I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist

by Norman Geisler and Frank Turek, Crossway Books, a
division of Good News Publishers,
ISBN 1-58134-561-5,2004, 447 pages, $13.99

For many years Norman Geisler and Frank Turek have been on the front line of apologetic arguments throughout the United States. Both men have been heavily involved in debates and both have functioned extensively on university and college campuses. Geisler holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Loyola University and Turek holds degrees in apologetics, and both are skilled debaters. For many years they have toured using a 12-step line of reasoning, and this book is a printing of that reasoning. The outline looks like this:

  1. Truth about reality is knowable.
  2. The opposite of true is false.
  3. It is true that the theistic God exists. This is evidenced by the:
    1. Beginning of the universe
    2. Design of the universe
    3. Design of life
    4. Moral law
  4. If God exists, then miracles are possible.
  5. Miracles can be used to confirm a message from God.
  6. The New Testament is historically reliable, evidenced by:
    1. Early testimony
    2. Eyewitness testimony
    3. Uninvited authentic testimony
    4. Eyewitnesses who were not deceived
  7. The New Testament says Jesus claimed to be God.
  8. Jesus' claim to be God was miraculously confirmed by:
    1. His fulfillment of many prophecies about Himself.
    2. His sinless life and miraculous deeds
    3. His prediction and accomplishment of His resurrection
  9. Therefore Jesus is God
  10. Whatever Jesus (who is God) teaches is true.
  11. Jesus taught that the Bible is the Word of God
  12. Therefore it is true that the Bible is the Word of God.

Each chapter of the book takes a part of this outline, expands and explains it. This is a strong book. The arguments are solid and opposing views are given and explained. It is mostly philosophical, but in simple terms and is well documented and based upon many years of debates and challenges from well known atheists and secularists. It is one of the best books we have seen in recent years--clear, comprehensive, concise, and free of the na•vete that is typical of so many apologetic books. We recommend it highly.

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