Another week, another book giveaway! This time we’re giving away two recent books on Christian apologetics. Thinking about Christian Apologetics: What It Is and Why We Do It by James K. Beilby (IVP, 2011) and Moral Apologetics for Contemporary Christians: Pushing Back Against Cultural and Religious Critics by Mark Coppenger (B&H, 2011). These look like a couple of great books. So, if you’re looking for a good introduction to apologetics, or if you’d just like to expand your library in that area, scroll down to see how to enter the giveaway. I’ll be picking one person to win both books.
Here are the descriptions from the publishers:
Most introductions to apologetics begin with the “how to” of defending the faith, diving right into the major apologetic arguments and the body of evidence. For those who want a more foundational look at this contested theological discipline, this book examines Christian apologetics in its nature, history, approaches, objections and practice.
What is apologetics? How has apologetics developed? What are the basic apologetic approaches? Why should we practice apologetics?
Countless Christians today are seeking a responsibe way to defend and commend their faith. If you are one them, Thinking About Christian Apologetics is the place to start.
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Have Christians grown accustomed to those who defame the Church? Whether it’s a best-selling author who claims “religion poisons everything” or an atheist comedian whose punch lines aren’t hassled by the burden of proof, foes of the faith continue to declare Christianity morally deficient without much resistance.
In Moral Apologetics for Contemporary Christians, Mark Coppenger mixes compelling references—from classic philosophers to modern entertainers—to reasonably push back against both harsh critics and less intense cultural relativists, contending that Christianity is morally superior to its competitors as well as true.
Coppenger doesn’t avoid uncomfortable realities like the misbehavior of many Christians and false teachers, but he sets the book’s course in defense of his faith with evidence that a Christian approach to life makes people and societies flourish, while those who turn their backs on genuine Christianity are more liable to behave wickedly.
“I hope to help replenish our cultural confidence,” he writes. “We have a great moral story to tell, and it surely points to the Author of Light and Life.”
How to Enter
Entering is simple. Just do one or more of the following. And, as usual, the more of these you do, the better your chances of winning. (To make my life easier, please leave one comment for everything that you do. So, for example, if you “like” the post on Facebook and also Tweet about it, leave two comments – one for each.)
- Leave a comment on this post saying that you want the book
- Subscribe to the blog via email (in the sidebar) or RSS
- Click the Facebook “like” button on this post
- Share this post on Twitter
- Friend me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, or add me to your Google+ circles
- Comment on what you think the most difficult question/challenge is for Christian apologetics today.
See, nice and simple. I’ll select a winner next Tuesday (April 3). So stay tuned!
I want them.
subscribed
OK, I’ve Tweeted the Link. I already follow you on Twitter (and I think you follow me too) and I already subscribe to the RSS feed.
Since I really want these books, I’ll be back later to answer the essay part of the exam.
“liked” the post.
I’m your facebook friend. I follow you on twitter, and I’m about to add you on G+.
Most of my apologetics conversations are with Muslims and their questions aren’t that hard. Maybe the hardest one is “How can God die?” or “How can God go to the bathroom? if Jesus is God.” But I can usually satisfy those. People who get into “why” questions are harder. The one I can think of that has stumped me in the past is “Why does God require faith for salvation?”
Small salary + recession = limited book funds. Help a young faculty member build his library!
I’d love to receive these books. Thanks for the offer
I’d like the books!
I would like to have these books.
I Liked this on FB
I tweeted
I already subscribe to the blog via RSS
we’re already friends on FB
I already follow you on Twitter
I would love them.
Opps. Last name here. I would love them.
I would likewise love the books.
Tweeted.
Liked on FB.
I just subscribed to your blog.
I just liked this on Facebook.
I want these books!
I just sent you a friend request on Facebook.
Lastly, I think the most difficult challenge for Christian apologetics is the problem of evil argument. I’m not impressed by most arguments atheists try and use against Christians, but I think the problem of evil is a genuine concern and deserves a thoughtful response from Christians.
