Defending the Faith in a Messy World A Christian Apologetics Primer

Much to the dismay of its critics, defending the Christian faith does not rest on a complicated, philosophical quest nor illogical assumptions. The task of defending the Christian faith – or Christian apologetics – is for every Believer. In this easy-to-read, beginners guide to Christian apologetics, scholar and apologist Dr. John Warwick Montgomery lays the groundwork for why the case for Christianity is factually and historically compelling as well as how we should defend the faith.

The book's three sections will lead you through the importance of Christian apologetics, issues the nonbeliever may raise, and how to bring the centrality of the faith – Christ on the cross – before atheists, skeptics and people from other worldviews.

For those who want a lighthearted yet thorough introduction to the how, why and what of Christian apologetics, this primer is a go-to guide for those who hope to “be ready always to give an answer for the faith that is within” (1 Peter 3:15). 

Part 1: Some Essential Preliminaries

1. Why This Primer?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 3
2. Why Defend the Faith—and How?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 5
3. But Aren’t All Unbelievers Blind to Evidence? . . ... . . . . . . .. . . . . 9
4. Common Sense—or Revelation?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Part 2: The Issues

1. God: Is Someone out There? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
2. Christ: Evolved Humanity or God in the Flesh?. . . ....... . . . . . . . .25
3. The Trinity: Does Three Equal One?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . .33
4. How Reliable Is the Bible? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .37
5. What about Evolution?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . .43
6. Sexual Issues: Isn’t Christianity Out-of-Date?. . . . . . . . . ...... . . . .51
7. How Can God Exist in a World of Misery?. . . . . . . . . . . ....... . . . .55
8. Hell: Only on Earth? Heaven: Pie-in-the-Sky?. . . . . . . ....... . . . . .59

Part 3: Decision Time

1. Why Not Other Worldviews?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......... . . . . . . .65
2. Doesn’t an Extraordinary Claim Require Extraordinary Evidence?. . . 71
3. A Push from Inside. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......... . . . . .75
4. But as an Agnostic, Can’t I Put off the Decision for a While?. . . . . . . .79

• Reading Can’t Hurt: Suggested Resources..........................................81
• Appendix A: How Much Evidence to Justify Religious Conversion?.... 83
• Appendix B: A Computable Universe?................................................. 99
• Appendix C: How Not to Interpret the Bible........................................ 103
• About the Author ................................................................................ 107

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