Challenging the Verdict: A Cross-Examination of Lee Strobel's "The Case for Christ"

by Earl Doherty

In the face of modern critical scholarship, which is steadily eroding the historical reliability of the Gospels and their presentation of Jesus, conservative writers have been making valiant attempts... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0968925901
• Release Date: September 2001
• Publisher: Age of Reason Publications,Canada
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.5" x 5.6"

Customer Reviews

No book is going to settle the arguments over Jesus

As a Christian apologist, I have dealt with skeptics and their arguments over the years. However, it is not my intent to refute Doherty in this review. Instead, I want to make the point that there is no definitive argument or evidence which would convince both skeptics and believers. If there was, then the issue of Jesus would have been resolved centuries ago. Even so, Doherty's book demonstrates how a thoughtful skeptic can address many of the arguments made by believers like Strobel. From that perspective, I found this to be a valuable book.

No One is Refuting Doherty's Points

All these religionist reviews on here attack everything but Doherty's arguments. Gimme a break you guys, I am seeing all these 1-star ratings without any of Doherty's points actually challenged. You guys keep claiming that Doherty did not interview any of Strobel's witnesses yet Strobel never interviewed any unbelievers in his own book. The book is a response and I have yet to see works that respond to his specific arguments.

Another resounding five star vote!

My encounter with Earl Doherty's first book, The Jesus Puzzle, bent the rudder on my high-flying belief system causing it to flip over and crash. Naturally my Christian brothers and sisters were scandalized at the demise of a fellow true believer and let me know just how they felt about such wicked apostasy. However, I'm still intact, and grateful, that old friends at least decided to merely cut me off rather than resort to medieval torture-unto-death. But, darn it, truth will out! I do feel a depressive burden has been lifted and would invite any thinking Christian made uneasy by suspicious orthodox dogmas to re-examine the validity of pre-suppositions supporting such. However, be warned and on guard concerning the following Catch 22: You cannot by logical reasoning correct a person of an ill opinion never originally acquired through reasoning. (apologies to Sir Francis Bacon) Earl's second book, Challenging the Verdict, zips like Robin Hood's arrow to split apart the orthodox party line expressed in Lee Strobel's best selling book, The Case for Christ. Mr. Strobel's work is widely touted in Christian bookstores as THE ANSWER to hostile critics. Indeed, it has become the believer's spiritual sword of choice for delivering death thrusts to nasty naysayers. But now, with widening circulation of Earl's 'Challenge' this particular sword may be found more often stuck in the scabbard than protruding from any victim's black heart.However, as an aside, my admiration for Earl Doherty's scholarship and penetrating insight does not encompass his espoused atheism. Alas, human rationalism elevated to de facto deity will eventually confront its own self-generated nemesis lurking downstream. But determining ultimate spiritual realty is not the object here. Earl's purpose is to examine the logical structure of the biblical account, as defended by some of its leading apologists, to determine whether or not it all "hangs together." Earl's searing examination has convinced me that the gospel does lack the qualities expected from a work guided by a divine hand. (that is, if wobbling unsteadily on soggy feet of clay is any indication.) Unlike many atheists -- as irritatingly strident and arrogant in their ranting as their Christian fundamental counterparts -- Earl has the welcome facility of being a rather "nice guy." He doesn't gloat and maniacally whack away with literary two by fours. In fact an irony observed by commentators is that 'pagan' Earl is more the perfect gentlemanly role model -- acting in the manner a Christian is supposedly expected to act --than opponents who treat him in an utterly contemptuous and uncivil manner. Hard to believe? Please check out the ad hominem negative reviews. Other gruesome examples of just how counterproductive "Christians" can be at their worst in 'defending' the faith are found stuffed away in a secret closet at Acharya's home site: explore, "emails I have loved" Unlike Earl, Acharya S. doesn't suffer fools glad