MYTH BUSTED!
145 myths about Christianity debunked
By Jeffrey Burton Russell
Authentic Media. 361 pages. £9.99
ISBN 978 1 842 278 260
Written by a distinguished Professor of History, this is a remarkably accessible overview and answer to major objections to Christian faith.
By ‘myths’ the author really means the stereotypes or superficial one-liners that critics often deploy to dismiss Christianity. Each one is given a relatively brief but scholarly rebuttal. Russell’s myths include such wide ranging statements as: ‘Christianity is anti-scientific’, ‘Christianity supported black slavery’, ‘Little or nothing is known about Jesus’ and ‘Catholics invented the sign of the cross’.
Disagreements
Inevitably no one will agree with everything in a single author volume like this. Russell has little time for young earth creationism or literal views of end times prophecy. He also grants more weight to the inclusion of the apocrypha in the canon of Scripture and to transubstantiation (the bread and wine becoming Christ’s body and blood) than an evangelical would expect. Russell’s apologetics are in the tradition of C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity, offering replies that would appeal to both Catholics and Protestants.
Best at history
Russell is at his best when talking history. His discussion of Christian involvement in the slave trade and anti-Semitism are honest, but also clear away a lot of propaganda. His historical credentials are of great help in his defence of the reliability of the Bible and in showing that Christianity is not based on earlier pagan myths. Even where one might disagree with his conclusions, the historical facts he draws attention to are worth knowing and well researched.
Dipping in
This is not a book that needs to be read cover-to-cover but can be dipped into to address questions of interest. It will be a very useful resource for students and those involved in debate. It might just knock a chink in the armour of that cynical atheist friend of yours if you loan them a copy to read. Each section could make a really useful discussion starter.
Russell does not provide the final word on each objection, but he certainly provides a thought-provoking and well-researched introduction to each one. Served by plenty of footnotes and detailed bibliography, this is a textbook for those who want to develop their skills in debate and evangelism.
