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Have you ever been confronted by an Atheist or Bible Skeptic who claims that the Bible is "full of errors and contradictions" or makes some other attack on Christianity and God?

When Critics Ask by Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe (Baker Books, 1992) is one book that no Christian should be without. This resource book is packed with the specific Bible passages most touted by critics as "Bible Busters."

When Skeptics Ask by Norman Geisler and Ron Brooks (Baker Books, 1990), is a real "Skeptic Buster." In it, the skeptic's own arguments are handily dealt with, be they philosophical or "scientific" (for more science-related resources, see the books reviewed in the Christianity and Science section).

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Biblical Resources

Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture
The Complete Guide to Bible Versions
The Creator Beyond Time and Space
The Dead Sea Scrolls & Modern Translations of the Old Testament

Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture

Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (ACCS): New Testament II: Mark, edited by Thomas C. Oden and Christopher A. Hall (InterVarsity Press, 1998) is the first of many volumes of a brand-new commentary series from a collaboration between InterVarsity Press and the Ancient Christian Commentary Project at Drew University. The team of international scholars working on this commentary series plan to release three or four new volumes per year.

I know what you're saying: "Not another commentary series!" This is not just another commentary series. Finally someone has done something so obvious that it appears totally new and refreshing. ACCS is a compilation of sermons, homilies, letters, theological discourses, commentaries and the like from early Christian writers of the second through eighth centuries. Writings from Augustine, Clement, Origen, Cyril of Jerusalem and many more can be found throughout this commentary series.

Like most commentaries, quoted Bible verses are closely followed by their proposed interpretation. The uniqueness of this commentary series is evidenced in that the interpretation is in the form of quotes from the ancient Christian writers. In fact, the bulk of this commentary series is in the words of those ancient writers. This allows any student of the Bible, even the layman, to better understand the mindset of the historical church.

A few words of warning are in order though. Early Christian writers aren't always correct by definition. Everything they write must still be tested in the light of scripture itself. If Paul warned and spoke against heresy in his day, we must certainly be on the lookout for heresy in writings from the second through eighth centuries. For example, in the volume sent to the WWCW, the quotes of early Christian writers chosen to comment on Mark 10:13-16 seem to be nothing more than the twisting of scripture to support infant baptism, which we know was not a practice of the first century church. I don't know if these were the only ancient comments on this particular passage or if their selection was influenced by preconceived notions of the editors themselves.

Another concern is that Christian thought may have started to change once Christianity was accepted by secular government in the time of Constantine. Some claim that, at that time, Bible interpretation started to become allegorical when the second coming and reign of Christ on the earth were at issue. The reason for such a change, though a poor excuse, may have been a desire to keep Christianity in the good graces of the emperor. We often see the same thing happening today. I am of the opinion that many early Christian writers were simply ignorant when it came to Bible prophecy. I would like to make it clear that not all Christians who commented on the Bible from the fourth century onward are necessarily incorrect.

It is a well-known fact that as the historical church in Rome increased in power, it also increased in corruption. Therefore, Bible interpretation that originates from the church at Rome must be carefully scrutinized. In fact, several ancient sources used in this commentary series were the writings of early popes. One must be careful about quotes chosen for this commentary series about the Lord's supper because they appear to be biased toward the faulty Catholic idea of transubstantiation.

The last thing I will mention about this commentary series is that the early Christian writings commenting on scripture contained therein are fraught with errors, especially when it comes to prophecy. Not the sort of fallacies committed by modern liberal "scholars" but errors none the less. The reason for such errors may be a simple lack of resources or an insufficient knowledge of the Old Testament. It could even be a lack of understanding from the Holy Spirit, who may not have chosen to reveal some of the prophecy until the last days (these days?). I would be remiss if I did not warn the reader not to place his or her faith in anything but the very Word of God. This commentary series is not in the same ballpark as the Word itself but when all is said and done, I highly recommend it, keeping in mind my previous comments.

The Complete Guide to Bible Versions

The Complete Guide to Bible Versions by Philip W. Comfort, Ph.D. (Tyndale House Publishers Inc., 1996) is a clear, concise guide to the accuracy of modern English translations of the Bible. It also includes information on Old and New Testament manuscripts and a history of English translations of the Bible.

