Rating: 
Summary: Food for thought. . . or debate.
Review: Mcdowell did not answer every possible objection in this extended tract, nor is his prose style likely to please those who prefer in-depth scholarship and a neutral style. Not all of his points are logically valid, and he overreaches sometimes. But I guess what irritates some readers more than when he's wrong is when he's right. The modern history of Biblical criticism, the "search for the historical Jesus," is nothing more than a massive attempt to evade the implications of the "Liar, Lunatic, Lord" argument by adding a fourth category: "Legend." This is an act of desperation. Anyone can read the New Testament and see in a minute that the Gospels are historical records. As for Farrell Till, whom a reviewer from Washington (D.C.?) said would "eat Mcdowell alive," in debate, he sounds impressive so long as he talks about subjects I know little about. But whenever he strays onto subjects I am familiar with, it becomes quickly evident to me how superficial his understanding is. If the reviewer is still looking for a debating partner, and Josh doesn't have time, drop me a line, and I'd be happy to oblige him.
Rating: 
Summary: Great! Must have!
Review: Ok, I have read the criticisms of this book, but I disagree. Yes, it is a simplistic little book, but he is the only one to date that could answer a lot of my questions. What he helped me do is step back and take a look at how I should be looking at the bible and the history behind it. I know that maybe we had some differing viewpoints, but it makes me more able to draw my OWN conclusions by listening to others in an open-minded way. I think we should all take note here, and notice that we have to draw our OWN conclusions, and NO ONE will agree on everything in the bible, and we need to realize this. We are going to have to learn to agree to disagree.
Rating:
Summary: Knowledge without understanding.
Review: The critical reviewers of this book always tell us that they too are Christians. That's great, but it is also the problem. For those of us who "came to faith" the hard way (after God forced us to our knees) his straight forward message was so easy to grasp and take hold of. I too thought I was far too inteligent to be fooled by this little book, but it stuck in my heart and taught me to bow willingly to a complex God with a simple message.
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Summary: Fantastic book to help a friend accept Christ.
Review: I loved the book and I have seen it change lives by their acceptance of Chirst. What a tool for His work.
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Summary: A book that will change your life forever; for the better.
Review: It has changed life after life because of its clarity and truth spelled out simply. What a wonderful book.
Rating: 
Summary: McDowell declines to debate
Review: First of all, this book was not as good as the one he wrote called "Answers to questions skeptics ask about the Christian faith." That book was much more comprehensive than this one. Anyway, you guys should know that McDowell turned down several offers of debate including one from Farrell Till, who is a former minister and who wrote the best article on Bible prophecy called "Imaginary Prophecies" You can read that article on the secular web. Anyway, Farrell Till would have ripped McDowell apart to shreds, and McDowell knows it. McDowell has only debated a few times before, and ONLY with people who have little knowledge of Christianity. When someone with lots of knowledge on Christianity challenges him to a debate, he dares not to. Heck, I'd even debate McDowell if he wanted to. I know I'd win BECAUSE I know every card he holds and for every card he holds I have a higher hand :)
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Summary: The Evidence Of Christianity!
Review: This book helped me in my faith and helped my apologetics as well. Josh focuses upon the person who changed his life-Jesus Christ. It is a hard headed book for people who are skeptical about Jesus Deity, his resuurection, his claims on their lives. A Must Read For Believer and skeptic
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Summary: I think this is a powerful result yanking book
Review: I love his reasoning and the way he questions how we pick apart the bible for what we like and don't understand. I use this to witness with a lot of people. I first read it in a youth group and thought it was thought provoking and steady with it's concepts of how it couldn't all be a lie. I was very pleased with the content and beliefs that the book stated. I LOVED IT!
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Summary: Very weak and a disservice to Apologetics
Review: This is a bad book. Essentially, the author makes two tremendous mistakes. He uses an oversimplified argument of C.S. Lewis (that Jesus is Lord, Liar, or Lunatic)and he fails to take into account the best Biblical Scholarship of his day and the fact that the Bible is not written the way a journalist writes a news story. I am a believing Christian and I agree that one can mount a rational defense of Christianity. I would even suggest that the "Lord, Liar, or Lunatic" argument can work when presented properly, taking into account a close and critical reading of the New Testament as well as an argument from history. This book, however, fails to take into account the complex nature of the Gospels and it fails to address the criticisms that can be leveled against the Bible as history by higher critics. I would suggest reading the works of Karl Keating as well as G.K. Chesterson and C.S. Lewis. All of these writers have a great appreciation for logic and the complexity of the written text. They are much better apologests. Even better, Luke Timothy Johnson's "The Writings of the New Testament" outstandingly demonstrates how the Gospel writers wove traditions and sayings together into a historical-theological narrative that is not history in the sense of a "photographic account (my phrase)" but it is not legend or myth either. "More Than a Carpenter" is just too oversimplistic to convince intelligent skeptics and be of value to Christians with a good grasp of Scripture, history, and theology.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic - concise,readable,logical,analytical,intelligent
Review: I highly recommend this powerful little book. It is a real faith builder. I have read the reviews that are critical and they just don't wash. They must have read a different book, is all I can say, or they didn't read it while conscious or with an open mind. Anyway, decide for yourself, it only costs $3.99! You can't go wrong!
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