Beyond Opinion: Living the Faith We Defend

Features

• Cover Type: Hard Cover with 384 pages
• Published by: Thomas Nelson January 1, 2008
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0849919681
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0849919688
• Book Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.4 x 1.5 inches
• Weighs: 1.2 pounds

From Publishers Weekly
Zacharias (The Grand Weaver) brings together many of today's leading apologists (who are also colleagues at his Ravi Zacharias International Ministries) for a relatively concise treatment of major apologetic themes, including the existence of God, the problem of evil, the exclusive truth claims of Christianity and evidence for the universe's intelligent design. Writers explore Eastern religions, conversational apologetics and the challenges postmodern thought presents to accepting Christianity. Not all the entries here are equal—a stronger edit might have given the whole more cohesion and kept some essayists from straying a bit—but some are impressively readable. Oxford professor Alister McGrath covers atheism with grace, and Zacharias himself tackles the problem of evil simply and clearly in a short thirty pages. Underlying the whole is a sense of compassion, that apologetics is not solely about establishing truth claims but about understanding listeners' deep requirements and what their current philosophy provides them. The subtitle is unclear—this is really a standard apologetics manual rather than a book about living out the Christian faith (an idea which Zacharias perhaps should develop elsewhere). But readers will find this helpful and comprehensive, smart and kind . (Jan.)
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Product Description
A definitive master work from the world's leading Christian Apologist.

Respected apologist Ravi Zacharias was once sharing his faith with a Hindu when the man asked: "If the Christian faith is truly supernatural, why is it not more evident in the lives of so many Christians I know?" The question hit hard, and this book is an answer. Its purpose is to equip Christians everywhere to simultaneously defend the faith and be transformed by it into people of compassion.

In addition to writing several chapters himself, Ravi Zacharias brings together many of today's leading apologists and Christian teachers, including Alister McGrath and John Lennox, to address topics present in the very future of worldwide Christianity-from the process of spiritual transformation to the challenges posed by militant atheism and a resurgent Islam. Destined to become a classic, Beyond Opinion is a touchstone that will affect Christians around the world.

Reader Reviews
Beyond Opinion is a good collection of essays united under the broad theme of Christian apologetics, with introductory remarks and a conclusion by Ravi Zacharias that lay out the specific goals and themes of the book--to show the need for apologetics and outline the different kinds one may encounter in our postmodern world. The individual chapters showcase the expertise and first-hand knowledge of a number of respected authors and apologists, with stand-out sections by Alister McGrath, Joe Boot, John Lennox, and Zacharias himself. Among the topics covered are Islam, atheism (specifically, the virulent strain exemplified by Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins), eastern religions, science, suffering, persecution, and psychology. The book's weaknesses are few, but obvious given the limitations of space and the breadth of the subject. Some of the material is not treated deeply enough and, in a handful of places, the essays seemed unfocused or rushed. The biggest flaw is nothing peculiar to this book, though--as with any collection of essays, some are just not as good as the others. That said, whatever problems the book has are easily outweighed by the wealth of information and thought packed into a little over 300 pages. Beyond Opinion is an ideal introduction to apologetics for anyone interested in the defense of the faith. Recommended.