~ from the Introduction"For over the past two millennia, 'Christianity,' in its various forms and denominations, has been the predominant -- at least openly -- orthodox religious faith in Western societies and cultures. After the passage of these twenty centuries and our entry into a new millennium, it seems a not inappropriate time to ask, once again, whether Christian faith is still relevant, while possessing and making possible the higher truth, life, strength, peace, hope, well-being (both heavenly and practical) it has always taught or implied. Should "Jesus Christ" be seen as the actual manifestation of God almighty, and consequently all that is both truly good and all powerful? The final judge and arbiter of all judges and arbiters? If so, what evidence and argument are legitimately available to establish such (and similar) claims and propositions rationally and, where possible, scientifically? It is then with a mind to attempt to answer these and related questions and explore possible answers that the work before you has been written."Rather than being a mere personal testimony or 'apologia,' my interest here is to show Christianity as a faith and belief that is epistemologically sound, consistent, and in most of its basic tenets, more than plausible; while having us bear in mind that it is, after all, a faith. To say that Christ defeats Hell, death and the grave, but cannot refute the disputations of honest and polite philosophers and scientists, seems, after all, inherently contradictory and self-defeating. What then I have endeavored to do in this work is critically examine, and, if possible, justify and account for objective belief in the essential principles and wisdom of Christianity; while supplementing this with more subjective, yet nevertheless (or so they seem to me) fair and reasonable, arguments and 'proofs'..."
