Does God exist? If so, can he be known? Is it possible to have a relationship with Almighty God? Is the Holy Bible accurate? Was it inspired by God? Is Jesus Christ a real person? Did he actually come back from the dead as Christians profess? How is it that Christianity is so widespread? What makes Christianity different from any other religion? And if Christianity is true, why are Christians persecuted? Can these questions be answered with any assurance? Yes, they can. True or false, that is the ultimate question.
This book presents the controversy surrounding Christianity and the Holy Bible and examines the evidence. It invalidates the premises that the Bible is in discord with science, history, and politics. You can decide which arguments are reliable or problematic; what information is factual or contrived; whether to adopt one worldview over another; and what you will believe.
A case is made for the authenticity of the Holy Bible. Its positive influence on humanity has lasted for millennia. It is the most distributed, translated, read, and debated book of all time. It is a guide to life and has shaped morality, politics, and cultures worldwide, especially in the USA. In fact, our founding documents and our nation were founded primarily on the precepts of the Judeo-Christian worldview gleaned from the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Even those that deny divine intervention being involved in the creation of the universe and the writing of God's Word will find the Bible to be a great source of history, science, and philosophy.
This book was produced to help the reader defend his or her views about the universe, God, life, death, and religion. It is sort of a primer for grooming one to be an apologist. An apologist is a defender of his or her belief system. For example, a lot of people believe in God and many refer to themselves as Christians. But when people of faith are asked why they believe, or how they know that the Bible is true, or what makes Christianity unique, many cannot provide a satisfactory answer. Maybe after reading this book you will feel more confident giving an answer to those who ask about your beliefs, dreams, or hopes. Possibly, you can prompt others to ponder your viewpoint, and why you believe, and how you know.
This book is about exploring possibilities with the ultimate objectives being discovery and enlightenment. That pathway is paved with experience, which alone does not count as proof. Proof requires truth, and it the goal of this book to convey it. Notice, it is one thing to believe in God and quite another to believe God. He speaks to anyone who will listen, through his words and through his creation. Both will point you to the truth, and one will not contradict the other.
Andrew Barber has a Doctorate in Psychology, Masters in Guidance and Counseling, and Bachelors in Art. He has had successful and prosperous careers as a Research Psychologist, Counselor/Therapist, and Academician. He has extensive skill in several disciplines to include Psychotherapy (every age from 4 to 84), Teaching (every level from first grade through graduate school), Scientific Research (basic, clinical, and applied), Test and Evaluation (military systems), Human Factors Engineering, Defense Industry Consulting, Counselor Supervision, Program Management, and Executive Administration. He has numerous technical publications to his credit (over 30), has authored/coauthored several books, has conducted high-level briefings, and has presented research papers at professional conferences. After honorably completing his military service as an Airborne Infantryman with the 82nd Airborne Division, he enrolled in college as an art student, earning his Bachelor Degree and becoming a Certified Teacher. Then he worked as a Caseworker and Counselor during which he completed his Master Degree. His knowledge of experimental design and statistics, and his investigation and work with adolescent runaways landed him into the field of psychological research. While working as a Military Scientist and Statistician, he obtained his Doctorate Degree, progressing to the level of Senior Research Psychologist. Eventually he became a Consultant to the Defense Industry, providing expertise in the areas of human behavior and performance; ergonomics and man-machine systems; military tactics and doctrine; research methodology, experimentation, data reduction and analysis; and technical proposal writing. He held security clearances up to Top Secret/NATO Secret. Dr. Barber then returned to academia and counseling, setting up his clinical practice. He became a Professor of Counseling, Psychology, Religion, and other subjects and was recruited to serve as the Campus Chair for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at a nationwide university. After two years, he was promoted to Director of Academic Affairs for two major campuses. His next position was Director of Clinical Support Services at a community health center, where he served as resident Psychotherapist and Director of Mental Health and Health Education operations for three clinics including the Opportunity Center for the Homeless. Later he became the Lead Therapist and Program Manager for adult units at a large Psychiatric Hospital. He was soon promoted to Program Director, where he was in charge of the Addictions (rehabilitation) Unit, the Psychiatric Intensive Care/Rapid Crisis Stabilization Unit, and the Pain Management Program. He also served as the Director of the Department of Intake and Assessment Services, an executive position. Dr. Barber has maintained a private practice in Counseling and Consulting for over 25 years, he has taught workshops and classes, and he has mentored professionals, interns, and students in the areas of psychotherapy, faith-based counseling, and psychiatric care. He also served as a Clinical Consultant for the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH), and was a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) and the American Counseling Association (ACA).
