A Case for Christ?

On March 13, 2004, I posted a book review of Lee Strobel’s FAKE Case for Christ. To go to the original review posted on Amazon.com click this link:

http://www.amazon.com/review/product/0310209307/ref=cm_cr_pr_link_2?_encoding=UTF8&filterBy=addOneStar&pageNumber=2

I have pasted my book review from Amazon down below.  Just a comment or two:

Lee Strobel’s book is widely read among evangelical Christians. In fact, a copy of this book was sent to me by a respected former missionary to India. Although I had heard about the book, I had not read it. I was, therefore, very curious to read the “case.” It turned out to be a big disappointment and a total waste of time.

Reason: The book contains nothing but “testimony” after testimony from committed Christians who already believe in Jesus Christ.  Shallownes of this book made me ask,  “Why would a good writer like Lee Strobel write such a shabby book with no historical standing or rational reasoning?” Answer: Lee Strobel’s book is written not for normal people but for believers who strongly believe in Jesus Christ. The book is written for believers who are looking for a modern day authority figure to strenthen their faith. And of course, it is a huge market. Lee Strobel understands his readers and has made a sizable chunk of change from them by writing this book.

But this book does nothing for people who know history and are eager to examine any rational evidence given for the existence and life of Jesus Christ. Lee Strobel, proves that he is a fake “investigative journalist,” because, despite the claim, he invstigates nothing. Which is why Strobel doesn’t even bother to talk to ONE religiously neutral historian. Lee Strobel demonstrates contempt for a rational inquiry because Strobel knows that he need not offer any scientifically acceptable evidence to believers.  By only interviewing ardent Christian scholars Lee Stobel falsifies his own assertion that his book is “investigative.”  What Lee Stobel ends up demonstrating is that true scholarship is not a requirement for tackling such an important issue.

Strobel book bores because all he does is make one “authoritative (unsubstantiated) statement” after another.  This he calls is “evidence.”  But the believers are ready to accept anything coming from these “reliable Christian scholars.”  Other scholars, no matter how erudite, belong to the devil.  Unlike “Christian scholars” the religiously neutral scholars are garish skeptics who have willfully rejected God. So why bother to listen to scholars who do not believe!

Here is the review of Lee Strobel’s book written in 2004:

Lee Strobel’s book, despite its high sounding title, miserably fails to make a case for the historicity of Jesus Christ. Strobel, without doubt, is a dramatic writer. Unfortunately, drama cannot substitute for substance, logic and consistency. Drama is not evidence.

Strobel is a former legal affairs journalist. Strobel’s background makes it harder for me to believe that his earnestness about his case for Christ is real. What is real is his immaculate understanding of his main audience (hordes of believing Christians) who are predisposed to accept any “evidence” that confirms their belief in Jesus Christ as a historical character. Strobel deftly exploits this predisposition of his audience to the fullest. To those who are not similarly predisposed, but eager to sincerely hear his case, Strobel’s brilliance fails to dazzle. In fact, the lack of substance in his “case” is disappointing, even annoying.

PREPPING HIS AUDIENCE — STROBEL’S INTRODUCTION

Strobel cleverly uses the introduction of his book primarily to prep his audience. He starts out by informing his audience that he was an atheist. [Message: “Unlike many of you, I am not predisposed to believing.”] It was the sudden conversion of his wife to evangelical Christianity that changed Strobel’s life. The wife’s conversion impelled Strobel to take Christianity seriously and to inquire the historicity of the Gospel accounts. Immediately he puts his audience into a great, positive mood by claiming that Christianity had no negative effects on his wife. Strobel’s initial fears regarding her wife’s conversion, such as her turning into a “sexually repressed prude,” were groundless. Much to Strobel’s relief, Mrs. Strobel maintained her “upwardly mobile lifestyle.” Not only that, to Strobel’s utter amazement, Mrs. Strobel miraculously developed “integrity” of character and “personal confidence.” To the believing audience the message is clear: Jesus Christ has to be real to cause such “fundamental changes in her character.” To the unbelievers the subtle message is: “No further proof is necessary. But since I said I will give you evidence for the historical reality of Jesus Christ, I shall condescend.”

To further prep his audience Strobel asserts, “we can’t have absolute proof about anything in life.” That is a specious statement. Who is asking for “absolute proof?” All that is being asked is proof beyond a reasonable doubt. By making this “absolute proof” statement, Strobel is once again sending a subtle message to his audience: “There is sufficient “proof” for the Jesus story. But the skeptics are not going to believe even if “absolute proof” were offered.” Strobel continues this technique through out his book of sending subliminal manipulative messages to his ingratiated audience.

“THE EYEWITNESS EVIDENCE”

That is the title of Strobel’s first chapter. When I read that title I thought Strobel is going to do what no one has done: Present eyewitnesses accounts of the life of Jesus Christ. So what is Strobel up to? Well, through an irrelevant contemporary story of a black youth named Leo Carter, who witnesses murder and in the process almost gets killed, Strobel is dramatizing the importance of eyewitness testimony. Thank you Mr. Strobel for the dramatic story of Leo, or we would not know the central importance of an eyewitnesses testimony. Strobel writes: “I knew just as Leo Carter’s testimony clinched the convictions of three brutal murderers, eyewitness accounts from the mists of distant time could help resolve the most important spiritual issue of all.” Leo Carter’s story as an eyewitness to multiple murders is real life drama. I begin to shift in my chair with excitement at the possibility of meeting the Leo Carters of “distant time.” Strobel punctures the balloon of my excitement. Instead of bringing eyewitnesses to the witness box to get “solid answers,” who does he bring? Hold your breath! It is Craig Blomberg, the author of The Historical Reliability of the Gospels.”

So much so for the eyewitnesses!

To clear the mist hanging over Strobel’s opening chapter, let us imagine that Strobel is in the courtroom before the judge. He just finished relating Leo Carter’s story. This is what happens next.

Judge: “Mr. Strobel now produce your eyewitnesses please.”
Silence.
Judge: ” Mr. Strobel, I heard your irrelevant story about the black kid, now will you produce the eyewitnesses for your case, please.”
Silence.
Judge: “One last time, Mr. Strobel, do you have an eyewitness?”
Strobel: “Your honor, I have an expert who can testify…”
Judge: ” Mr. Strobel, by the story of the black kid you gave me the impression you had eyewitnesses — don’t you even have one eyewitness?”
Strobel: “I have an expert, actually several scholarly, sincere, Christian experts, who are willing to testify.”
Judge: “So, you concede you have no eyewitness for Jesus Christ?”
Strobel: “Your honor, I will offer you expert testimony that shall convince you and the jury of the authenticity of the Jesus story.”

That summarizes what Strobel’s book is about. From here on all that Strobel does is talk to Christian experts who according to him are scholars of distinction and know their subject well. So much so that Strobel does not see the necessity to talk to any neutral or “non Christian” sources. Strobel’s case is exclusively based on interviews he conducts with Christian “experts .” This one sided opinion is presented as “testimony.” And woe unto you if you do not believe this testimony. Case closed.

Strobel completely aligns himself with the religious mindset and the book is nothing but a reinforcement of “accepted” Christian belief and scholarship. Not only his “case” has no eyewitnesses he has nothing to offer by way of new research or unbiased answers.

Is this deception or what? Why not tell the reader at the outset, “Look I have nothing new to offer. I concede there are NO eyewitnesses for my case for Christ. But I can offer you the expert opinion of Christian scholars who know what they are talking about.” Such forthright statements are not made because such an admittance does not sell.