Lee Strobel – The Case for Faith

A Christian friend lent me Lee Strobel’s The Case for Faith saying he found it “pretty convincing”.

Well, it wasn’t.

At all.

I’ve got pages and pages of notes and will try to post something here when I’m done organizing my thoughts.

In the meantime, all I can say is that if The Case for Faith is an example of Strobel’s “investigative journalism”, I’m really glad I haven’t been subjected to his blatant one-sided approach to researching a topic.

Awful. Just awful.

While you wait on bated breath for my review, you may want to check out The Case Against Faith. I’m sure the site will be much more comprehensive than anything I have to say. I think I’ll go browse it now, myself.

Print Friendly
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Reddit
  • Twitter
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • StumbleUpon
  • email

Tags: • • •

August 19, 2009 · Filed Under Atheism, Religion

Comments

14 Responses to “Lee Strobel – The Case for Faith”

  1. Joel on August 19th, 2009 at 10:29 pm

    I had the same experience with Mere Christianity.  Multiple people told me it was such a compelling read, and then I read it and found Lewis’s “arguments” ludicrous.

  2. Henry on August 20th, 2009 at 6:05 pm

    I got about 20 pages into Strobel’s book before the circular reasoning made me dizzy. My biggest peeve with Strobel and Lewis (and numerous others) is that they use their claim to have once been an atheist to give their mindless arguments credibility. First, it doesn’t since a person’s predilictions have no bearing on whether a proposition is true or not; and second, they were not really atheists if they could be brought back to the woo woo camp with such drivel.

    Danny
    October 4th, 2010 at 10:30 am

    There are over 25,000 pieces of archaelogical evidence supporting places, people, and things in the bible. And you still think you came from a dinosaur or ape. Find me a skeleton thats half fish and ape and we,ll talk. You believe a coke can was created, buy something as intricate as you wasnt. God believes in you, even if you don’t believe in him.

    Lance
    October 14th, 2010 at 11:49 am

    Danny,

    Discovering a “half fish and ape” fossil wouldn’t be evidence for evolution at all, it would be evidence of Creation because Evolutionary Theory predicts that such a creature should not exist. Evolution occurs by small changes, so intermediate species will only be found when two groups are closely related. Fish and apes are too far apart for such intermediates to exist.

    That we have never found a species such as your Fish-Ape, or any other species that defies the evolutionary tree of life, is just one of the many evidence lines supporting this scientific theory.

    So the tables are turned, sir. You find me a Fish-Ape, and then we’ll talk about the creature that couldn’t have evolved.

    I doubt that you’re going to, but you really should learn what evolutionary theory says before you criticize it. I know he’s a pariah for religious folk, but Dawkins is an excellent place to start.

  3. Jon on August 25th, 2009 at 8:58 am

    I have read both “The Case for Faith” and “The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel, and found them to be two very different books.  I will look forward to hearing more of your thoughts on The Case for Faith.

    Henry – What do you mean when you say “they were not really atheists if they could be brought back to the woo woo camp with such drivel?”

  4. milena on October 9th, 2009 at 6:09 pm

    Hey…. good evening.
    this discussion is very interesting.  but people that do some thinking, any kind of thinking, must have wondered at some point in their life…what will happen to me when i die… we humans have amazing qualities and talents, how can all that be gone to waste?  what was this life all about??  
    humans only use like 10% of the brain - and there have been amazing discoveries in medicine etc.  
       
    i would also like to know what do you mean when you say “they were not really atheists if they could be brought back to the woo woo camp with such drivel?”
    on another note, did you know that in Israel certain groups of people are preparing to build the 3rd temple?  right there where the mosque is now in place?? that is amazing. 
    they know that the time is coming and they are almost ready.
    i was just visited the museum this past year and actually saw all the articles being prepared….what do you think that means?
    i heard that Jesus will return when the 3rd temple is built.

  5. MJ on October 13th, 2009 at 11:33 am

    Hi Milena,

    It’s actually a fallacy to state that humans use only 10% of their brain.  It’s not true.  That was a myth from way back that just kept spreading – kind of like the 8 glasses of water a day thing.   The key is to investigate these things and make sure that what we believe is actually reflected in facts as opposed to parroting what we hear.

