Ask Lee... About Critiques of Me

By Lee Strobel
9.27.06

Thanks to everyone who submitted a question! CLICK HERE to pose a question for a future newsletter. Though we can’t answer them all, we’ll select the ones that seem to have the broadest appeal – or are the most intriguing!

Q. I really enjoy your books, but I’ve come across some writings by atheists on the internet that try to refute them. They’re not very convincing, but I was wondering whether you ever respond to things like that? One guy even wrote a book trying to answer The Case for Christ. What’s your attitude toward atheists like this? – Brenda

Did Jesus Rise From the Grave? The Resurrection Reality (3:46)

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A. Actually, I have good relationships with a lot of atheists. Unfortunately, though, a few skeptics apparently don’t like the fact that I’ve departed their ranks and have chosen to attack me personally. One professor at a university in Texas told his students: “Strobel was never a reporter, nor was he ever an atheist. It is a claim he makes to sell books….”

When I confronted him, he admitted he was wrong and issued a public retraction and apology, which I appreciated. Once a skeptic web site falsely accused me of plagiarism, but they retracted that and apologized after I challenged them, which again I appreciated.

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It’s more difficult to know what to do about atheists who try to rebut my books on the internet. I wrestle with whether it’s worth the time that would be required to critique them. That’s why in all my books I list other books that can help people delve deeper into the issues if they want further background. In the case of Earl Doherty’s book about The Case for Christ, however, two noted Christian apologists – Gretchen Passantino and her late husband Bob – wrote a devastating rebuttal, which you can read here:

Appeal Denied: How Challenging the Verdict Fails to Overturn The Case for Christ
By Bob and Gretchen Passantino, M.Div.(www.answers.org)