The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel

[_KevinSim]

I have read it. I remember, at the time, thinking: if this is one of the best Christian apologists [I've read better since], there isn't anything here. The arguments of Bertrand Russell are much more persuasive.

For me, my loss of faith in Mormonism and Christianity can largely be laid at the feet of the apologists who so utterly failed to demonstrate the truth of their beliefs by logical argument.

Panopticon, where can I find the apologists that you say you've found since Strobel that are better? I'm really interested in giving Biblical Christianity a fair chance, so I'd really like to read better apologists if I can find them.

[_honorentheos]

I have read it. I remember, at the time, thinking: if this is one of the best Christian apologists [I've read better since], there isn't anything here. The arguments of Bertrand Russell are much more persuasive.

For me, my loss of faith in Mormonism and Christianity can largely be laid at the feet of the apologists who so utterly failed to demonstrate the truth of their beliefs by logical argument.

Panopticon, where can I find the apologists that you say you've found since Strobel that are better? I'm really interested in giving Biblical Christianity a fair chance, so I'd really like to read better apologists if I can find them.

Kevin, I'd also consider asking Aristotle Smith since AS has chosen to remain christian since leaving the LDS faith. He had previously mentioned Bruce Metzger, who you may have heard of via Bart Ehrman.

[_RayAgostini]

Has anybody on this forum read this book? I'd be interested in hearing some of your opinions about the arguments it makes. While reading the book I had some thoughts of my own, that I'll publish if you'd like, but for right now I'm just interested in what some of you have to say about Strobel's book.

I've read better Christian apologetic arguments. Strobel is a "hit and miss". He hits on some good points, then almost demolishes them with bad ones. That was my impression, anyway. It's not a book that survived my rapidly diminishing library.

[_Phaedrus Ut]

I broke down my review of it on a website, now lost (http://www.grokutah.com) for the board owner as part of the agreement. I haven't figured out how to retrieve anything off of that old place since it is gone. But if anyone knows how, I may try and fish that thread back up."

Try this
http://web.archive.org/web/200608121611 ... om/boards/

Phaedrus

[_Ceeboo]

It's not a bad book for an introduction on the topic from a Christian perspective.

From what I can remember (I read the book several years ago), I would agree with this.

I would add that the book, in my opinion, was really about the journey of an atheist who converts to Christianity.

Peace,
Ceeboo

[_Hoops]

Kevin, I'd also consider asking Aristotle Smith since AS has chosen to remain christian since leaving the LDS faith. He had previously mentioned Bruce Metzger, who you may have heard of via Bart Ehrman.

Or was compelled to. I dunno, you'll have to ask him, he doesn't give me the time of day. (it's 8:15)

But then.... he's also incredibly stupid, so there is that.

[_Aristotle Smith]

Kevin, I'd also consider asking Aristotle Smith since AS has chosen to remain christian since leaving the LDS faith. He had previously mentioned Bruce Metzger, who you may have heard of via Bart Ehrman.

Or was compelled to. I dunno, you'll have to ask him, he doesn't give me the time of day. (it's 8:15)

But then.... he's also incredibly stupid, so there is that.

It's true, I am incredibly stupid.

As for apologetics to read, I actually don't think it's that helpful for a Mormon to read most Christian apologists for two reasons. First, a Christian apologist is going to start with assumptions and materials that are foreign to most Mormons. Second, they are generally going to be defending a broad point of view (such as Catholicism, liberal Protestantism, Evangelical Christianity, etc.) which a Mormon is not going to identify with, at least not initially.

Leaving Mormonism for Christianity means learning to think and view the world differently. So if you would like to explore Christianity, I would explore resources that help you to do that. I would recommend two things.

1) Get a modern Bible translation and start reading it. This will force you to see and think about things differently. A lot of Mormonism is built on the cadences and the specific verbiage of the KJV, and that's how people process Mormonism. It helps if it is a study Bible, but it's not necessary. I generally recommend the Oxford Annotated Study Bible because the translation is good and it doesn't have denominational commitments.

2) Visit several churches of different types. As a warning, the different worship styles may be off-putting at first, but people are usually very friendly. When I was looking into Christianity I visited Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Methodist, and a non-denominational Evangelical church. Don't feel any pressure to join or give money, it's understood that you are a guest. If/when you find one that you like give it a try for a few weeks to get a better idea. One warning, as hard as it may be to fathom for many Mormons, but hardly anyone outside of the LDS church knows anything about Mormons.

If you have a more scholarly bent, I can recommend good resources for studying the Bible and Christian theology.

[_Hoops]

When I was looking into Christianity I visited Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Methodist, and a non-denominational Evangelical church.

Not to pry, but... where did you land?

If you have a more scholarly bent, I can recommend good resources for studying the Bible and Christian theology.

Please.

[_KevinSim]

It's true, I am incredibly stupid.

I doubt that! :)

Leaving Mormonism for Christianity means learning to think and view the world differently. So if you would like to explore Christianity, I would explore resources that help you to do that.

My intent is not to explore Christianity, at least at first. My intent is to find out whether God endorses Biblical Christianity, to find out if God wants me to explore Biblical Christianity.

I would recommend two things.

1) Get a modern Bible translation and start reading it. This will force you to see and think about things differently.

How will reading "a modern Bible translation" (or any Bible for that matter) lead me to a knowledge of whether or not God endorses Biblical Christianity?

If/when you find one that you like give it a try for a few weeks to get a better idea.

I'm not interested in finding a congregation I like. I want to find the group of people God wants me to associate with.

If you have a more scholarly bent, I can recommend good resources for studying the Bible and Christian theology.

Once again, I'm not really interested in "the Bible and Christian theology," at least at first. What I'm interested in is what the reasons are why I should believe God wants me to be a part of Biblical Christianity. If and when I discover that God does want me to be a part of that faith, then at that point I'd be completely happy to study the Bible and Biblical Christianity.

For completeness I should point out that I am in fact a devout Latter-day Saint, and am convinced that God wants me to be in the LDS Church. But for decades now I've been of the opinion that it really can't hurt someone to give serious consideration to the possibility that that someone might be wrong about her/his core beliefs. So, Aristotle (or anybody else for that matter), how can someone like me go about discovering that God wants me to be a part of Biblical Christianity?

[_Aristotle Smith]

What I'm interested in is what the reasons are why I should believe God wants me to be a part of Biblical Christianity.

For completeness I should point out that I am in fact a devout Latter-day Saint, and am convinced that God wants me to be in the LDS Church.

You seem to already have your answer.

Beyond that, you seem to want an answer without actually doing anything on your own. At least not doing anything related to the Bible or orthodox Christianity. To be honest, this is a little silly. If you were to ask if you should take up quilting, jogging, or the study of sociology, my answer would involve trying out quilting, jogging, or studying sociology. Why do you think this situation should be any different?