Touchstone Magazine - Mere Comments: Did the Resurrection Happen? recommends this new book of dialogue between Habermas and Flew. Habermas is a leading Christian apologist and Flew a poster-boy for philosophical atheism. By the defense given by Habermas, Flew now considers himself a theist. While far from Christianity, this represents a significant step forward in dialogue.
The methodology used by Habermas is consistent with the apologetic principles set forward by Dr. Montgomery for the last forty years. Both believe that the strongest case can be made for Christianity by dealing directly with Christ's death and resurrection. Too many apologists begin with "you just have to have faith," consequently ignoring the historical data, the testimony of the eyewitnesses, and the claims Jesus made of himself.
In a discussion with a fine Baptist leaving on a missionary trip to Peru at the airport in Atlanta, I had to repeatedly reiterate this point. She wanted to return to "just believe" and even worse, "look at how good my life is and yours could be." Its utterly frustrating for the tough-minded intellectual to abandon his reason and sense (thanks Luther!) and trust in subjectivity. While he only comes to the Gospel by faith, the Gospels themselves are compelling documents historically. Unlike every other world religion which is guided by subjective experience without historical foundation, the Gospels and especially the death and resurrection offer testimony that is both substantial legally and according the standards of ancient document authenticity. Don't be deceived, Christians have the intellectual high-ground.
From the Touchstone blog:
If you want to be a witness for Jesus Christ, then I strongly, STRONGLY recommend you obtain a copy of Did the Resurrection Happen? from Intervarsity Press.
There are many things that could be said for this book, but I don't want to distract from the central issue. Our Christian faith is built on the resurrection of Christ, not on the age of the earth, not on a particular eschatology, not even on inerrancy. THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IS BUILT ON THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST.
This book, Did the Resurrection Happen? says something I have felt for years now, but needed to hear someone else say it in order to announce it, myself:
Even if we take the New Testament as simply an ancient text with excellent credentials, which it surely is at a minimum, there is enough historical evidence to make a very strong case for the resurrection of Christ.
The point I'm trying to make which is made in the book is that the resurrection of Christ is the foundation of our faith. Don't waste your time battling with skeptics over ancillary issues. Take them directly to the resurrection of Christ. There is room for a very good discussion there and you will be standing on high ground. That conversation ends in one of three places:
The person decides he has an almost invincible unbelief.
The person develops substantially more thoughtfulness about Christianity than he ever had before and continues to reflect on the matter.
The person comes to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.