I think the greatest challenge to Christian apologetics is the life of the Christian lived before an unbelieving world. Our lives can be the greatest apologetic for the truth we claim to believe and ask everyone else to believe along with us.
Already follow on Twitter.
Already friends on FB.
Already subscribe to the blog.
Already have you in my Google+ circles.
Of course I want these books!
I would really love these books as my introduction to apologetics. Thanks for the opportunity.
I already subscribe.
Tweeted.
Would enjoy the read…thanks!
Subscribed
Liked this post
Tweeted the giveaway
The most difficult question/problem is an old one–why we in the modern world should believe in ancient religious teachings.
Facebook friends and you’re in my G+ circles–don’t you feel loved!
I want these books!
I liked on facebook.
I’m subscribed via RSS
We are friends on facebook
I would like them! and I agree a major issue in apologetics is the problem of theodicy but the issue of the exclusivity of Christ is a big one too.
shared post on twitter.
following on twitter.
liked post on facebook
sent friend request on facebook
Already friends with you on Facebook
Liked this post on FB
subscibed to blog
I want these books — unapologetically
I would like to have the books. starting a class in the summer on apologetics. thanks for the opportunity.
One of the most difficult apologetic questions might be the mutual influence between Christianity and empires throughout church history and into the present…!
Already subscribed to the blog
Would definitely like to have these books but hope that just the right person gets picked.
I would like these books.
I subscribe via email.
I shared on twitter
finding a way to be loving and bold without being too pushy and turning people off
I would love these books.
Marc,
I want the books!!
Already your friend on Facebook… btw, enjoy your posts.
Subscribed to your blog.
OK, just friended you on Facebook (which is a big deal for me because I’m very picky about my friends). Still really want those books!
I’m actually in the middle of an informal research project about how traditional apologetics (meaning the modernist approach of the last hundred years) has focused primarily on the intellectual/logical side of defending the faith and ignored the fact that humans have TWO ways of knowing. Whether we refer to it as “head & heart” or “reason & intuition” or “reason & imagination,” the fact is that people know things “in their bones” (to quote C.S. Lewis) that logic can’t explain.
It is this untidy, amorphous (but no less persuasive) part of the human psyche that traditional apologetics has ignored. Bringing thinks like moral, imaginative, and literary apologetics back into the mainstream of apologetics training will fill that gap.
I’m in! Thanks
Many thanks for your generosity!
I would love the book
I liked it
I tweeted it
bringing a substantial apologetic to the non-vocational Christian
On FB i liked the post
We are friends on facebook
I would appreciate those books
I liked the post
I’m already subscribed to the blog
I asked to be your friend
I believe that we need to particularly focus on reiterating the need for and exceptionalism of the Christian faith in the face of religious pluralism without giving up the inherently moral and political dimension of the gospels (transcending the somewhat shallow politics of the conservative right and not reducing Christianity to an idea of how to just ‘get saved’) and to also not let this line of thinking preclude us from working with other religions when the need arises (that is, we still need to establish a relationship of love rather than distance).
I want the books.
I would love to have the books if it is not too late.
Liked the post on FB
Friended you on FB
I think the biggest problem we have in terms of apologetics is our own witness as Christians.
Oh yeah… I want the books.
Friended you on Facebook.
I friended you on Facebook.
I want the books!
subscribed to the blog
friended you on fbook
“Liked” the post
Most difficult questions…
• How can a good God allow evil and sufeirng in the world?
• How can a “loving” Christian Church hurt so many people? (often asked from personal experiences)
I love apologetics. I’m especially interested in the moral apologetics book.
I want this book.
I tweeted this giveaway.
One of the biggest problems in apologetics today may be how exactly morality is grounded in God. I hope that my view of that changes after reading “Good God” this summer, though.
I liked this post on Facebook (your page).
I’m already friends with you on Facebook and Google+.