Geisler,
Norman L. Christian Apologetics, Grand Rapid Michigan: Baker Book House
Company, 1998. Paperback
ISBN:
0-8010-3822-7
Pages-393
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment