Alex McFarland - 10 Answers for Atheists: How to Have an Intelligent Discussion about the Existence of God

PRAISE FOR 10 Answers for Atheists

The aftermath of the many new voices in atheism has led to the need for believers to have solid answers ready for sharing the reason for the hope they have within them. Alex provides biblical responses and seasoned solutions based on his many years of sharing his faith with people of diverse backgrounds around the world. Youll be encouraged and equipped for better conversations with those who struggle with whether God is there and be able to offer hope and help that truly changes lives.

Dr. John Ankerberg

Founder and President, The John Ankerberg Show (www.jashow.org)

There always seems to be an interest in treatments of the pithiest spiritual questions and brief responses, especially ones that nicely encapsulate some of the most difficult issues of our day. Alex McFarland has a gift for accomplishing these sorts of tasks. Seldom will one find so many tough challenges to religious faith followed by even better explanations, all under one cover. I recommend this handbook of responses to atheism as a quick-read that is a real page-turner.

Gary R. Habermas, Ph.D.

Distinguished Research Professor, Liberty University and Theological Seminary

Alex McFarland is one of todays most sought-after speakers on Christian apologetics. After speaking on countless radio programs and on university campuses, and after having engaged in several public debates with atheists, he is well qualified to write on the subject matter of this book. A lot of apologetics books have been written, but few are as accessible to the layperson as those written by Alex McFarland.

Michael R. Licona, Ph.D.

Associate Professor in Theology, Houston Baptist University

As an apologist/evangelist, Alex McFarland makes a sincere effort to engage in dialogue with atheists and skeptics alike. Out of these efforts has come his latest resource, 10 Answers for Atheists. In this book, Alex provides not only theoretical ideas but also real answers to real questions. If you are serious about sharing Christianity with atheists, you will find this book to be well researched and respectfully presented.

Josh D. McDowell

Author and Speaker

In some circles, atheism is in vogue. It is also tragically wrong. In a gracious, probing way, Alex McFarland demonstrates why Christian theism is not only reasonable but also true. Alex tackles tough questions honestlya rare feat for any authorand offers answers that will encourage the faithful and, with winsome penetration, challenge the faithless.

Tony Perkins

President, Family Research Council

Alex McFarland is a young evangelical who understands the mind of the modern atheist. He has not only answered their questions, but he has proposed to them biblical questions thatif they would honestly answerwould bring them face to face with God. May God use this book to prove to many that God does exist.

Elmer L. Towns

Co-founder, Liberty University

2012 Alex McFarland

Published by Bethany House Publishers
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Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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Bethany House Publishers edition published 2014

ISBN 978-1-4412-6658-3

Previously published by Regal Books

Ebook edition originally created 2012

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Other versions used are:

ASVThe American Standard Version, Thomas Nelson and Sons, first published in 1901.

NASBScripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

DEDICATION

In honor of Norman L. Geislerpreeminent apologist and educator

and

the faculty, staff, and students of North Greenville UniversityWhere Christ Makes the Difference

CONTENTS

Section I
INSIDE THE MIND OF THE ATHEIST

Section II
ATHEISM AND OTHER RELIGIONS

Section III
ANSWERING THE ATHEISTS

Foreword

Im honored to have been asked to write the foreword for my friend Alex McFarlands terrific book. Im thrilled that this book exists (which I can prove and discuss intelligently), and Im thrilled that Alex exists (which I can also prove and discuss, albeit not quite as intelligently). The reason Im thrilled is that we desperately need win-some and intelligent voices like Alexs to show us the way forward on these and similarly important topics.

In 1 Peter 3:15, we are told, Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. This doesnt mean that all of us have to be as good at it as Alex McFarland, but it does mean that we should make some effort in this direction, and reading this book is a good start. Scripture also enjoins us to love God with all our minds (see Luke 10:17). Having some sense of why we believe what we believe is a part of doing this.

But the larger reason Im grateful for Alexs existenceand this booksis that Alex shows us not only what to say, but also how to say it. Not knowing what to say is one problem, but another is seeming to have all the answers and thinking that it is all that matters. Its not. How we express our answers to others is equally important, and in this post-modern, image-oriented culture, it can even be more important. Besides, we are enjoined to love our enemies, not to bludgeon them with facts or arguments or anything else. So Im grateful for Alexs understanding that truth and grace are inextricably intertwined. Christians believe that Truth is a Person, and how He behaved and communicated while on this earth are as important as what He said.

Which brings me to Alexs and my mutual friend, Chuck Colson. Chuck was originally slated to write this foreword, and when he passed away, Alex asked if I could do it. So, you see that when I say I am honored to be asked to write this foreword, Im not kidding. Indeed, thats an understatement. Chuck was a hero in the faith to me and to Alex, and one of the main reasons for that has to do with his life. Chuck knew better than anyone that we arent just supposed to have answers; we are to be a part of that answer. Chuck communicated that way and lived that way. I think his liferedeemed from the corruption and scandal of Watergate and then sent by God to go into prisons around the globeis as powerful an apologetic for the existence of the living God as any book ever could be. Indeed, it is far more powerful. After all, apart from God, how can we possibly explain the dramatic changes that we sometimes see in a life redeemed?

So, I hope this book will help you better know some of the answers for why we believe what we do. And I hope that like our friend Chuck Colson, you will be inspired to go out and be a part of that answer as well.

Eric Metaxas