Without a Doubt: Answering the 20 Toughest Faith Questions

Mr. Samples has given us a clearly written, well-documented, and deeply helpful book on why anyone should believe the Christian worldview to be true and rational. Books on this topic--Christian apologetics--are fairly plentiful, but few of them are as theologically and philosophy astute as this volume. Unlike many introductory to intermediate level books on this topic, Samples articulates a consistently Reformed approach to Christianity (which comports with my own), even offering a concise but astute chapter on the value of creeds to apologetics. I know of no other apologetics book with such a chapter. The book is organized around twenty questions broken into three sections: (1) Thinking Through Questions about Faith in God (2) Thinking Through Questions about Faith in Jesus Christ (3) Thinking Through Objections to Christian Faith. Most all the pertinent topics of apologetics are covered, with a few minor exceptions. The two chapters on the relationship of Christianity to other religions are superb and highly pertinent, since this is one of the major issues facing Christians today. (Even so, many texts on apologetics sadly ignore this issue.) His chapter on Blaise Pascal and the wager was much appreciated by this Pascalian! (See my book, "On Pascal.") Samples says his apologetic method is "eclectic" and simply asks us to discover it as he answers questions. That is allowable, but one wishes for a short statement on his basic means of argumentation. Although Samples' chapter on Christianity and science nicely covers the Christian basis of modern science and the problems with scientism, he says nothing directly about the problems with Darwinism (although has some helpful comments about philosophical naturalism, the philosophy that artificially props up Darwinism) or how one might reconcile Genesis and the deliverances of science. But these are minor complaints. "Without a Doubt" is one of the best one-volume introductions to apologetics published in recent years. May it become a textbook in colleges, seminaries, and churches around the country and the globe. I am using it as a supplemental text for "Defending Christian Faith" at Denver Seminary.

A critic of Samples writes that there is nothing new in this book and that he is more convinced it is Christianity that is wrong, not atheism. Pardon me, but did this fellow read the book? Samples offers some of the very best in Christian apologetic responses to humankind's most pressing questions. If the fellow was expecting a centerfold with pictures of God, Jesus leaving the tomb, etc., then I'm afraid this is never going to happen. But the evidence is clearly there to show that, while we don't have full knowledge of all spiritual inquiries, the information we do have available very clearly shows that there are plausible answers to even the tough questions. We just don't have easy answers, and this is because we lack omniscience. (Yet even science does not have all the answers, or I ask, "How many planets are there?" Nine, all textbooks say, even the most up-to-date. But could there be 10, as a recent discovery in July 2005 shows? And really, how do we know that there are not 11 or 12 planets?) While the information in this book is certainly available elsewhere (When Skeptics Ask by Geisler and Handbook of Chrsitian Apologetics by Kreeft come to mind), I believe Samples did a wonderful job by making "Without a Doubt" very understandable. I really believe that the typical layperson should be able to pick this up and, in three weeks (one chapter a night), have better answers to give those who ask these questions (1 Peter 3:15-16). Therefore, I recommend the book, even to the skeptical atheist. But then, if you remain atheistic in your belief system, I would love to see your answers to these questions.

Many books attempting to answer tough questions in the Christian faith are either simplistic or too academic. In this book, Mr. Samples has produced an outstanding work which is as useful for the untrained layman as it is for the advanced scholar. The answers are intellectually satisfying, sufficiently deep, and span enough breadth to engage the problems meaningfully and thoughtfully. This book will give you honest, well-researched answers that fall within all the major traditions of the historic Christian faith. Because it answers many of the questions that skeptics have asked recently and through the ages, this book is useful for non-Christians who really want to know the intellectual basis for many of Christianity's major beliefs. It's also tremendously useful for Christians who have honest questions that they haven't got answered in their own church. The book is in an ideal format for group study or Sunday school class, and it's easy enough to read to engage anyone from High School on up.

I have been fortunate enough to be exposed to Kenneth Samples teaching in a class setting in the past. He taught a series on logic and 'learning how to learn' at a local church. He is just as lucid in his teaching as he is in this book. When he told the class about the book before it was released, I was really looking forward to reading it. I had no doubt that it would be a vital resource in my library of apologetics studies. My optimism was proved correct. I can't put it down! He has a way of clearly articulating the point without going into overkill. Some philosophers try too hard to show their scholarship by dragging a point out. He knows his stuff well enough to be able to communicate it back and educate those who would call themselves laymen and academics, alike. He is a good teacher and anyone who has the pleasure of reading this book or studying under him will see the blessing in their own lives. Pick up this book. It answers some of the questions I have not seen approached in other volumes that I own on the topic. It is truly a great resource. Definitely add this to your collection.

Kenneth Samples' work provides a clear, systematic resource for a wide spectrum of inquiring minds. For the intelligent seeker, this book thoroughly analyzes and answers the most common questions about the faith. For the long-time Christian, it will sharpen the mind and instill wholesome habits of logical thinking. Samples' inclusion of moral apologetics is especially welcome. Christians are often well prepared to show the historical accuracy of the Scriptures, but lack the same zeal and confidence to show the corruption of human nature -- the radical problem requiring the radical solution.