What with the rise of issues such as cancel culture, as a Christian, it’s becoming increasing more challenging to share my faith with others out of fear of facing opposition. This book helps to address common arguments against Christianity in 12 questions.
I’m sure at some point we have all faced (or even asked ourselves) questions like “Why are Christians against women / gay people / e.t.c.? “, “Why would a good God allow suffering?” or “Hasn’t science replaced the need for God?”
These are just some of many arguments people make when challenging Christianity, and it’s fair to say that much of this opposition to this stems from a lack of understanding of the Gospel message.
In our increasingly secular society, it is all the more important to discuss the core topics which many would find a stumbling block into Christianity. After all, 1 Peter 3:15 says:
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
Rebecca McLaughlin’s book “Confronting Christianity” structures the book in the form of twelve questions which covers a broad range of issues such as evil and suffering, to the role of science. My favourite ones include:
- Aren’t We Better Off without Religion?
- Hasn’t Science Disproved Christianity?
- How Could a Loving God Allow So Much Suffering?
McLaughlin’s makes use of clear examples and provides quotes from famous Christians such as C.S. Lewis. McLaughlin, also mentions popular counter-narratives from famous atheists such as Sam Harris to build upon the discussion and to reveal common misconceptions about Christianity.
Personally, I believe that all Christians should read more books like these. I found the compassion between theistic and atheistic arguments really informative, as it helps Christians to make a better defence for the Gospel.
Overall, I found McLaughlin’s book an informative read. It proves a good overview of the big topics of the day which matter to society in a straightforward fashion, while providing a friendly introduction into the world of Christian apologetics at the same time.