Why Believe Christian Apologetics for a Skeptical Age

by Anderson, Tawa J.; Thomas, Heath A.

• ISBN13: 9781087724232
• ISBN10: 1087724236
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2021-07-09
• Publisher: B&H Academic
• More Book Details

Summary

Why bother with apologetics? 

Our skeptical age often finds the Christian faith unbelievable. For those seeking to defend the faith or strengthen their belief, Why Believe offers a timely resource: an apologetic that is both compelling and winsome. Anderson’s charitable and conversational tone conveys that Christianity is not only reasonable but also fulfilling. Appealing to both believers and unbelievers alike, the book provides accessible explanations of contemporary issues, from arguments for the existence of God and the validity of Christ’s resurrection to common questions about the practice of faith.

 

Author Biography

Tawa J. Anderson (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is associate professor of philosophy at Oklahoma Baptist University. 

Table of Contents

Part I. Why Bother

Chapter 1. Who Cares? 
Why We Should Want and Believe Christianity to Be True
Chapter 2. Why Apologeticize?
Why Christians Must Provide Reasons for Faith
What Is Apologetics?
The Biblical Mandate for Apologetics
Biblical Examples of Apologetics
The Contemporary Need for Apologetics
Chapter 3. Why Truth? 
The Existence and Nature of Truth
The Postmodern Flight from Truth
The Implications of Relativism
Defeating Relativism
What Is Truth?

Part II. Why God? 

Chapter 4. Science 
Evidence for God’s Existence
Cosmological Arguments
Design Arguments
Chapter 5. Reason 
Logical Arguments for God’s Existence
Ontological Arguments
Moral Arguments
Chapter 6. Humanity 
Anthropological Clues for God’s Existence
Religious Experience
Religious Desire
Free Will
Reason

Part III. Why Jesus? 

Chapter 7. The Story 
Are the Gospels Textually and Historically Reliable?
Can We Trust the Text? The Textual Reliability
of the New Testament Gospels
Chapter 8. The Man 
Who/What Is Jesus of Nazareth?
Jesus’s Titles
Jesus’s Actions
Chapter 9. The Fulcrum 
Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?
Does the Resurrection Matter?
Did the Resurrection Happen?

Part IV. What About . . .? 

Chapter 10. Cross-Examined 
Answering Common Objections
The Question of Evil and Suffering
The Hypocrisy of Many Christians
The Injustices of the Christian Church
The Conflict between Science and Faith
The Exclusivity of Christian Beliefs

Conclusion: Why Believe? 
Why We Should Want and Believe Christianity to Be True
The Heart: Why We Should Want Christianity to Be True
The Head: Why We Should Believe Christianity to Be True