On this site, I have my critiques of Lee Strobel's The Case for Faith, and The Case for a Creator.  I've oft felt that my site was missing having something for The Case for Christ.  But, as history is not my forte, I don't feel competent to make a critique of that book.  So, I asked Earl Doherty for permission to reprint his excerpts from his book, Challenging the Verdict, which he graciously provided.  These excerpts are exactly the same as on his site, other than I re-ordered a bit on the conclusion, making it in order of his book instead of how it is ordered on his site.  I simply like the book order better.

First, my own short introduction.  On Amazon.com, Doherty is oft criticized for the presentation style he chose.  He chose to pretend he was a cross-examining attorney in a court case.  People have claimed he was unfair--that he was "cross-examining" people without giving them the opportunity to respond.  Please don't read more into the presentation style than was intended.  Doherty simply felt that it would be too dry if he didn't use some kind of metaphor to present the material.  He is not seriously asserting that he is actually producing a legal cross examination.  Further, if Strobel or any of his experts wish to respond, they have an open invitation to do so and I will put it on my site, and so will Doherty.

I hope you enjoy the excerpts and consider purchasing Mr. Doherty's book.

Part One - Is the Gospel Record Reliable?
   Excerpt from Introduction to Part One: Opening Remarks
   Excerpt from Chapter One: The Gospels and Their Authors
                        A Cross-Examination of Dr. Craig Blomberg and "The Eyewitness Evidence"
   Excerpt from Chapter Two: Under the Spotlight
                        A Cross-Examination of Dr. Craig Blomberg and "Testing the Eyewitness Evidence"
   Excerpt from Chapter Three: Manuscripts and the Canon
                        A Cross-Examination of Dr. Bruce Metzger and "The Documentary Evidence"
   Excerpt from Chapter Four: Jesus Outside the Gospels
                        A Cross-Examination of Dr. Edwin Yamauchi and "The Corroborating Evidence"
   Excerpt from Chapter Five: Evaluating the Gospel Historians
                        A Cross-Examination of Dr. John McRay and "The Scientific Evidence"
   Excerpt from Chapter Six: Placing Jesus in Context
                        A Cross-Examination of Dr. Gregory Boyd and "The Rebuttal Evidence"

Part Two - What Was the Nature of Jesus?
   Excerpt from Chapter Seven: Jesus’ View of Himself
                        A Cross-Examination of Dr. Ben Witherington III and "The Identity Evidence"
   Excerpt from Chapter Eight: Jesus’ State of Mind
                        A Cross-Examination of Dr. Gary R. Collins and "The Psychological Evidence"
   Excerpt from Chapter Nine: Jesus as God the Son
                        A Cross-Examination of Dr. Donald A. Carson and "The Profile Evidence"
   Excerpt from Chapter Ten: Jesus as Fulfillment of Prophecy
                        A Cross-Examination of Mr. Louis Lapides and "The Fingerprint Evidence"

Part Three - Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?
   Excerpt from Chapter Eleven: Suffering and Death on the Cross
                        A Cross-Examination of Dr. Alexander Metherell and "The Medical Evidence"
   Excerpt from Chapter Twelve: Burial and an Empty Tomb
                        A Cross-Examination of Dr. William Lane Craig and "The Evidence of the Missing Body"
   Excerpt from Chapter Thirteen: Appearing in the Flesh
                        A Cross-Examination of Dr. Gary Habermas and "The Evidence of Appearances"
   Excerpt from Chapter Fourteen: Looking at the Effects
                        A Cross-Examination of Dr. J. P. Moreland and "The Circumstantial Evidence"
   Excerpt from Final Summation 

Challenging the Verdict: Available through this website and from Amazon.com