The Creator Beyond Time and Space

While it's fun to study the scientific evidences for the existence of the God of the Bible, we must never forget the supernatural nature of God's Word, the Bible. The book The Creator Beyond Time and Space by Mark Eastman, MD and Chuck Missler (The Word For Today, 1996 - if you have trouble finding it, check your local Calvary Chapel Bookstore) is a good overview of both the scientific evidences for, and the supernature of, the Bible.

"The Creator Beyond Time and Space" begins with a scientific discussion of the origin of the universe and the origin of life. The scientific accuracy of the Bible is shown throughout this book. The consistency of the latest scientific theories with the Bible is proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

The most powerful aspect of this book is its analysis of the Word of God. The Bible is shown as it really is, an "integrated message system" that could only have been created outside our limited time domain.

This book also illuminates some of the most specific prophecies of the Bible. The exact day that Jesus made his triumphal entry was recorded by Daniel, hundreds of years before the event! Even the exact day that Israel became a nation again, in this century, is prophesied in the Bible!

After reading this book, you will never look at the Word of God, or at Bible skeptics' silly arguments, the same way again.

The Dead Sea Scrolls & Modern Translations of the Old Testament

I have added the book The Dead Sea Scrolls & Modern Translations of the Old Testament: How the Dead Sea Scroll discoveries have influenced modern English translations by Harold Scanlin (Tyndale Publishers Inc., 1993) here because of its excellent reference value. It's probably not the kind of book you will read cover to cover with sections like "Descriptions of Old Testament Manuscripts" and "Chart of Biblical Manuscripts from the Dead Sea Region," but the information contained therein is certainly a valuable asset. The most valuable portion of this value-packed book has to be "The Effect of the Dead Sea Scrolls on Modern [Old Testament] Translations." This section contains information on how today's modern translations relate to the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Masoretic Text (used heavily by modern Old Testament translators). This book also contains a map of the Dead Sea and Qumran areas and photographs of some of the Dead Sea Scrolls manuscripts. In summary, the concluding paragraphs of this book contains the following testimony:

"Those who anticipated some revolutionary revelations which would require dramatic changes in the Old Testament will be disappointed. The textual evidence of the Dead Sea Scrolls, in fact, confirms the general reliability and stability of the text of the Old Testament as we have it today…" (p.140)

The Dead Sea Scrolls are about 1,000 years older than the manuscripts used in modern Bible translations, yet they are miraculously similar to those manuscripts. This fact totally refutes the claim that the Bible has changed over the centuries (there are also other reasons why this idea is false). All in all, I believe this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the Dead Sea Scrolls and Bible translation.

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Christian Apologetics

The Norman L. Geisler Apologetics Library on CD-ROM
Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics
Handbook of Christian Apologetics
Not a Chance
Reasonable Faith
Why I am a Christian
20 Compelling Evidences That God Exists

Why I am a Christian

Why I am a Christian: Leading Thinkers Explain Why They Believe edited by Norman Geisler and Paul Hoffman (Baker Books, 2001) is one of the most readable and useful apologetics books I've come across in a long time. Unlike some books of this genre, at just over 300 pages, "Why I am a Christian" goes into enough detail to prove the point but not so much detail that the reader gets lost. Each chapter of this book is written by a leading Christian thinker such as Hugh Ross, William Lane Craig, Walter Bradley, Barry Leventhal, Gary Habermas, J. P. Moreland, Francis Beckwith and others. The authors have earned over a dozen Ph.D.s from respected institutions like Yale and USC, to name a few.

"Why I am a Christian" contains chapters on why it is logical and reasonable to believe in Truth, God, Miracles, the Bible as the word of God and Jesus as the Messiah and the son of God. In Part 1, "Why I Believe in Truth," the chapter "Why I Believe Truth Is Real and Knowable" by Dr. Norman Geisler is especially enlightening. Dr. Geisler goes into detail defending the idea that truth exists. To most, this is obvious but this is exactly where some "educated" unbelievers often choose to attack the existence of God and other mainstays of Christianity. Dr. Geisler lays out an argument for truth and defends against the assertions of such secular thinkers as Hume and Kant in this chapter.

Other chapters of interest are "Why I Am Not an Atheist," "Why I Believe the God of the Bible Is the One True God," "Why I Believe the New Testament Is Historically Reliable," "Why I Believe the Bible is Scientifically Reliable," "Why I Believe the Bible Alone Is the Word of God" and others.

