This site uses cookies to provide you with more responsive and personalized service and to collect certain information about your use of the site.  You can change your cookie settings through your browser.  If you continue without changing your settings, you agree to our use of cookies.  See our Privacy Policy for more information.

  • A Reasonable Response: Answers to Tough Questions on God, Christianity, and the Bible

A Reasonable Response: Answers to Tough Questions on God, Christianity, and the Bible

Available Formats

Format: Paperback
List Price: $22.99
Your Price: $18.39
You save: $4.60 (20%)

Product Description

Followers of Jesus need not fear hard questions or objections against Christian belief. In A Reasonable Response, renowned Christian philosopher and apologist William Lane Craig offers dozens of examples of how some of the most common challenges to Christian thought can be addressed, including:

  • Why does God allow evil?
  • How can I be sure God exists?
  • Why should I believe that the Bible is trustworthy?
  • How does modern science relate to the Christian worldview?
  • What evidence do we have that Jesus rose from the dead?

Utilizing real questions submitted to his popular website ReasonableFaith.org, Dr. Craig models well-reasoned, skillful, and biblically informed interaction with his inquirers. A Reasonable Response goes beyond merely talking about apologetics; it shows it in action. With cowriter Joseph E. Gorra, this book also offers advice about envisioning and practicing the ministry of answering people's questions through the local church, workplace, and in online environments.

Whether you're struggling to respond to tough objections or looking for answers to your own intellectual questions, A Reasonable Response will equip you with sound reasoning and biblical truth.


About the Authors

William-Lane Craig
WILLIAM LANE CRAIG is a Research Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, California. He earned a doctorate in philosophy at the University of Birmingham, England, and a doctorate in theology from the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen, Germany, where he was for two years a Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung. Prior to his appointment at Talbot he spent seven years at the Higher Institute of Philosophy of the Katholike Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. He has authored or edited over forty books, including The Kalam Cosmological Argument; Assessing the New Testament Evidence for the Historicity of the Resurrection of Jesus; Divine Foreknowledge and Human Freedom; Theism, Atheism, and Big Bang Cosmology and God, Time, and Eternity, as well as over 150 articles in professional publications of philosophy and theology, including The Journal of Philosophy, New Testament Studies, Journal for the Study of the New Testament, American Philosophical Quarterly, Philosophical Studies, Philosophy, and British Journal for Philosophy of Science. His website is www.reasonablefaith.org.

Joseph-E Gorra
JOSEPH E. GORRA is engaged in content development and research, editing, and publicity for Biola University’s graduate program in Christian apologetics, the Evangelical Philosophical Society, and is a tutor for Vineyard Bible Institute. He is also the founder and director of Veritas Life Center, a religious nonprofit devoted to translating and transmitting the Christian tradition as a knowledge and wisdom tradition for flourishing well (www.VeritasLifeCenter.org). Twitter: @GorraResearch.

Endorsements

Praise for A Reasonable Response

No sincere question about God is out of bounds. Here, one of the world's foremost apologists offers insightful answers to challenging inquiries sent to him—and models how to help people get past their spiritual sticking points.

—Lee Strobel, author of The Case for Christ and The Case for Faith

The premise of this very helpful volume is stated up front: "questions are our friends." I couldn't agree more, and that's why I love this new book. Dr. Craig's responses to questions he's been asked over the years will stretch you, but with Joe Gorra's assistance you'll gain the benefit of understanding new insights. You won't regret the journey.

— John Stonestreet, author and speaker for Colson Center for Christian Worldview (BreakPoint.org) and Summit Ministries (Summit.org)

What a book! Combining a top-notch reference work with solid, practical instruction, Bill Craig and Joe Gorra have created a unique and innovative title that will help all Christians grow and minister. Bill's sharp insights answer the biggest questions surrounding Christianity, while Joe's analysis and framework provides real-world wisdom that can be employed by the evangelist as well as the philosopher. A Reasonable Response not only gives you the answers but shows the value of apologetics and helps the reader be a more effective communicator of the gospel message. This is a rich resource for the pastor and apologist, and an effective tool for personal growth.

— Lenny Esposito, founder and president, Come Reason Ministries (ComeReason.org)

As a pastor for more than 30 years, I know firsthand the importance of apologetics in the life of the church and the personal journey of believers. I've faced the questions of confused believers and disgruntled skeptics. A Reasonable Response has comprehensive content yet a user-friendly approach that leverages a Q&A format. Dr. Craig strikes an impressive balance between gifted philosopher and compassionate sage. Of special interest are the appendixes, which provide practical advice to pastors on recommendations for doing apologetics in the local church.

