This comprehensive reference volume examines every key issue, person, and concept related to Christian apologetics. Written entirely by leading apologist Norman Geisler, it stands as the culmination of he author's lifelong career and ministry.
This resource joins several other volumes in the Baker Reference Library in offering the finest of evangelical scholarship to both scholars and laypeople. Each contribution is easy to understand and use. These volumes serve as ideal home reference books for laity, handy resources for pastors, and church leaders, and reliable supplemental texts for courses in Christian colleges and seminaries.
Dr. Norman Geisler (Ph.D., Loyola University) serves as dean and professor of theology and apologetics at Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte, NC. He is the author or co-author of some fifty books and hundreds of articles. He has taught at the university and graduate level for more than forty years and has spoken or debated in all fifty states and in twenty-five countries.
Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars(4.5 out of 5 stars)
8 of 14 Reviews Showing:(View All Reviews)
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Jason Fleming (Houma, LA), February 20, 2009
It didn't take long to utilize the resources within this Apologetics book. This encyclopedia is full of interesting facts and it definitely opens your eyes to the truth of many subjects. I highly recommend this resource for those who like to shed light on certain topics such as the virgin birth, facts about the New Testament, the resurrection, etc. Great for every library.
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Brad Cowie (Sexsmith, Ab,), January 27, 2009
The most comprehensive apologetics book I've found yet. Very useful.
The only improvements I might suggest are:
1) A better, cross-referenced, index - the existing index is just a list of entries. Not very helpful.
2) A multi-author work. I find Geisler to be fair for the most part; some sections might be improved by utilizing authors that actually hold to the position(s) being described.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Charles Martel (Charlotte, NC), April 15, 2008
This Encyclopedia is an excellent resource to own. It is also available on the Norman Geisler Apologetics Library CD-ROM with 11 other great books by Geisler. Be sure to pick up a copy for your library.
BECA includes articles on Absolute Truth, the Historicity of Acts, Miracles, Arguments for God's Existence, Atheism, the Uniqueness of Christ, the Reliability of the NT, Apologetics, the Nature of God, Logic, Morality, Myth, Neopaganism, Origin Science, Pantheism, Pluralism, Prophecy, the Resurrection, and hundreds of others!
In response to the review by Eric from Lowell, MA on Feb 11, 2001, let it be said that Eric is the worst representative of a particularly ignorant, mean-spirited, inquisitorial brand of Scholasticism. His libel of Norman Geisler's writings on apologetics was shameful. His machinations against him via his book review frightening. His pretensions of learning laughable, if the damage wasn't so real or lasting. Eric pretends to be a reviewer but he's really a "polemicist" ( a "warmonger" or bully--and not a very effective one in a fair fight, either). Of all the "scandals of the evangelical mind," the worst is that people should take this guy seriously.
3.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Mary Middleton (Barking Essex UK), April 11, 2008
A most informative and helpful book.
It is well laid out with easy Index and reference.
I would certainly recommend it to anyone involved in evangelism.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Jason Devlin (Saratoga), October 22, 2007
I would have liked to see Geisler take a stronger stand on Scripture, and reject the Big Bang the same way he rejects biological evolution. I still give the book five out of five stars though, because it covers so many subjects at an introductory level, and for the most part he stands on the authority of scripture. If you’re out of high school, you need to read this book.
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by D. Kim (canada), September 21, 2007
Geisler's B.E.C.A. is a good book but it could have been better. It is a helpful book for any Christian to own for the following reasons: 1) It's breadth of topics - both subjects and persons associated in one way or another to the task and topic of Christian apologetics 2) The explanations for the philosophical underpinnings of Christian/theistic belief (especially arguments for God's existence) are very good; concisely given and well explained. 3) A large bibliography for further reading and research.
Some criticisms of the book are : 1) Only one author. Geisler is certainly a well-read and capable Christian philosopher/theologian, but one man can only know so much. His articles on science apologetics are less than what they could have been.
Baker should have employed several authors/contributors. For example, they should have tapped a Christian science apologist to write the science apologetics articles. Where Geisler is strong, the B.E.C.A. is strong. Where he's weak, the book is weak. 2) He doesn't engage fully with those Christians with whom he disagrees. For example, his article on Plantinga's "Proper basicality of beliefs" is so short and unhelpfully brusque that one wonders why it was included. Also, I'm sure presuppositionalists would not be pleased with Geisler's handling of their system of apologetics. 3) There are a number of typographical errors (much like this review ;)). For example, in the the entry for John Henry Newman, he is misidentified as John Paul Newman, a cross, perhaps, between the actor and the pontiff. Due to these types of errors, one needs to be careful about drawing too quick a conclusion based on any given article. There are times where a small omission like the word "not" can make all the difference. These caveats aside, I recommend the book as another helpful implement in the apologist's toolkit.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Greg (Raleigh, North Carolina), August 27, 2005
If you are at all interested in the area of Christian apologetics, this book is a must-have. I purchased it while I was a seminary student (in 2000) and have referred to it countless times since.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Greg B (Switzerland), May 29, 2003
This is truly a must have!!
Do not hesitate to buy this excellent encyclopedia.
View all 14 Reviews
Write a review of Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics
Catalog Shopping
Membership