    The thing about the Third temple being built, well historically there have been many end-of-times cults/beliefs – none have come true as of yet so there’s no reason to believe that the story that you’ve told us about will actually result in the end times. 
    And can you tell us which museum you attended – I’m curious to know whether it was the Smithsonian, Museum of Natural History or which Museum – mainly because not all Museums are created equal - I mean something art just because you hang it on the wall?

    MJ

    Danny
    October 4th, 2010 at 10:34 am

    Jesus,s birth, death, and resurrection were prophesied 2000 years before it occurred. Refer to the old testament, this is also supported by archealogical evidence, even Darwin was stumped and admitted that there was no FOSSIL evidence linking fish, apes, birds,etc, to man. Still waiting for an evolutionary skeleton, not complete ones.

  6. Nick on October 14th, 2009 at 8:45 am

    Ha, by the things they say and  do, I’d be surprised if most people use more than 5% of their brains ;)
    But MJ, totally agree with you, half of these things just are good soundbites and are hard to disprove and so get spread around.  And I have certainly yet to hear about an apocalyptic prophecy that sounds anywhere near plausible, isn’t the next big hype/myth about December 2012 and a Mayan calendar? Already been debunked as wrong but still getting press.

  7. Danny on October 4th, 2010 at 10:36 am

    If you think you really know whats at the end, you better know, because you have a 100% chance of dying. Hope you have the right answer.

  8. Danny on October 4th, 2010 at 10:38 am

    Take care all of you.

  9. 40 Year Old Atheist on October 4th, 2010 at 12:25 pm

    Danny, I don’t argue with creationists. Your claims about archeology and evolution are incorrect, you argue about “truths” in the Bible by referring to the Bible (circular logic), and your appeal to Pascal’s Wager is laughable.

    Go peddle your garbage elsewhere.

  10. Empty words, mindless noise on October 12th, 2010 at 5:22 pm

    Okay, first let me say I have no problem with your views on Atheism. If that is what you want to believe then then who am I to tell you you’re wrong? I find it commendable that you read Mr. Strobel’s book, but I would not reccomend his book as a first source. He has some views that are not widely held by many of those who follow the Christian faith. If you want to look into it further I can reccomend other books to you. But if you’re are adamant on your standpoint and uninterested then I understand. Secondly, I don’t understand how you could feel at peace with your life knowing that you have nothing to live for. The thought that what I do with my life here would be meaninless is utterly depressing in my opinion. It would be easier for me to believe that there is a God and that he is concerned about my microscopic life than it is for me to believe that life was formed by an explosion. Order cannot come from disorder, it’s a logical fact. If you feel I have wasted your time with mindless unfounded chatter that is not grounded infact I am deeply sorry, but if my arguments are unfounded correct me. I only ask that if you correct me you also have cold hard facts, not assumptions or speculations.

  11. 40 Year Old Atheist on October 25th, 2010 at 9:40 pm

    I don’t understand how you could feel at peace with your life knowing that you have nothing to live for.

    The human brain has developed to the point where we are not only conscious – like other animals – but self-conscious. Meaning, we are aware that we are alive. The downside of this is that we are also aware that we will die. Mortality is something many people simply cannot accept as appears to be the case with you. You have chosen to view your mortality as such a burden that you are seeking a way out of death. You have decided that, to give meaning to your existence, you must exist forever.

    It would be easier for me to believe that there is a God and that he is concerned about my microscopic life than it is for me to believe that life was formed by an explosion. Order cannot come from disorder, it’s a logical fact.

    A logical fact? What is this claim based on? In reality, science has proven that order *does* come out of chaos. Life on earth evolved in a painstaking process taking billions of years. Just because you cannot see this process in your mind’s eye, does not mean it didn’t happen.

    The thought that what I do with my life here would be meaninless is utterly depressing in my opinion.

    Do you see that so many of your statements are emotional responses to the problem of mortality? Your attitude toward what you do not like is preventing you from investigating how the universe actually works. It really doesn’t matter if we like or do not like something. Facts do not care what you like and what you find utterly depressing.

  • Why I Blog

    I'm here to help doubting believers let go of their fear and guilt, to provide an example of an atheist leading a happy, moral and fulfilling life, and to connect with fellow non-believers. Welcome!

  • Subscribe/Bookmark

    AddThis Social Bookmark Button Follow 40yroldatheist on Twitter subscribe

  • Navigation


  • On Youtube

  • Great Reads

  • History & Statistics

  • Favorite Articles

  • Meaning of Life Type Stuff