BOOK REVIEW: Can we know if Jesus actually lived? How has one figure influenced our world so dramatically? A respected journalist set out to find the answers---not from opinion but from artifacts. The evidence led him to an unexpected conclusion.A first-of-its-kind book for a new generation, Jesus Skeptic takes nothing for granted as it explores how Christianity has impacted and shaped our culture, including how followers of Jesus helped to abolish slavery, establish public education, found modern hospitals, support women's rights, drive racial reconciliation, and fight for justice and progress in a multitude of arenas. In a generation that wants to make the world a better place, we can discover what humanity's greatest champions had in common: a Christian faith.
MY REVIEW: This book is written, not as a means to explain Christianity and Jesus and enforce belief in Him, but to show how history proves His existence, and to share the impact He has on the world even today. It does not push down your throat, neither does it judge any who do not follow Him. It merely, yet pursuasively, presents the facts that Jesus Christ lived on the earth and His influence has been felt and is still being felt in ways far beyond our realization.
One of the many ways His influence is being felt is education. Christians started schools to teach their children so they could read the Bible. This gave rise to universities. The top ten universities in the world were founded by Christians, eight of them for the purpose of Bible learning. Many of the rest of our universities were founded by Christians as well. Without this drive, would schools and education have arisen?
Hospitals and medical advancements are also influenced by Jesus and His followers. Many are named after Christian saints, and founded by Christians. Hospitals originated with Christians following Jesus' command to care for the sick. Then their universities started branches to advance medical learning so they could help more effectively. Again, without this drive, would hospitals be what they are today?
Another field is science. Ninety-eight percent of scientists from the Scientific Revolution were Christians, including Isaac Newton, Johannes Kepler, Robert Boyle, and Blaise Pascal. Many of their discoveries were found as they studied their God through His creation.
As far as whether Jesus lived on the earth and if it can be proven, a major factor is that many writers from His era, both believers and nonbelievers, mentioned Him in their writings, and in reference to other well known and believed persons of the time.
In short, I really enjoyed this book. It was fascinating to see the daily influences that I never before realized. A review cannot do this book justice, you shall have to read it for yourself and discover how Jesus has changed your life.
I received a copy of this book from BAKER BOOKS and was not required to write a positive review.