The chapter titled "Why I Believe God Exists" discusses the ideas of , and quotes from, secular scientists and notables such as Hawking, Linde, Davies, Penrose and others. This book definitely covers all the bases and has up to date information and arguments.

For me to do this book justice in this review, I'd have to quote the entire contents of it here. I definitely recommend you get this book today. You won't be able to put it down and will find yourself going back to it again and again as you discuss and defend Christianity in your everyday life and on the Internet.

The Norman L. Geisler Apologetics Library on CD-ROM

What if you could own some of the best books reviewed on the WWCW all in one searchable electronic volume? Not only that, what if you could throw in a number of other critical works by possibly the greatest philosopher of our time? Now you can! In the opinion of this editor, The Norman L. Geisler Apologetics Library on CD-ROM by Norman Geisler (Baker Books, 2003) is the best thing to come out of the personal computer revolution since the computer itself. Am I overstating the value of this work just a bit? Perhaps, but I encourage anyone who doesn't yet own a computer but wishes to take advantage of this CD-ROM to buy a computer for that purpose alone. On this CD-ROM, you get the full text of the following works by Dr. Geisler:

Why I am a Christian
When Critics Ask
When Cultists Ask
Roman Catholics and Evangelicals
Answering Islam, 2nd Edition
Miracles and the Modern Mind
Come, Let Us Reason
Worlds Apart: A Handbook on Worldviews
Introduction to Philosophy
Christian Apologetics
Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics

It also includes the King James and the New America Standard Bible versions. One would have been fortunate to pay the price of this CD-ROM for an electronic version of the Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics alone, given the amount of information packed in that tome (see the WWCW book review on that excellent book).

"The Norman L. Geisler Apologetics Library on CD-ROM" includes books that appeal to readers of all levels, from those interested in learning how to think logically ("Come, Let Us Reason" and "Introduction to Philosophy"), to those interested in Christian apologetics ("Christian Apologetics", "Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics"), to those who wish to answer critics of Christianity ("When Critics Ask"), to those who want information on other worldviews ("When Cultists Ask," "Answering Islam" and "Worlds Apart: A Handbook on Worldviews"), to those who want to cover additional topics. And this entire CD-ROM is searchable, making this a powerful tool indeed.

I challenge anyone reading this review to try to think of a question, a philosophy or worldview not covered in this CD-ROM. "The Norman L. Geisler Apologetics Library on CD-ROM" is an entire library in one CD-ROM, as its title claims, and is a necessity for any thinking Christian's toolbox, at any price. The best thing about this CD-ROM is its reasonable price.

Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics

You must own a copy of this book! I don't know how to state my opinion more strongly when it comes to the Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics by Norman Geisler (Baker Books, 1999).

Within its 800-plus pages, one can find just about any topic even remotely related to Christian apologetics. Topics from "Absolute Truth" to "Zen Buddhism" are covered therein. Atheism, agnosticism, Hume, Kant, Nietzche, Darwin, C. S. Lewis, Augustine, evolution, the science of origins, science and the Bible, creation and origins, the trinity, the nature of God, the canonicity of the Bible, Old and New Testament manuscripts and Naturalism are but a few of the topics covered thoroughly and honestly in this book.

A favorite argument for the existence of God found here on the WWCW is the teleological (design) argument, so I was very pleased to find page after page on this topic alone. Though some of the topics in his book might sound dauntingly complex from their names, Dr. Geisler is able to explain them in a very readable fashion that any layman or scholar is sure to appreciate.

It's hard to imagine the amount of time and effort Dr. Geisler (dean and professor of theology and apologetics at Southern Evangelical Seminary) put into this work. It's hard to imagine why any Christian would think this book would not make a great addition to his or her library.

Handbook of Christian Apologetics

The Handbook of Christian Apologetics: Hundreds of Answers to Critical Questions by Peter Kreeft and Ronald K. Tacelli (InterVarsity Press, 1994) is a wonderfully rich layman's guide to Christian-based apologetics. Especially good is the twenty philosophical arguments for the existence of God. Included with the arguments are common questions and answers based on current philosophical thought. Though both authors are Catholic, one would be hard-pressed to find much in the way of exclusively Catholic thought in this book.

