Is God Real? Exploring the Ultimate Question of Life by Lee Strobel (2023)

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Talk about an eye-catching title. I saw this on the shelf of a bookstore and thought, "wow, that's ambitious." I didn't end up buying it that day, but every time I went back, something pulled me to pick it up. Very glad I did. The book tackles religion's paramount query with careful questioning, expert weigh-in, and intellectual honesty. Both the skeptic and believer will find something to learn in Lee Strobel's most recent investigation.

Overview:

The book takes us on a journey that sifts through the arguments of the creation of the cosmos, universe fine-tuning, the DNA argument, the historical evidence for the Resurrection, the believability of human-God encounters, and the logic of theism, pantheism, and atheism. Strobel then shift gears to scrutinize the two largest questions of Christianity- why is there suffering and why is God hidden from us- before moving on smoothly to a well-presented conclusion.

Review:

Strobel sets his books up in a series of logical interviews with undeniable experts in theology, physics, medicine, archaeology, and other well-established disciplines. He begins each chapter by describing the accolades and accomplishments of the individual he is questioning. This is to assure you of the caliber of information you're receiving. He then invites the experts to explain the nuances of the scientific arguments as well as address the most logical counterpoints atheists raise. I appreciated that he didn't shy away from addressing these arguments head-on and felt the experts had satisfying answers.

I will say, this book isn't more than 200 pages, but it did take me a bit of time to finish. The content is heavily scientific and carefully logical which is not exactly something I could happily read first thing in the morning or before drifting off to sleep. Maybe you can! But if you plan to read this, I would suggest you do so when you are fully awake and prepared to consider things carefully.

I had previously read The Case for Christ by the same author- a book that has sold over 24 million copies and has its own feature film version (done well, I might add). Lee Strobel's transformation from skeptic to believer is compelling, as is how he went about it through rigorous investigative journalism practices. Strobel originally set out to disprove Christianity to spite his wife's sudden lifestyle changes because of her new faith. He was angry and bitter but ultimately found love and truth by the end of his remarkable journey. Strobel's completion of The Case for Christ in 1998 launched a series to investigate some of life's biggest questions, and Is God Real is his latest installment.

If you're a curious bystander, a staunch atheist, or a Christian looking to further affirm your faith, this book has something that will resonate with you.