Handbook of Christian Apologetics

This has been a trusted resource to me for over 20 years. It summarizes a wide variety of arguments in an efficient and accessible way, making it easy to brush up on a concept when needed.

Excellent work of basic Christian apologetics. Written by a Catholic but concentrates on the topics common to all Christians. I am Protestant but I LOVE this resource! Clear, well written, readable. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in Christian apologetics.

I purchased this book because I was questioning my faith and wanted to learn more about it. It was very helpful in that regard. The book covers many aspects of Christianity, and exlains them very well. Some criticisms I would have are:1. The "proofs" of the existence of God are flawed. Although some hold some sway in an argument, others are utterly useless.2. Although the authors do an admiral job of not revealing a liberal or conservative bias, the section on the fate of the unevangelized is too left leaning for my tastes (and I'm pretty damn liberal). Mostly I think it has a tenuous base in scripture and is more of a rationalization than an explanation.Other than that, it is an excellent book. One thing I really appreciated (as a science major) was that the book made clear that evolution is not at odds with scripture, and can even be supported by it. The false dilemma in this debate is endlessly frustrating to me, and it was good to see my opinions validated. I also appreciated the mild humor that the authors occasionally employed, on a random note. All in all, I recommend this book.

This is a tremendously important "one-stop" shop for most of the crucial Christian questions. It bears re-reading since at different times of life there are different obstacles to faith. There is also an essential honesty to the work. One of my favorite quotes is: "The tension is between appealing to free choice and appealing to divine providence and grace to solve the problem of evil. Sin is explained, on the one hand, by our free will. On the other hand, God's providential plan foresaw and used even sin. God brings good out of evil, and makes all things work together for good for those who love him. The argument between those who emphasize free will and those who emphasize providence is largely one of emphasis, for both are parts of our scriptural data. The difference in emphasis is between those who see human history as a novel, written by God, and those who see it as a play, enacted by man. The two images are not exclusive. The novel, though completely the author's creation, is about free people, not trees or robots; and though the play has a script, the actors are free to obey the script or not. If the emphasis is on God's predestination, our attitude to life will emphasize trust and faith and acceptance and hope; while if the emphasis is on human free will, our attitude to life will emphasize morality and spiritual warfare and the will to make the right choices. The first emphasizes wisdom, the second morality; the first contemplation, the second action; the first seeing, the second doing; the first faith, the second works. They are two sides of the same Christian coin."

Apologetics, at least in current usage, has unpleasant connotations. In contemporary circles, the word can conjure images of manipulative charlatans seeking to obscure the truth by clever legalistic constructs and rhetorical arguments. This is in large part to the similarity to the word "apology," which can mean remorse, justification, or excuse for things good or bad. However, the true meaning, the systematic defense or explanation of Christianity, is based not on deception (at least for those who approach the subject in good faith - pun intended), but rather on a logical understanding of the essential truths of the Gospel message.Peter Kreeft, accomplished and prolific Christian author, lecturer, and Professor of Philosophy, and Ronald Tacelli, S.J., Associate Professor of Philosophy (both at Boston College), have written an invaluable reference tool that is at once comprehensive, systematic, engaging, and highly readable. The topics flow from the universal to the specific and provide a thought-provoking, truthful exploration of Christian essentials. Ideas are defended, and objections are answered intelligently, spiritually and objectively, without the diatribe and rancor of opponents of the faith.The book can be read cover-to-cover, or can be explored topically, providing significant understanding to readers of varying education and intellectual curiosity. This is an invaluable addition to anyone's library and certainly provides a wealth of knowledge to anyone who seeks to understand his or her Christian faith.

I was fortunate enough to meet Professor Ron Tacelli when I was a student at Boston College. I took a philosophy class taught by him called 'Does God Exist?' It is a strange feeling when you see a Jesuit priest philosophically argue against the existence of God to teach his students how to perform masterful philosophical arguments. This book goes deeper than that class did; it answers some very tough questions regarding God and the Christian faith and it does so using the concept of Apologetics. If you are a Christian, this book will answer those questions that you may have about your faith that no one has been able to answer for you. Or it may help you refute someone's view point about your faith. If you are a non-believer, this book may make you question your entire belief system; it may even make you believe. It is well constructed, easy to read and enjoyable (especially if you like philosophical arguments). I would highly recommend it. My wife and I both loved reading it and bought an extra copy to give to an aetheist colleague of ours.

One thing I’d liked about this book is helpful for my studies.

Ótimo livro do Peter Kreeft. Didático, preciso e cheio de informações. Todo católico que se preza deveria ter na sua estante, como livro de consulta e referência.

Una buena introducción a la apologética cristiana.Los autores explican qué es la lógica y la aplican a la defensa de la fe cristiana: la existencia de Dios, la fiabilidad de la Biblia, la resurrección de Jesús, la vida después de la muerte, etc. Los argumentos son buenos (algunos mejores que otros) y el lenguaje es accesible. Es un libro útil tanto para personas ya convencidas como para personas no creyentes abiertas a considerar la base razonable de la fe cristiana.

I am a student working towards my degree in Theology and purchased this book as part of my studies on Apologetics.I found this book very helpful and well-written.I recommend it.

This is the best book yet that addresses the issues of Christianity in the 21st century. No big words to confuse. Plain English, easy format to follow.