Not a Chance

Not a Chance: The Myth of Chance in Modern Science and Cosmology by R. C. Sproul (Baker Books, 1994) is a book on the uses and misuses of the word chance in modern thought. In modern science and philosophy, "chance" is often given creative powers, like it was a thing. R. C. Sproul sets the record straight while discussing how and why "chance" has been so misused over the years. He discusses ideas from Hume to Bohr to Kant to Voltaire, etc. Though Sproul claims that this book is not a discussion on the existence of God, the reader cannot but conclude that there is "Not a Chance" of explaining the existence of the universe without appealing to God. If you have any questions about cause and effect, the supposed causelessness of quantum physics or the role chance plays (Sproul would probably get on me for using the word this way since it doesn't play any role in and of itself), this book is a must-read.

Reasonable Faith

Another indispensable book on Christian apologetics has to be Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics (Revised Edition) by William Lane Craig (Crossway Books, 1995). Even though Dr. Craig holds two Ph.D.'s, his writings are easily understood by people who have no formal training in philosophy (but have a relatively logical mind). In "Reasonable Faith," Dr. Craig covers the most popular philosophical arguments dealing with God, miracles, scripture, etc., their attempted refutations and their various defenses. Also included are short descriptions of some of the giants in the field of philosophy, both secular and non-secular, and their contributions to field of apologetics and philosophy. For a sample of Dr. Craig's writing, be sure to read his paper entitled, The Existence of God and the Beginning of the Universe.

One of my favorite things about this book has to be Dr. Craig's desire to search for the truth. Many times, philosophers seem to argue points to which a reasonable person wouldn't give a second thought. Many secular philosophers seem to argue against God - which gives some credence to His existence in and of itself - rather than argue for truth. Dr. Craig definitely argues for truth in this highly recommended book.

20 Compelling Evidences That God Exists

20 Compelling Evidences That God Exists by Kenneth D. Boa and Robert M. Bowman, Jr. (RiverOak Publishing, 2002) runs the gambit from science to Biblical apologetics, covering the top twenty reasons to believe the God of the Bible exists. It seems to borrow heavily from past works including the works of Dr. Hugh Ross and the collective works of the leaders of the Intelligent Design movement. To round it out, it rehashes old, but good, arguments for Jesus' death, empty tomb and resurrection. While being a good resource for those who don't already own a dozen books containing the same subject matter, there's nothing really new here. After saying all this, if you need one book on reasons for the existence of God, get this one. It is a good overview. We just wish the font wasn't so large and the spacing wasn't so wide. Perhaps we accidentally got a hold of the "large print" version, if there is one.

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Christianity and Religion

When Cultists Ask
Counterfeit Revival
The Case for the Real Jesus
The Historical Jesus
Jesus Under Fire
God Under Fire
The Search for the Messiah

When Cultists Ask

When Cultists Ask by Norman Geisler and Ron Rhodes (Baker Books, 1997) is written in the fine tradition of Dr. Geisler's other "When... Ask" books When Critics Ask (Baker Books, 1992) and When Skeptics Ask (Baker Books, 1990). Like "When Critics Ask," "When Cultists Ask" is arranged in Biblical order (Genesis through Revelation) and points out common cultist misinterpretations of specific Bible verses. In the back of the book there are indexes so the reader can look up information by topic, scripture or religious group. I like the organization of Dr. Geisler's book, it's a refreshing change from most books on cults, which are arranged by religious group. The arrangement of "When Cultists Ask" would come in handy if you find yourself face to face with a someone from a cult who attempts to twist scripture in the hope that you are not prepared to immediately give them an answer.

One thing I noticed in "When Cultists Ask" that I've not seen in most other books on the cults is its handling of Oneness Pentecostal and Roman Catholic misinterpretations of scripture.

In conclusion, this book would make a nice addition to any Christian's library. Dr. Geisler's defense of the faith and scripture through his "When... Ask" books is commendable, making all three valuable references for any Christian in this age of doubters.

Counterfeit Revival

Counterfeit Revival by Hank Hanegraaff (Word Publishing, 1997) is a frightening look at what is being called by some the biggest revival we've seen in 100 years. What Mr. Hanegraaff reveals is that this revival, which claims such adherents as Benny Hinn and Paul Crouch, is actually not a revival at all. It can in no way be grouped with true revivals which turn people toward a renewed commitment to Christ.

