the spirit world inhabited by the spirits of the wicked is called hell or spirit prison. In hell there is weeping and wailing and nashing of teeth.; there the fiery indigination of the wrath of God is poured out upon the wicked. D&C 19: 5. Wherefore, I revoke not the judgments which I shall pass, but woes shall go forth, weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth,yea, to those who are found on my left hand. 6. Nevertheless, it is not written that there shall be no end to this torment, but it is written endless torment. Hell is painful.
John saw that "death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them; and they were judged every man according to their works." Rev 20:13. Spiritual death is hell. David plead with the Lord not to leave his soul in hell.
>>Mercy: After the resurrection the majority of those that suffered in hell or spirit prison will pass into the telestial kingdom, "these are they who are thrust down to hell. A strong case for faith is that most of God's children will receive an inheritance in a Kingdom of Glory with various degrees, as the sands of the sea. Secondly, these souls will be helped to understand and accept their inheritance by terrestrial beings. This is mercy and telestial beings will not be in pain throughout eternity.
>>Justice and the consequence of wickness: These are they who shall not be redeemed from the devil until the Lord, even Christ the Lamb, shall have finished his work...These are they who are cast down to hell and suffer the wrath of Almighty God, until the fullness of times." D&C 76:84-85. Those in hell will not be resurrected and judged until after the millennium, punishment for lack of valiancy.
Moreland confuses hell as the final state of man, saying, "hell is the final sentence that says you refused regularly to live for the purpose for which you were made, and the only alternative is to sentence you away for all eternity." Hell in this context has finality, endless punishment, and without redemption.
>>Who goes to hell? Those that live a telestial law; the carnal, sensual, devilish, materialistic oriented, sorcerers, adulterers, false swearers, "those that oppress the hireling in his wages", and whoremongers; all nations that forget God; those that oppress the people of God, his covenant people; all those that preach false doctrine; the sectarian world. One of the snares or wiles of the devil is to convince men that there is no hell. Christ holds the keys of hell and can therefore control them and has the power to save and redeem man from hell, on conditions of repentance and obedience. "Justice and judgment are the habitation of they throne; mercy and truth shall go before thy face" ps. 8914. God has many laws. We made promises to God before our mortality. If we break those commandments and promise we will be in hell.
"Is hell a physical place?" Moreland says, "hell is probably not a location, but it's a real part of the universe. It's like you go though a door into another kind of existence." "We know that the reference to flames is figurative because if you try to take it literally, it makes no sense. For example, hell is described as a place of utter darkness and yet there are flames, too. How can that be? Flames would light things up."
>>Repentance: Once a person realize their fallen state, they are brought to a knowledge of their awful state where the demands of justice have full claim upon the creature; in the moment of humility the person sees their nothingness before God and cries mightily for the saving power of Jesus Christ. The best case for Faith is the personal experience of being ransomed by Jesus Christ from eternal pain and punishment, to sing the endless songs of praise, to the Lord and Master. Jesus Christ atoned for all mans sins providing the way to escape death and sin. The gift of the resurrection is a free gift for all men. The atonement or forgiveness of sin is conditional upon repentance and obedience to the laws of God. The Book of Mormon demonstrates numerous occasions where the Lord's prophets exposed secret combinations calling the gadianton robbers to repentance. The gadianton robbers lead to numerous civilization collapses, yet the Lord's servants cried repentance. The destruction of the wicked is not a pleasure for the Lord. Justice must be served and the wicked ripe before destruction. If the wild fruit repents and becomes tame, the Lord of the vineyard rejoices, the parable of the prodigal son. D&C 19: 15. Therefore I command you to repent-repent,lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore-how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea how hard to bear you know not. 16. For behold, I God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they repent; 17. But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; 18. Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirt-and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink. 19. Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.
>>Children under the age of accountability are not set too hell. The atonement extends grace to children and they do not go to hell, a false doctrine considered to be abominable to the Lord.
>>People will not be punished infinitely for finite crimes. If a person does not repent and become clean through Jesus Christ in this life, they will have to atone for their sins an suffer as Christ suffered which cause him to bleed at every pore. Sin is painful and mercy is joyful.
>>The principle of free agency was the nexus argument in the war in Heaven. A third chose not to follow God's laws and cast into outer darkness. Man was spirit and received a tabernacle of clay or a mortal body, as a result of keeping his first estate. We experience pain, sorrow, and suffering in mortality; but we gain confidence and comfort through the Lord's spirit because he suffered all things and can succor us. Abr 3:27. And the Lord said: Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man: Here am I, send me. And another answered and said: Here am I, send me. And the Lord said: I will send the first. 28. And the second was angry, and kept not his first estate; and, at that day, many followed after him.
>>Hindu's believe in hell.
>>Could have God forced out all the wicked who would come to earth? Not possible. However, God selected great and noble spirits as, a Grand Council in Heaven, as the inner circle.
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