— Dr. Brent Strawsburg, Equipping & Outreach Consultant, Conservative Baptist Association of Southern California

Dr. Craig's credentials are well known, so it will not surprise the reader that serious questions about God and the Christian life are answered with wisdom and respect. An added bonus to this work is how well the church and pastor are handled. I don't know of another book that answers the seeker, trains the Christian, and models the apologetic task in the context of the church as well as this one does.

— Phil Steiger, senior pastor, Living Hope Church (Colorado Springs)

Unlike similar books that repackage the same tired answers to perennial questions, A Reasonable Response offers thoughtful and philosophically astute, yet succinct, answers to some of the most challenging queries of both skeptics and believers. You'll gain valuable insight from reading Bill Craig's winsome, enlightening approach to apologetics.

— Joe Carter, editor, The Gospel Coalition (TheGospelCoalition.org)

If learning is often by example, then A Reasonable Response can be a valuable source of encouragement to current and emerging leaders in apologetics. Read it for your own equipping. Read it to gain confidence in answering people's tough questions. Every Christian at every university should have a copy on their bookshelf!

—R ick Schenker, president, Ratio Christi: A Student Apologetics Alliance (RatioChristi.org)

This is a Q&A book that goes well beyond mere questions and answers. It will linger with you, inviting you into the practice of thinking itself. If you study this book carefully, you will certainly gain a rich storehouse of Christian answers. But more importantly, it will equip you to think for yourself so that eventually you're able to arrive at answers on your own. And when you can do that, you will be well-positioned to help others discover satisfying answers to their deepest questions.

—Brett Kunkle, Student Impact Director at Stand to Reason (STR.org)

Dr. Craig not only tackles some of the toughest questions people are asking today, but we get an "insider's glimpse" as to how and why he answers them as he does. This book will be helpful to beginners and experts alike.

—Sean McDowell, educator, speaker, and general editor for The Apologetics Study Bible for Students

When I am preparing for a debate or a presentation before an atheistic college audience, there is no one I rely on more for clear arguments than William Lane Craig. Now the most important of those arguments appear in this one volume! A Reasonable Response should convince anyone who is truly reasonable that Christianity is indeed true.

—Dr. Frank Turek, president of CrossExamined.org and coauthor of I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist

For many years, William Lane Craig has thoughtfully and graciously engaged in answering questions from people around the world. A Reasonable Response combines some of the most difficult questions Dr. Craig has received with the answers he has given into one incredibly valuable resource! Not only will the reader gain insight into Dr. Craig's arguments, but she will see an excellent model of how to be an ambassador for Christ. Here's a resource that not only attends to the life of the mind but also challenges Christians in the daily practice of Christianity. This is a timely work in the field of apologetics!

—Mary Jo Sharp, assistant professor of Apologetics, Houston Baptist University, founder, Confident Christianity Apologetics Ministry

William Craig is one of the top Christian thinkers in the world today. A Reasonable Response is a classic collection of his responses to readers' questions. Readers will be delighted to see how Dr. Craig handles even the most difficult questions people ask today. Read this accessible book to sharpen your own skills in apologetics.

—Dennis McCallum, author, Discovering God: Exploring the Possibilities of Faith, and a lead pastor at Xenos Christian Fellowship (Ohio)

For the Christian ambassador seeking to master his subject and become a tactful communicator, there is no better example than William Lane Craig. In A Reasonable Response, budding apologists will find not only a rich resource of scholarly content but wisdom and insight for engaging others with gentleness and respect.

—Brian Auten, founder of Apologetics315.com and director of Reasonable Faith (Belfast)

A Reasonable Response is God's gift to Christendom. We not only benefit from Dr. Craig's cogent and insightful answers to tough perennial questions, but we get a glimpse into what really excites the heart of the author—one who is passionate and dedicated in reaching the genuine seeker through the defense of the truth claims of Christianity. His example is one to emulate. This is a must-read.

—Harry Edwards, founder and director, Apologetics.com

Christians today have access to tremendous informational resources for defending the faith—but information by itself is not enough. Apologetics is relational; questions and objections come from real people, whether they are family, friends, coworkers, or even strangers on the Internet. A Reasonable Response provides a valuable resource for Christians who seek both to have good answers to questions, and to share those answers in a way that will be genuinely respectful and helpful. The question-and-answer format makes A Reasonable Response a handy reference guide while also modeling how to graciously answer questions. A further benefit of this book is the extensive introduction, conclusion, and appendixes that explore crucial ideas about apologetics dialogue as a ministry.

—Dr. Holly Ordway, chair of the department of apologetics, Houston Baptist University

 

Product Details

ISBN: 978-0-8024-0599-9
Publish Date: September 2013
Dimensions: 7 x 9
Format: Paperback