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Saturday 18 July 2015

Book Review: Norman L. Geisler, Christian Apologetics



Geisler, Norman L. Christian Apologetics, Grand Rapid Michigan: Baker Book House Company, 1998. Paperback
ISBN: 0-8010-3822-7
Pages-393
Price- US$20.49

The book by Norman L Geisler entitled Christian Apologetics which means defending Christian faith. Norman Geisler (PhD, Loyola University) is president of Southern Evangelical Seminary and author or co-author of over fifty books including Decide for Yourself, Baker's Encyclopedia of Apologetics, and When Skeptics Ask. The purpose of this work is to prove Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Bible is the word of God. However, prior to establishing these two pillars on which the uniqueness of Christianity is built, one must establish the existence of God. Thus Geisler began his huge and root level numerous theoretical and worldviews discuss on the existence of God. This book covers thoughts and philosophies in a couple of pages that the original author of these ideas took hundreds of pages to articulate and defend. The first part of the book deals with methodology; the process in determining the truth through a prior knowledge or lack of knowledge before moving forward. One must know God’s attributes before one can make arguments about His existence. The discussion starts with agnosticism: the ability to know God and some of His attributes. The discussion continues in six different sections about Rationalism, Fideism, Experientialism, Evidentialism, Pragmatism and Combinationalism. These are six different arguments in how to determine truth. The second part deals with six theories on who God is: Deism, Pantheism, Panentheism, Atheism, and Theism. Geisler calls these theories as world views. Each has its defenders and Geisler discusses philosophers’ thoughts on each and makes an argument against those accept Theism, which he defends, which leads us to the third part of the book where he attempts to prove Christianity, by arguing for the existence for the Supernatural, the ability to know the history, and the reliability of the Bible. As a review this book, two types of apologetics can be seen by Geisler presented in the book; first, negative apologetics and the second, positive apologetics. Negative apologetics is concerned with showing that opposing (i.e. non-Christian) worldviews or ways of understanding reality are false. Positive apologetics seeks to provide evidence and arguments that directly argue for the truth of Christianity. Obviously observed that most part of the book is spent on showing opposing views are false. In this regard, I think Geisler's evaluation of atheism is very well done (Geisler summarizes his section by saying that most atheistic critiques of Christianity or arguments for atheism are either self-defeating or can be turned into arguments for Christianity). However, in our world, people are much more "cautious" and prefer to stay away from the so-called extremes (i.e. theism: the belief that a personal God exists. atheism: the belief that God(s) do not exist) and choose agnosticism. Geisler provides a very through critique of agnosticism and shows that it is intellectually bankrupt. In my understanding, along with many others this book is a starting textbook if anyone interested in defense of the Christian faith.  I also like the fact that it is so clearly written and easy to understand. Geisler presents systematic consistency as the test for truth for statements within a worldview that has first been established through the tests of unaffirmability and undesirability. Systematic consistency means that whatever most consistently and comprehensively fits into that system is true. Geisler admits that systematic consistency does not provide absolute certainty of truth. Here he points to probability as the guide, as absolute certainty is not possible when a finite mind is not in possession of all the facts. After having laid a very thorough epistemological base, the author then proceeds to establish the truthfulness of Christianity. The worldviews of deism, pantheism, panentheism, atheism, and theism are compared. Using the aforementioned tests for truth for each of these worldviews, theism wins out. With theism established through a very methodological evaluation of each competing worldview, Geisler then builds on the theistic worldview. Now author jumped to builds the case for the historical reliability of the New Testament. After showing that the New Testament is an accurate picture of Jesus, he makes the case for the deity and authority for Jesus Christ. And finally, with the Lordship of Christ established, a case can be made for the inspiration and authority of the Bible as a whole. Finally Geisler shows us how to reduce complex philosophical theories to their basic assertions and then shows us, how self-defeating they are. I recommend this book.

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