The Case Against Christianity

Front Cover
Temple University Press, 1991 - Philosophy - 273 pages
1 Review
Reviews aren't verified, but Google checks for and removes fake content when it's identified

In this systematic philosophical critique of the major tenets of Christianity, Michael Martin examines the semantic and epistemological bases of religious claims and beliefs. Beginning with a comparison and evaluation of the Apostles' Creed, the Niceno-Chalcedonian Creed, and the Athanasian Creed, Martin discusses the principal theological, historical, and eschatological assumptions of Christianity. These include the historicity of Jesus, the Incarnation, the Second Coming, the Virgin Birth, the Resurrection, Salvation through faith in Jesus, and Jesus as a model of ethical behavior.

Until now, an adequately convincing criticism of Christianity did not exist. Martin's use of historical evidence, textual analysis, and interpretations by philosophers and theologians provides the strongest case made to date against the rational justification of Christian doctrines.

 

What people are saying - Write a review

Reviews aren't verified, but Google checks for and removes fake content when it's identified

Review: The Case Against Christianity

User Review  - Jack - Goodreads

While trying to fill a rarely explored niche in philosophy, there is too much pedantic, overly subtle, and somewhat boring technical analysis in this book to make it a very readable text, even for ... Read full review

Contents

The Basis of Christian Belief
18
Christian Doctrines as Basic Beliefs
27
The Historicity of Jesus
36
Criticisms of the Wellsian Thesis
59
Conclusion
67
The Resurrection
73
Habermass Defense of the Resurrection
87
Conclusion
96
Christian Ethics
162
Evaluation of Jesus Ethics
169
Conclusion
191
Salvation by Faith
197
Evaluation of the Doctrine
203
Conclusion
211
Other Possible Responses
223
The Divine Command Theory
229

The Virgin Birth and the Second Coming
105
The Second Coming
115
Conclusion
121
The Conceptual Problems of the Incarnation
127
A Modified Divine Command Theory
241
Conclusion
249
Conclusion
262
Copyright

Common terms and phrases

accept According action appearances argues argument assume assumption attempt basic believe called century Christ Christian Christian doctrines Christian ethics church claim clear Coming concerning Consequently considered Creed criticism death disciples doctrines early ethical evidence example existence explain fact faith Father follow Further Furthermore give given God's Gospels Habermas historical historicity of Jesus human Ibid important Incarnation independent interpretation involved Jesus Jewish John justified knowledge least lived Luke maintains Mark Matthew means mention mind miracles moral Morris nature necessary neighbor obligation passage Paul person Philosophical possible present Press principle problems properties question rational reason reason to suppose refer rejected religion religious reports Resurrection salvation saved scholars seems sense statements story suggests suppose surely teachings Testament theory thought tion tomb tradition true truth Virgin Birth wrong York

References to this book

About the author (1991)

\Michael Martin, Professor of Philosophy at Boston University, is the author of The Legal Philosophy of H.L.A. Hart and Atheism: A Philosophical Justification (both from Temple).

Bibliographic information

QR code for The Case Against Christianity
TitleThe Case Against Christianity
AuthorMichael Martin
PublisherTemple University Press, 1991
ISBN1566390818, 9781566390811
Length273 pages
Subjects ›  › 

Philosophy / General
Religion / Christian Theology / General
Religion / Christianity / General
  
Export CitationBiBTeX EndNote RefMan