Tracing its modern day roots to events like the "Toronto Blessing," this counterfeit revival has already lead many Christians astray, to follow after things that are clearly not of God. Mr. Hanegraaff's well-written book offers extensive proof of this incredible claim.

The real proof came on July 4th. A "prophet" of the false revival had prophesied that God would close Mr. Hanegraaff's organization, CRI, by that day. Of course, CRI is still up and running. That "prophet" should count himself lucky that they no longer stone false prophets.

"Counterfeit Revival" is a must-read. I couldn't put it down.

The Case for the Real Jesus

In his new book The Case for the Real Jesus by Lee Strobel (Zondervan, 2007) refutes the most recent wave of criticism aimed at the long accepted historical understanding of Jesus, the New Testament, and the early Christian church. Since the utter and complete failure to refute Biblical claims using science and logic, it’s “back to the basics” for skeptics, who have now turned their sites on well established history. Mr. Strobel, once an atheist and journalist, sets his investigative sights on the matter of this recent attempt to redefine history.

Claims made by anti-Christian skeptics answered in Mr. Strobel’s book include supposed other gospels, imagined Bible tampering, the accuracy of the resurrection account, claims of borrowed doctrine in Christianity from pagan sources, and more. Nothing in the book is unique, all these claims against Christianity have been refuted a long time ago but the skeptics are desperate and Mr. Strobel’s book, though not extensive, is up to the task.

Just one example of baseless claims made by skeptics that Mr. Strobel masterfully handles is the claim that the virgin birth, death and resurrection of Jesus were borrowed from the pagan myths like those of Mithras and others. The problem comes when one looks at these myths in an unbiased way. Skeptics have made attempts to crowbar these myths into the account of Jesus’ life. All such attempts fail because when one actually reads these myths, it is obvious that there are very few parallels with the life of Jesus. Not only that, many of these myths, in their current form, date to after Jesus lived. In addition, many of the events in the life of Jesus were foretold in the Biblical account hundreds and even thousands of years before Jesus was ever born.

I have just scratched the surface in this review and I have not done this new book justice. Mr. Strobel’s new book is definitely a “must have” for every Christian. With the ever-present Internet, it’s not a question of if but a question of when you will be challenged on these issues.

The Historical Jesus

The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ by Gary R. Habermas (College Press Publishing Company, 1996) is one of the most powerful and scholarly works on the facts surrounding the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ ever written. In this book, Dr. Habermas presents a rock-solid case for the existence of Jesus using secular and non-secular sources. But he doesn't stop at the fact that Jesus existed! Dr. Habermas goes on to present a compelling and, in my opinion, unassailable case for the claim that Jesus was the Son of God and that Jesus rose from the dead. Much of the data Dr. Habermas uses to prove this comes from a logical and scientific study of secular historic records.

In the words of Dr. J. P. Moreland, a giant in the world of Christian apologetics and philosophy: "I don't know how someone could read this book without concluding that Jesus Christ was who the New Testament proclaimed Him to be."

Jesus Under Fire

Some Christians seem to try to ride the fence between the world, with all its enticements, and the reality of God. It seems that such "Christians" will do anything to justify their lack of courage. Jesus Under Fire explains and defends against just such "Christians," who in the name of Christianity, attack the validity of the life, words and great sacrifice of the Son of God. This book contains the writings of some of the greatest Christian minds of our day who defend, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the claims and actions of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

God Under Fire

God Under Fire: Modern Scholarship Reinvents God, edited by Douglas Huffman and Eric Johnson (Zondervan, 2002), is similar in scope to a book we reviewed a few years ago called Jesus Under Fire. It is a collection of chapters by major Christian scholars defending the traditional view of God. Chapters like, "Is God Bound By Time?," "What Does God Know?," "How Shall We Think About The Trinity?" and "Does God Change?" make this book a worthy addition to one's library. Paul Helm's chapter on God and Time and William Lane Craig's chapter on God's foreknowledge are a "must read" in our opinion.

The authors of "God Under Fire" seem especially concerned about Open Theism but address a wide variety of modern, incorrect views of the Creator of the Universe, the God of the Bible. Logic, philosophy and theology are brought to bear in support of the conclusions of this book.

