[.ca] Scaling the Secular City: A Defense of Christianity (ISBN 0801062225)

another reviewers total ignorance:
" stopping of all scientific and intellectual inquiry for 1700 " So tell me, which Christian thinker was it that stifled all inquiry? Would it be Augustine, the monasteries that hand copied vital classics of the ancient world for hundreds of years, thomas aquinas, Newton(the greatest mathmatician ever), Galileo, Descartes, Berkeley, Riemann(who einstein general relatvitistic math from), Faraday(he gave us electrical power), Gauss(the second greatest mathmatician ever), Maxwell( he gave us radio waves and from his one book game all of modern physics)? Which one of these Christians stifled thought???? We owe modern science in great part to the rational ordered world view of christianity. Better get some new facts friend

Classical Apologetics:
This book is fine as an introduction to classical apologetics. However, after examining all the approaches, I would recommend a variation of Gordon Clark's approach instead, as expressed by theologian-philosopher Vincent Cheung. His books are free for download from his web site. Search the web for "vincent cheung theology," and I think you will find him. Otherwise, try a book by Greg Bahnsen.

Already a Classical Text:
This book, fashioned by J.P. Moreland of Biola University, has stood the test. While it appears as an introductory text; he avoids dumping down the information to the point of making the information irrelevant. In addition, he presents the information with enough technical language and argumentation as to make someone who has not encountered Philosophy of Religion studies before struggle enough to make them grow intellectually. This is the genius of the book, to accomplish this in a primer text. He goes over most of the standard arguments in apologetics such as the design, cosmological, mind arguments and so forth. His chapter on the Resurrection of Jesus is outstanding and his chapter on Science and Christianity is good introductory fair by surveying the different positions. I do think that he should have taken his morel relativism critique in his final four issues chapter devoted an entire chapter to this discussion and with the same depth of skill he used in the "design and cosmological" chapters, developed a chapter on relativism and the impact on the agreement from morals.

A powerful case for Christian faith:
Moreland has written a lucid and compelling defense of Christianity. True, the arguments are theoretical and often difficult to grasp; however, the time spent attempting to understand them will not be time wasted. While the work is fantastic from beginning to end, Moreland's explication of the Kalam cosmological argument--an argument originally devised by MUSLIM scholars and mathematicians--is breathtaking. The other arguments--cosmological, teleological, etc--rely on premisses that some non-theists might find initially unacceptable; the kalam argument, however, relies on the nature and limits of the most exact of the sciences: mathematics. Beyond this, Moreland's work with and understanding of science and its interface with philosophy and theology is especially helpful. He makes a powerful case not only for the value, but the necessity of a philosophy of science. In sum, the work is indispensable for anyone willing to honestly investigate the plausibility of the Christian worldview. A close, reflective reading will not go unrewarded.

A Highly Recommended Defense of the Faith:
J.P. Moreland, one of today's top evangelical philosophers, released this valuable apologetics work about 15 years ago. Despite its age, the book is very relevant and useful even today. Throughout the book, Moreland discusses various issues of importance to the Christian faith. The first few chapters cover arguments for the existence of God, such as the Cosmological Argument and the Argument from Mind. Moreland is thorough and persuasive in his powerful presentations of these arguments for a personal Creator. Moreland also discusses issues dealing with the historicity of the New Testament and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Finishing off the book is a chapter on Christianity and Science, and a chapter that deals with various miscellany. Also useful is a bibliography of recommended further material provided at the end of the book. Moreland offers suggestions for all sorts of topics, and each book is rated Beginner, Intermediate, or Expert. With this feature, Moreland solidifies his work as an excellent apologetic. If there is one apologetics book you buy, Moreland's "Scaling the Secular City" is a great choice.