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50 Simple Questions for Every Christian

Guy P. Harrison (Prometheus Books: March 19, 2013), 350 pages.

Written in a respectful and conversational style, this unique book is designed to promote constructive dialogue and foster mutual understanding between Christians and non-Christians. The author, a skeptic and journalist, asks basic questions about Christian belief. What is the born-again experience? Why would God want to sacrifice his only son for the world? Do miracles really happen? How reliable is the Bible? What is the rapture? Why isn’t everyone a Christian? Each question is followed by commentary and analysis that is skeptical and tough but never argumentative or condescending. Christians will find the book useful as a basis for developing their apologetics, while skeptics will welcome Harrison’s probing rational analysis of religious claims. ~ Publisher’s Description

Table of Contents

  • Introduction……………….. 9
  • 1. Does Christianity make sense?……………….. 13
  • 2. What is a god?……………….. 21
  • 3. Is it rude to ask?……………….. 25
  • 4. Does Jesus answer prayers?……………….. 33
  • 5. Who is a Christian?……………….. 41
  • 6. Does Christianity make societies better?……………….. 45
  • 7. What is atheism?……………….. 49
  • 8. What are miracles?……………….. 57
  • 9. Does the complexity of life reveal an intelligent designer?……….. 67
  • 10. Have you read the Bible?……………….. 73
  • 11. Why do some Christians do bad things in the sight of Jesus?………. 79
  • 12. How can we be sure about the resurrection?……………….. 83
  • 13. How do we know that heaven is real?……………….. 89
  • 14. Why is God so violent?……………….. 97
  • 15. What do prophecies prove?……………….. 103
  • 16. How important are the Ten Commandments?……………….. 109
  • 17. Do you know the real Ten Commandments?……………….. 117
  • 18. Is Christianity good for women?……………….. 121
  • 19. Is it smarter to believe or not believe?……………….. 125
  • 20. Is the born-again experience in Christianity unique?…………….. 131
  • 21. Is faith a good thing?……………….. 141
  • 22. Should children be Christians?……………….. 147
  • 23. Does Jesus heal the sick?……………….. 153
  • 24. How do we know that the man Jesus existed?……………….. 159
  • 25. What about all the other gods?……………….. 165
  • 26. Are Christians happier?……………….. 171
  • 27. Is the United States of America a Christian nation?……………… 177
  • 28. How can we be sure that Jesus performed miracles?……………….. 183
  • 29. What do evil atheist dictators prove?……………….. 187
  • 30. Is the universe fine-tuned for us?……………….. 197
  • 31. Could we design a better world?……………….. 203
  • 32. What has archaeology proved?……………….. 209
  • 33. Why isn’t everyone a Christian?……………….. 213
  • 34. What is the problem with evolution?……………….. 219
  • 35. Is it better to be safe than sorry?……………….. 227
  • 36. Why did God sacrifice his son?……………….. 231
  • 37. Did God drown the world?……………….. 237
  • 38. Why do birth location and family matter so much?……………….. 245
  • 39. Why do Christianity and science so often come into conflict?……… 249
  • 40. Why do people go to hell?……………….. 255
  • 41. Can atheists be trusted?……………….. 261
  • 42. Why hasn’t the Bible convinced more people?……………….. 269
  • 43. Are angels real?……………….. 275
  • 43. Are angels real?………………..