The Search for the Messiah

To an observant Jew with an honest, open mind, this book will be either one of the scariest or the one of the most liberating works they have ever read. The Search for the Messiah: Revised and Expanded Edition by Mark Eastman and Chuck Smith (Joy Publishing and The Word For Today, 1996) examines the beliefs of the ancient Rabbis to "discover the identity of the true messiah." This book shows how current Jewish messianic thought has changed as a result of Christianity. In other words, current Jewish scholarly opinion of the coming messiah, mentioned throughout their own scriptures, is 180 degrees off from that of their ancestors. This fact is especially interesting when one can make the case that those ancestors understood ancient Hebrew and the Tanakh (the Old Testament) better than the Jewish scholars of today. Why the tremendous shift of opinion in the last 2,000 years? Jesus. Jesus not only had an impact on non-Jewish culture but has also caused God's chosen people to go to great lengths to reject the messiah, even to the point of bad scholarship.

Eastman and Smith show, using the ancient writings of the Rabbis which are still revered by the orthodox Jews today, that the messiah was EXPECTED to come twice (as God in fleshly form), the first time as a suffering servant and the second time as a conquering ruler. Also, the Tanakh mentions that the messiah would be rejected by the Jews until his second coming.

I highly recommend this book to Christians, skeptics and, especially to Jewish people. If you are a Jewish, you owe it to yourself to look into this matter and decide, considering ALL THE EVIDENCE, whether Jesus is the messiah you've been waiting for. Your eternity is definitely worth the price of this book.

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Christianity and Science

Who was Adam?
The Brother of Jesus
Bones of Contention
The Creation Hypothesis
The Creator and the Cosmos
Creation and Time
God and the Astronomers
Scientists Who Believe

Who was Adam?

Who was Adam? (NavPress, 2005) by Fazale Rana with Hugh Ross (both from Reasons to Believe) is a page-turner, which is a rarity among science related texts. It is a must read for anyone interested in the theory of evolution as it pertains to human beings. In this book, Dr. Rana discusses the very latest secular theories of human evolution including the fossil record, human origins, migration, bipedalism, brain size, junk DNA, human (non) relationship to Chimpanzees, Neanderthals and other pre-human primates. These things are discussed in the context of the Reasons to Believe Scientific Creation Model.

For those who are not familiar with Reasons to Believe, it is an organization that asserts the universe is as old as secular science has found it to be. It also asserts that this view of the universe fits perfectly with an accurate interpretation of the Biblical text. Reasons to Believe does not support evolution and offers arguments against it. The difference between this organization and their young-earth counterparts is that Reasons to Believe offers good scientific reasons for their faith, hence the name of their group. They do not offer spurious pseudo-science in support of untenable theories.

The Reasons to Believe Scientific Creation Model is a verifiable, testable scientific model from which predictions can be made. The book “Who was Adam?” explains this in more detail. The model basically takes the Biblical viewpoint of creation and the creator and subjects it to rigorous scientific methods and debate.

One of the main arguments in “Who was Adam?” is that modern human beings came onto the scene of history 50,000 to 70,000 years ago (give or take). These first people are differentiated from the bipedal hominids that came before them by their “God-like” qualities. These qualities are shown in the fossil and archeological record as artistic expression, complex tool use, and religious expression. These God-like qualities seemed to suddenly emerge on the scene, without slowly developing. This book asserts that the date of the first human appearance corresponds to the Biblical Adam and Eve. It supports this assertion through the study of mitochondrial DNA and other evidences.

Anyone interested in this topic, Christian or not, should read this book. It is fair, possibly to a fault, to those people and theories it disagrees with. It freely admits where support for their theories is weak and where more study needs to be done. This book also does not suffer from the pseudo-scientific approaches taken by many books that emanate from Christian circles. Secular scientists would agree that the science in this book is solid. And this book was not written by a Theologian or someone with degree in education but by two scientists who are Christians who hold science based Ph.D.s (Dr. Rana has a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Ohio State University and Dr. Ross has a Ph.D. in Astronomy from the University of Toronto). “Who was Adam?” covers the very latest scientific theories dealing with the evolution and origin of mankind in detail in a very readable fashion.

