Review by Choice Review
This volume records the debate between a conservative Christian scholar (Habermas) and a British philosopher known for his atheism (Flew). The debate centers on the resurrection of Jesus, with Habermas rooting his pro argument in the empty tomb and resurrection appearances and Flew grounding his con argument in the position of David Hume that resurrections simply do not happen. Habermas has a better understanding of the nature of the biblical materials, and Flew has the advantage of cold, hard reason. Contributing to the value of the volume beyond the formal debate are three additional features: discussion by the major participants including a question-and-answer session; thoughtful responses by Wolfhart Pannenberg, Charles Hartshorne, and James I. Packer; and a final response by Habermas. The book's limitation is the neglect of the moderate, balanced view, one that is willing to live with subtlety, complexity, even ambiguity. Hard lines are taken as fundamentalist battles atheist. It makes for interesting reading, but there may be more heat than light. Recommended for church, university, and seminary libraries.-D.S. Ferguson, Alaska Pacific University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
G. N. Did Jesus rise from the dead? The Resurrection debate. Apr. 1987. 188p. Harper, $14.95 (0-06-063549-5) Galley. This book is basically a transcript of a two-part debate between the authors on the topic of the historicity of the Resurrection of Jesus, construed in a thoroughly literal and physical way. Habermas amasses evidence that aims to prove the Resurrection, while Flew presents a Hume-inspired skeptical critique of miracles in general, applying it to the specific question at hand. The debate is joined by Terry L. Miethe and W. David Beck, and responses to the program are offered by German theologian Wolfhart Pannenberg, American process philosopher Charles Hartshorne, and British evangelical theologian James I. Packer. Habermas has the last word because, according to the editor, 7 of 10 judges decided the debate in his favor. A thought-provoking collection of ideas on a topic of perennial religious interest. Chapter notes; bibliography. No index. SEM. 232.9'7 Jesus Christ Resurrection [OCLC] 85-45355
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
In May 1985, Flew, a prominent philosophical critic of theism, and Habermas, professor of Apologetics and Philosophy at Liberty University (Virginia), debated the issue of the resurrection. This book contains the transcript of the debate and related material. Flew argues from a basically Humean position that the establishment of a miracle is extremely difficult; he then attacks the specific evidence brought forward to support the claim of resurrection. Habermas relies heavily on Biblical evidence, e.g., the ``eyewitness'' accounts. Some interesting, though standard, issues are discussed, but the interchange is sometimes repetitive and the debaters at cross-purposes; Flew is not at his best. For larger religion collections. Richard Hogan, Philosophy Dept., Southeastern Massachusetts Univ., N. Dartmouth (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Choice Review
Review by Booklist Review
Review by Library Journal Review
