I Still Believe: How Listening to Christianity's Critics Strengthens Faith

By Kurt Bruner

Let the critics take their best shot.When the smoke clears, Christianity is still standing.Lots of books have been written on apologetics-savvy defenses of the Christian faith. But should your faith... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 031024997X
• ISBN13: 9780310249979
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.4" x 0.6" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Good book, fast read

This was a good book.. not a great book, but a good book. It's important to note that it's written for Christians. I enjoyed it, but I don't think that a hardnosed atheist would like it at all. It speaks to a believing audience. I would recommend it to any Christian, and maybe even an openminded nonchristian. It's very readable, I finished it in about 4 hours.

A Lot To Think About

Over the course of several months, I dabbled with this book. Not because it wasn't interesting, but because it gave me a lot to think about each time I read a section. Mr. Bruner places Christianity's critics into the following categories: The Disillusioned, The Seeker, The Offended, The Apathetic, The Skeptic, The Heckler, The Uneasy, and The Rebel, most of whom I've encountered at one time or another. Each interview with an unbeliever provided me insight into what holds them back from Christianity and, more importantly, how to listen to them and not react in a way that might deepen their unbelief. The best part, of course, is what the blurb on the back says: "When the smoke clears, Christianity is still standing."

Sincere Unbelief

The combination of first-hand observations from those who don't believe in Christ, combined with Bruner's own insights and experiences, make for a compelling read. His conclusions are challenging and worth discussion - whether you agree with them or not.

Unbelief is a choice we must allow

I Still Believe by Kurt Bruner is the result of a year of interviewing the "unconvinced"-- those who reject God and Christianity. It was done not to persuade but to try to understand their dilemma. He defines eight categories of unbelief: the disillusioned, the seeker, the offended, the apathetic, the skeptic, the heckler, the uneasy, and the rebel. Bruner's hope is for the Christian to view this book as a help in understanding unbelieving friends or family members and for unbelievers to use this "as an honest look in the mirror." Bruner covers Scriptures, situations, and actions that his interviewees have seen as a reason to reject Christianity and God. He questions why others who have faced the same situations accept God and Christianity. He concludes that the root of any decision is: Who is going to be in charge of our lives--us or God? I Still Believe helps us as Christians to be more aware of the example we set and the pain that "well-meaning" people can inflict. But it does not provide an excuse for unbelief. "Faith is not the supposition that something might be true, but the assurance that someone is there," by Bishop Kallistos Ware. Bruner closes with this conclusion: "Unbelief is not an accounting error open to audit. It is a choice that we all, God included, must allow." And there is the pain or the joy of this life. -- Linda Demorest, Christian Book Previews.com