The Brother of Jesus

The Brother of Jesus by Hershel Shanks and Ben Witherington III (Harper Collins Publishers, 2003) is a book about one of the most significant archeological finds in the last 2,000 years. As first reported in the November/December 2002 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review, an ossuary (bone box) was recently discovered by scientists in a private collection. The inscription on the box reads (in perfect Aramaic), "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus." Like many such ossuaries from the first century, the box is empty but the contents of the box, by all accounts, once contained the remains of the very brother of Jesus, who was one of the leaders of the early Christian church!

"The Brother of Jesus" details the conclusions drawn from careful analysis of the box and inscription. For example, the box is made from limestone from the Jerusalem area and has been dated to anywhere from 20 BC to 70 AD. The inscription has been determined to be authentic and dates from sometime in the last few decades before 70 AD. This fits the accepted time of death of James, the brother of Jesus, mentioned in the Bible.

Of course, skeptics have been coming out of the woodwork. Nothing could be worse for their claims against the Bible than to produce extra-Biblical archeological evidence for the Bible's reliability. For years they've been demanding contemporary extra-Biblical evidence for Jesus and this is a huge gift, wrapped up nice with a bow on top. This book defends the claims for authenticity of the ossuary and details the events surrounding it's recent "discovery" and testing. Every Christian and every Archeologist must own this book. Stop reading this web site right now and go buy it!

Bones of Contention

From childhood, we are taught that science can be trusted because it is unbiased and only deals in facts. Enter human evolutionism. After reading Bones of Contention by Dr. Marvin L. Lubenow (Baker Books, 1992), one must conclude that the study of human evolution by most evolutionists is the most biased, unscientific and dishonest "science" ever thrust onto our children and onto the public at large. Dr. Lubenow looks at all the "evidence" and discovers that, even using the evolutionist's own dating methods, the human evolution "family tree" doesn't even make good firewood.

Lubenow points out so many dishonesties in human evolution, one wonders how any evolutionist could perpetrate this farce with a clear conscience. Not only does Lubenow show that most of the fossils considered "human" overlap, he shows that the evolutionist's motto when trying to support the human evolution "family tree" seems to be; "if it doesn't fit, rename it or throw it out." It's almost criminal the number of fossils that have been discarded in this manner, fossils that would PROVE human evolution to be ridiculous and totally untrue.

The Creation Hypothesis

I believe that The Creation Hypothesis, edited by J. P. Moreland (InterVarsity Press, 1994), is the most complete and detailed philosophical and scientific handling of creationism published today. Many times, when academically-minded people think of creationism, they think of an extreme opposition to current scientific thought that sometimes defies logic and scientific methodology. Such defiance has caused most secular scientists to declare creationism "unscientific" by definition. This book makes it clear that one does not have to check his brain at the door when it comes to creationism. In fact, just the opposite. An intelligent person would have to deny logic and science to conclude anything but the universe was created by God!

The Creation Hypothesis contains scientific and logical proof that should lead anyone with an open mind to conclude that the universe has been designed by an intelligent designer, God. Most of the authors of this book have one or more Ph.D.s from secular institutions in fields such as philosophy, the history and philosophy of science, linguistics, physiology and biophysics, astronomy, chemistry and paleontology making this book a great read for anyone who thinks that educated Christians and/or scientific explanations for creationism are non-existent.

The authors of this book are not satisfied with just permanently forcing the creation debate into the realm of science. They also devastate the philosophical rule of Naturalism over science. This book shows that Naturalism is obviously limiting the ability if science to ever truly explain nature and reality. This book also shows that a theistic approach to science will not only remove such limitations but will also assist in pointing even secular scientists in the right direction.

But the authors of this book aren't even satisfied with these lofty accomplishments. They go on to point out the unscientific and illogical nature of some "sciences" while proposing ways to correctly go about such study. DNA, as assessed through information science, is shown to possess undeniable proof of design. The origin of language, the fossil record, common descent, and more are put under the microscope in this book.

"The Creation Hypothesis" reads at about a post graduate level in the topics it covers so it is not always an easy read for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. I think the only negative thing about this book is the contents of the Appendix, which seems to be a throwback to old methods of covering the subject of creationism. But in all fairness, the Appendix was the only part of this book written by someone who did not possess at least one Ph.D. from a secular institution. It's not a bad chapter, it's just the typical type of argument secular scientists and philosophers are familiar with and reject. The Appendix will not come across to a nonChristian with the authority and scholarship contained in the previous chapters.

