Comment by Nelson on December 25, 2009 at 1:18am

ugh. yeah, total Pascal there.

you should tell your grandmother to read Earl Doherty's Challenging the Verdict, a direct response to Strobel's The Case for Christ. why not ask for a little quid pro quo?

Comment by Ashley Will on December 25, 2009 at 1:19am

lol yeah i should read that and then give her that for some occasion. haha. like Easter.

Comment by Nelson on December 25, 2009 at 1:21am

lol. exactly. Happy Zombie Jesus Day Grandma! here, read this.

Comment by Kristi on December 25, 2009 at 2:36am

Your aunt sounds a lot like mine, who recently sent me Josh McDowell's Evidence That Demands a Verdict and Answers to Tough Questions Skeptics Ask About the Christian Faith. I've barely started reading them, but I hope to be able to eviscerate the arguments in the books and send her a couple of my favorite pro-atheism books, namely Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris and Bart D. Ehrman's great book Misquoting Jesus.

My aunt isn't my godmother, but she does feel that it is her duty and responsibility as a Christian to bring me back to God. It's a delicate situation, because while I'm glad to know she's concerned and takes a personal interest in my welfare, I want to let her know that being an atheist isn't a bad thing, that I've made my decision based on the evidence, and that she should keep her religion to herself. For now, I'm willing to play along. If nothing else, it'll help me develop some good debate skills, and also help me get better at thinking critically.

I read The Case for Christ when I was still a believer and even then found the arguments lacking. I hope to hear your thoughts on it too!

Comment by Ashley Will on December 25, 2009 at 3:34am

Kristi, I feel the same way you do. I want to let her know being an atheist isn't a bad thing but also I know she's concerned as well about my welfare. Yes, I'll let you know on my thoughts of book.

Comment by James A on December 25, 2009 at 3:39am

I read Josh McDowell when I was still a Christian and found his arguments to be so bad as to 'not even be wrong'. I read parts of Strobel's but doesn't take long to see his weaknesses.

I was studying apologists to see if they could show the bible was right. But they only pointed out where the bible was wrong and didn't do a good job of explaining the issues away.

Comment by Matthew on December 25, 2009 at 10:42pm

When it comes to appolgetics, my eyes just cross when I hear the "arguements". I cant even stand to listen to them sometimes.

Comment by Lewis Simpson on December 27, 2009 at 3:15pm

I'm glad to hear you have family that cares about you, there is definitely worse things to experience. I just wonder, would it be snarky or rude to inscribe your concern for your godmother and how you feel you have let her down inside the cover of The God Delusion or God Is Not Great?

I do like the idea of quid pro quo in book reading although the experience with my family is that they have never read even one of the books I have given them. I have read all of the books they have suggested for me and seeing their very best arguments has helped solidify my lack of belief. So it might be good for both of you as you refine your critical thinking skills.

An interesting tidbit that you might share with your aunt, Lee Strobel admits in his fallow up book, The Case For Faith, that he actually presented no good evidence in The Case For Christ and would never be able to. His explanation was, evidence creates knowledge, knowledge eliminates faith, and with out faith you cannot please god. After reading Lee's very weak and at times ridiculous arguments, there is a part of me that thinks he is actually an atheist who is making fun of believers and taking it to the bank. I wish you the best!

Comment by Dave G on December 29, 2009 at 4:06pm

My mother gave me The Case For Christ and The Case For A Creator. I've begun them, but the logical fallacies are hard to struggle through, not to mention the open falsehoods in some spots.

Comment by Ashley Will on December 30, 2009 at 12:58am

Dave G., I am also having a tough time getting through Case for Christ. Like you said, the logical fallacies are quite hard to struggle through and annoying. I'm on page 85 and am yet to see some "evidence" rather than anecdotal evidence.

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