I just finished reading Lee Strobel's The Case for Christ, and was wondering what some people's opinion of that book were (those that read it).

I thought it gave some pretty decent answers to some common objections to the historicity of Jesus, but many times, I felt that Strobel let the person he was interviewing get off too easily. Also, I'm a little disappointed because I got the impression, after reading the back cover of the book, that this was going to be like a court room case where both sides were interviewed and both sides had the same amount of time to present their case. But Strobel only interviews those academics who believe there is enough evidence to show Jesus really did perform miracles, died on the cross, and was alive again 3 days later. No one who has a different opinion is interviewd at all. At the end of each chapter, Strobel would have a 'further discussions' section, and he would ask "now that you have seen the case presented, do you think professor x is right or wrong?". I thought that was pretty strange to ask that considering only one side of the case was presented (though Strobel does ask some pretty good questions, he doesn't adaquately represent the opposing side since he is just asking questions instead of actually giving answers).

The back of the book says "what will your verdict be in the Case for Christ?" Its little things like that that lead me to believe, before reading this book, that it was going to be an objective look at the evidence for and against christ. I'm a little dissapointed that I was decieved, but I still found the book interesting. I don't know much about this subject matter, so all I have to go on is the conclusions made in this book. Any suggestions for some books that represent the opposing side to Strobels?

Lance

Its called picking your own jury. Of course Mr. Strobel doesn't want hard core skeptics interviewed, heck they might raise some objections which he's not equiped to answer.

Lawyers do this all the time. Remember the fun with OJ or the Rodney King things?

Didn't read the book, but here's a great
counter:

http://www.magi.com/~oblio/jesus/StrobelIntro.htm

I read the book and was disappointed in the "questioning" as well. At the time, I was grasping for anything that might persuade me that the concept of god is reasonable. The book failed miserably even though it bears a strong resemblance to a lenghthy christian tract!

I've heard a number of skeptics complain that they were mislead by Strobel and thought he was going to present both sides. The book's title The Case for Christ , however, doesn't seen to leave much room for ambiguity.

I haven't read that one, but I have read Strobel's "sequel" A Case For Faith.
Its more of the same. Initial tough questions, but he never follows through. My fundie sister-in-law loved it, but it won't impress skeptics, who should have no problems rebutting the answers to Strobel's "tough" questions.

I think the "ambiguity" might have arisen out of touting Strobel as a journalist and a skeptic. (The publisher even makes reference to a "background in atheism".) This would have hightened people's expectations of viewing a balanced examination of supporters and critics alike in an objective manner - which would be expected of good journalist. The fact that Strobel fails so very badly at this, is probably why the complaints are so loud. If they had left the "journalist", "skeptic", and "atheist background" references out of the promotions, it probably wouldn't have been as big a deal.

That's true, Layman, but the blurb for the book clearly leads one to believe that it presents both sides of the argument. It does not. Strobel was formerly an investigative crime reporter for the Chicago Tribune. I hope he did a better, more balanced job for the Trib... or did he only interview members of the Chicago Police Department.

I don't have the book at the moment, but I thought it said former skeptic?

I'm familiar with the book. A student tried to use it in a paper once (after being cautioned against using it, too) and I had to suffer through Strobel's interviews. I was very unimpressed.

--W@L