All being considered, you MUST own this book. And this is a book to give to nonChristians who are interested in science and philosophy. Christians need not fear a book like this. With Dr. Moreland at the helm, it is as theologically sound as it is scientifically and philosophically sound.

The Creator and the Cosmos

The book The Creator and the Cosmos (Second Expanded Edition) by Dr. Hugh Ross * (NavPress, 1993) is one of the best Christian books refuting the claims of a "Godless universe" by modern secular science one could come across. This book is a MUST HAVE for all Christians. Unlike his book Creation and Time, which speaks more to Dr. Ross' young-earth Christian rivals, this book gives an analysis of secular science including a critique of some of the ideas in "A Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawking. Popular theories by many prominent scientists that try to exclude God from His Creation are obliterated in this book.

* Please note that the WWCW does not agree with every aspect of Dr. Ross' theology but we think he offers a great evangelistic message to those who believe scientific inquiry can, in and of itself, reveal ultimate truth.

Creation and Time

The book Creation and Time by Dr. Hugh Ross (NavPress, 1994) is a milestone in popular modern Christian thought and has earned the author the wrath of many mainstream Christian thinkers. Dr. Ross has a Ph.D. in Astronomy and is the director of the weekly radio broadcast, "Reasons to Believe". He is also an "old-universe" creationist. An "old-universe" creationist is a person who believes that God did not take six twenty-four hour days to create the universe. This is what Dr. Ross makes a case for in this book. He also attempts to extend a hand of friendship to his "young-universe" Christian brothers.

While Dr. Ross makes a good case for an old-universe, one must admit that God could have created things "old looking" (I have trouble with this theory since God does not deceive, but I could be overlooking something). Or the "gap theory" is a possible explanation for fossils, etc. Or a theory advanced by physicist Lambert Dolphin states that the speed of light is actually slowing down which would address the old look of the universe without being deceptive. Mr. Dolphin has also written an open letter to Hugh Ross disputing Dr. Ross' old-universe theory on a, for the most part, theological basis.

The thing you have to love most about Dr. Ross' books is the fact that he has taken away the excuse most skeptics give for not becoming Christians. Creation and Time and The Creator and the Cosmos will also please many scientists who are Christians who worry about the creation issue. Just don't forget that Christianity does involve faith and science has never rightly contradicted this faith, as Dr. Ross so expertly shows.

God and the Astronomers

God and the Astronomers (New and Expanded Edition) by Dr. Robert Jastrow (Norton, 1992) is the first book reviewed by the WWCW that was not written by a Christian. In fact, Dr. Jastrow describes himself as an agnostic and he is an evolutionist to the core. He is also a leading astronomer, in charge of the Mount Wilson Observatory. He is a rare breed - a scientist honest enough to admit that through observation and study of the cosmos, one must conclude that God exists.

One of the negative things about this book is that Dr. Jastrow seems to be blind to the problems in macro-evolutionary theory and to the inconsistency of his view of macro-evolution with his view that God exists. Another problem with this book is the inclusion of a short essay by Professor Steven T. Katz who, although a professor of religion, tries to do some "damage control" to counteract the implications of Dr. Jastrow's message. The reader would be wise to skip this essay.

Scientists Who Believe

Scientists Who Believe by Eric C. Barrett and David Fisher is a "must read" for those who are interested in science and Christianity. This book contains the personal testimonies of professionals from many science-related fields. Several astronauts, a past US Surgeon General, mathematicians, physicists, a biochemistry professor, even a student give their personal testimonies in this modestly sized book (204 pages). Quoting from Randal J. Fisk (Ph.D in High Energy Physics) who converted to Christianity while working in the physics department at Fermilab:

"Indeed, no thought I have ever pondered in the thought-provoking field of physics has staggered me more than this: Looking at the multitude of stars on a clear night, I know that the Creator of it all knows and loves me!" (p.87)

This book shows that one can still be a Christian and work in a science-related occupation. In fact, Christianity is 100% compatible with science, when science is correct. After all, God is the author of the laws of physics.

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