On Guard

by William Lane Craig, David C. Cook Publishers, ©2010,
286 pages, $16.99 (paperback), ISBN-13: 978-1-4347-6488-1.

One of the most capable apologists of the current age is Dr. William Lane Craig. Dr. Craig is noted for his many debates with modern atheists such as Richard Dawkins, Frank Zindler, Sam Harris, and the like. He is also the author of a number of books, some of which we have reviewed in this journal in the past (see Reasonable Faith, March/April 2009). Craig is a philosopher, and this book like his other books leans heavily on philosophical arguments. The positive nature of this book is that he explains the process of philosophical arguments very carefully before making his case and that greatly increases the usefulness of the book.

This book has 10 chapters with two interludes in which Craig discusses his own journey to faith. What makes this book strong is that he takes atheist arguments and turns them around and shows how those arguments support faith in God better than they negate such a claim. The book begins by explaining what apologetics is, and then approaches the question of why the universe exists and how it shows God’s creative wisdom. Craig then turns to the question of morality and suffering and then explores the claims about who Jesus was, how we know he rose from the dead and why we believe that Jesus is the only way to God.

This is a great book for a college freshman or sophomore — especially if he is enrolling in a philosophy course. It gives answers to questions that frequently throw students who are away from home for the first time. The side bars, questions for discussion, and flow sheets make it very useful for a college class and give the book flexibility for teaching at the college level. We recommend it highly.