"Questions" by Jon Morrison and Chris Price

Chris Price and John Morrison. Questions You're Probably Already Asking

Yes, a book by John Morrison... or is it Jon Morrison? Is there a type-o on the cover of your book Jo(h?)n?

Jon and Chris have written a brief introductory apologetics book for teens. It takes on nine traditional apologetics areas (Creation, Sexuality, Crucifixion, Resurrection, Suffering, Bible, Hell, Science, and Good), most with more than one question embedded in each section, and then answers them in a style designed with students in mind. Jon and Chris alternate authorship of the chapters, though they maintain a fairly consistent style and writing voice throughout. Each chapter begins by introducing the questions, then explores the answers Jon and Chris are offering, and concludes with a list of additional resources and a small group study guide. 

Questions is a fairly good apologetics book for teens. Jon and Chris are very honest about what is, and is not, in this book. They do not claim to have come up with any amazing new break-throughs in apologetics, nor did they need to. They have collected and explained, briefly but well, many of the best apologetics arguments which others have already put forth. They do not claim to answer, fully and to the satisfaction of all, the questions they are taking on (or at least, not most of them). Again, nor did they need to. I find this honesty within the field of apologetics to be refreshing, as many apologetics books claim to fully and completely answer the questions they are asking when they clearly do not. 

Stylistically, this book is very readable and quite well designed for teens. The writing exemplifies answers offered in a gentle spirit, as well as being both engaging and appropriate. I would give this book to the students in my youth group rather than any other introductory apologetics text. Be aware, however, that "introductory apologetics" is precisely what you are getting here. Due to the breadth of the topics and questions covered, and the relative shortness of the book, the answers are necessarily brief. The questions and arguments against Christianity are not stated with full force, numerous permutations are left unexplored, and the answers offered frequently assume that one is at least half in agreement with them already. This is a necessary weakness of a book like this. 

Conclusion: 3.5 Stars. Conditionally Recommended. On condition that what you are looking for is an introductory apologetics books geared towards high school students. If that is what you are looking for you will not find one better. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Forgiveness: A Hard Word From Luther

A Good Tree Bears Good Fruit....

A Gracious Reading of Rob Bell