Jesus Skeptic: A Journalist Explores the Credibility and Impact of Christianity

by John S. Dickerson

Overview

Can we know if Jesus actually lived? Have Jesus's followers been a force for good or evil in history? A respected journalist set out to find the answers—not from opinion but from artifacts. The evidence led him to an unexpected conclusion: Jesus really existed and launched the greatest movement for social good in human history.

A first-of-its-kind book for a new generation, Jesus Skeptic takes nothing for granted as it explores whether Jesus actually lived and how his story has changed our world. You'll

- learn what heroes like Martin Luther King Jr. and Harriet Tubman believed about Jesus
- discover how Jesus inspired women's rights, education rights, and modern hospitals
- see visual proofs of Jesus's impact, never before compiled in one place
- be inspired to continue Jesus's fight for human rights, justice, and progress

Jesus Skeptic unveils convincing physical evidence that will enlighten seekers, skeptics, and longtime Christians alike. In a generation that wants to make the world a better place, we can discover what humanity's greatest champions had in common: a Christian faith.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801078088
Publisher:	Baker Publishing Group
Publication date:	10/15/2019
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

John S. Dickerson is a respected journalist, a millennial, and a bestselling author. His writing has appeared in the New York Times and USA Today and has earned dozens of honors, including the Livingston Award for Young Journalists, given by Tom Brokaw of NBC News and Christiane Amanpour of CNN and ABC News. Now convinced that Jesus launched the greatest movement for social good, John has given his life to join the cause. Today he serves as lead pastor at Connection Pointe Christian Church in Indianapolis. Learn more at JohnSDickerson.com.

Editorial Reviews

08/12/2019

Journalist and pastor Dickerson (I Am Strong) highlights only the best sides of Christianity in this disappointing polemic. By relying on what he calls “Primary Evidence” (his own judgment) rather than scholarship or the views of experts, he argues that Christianity is a “keystone” for nearly all social improvements, including the Scientific Revolution, the spread of education and literacy, the development of modern medicine, and even the abolition of slavery. Dickerson repeatedly claims to be a skeptic but completely ignores prominent counterexamples, such as Christians who defended slavery on biblical grounds or key movements inspired by non-Christian impulses, such as the Renaissance. The book’s second half argues for the historical reality of Jesus and his lingering impact. Dickerson relies, however, on some silly comparisons to indicate the reach of Christianity—such as there being more churches nationwide than McDonald’s locations. He closes with his own conversion story and a call for readers to decide on Christ’s divinity for themselves. Although Dickerson provides plenty of examples of Christians making positive changes, his simplistic thesis will likely appeal only to the already converted. Readers looking for uncritical cheerleading for Christian supremacy will be gratified, but most will be frustrated by Dickerson’s overblown confidence in his own arguments. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly