Narrative Apologetics: Sharing the Relevance, Joy, and Wonder of the Christian Faith

by Alister E. McGrath

The Bible is a narrative--the story of God's creation, humankind's fall, and God's plan of redemption. And it is filled with countless smaller stories that teach us about people, history, and the nature of God. It's no surprise that God would choose to reveal himself to us in story--after all, he hardwired us for story. Despite this, we so often attempt to share our faith with others not through story but through systems, arguments, and talking points--methods that appeal only to our mind and neglect our imagination and our emotions.

In this groundbreaking book, scholar and author Alister McGrath lays a foundation for narrative apologetics. Exploring four major biblical narratives, enduring stories from our culture such as Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia, and personal narratives from people such as Augustine of Hippo and Chuck Colson, McGrath shows how we can both understand and share our faith in terms of story.

Genres: Theology, Christianity, Audiobook, Nonfiction, Christian, Faith, Evangelism

176 pages, Paperback

Published October 15, 2019

About the author

Alister Edgar McGrath is a Northern Irish theologian, priest, intellectual historian, scientist, and Christian apologist. He currently holds the Andreas Idreos Professorship in Science and Religion in the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of Oxford, and is Professor of Divinity at Gresham College. He was previously Professor of Theology, Ministry, and Education at King's College London and Head of the Centre for Theology, Religion and Culture, Professor of Historical Theology at the University of Oxford, and was principal of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, until 2005. He is an Anglican priest and is ordained within the Church of England.

Aside from being a faculty member at Oxford, McGrath has also taught at Cambridge University and is a Teaching Fellow at Regent College. McGrath holds three doctorates from the University of Oxford, a DPhil in Molecular Biophysics, a Doctor of Divinity in Theology and a Doctor of Letters in Intellectual History.

McGrath is noted for his work in historical theology, systematic theology, and the relationship between science and religion, as well as his writings on apologetics. He is also known for his opposition to New Atheism and antireligionism and his advocacy of theological critical realism. Among his best-known books are The Twilight of Atheism, The Dawkins Delusion?: Atheist Fundamentalism and the Denial of the Divine, Dawkins' God: Genes, Memes, and the Meaning of Life, and A Scientific Theology. He is also the author of a number of popular textbooks on theology.

Reviews

[Jacob Aitken · Rating 4 out of 5]

McGrath, Alister E. Narrative Apologetics: Sharing the Relevance, Joy, and Wonder of the Christian Faith. Baker Books, 2019.

I sometimes suspect that a successful “narrative apologetic” is the holy grail for some theologians. We know deep down inside that Scripture is based on a narrative. Moreover, most (if not all) New Testament sermons are simply retellings of Israel’s own story. Very few are sermons in the sense we understand the word. Even when Paul does give doctrinal truths, he often does it in the larger context of–or at least echoing–some aspect of Israel’s narrative. The dogmatic and other non-narratival aspects of Scripture themselves depend on a deeper narrative substructure.

So far, so good. Applying this consistently is a different matter. If one simply adapts the above format, that is biblical theology. If one avoids it and heads straight for cultural engagement, then the biblical story becomes irrelevant. Oxford theologian Alister McGrath attempts, and largely succeeds, to merge the two strands of biblical narrative and cultural engagement. For him, the idea of “narrative” allows Christians to “connect” with unbelievers in a way that the traditional arguments do not.

But why stories? Stories allow us to see the truth of the whole. If the mind seeks patterns, then no one individual strand will give the whole of the message. Stories, however, allow the patterns to unfold.

There is a danger to avoid. The true narrative does not try to merely best explain the world or exist as the world’s explanation. If that is the goal of apologetics, then you do not need a narrative to do that. That is simply continuing Enlightenment rationalism by slightly more interesting means.

Theological Foundations

If earlier apologists attempted an ‘inference to the best explanation,’ McGrath suggests an “inference to the best narrative.” A good narrative must explain the world, but it must do more. Not only must it give the best account of the human condition, but it must do so in such a way that it invites the reader to enter into the story.

There is the old pattern of “Creation, Fall, and Redemption,” which should probably be reimagined as “Creation, Fall, Israel, and Redemption.” McGrath indirectly suggests that this structure, including subplots such as exile, forms the thrust of our narrative apologetic.

But that might be putting the cart before the horse. By championing narrative, McGrath in no way downplays the importance of rigorous argument. Even if, to echo C. S. Lewis, argument cannot bring one to faith, faith itself often dies in an atmosphere where there are no reasons for it.

Narrative works on the mind (and body) in much the same way suggested by Dorothy Sayers’ Mind of the Maker: the pattern of the created mind corresponds to the pattern of the created universe. Narrative apologetics capitalizes on the mind’s pattern-seeking ability.

Practical Applications

Narrative apologetics avoids the limitations involved with more abstract methods. Stories help us step inside another way of seeing our world (Melander). Indeed, men like C. S. “Lewis offer not abstract propositions for belief…but the feel of living in the world narrated by the biblical story.” They avoid “spectator evidence for God” (Paul Moser). Another and more real world “has entered into our world.”

Criteria of relevance for narrative apologetics

Here we run across a potential danger: does this mean we just sit and tell stories to one another? Even worse, if the criteria in narrative apologetics is “tell a better story,” what do we do with other faiths that have their own holy books? Some say he best story makes sense of all other stories. That is easier said than done. What is the criteria for “best?”

McGrath is aware of these problems. The best story will make inferences to the best explanation of the human condition. It will show that the Christian story connects with the deepest aspects of the human condition. It will offer a realistic account of our world, and allow the reader to step inside and connect with the narrative.

Evaluation

As the last few paragraphs indicate, there are some limitations with McGrath’s proposal. These problems are similar to the ones in George Lindbeck’s “cultural-linguistic model” for religious life, as seen in The Nature of Doctrine. For example, it is hard to imagine someone outside a faith community to be all that interested in the narrative of another faith community. On the other hand, though, this might work better with the so-called “Nones.”

These limitations notwithstanding, McGrath’s book is a success. Even if he does not give an air-tight defense of his position, he does make it quite clear and practical. Even with the temptation, admittedly present with many of us, to reduce narrative apologetics to “another round with C. S. Lewis,” it is wise and instructive to see how Lewis used narrative to become arguably the most influential fiction writer of the twentieth century.

“Connections between clues”

In conclusion, a good story will provide the best explanation while showing the best connection between clues. How do we know which narrative about reality is the true one? As Michael Polanyi and others have noted, the evidence will eventually cook the theory. The best story will emerge.

[Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

“This short book is a manifesto for narrative apologetics—for the joyful, creative, and faithful use of stories to communicate and commend the central truths of the Christian gospel. These truths are not abstract propositional ideas but the living reality of people whose lives have been enriched and redirected through the encounter with a living and loving God. They can speak of how they have truly been transformed by a graceful and gracious God, in and through Jesus Christ. The natural response to such a transformative encounter is to tell the story of what has happened and the difference that it has made. And at one level, that's what narrative apologetics is all about.”

McGrath makes a great case for the theoretical value of storytelling and creating compelling narratives when it comes to sharing the gospel and explaining theological concepts. He discusses the value of both logos and mythos and how certain aspects of Truth are best understood when told as a story rather than a series of philosophical arguments. I would have appreciated him spending more time demonstrating how this can be done by providing further examples.

He does give a quick overview of a few Christian “meganarratives,” such as The Story of the Exodus (the Hope of Deliverance), The Story of the Exile (Where Do We Really Belong?), The Story of Jesus Christ (Rendering the Love of God), and A Parable of the Kingdom (What Do We Really Desire). These brief expositions are great.

McGrath also shows how narrative apologetics can address four questions that serve as hingepoints for establishing a meaning for life:
- Identity: Who am I?
- Value: Do I matter?
- Purpose: Why am I here?
- Agency: Can I make a difference?
Contemporary psychology is simply incapable of providing satisfactory answers for these questions, but a Christian theological perspective can. And narrative apologetic approaches may often be most beneficial way to open the eyes to see.

[Rafael Salazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding work. A reliable introductory work to this incipient field of study. McGrath is technical most of the time but illustrates his concepts and ideas with accessible examples. A fair and insightful description of Lewis' apologetic methodology present in his fiction work. I'm glad to have read this book.

[David Bruyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise is excellent, though the book goes in multiple directions with it.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary: An argument for and description of narrative approaches to offering a defense for the faith.

Most of us, when we think of apologetics, the making of a case for Christian belief, think of approaches that offer arguments or evidences that warrant Christian belief. This has its place in contending that Christian faith is rational, rather than a leap into irrationality. At the same time, apologist Alister E. McGrath observes both the power of story in our culture, and how much of the scripture consists of narrative, of story and how, from the prophet Nathan to the parable-teller Jesus, story has been a key element in conveying the purposes of God to people. McGrath joins with storytellers like G. K. Chesterton, J.R.R Tolkien, and C.S. Lewis to contend that the "big story," the "Story of a Larger Kind," that makes sense of all of life and tells a better story, may serve to create receptivity to following Christ, and making the Christian story one's own.

McGrath begins by laying a theological case for narrative by drawing on H. Richard Neibuhr's observation that when early Christian communities defended their faith in Christ, they used narrative to do so. He defends the idea of the great story or metanarrative against post-modern commentators by arguing that the narrative of Christian faith is not rooted in hegemonic modernist rationality but a story of God's telling through the incarnation of the one who epitomized what it means to be in the image of God in human flesh, yet who humbled himself unto death, entering deeply into the human condition of suffering and sin.

He offers examples from Chronicles of Narnia that function as apologetics addressing the objection of God as projection, portraying the incarnation, and visualizing sin. He gives four examples of biblical narratives that articulate aspects of the grand story: the Exodus, the Exile, the story of Christ, and one of the parables of the kingdom, and then offers a list of a number of others.

He turns to strategies and criteria for narrative apologetics. He quotes C.S. Lewis who proposes that "to break a spell, you have to weave a better spell," that is, tell a better story, one that makes better sense of the world, and offers a better sense of one's place, purpose, and destiny within it. It means both proposing a metanarrative, and critiquing rival narratives. He then proposes four elements of narrative around life's meaning:

Identity: Whom am I?
Value: Do I matter?
Purpose: Why am I here?
Agency: Can I make a difference?

In his concluding chapter he proposes the weaving of three types of narratives into a narrative apologetic: personal narrative, biblical narrative, and cultural narrative. In the last category, he speaks of literary writers, citing a few example. He admits these are but a tip of the iceberg, but he could also have suggested film and other visual storytelling media. A more extensive appendix of suggested works would have been helpful.

One other addition I would have appreciated is an example, perhaps a talk where the elements he has outlined are incorporated, and perhaps either commentary that identifies the elements, or an exercise where the reader must do so and observe how they are woven into an apologetic message.

While a model might have been helpful, what McGrath has done is both lay a foundation, and offer a blueprint of what a narrative apologetic consists. The challenge of understanding the cultural story, and telling a better one is matched by the conviction that such stories may be found both in our lives and in the scriptures, and even in dialogue with the stories our culture tells. Of course all of this is premised in Christians understanding in what story they are called to live, and not mistaking the culture's story for the "Story of a Large Kind."

________________________________

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a refreshing take on apologetics that relies mainly on the power of the biblical story itself to convince.

[Trevor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alister McGrath, a Christian apologist and Oxford professor, has written this book as an apologetic for narrative apologetics. McGrath is educated as both a scientist and a theologian (he holds doctorates from Oxford University in both fields). In Narrative Apologetics, he suggests that stories form a natural link with how the Bible works and how people make sense of their lives.

Evidential apologetics and historical truth still have their place in the conversation, but, as McGrath points out, “Truth is no guarantor of relevance” (p. 16). Using stories to explain faith can help the truth gain “existential traction” by connecting the gospel to lived experience.

After establishing the theological foundations of narrative apologetics, McGrath draws heavily on the works of C. S. Lewis to show how the process might work. “Lewis invites us to enter another world and, in so doing, come to see our own world in a new way” (p. 55). Most readers and would-be apologists will not possess the intellect, wit, and skill of a writer like Lewis, but McGrath recommends they follow Lewis’ example by telling stories to make rational arguments in “an imaginatively engaging and compelling manner” (p. 70).

Biblical stories can also be used for apologetic purposes. In a skeptical, post-Christian, post-truth culture, McGrath is keen to point out that the goal is not initially to get people to accept the authority of biblical stories. The goal, instead, is to invite them “to explore the way of seeing reality that [the biblical stories] open up” (p. 75). Perhaps that way of seeing might prove more satisfying and compelling than the narrative structure that presently shapes their lives. McGrath models how this can be done by unpacking stories of the exodus, the exile, and the incarnation, along with the parable of the pearl of great price. A list of seven different biblical episodes is also mentioned for readers to try this process for themselves.

McGrath wraps up by explaining how the Christian story of reality helps people answer the four fundamental questions of a meaningful life: Who am I? Do I matter? Why am I here? Can I make a difference? According to McGrath, “By allowing their personal narratives to be embraced and enfolded by the greater narrative of God, Christians see things in a new way – including their own status and identity” (p. 130).

Anyone seeking to share the truth and relevance of Christian faith today will be stimulated and helped by reading Narrative Apologetics. For some people, rational lines of argument will not work to break down their walls of defense. But everyone loves a good story. To that end, McGrath has written a good introduction to help readers introduce others to the greatest story ever told.

Disclaimer: This book was received for free from Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, in exchange for my honest review.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Especially in our postmodern culture, it is important to not merely prove that Christianity is true, but also show that the Gospel has the capacity to transform lives and bring meaning—that it works. How can we thus convey that "Christianity offers a rationally plausible and imaginatively compelling 'big picture' of reality"? Stories, suggests scholar and author Alister McGrath in his new book, Narrative Apologetics.

In this self-described brief, yet thorough book, McGrath makes a solid case for narrative apologetics (using stories to affirm, defend, and explain the Christian faith), referencing quotes from classic and contemporary authors and theologians, and exploring as examples stories such as Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and Lewis' Narnia series (my favorite), as well as four major Biblical narratives (the Exodus, the Exile, Christ, and the Kingdom). It is a well-written (albeit quite dry), well-organized introduction to the subject and significance of using stories for understanding and explaining Christianity. However, it is academic, not practical. McGrath offers an insightful why and convincing what, but does not broach how. I imagine this book may be more useful for a pastor or apologist who can better make his own personal applications; not so much for those of us who are less experienced in the study and art of apologetics specifically.

Nevertheless, we all may be similarly encouraged and challenged by the reminder that "the personal narratives of individual Christians have enormous apologetic potential. They depend not on verbal brilliance for their appeal but on the fact that they are real-life accounts of truthful and faithful living." In the words of Sharon Garlough Brown, one of my favorite authors in part because of her ability to wonderfully weave the truth and beauty of Christ and the Gospel into fictional stories: "Jesus understood the power of story and imagination and used it to reveal the kingdom of God. Stories can sneak around our defenses and penetrate us when we're least expecting it."

Disclaimer: This book was received for free from Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, in exchange for my honest review.  Note as with all reviews and references, I do not necessarily agree with (or am even aware of) any or all of the beliefs, views, etc. of the author; please read my disclaimer here.

[Hank Pharis · Rating 2 out of 5]

(NOTE: I'm stingy with stars. For me 2 stars means a good book or a B. 3 stars means a very good book or a B+. 4 stars means an outstanding book or an A {only about 5% of the books I read merit 4 stars}. 5 stars means an all time favorite or an A+ {Only one of 400 or 500 books rates this!).

McGrath's proposal sounds very good. But I wish he would have provided some illustrations of what this would really look like.

Here are a few quotes:

The problem is that evidential apologetics fails to engage or display the existential traction of the Christian faith. To its critics, it seems obsessed with historical detail yet curiously inattentive to “big picture” questions—such as the meaning of life. … It fails to set out its powerful vision of truth, beauty, and goodness. (16)

Back in the eighteenth century, it was important to show that Christianity was true; in the twenty-first century, it has become important to show that it works. (17)

Apologetics is not primarily about persuading people that a certain set of ideas is right, although the demonstration of the truth and trustworthiness of the Christian faith is clearly important. It is more about depicting its world of beauty, goodness, and truth faithfully and vividly, so that people will be drawn by the richness and depth of its vision of things. It is helpful to think of there being three main elements to this task … 1. Cultural Empathy; 2) Evangelical Depth; 3) Effective Translation (16-18)

A Christian narrative apologetics will aim to show that Christianity tells a better story than its rivals; that it presents a deeper account of reality, enfolding whatever truths are communicated by other stories; and that it enables rival narratives of reality to be challenged and critiqued. In what follows, we shall consider each of these approaches and reflect on its potential application. (98)

[Dr. David Steele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alistair McGrath is no stranger to the field of apologetics. He as penned some noteworthy books that are widely read and utilized by Christ-followers around the world. His most recent work, Narrative Apologetics is no exception.

Narrative Apologetics argues that there are three tasks that must be employed: First, we must engage cultural objections to religious belief. Second, we must show the ways that historic Christianity connects with people in the real world. Third, we must present the Christian faith in a clear, compelling, and understandable. way.

Dr. McGrath argues that utilizing narrative is a powerful way of carrying out the above objectives. He cites numerous examples in order to build a positive case for his proposal. I believe his proposal is not only sound but is also necessary. In the end, the author does not militate against propositional truth but seeks to bolster it through narrative literature. Such an approach will engage the emotions and stimulate the imagination of hearers.

McGrath’s approach in Narrative Apologetics is winsome and informative. The author says, “By telling our stories, we bear witness to the capacity of the gospel to give us direction in life to cope with uncertainty and difficulty and to live well and meaningfully ink art so often seems a confusing world.” I commend Narrative Apologetics to readers with a background in the field and trust that it will be a helpful tool that will be used with great effectiveness in many evangelical “toolboxes.”

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.

[Jonathan Friess · Rating 3 out of 5]

McGrath wrote Essays on the subject (prior to this book) and I found a careful study of the Essays is more helpful than this entire book. Still, the book is good if one doesn't like the style of compact Essays.

“Life for Dawkins would seem to divide neatly down the middle between things you can prove beyond all doubt, and blind faith. He fails to see that all the most interesting stuff goes on in neither of these places” -Terry Eagleton (not in this book)
Humans receive and need much more than knowledge; stories convey many of these aspects. McGrath argues that we miss out when we don't use stories. Some form of truth can only be found in the form of story. That's what his book is mainly all about.
But I believe that there is more. Alasdair MacIntyre thought of narrative as one of the main foundations of culture. So I guess there must be a way to challenge the personal and the cultural narratives with other narratives in order to reflect what's going on and in order to let people know about the Christian worldview. But MacGrath doesn't elaborate much on this approach and that's what left me quite a bit disappointed. I hope he follows up on it in future writings. Please do that, Mr MacGrath :)

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

How does one faithfully practice apologetics? How does one productively do apologetics in today’s climate? Alister McGrath’s 2019 Narrative Apologetics is an attempt at crafting an effective apologetic method in our postmodern (maybe post-postmodern), story-driven culture. Armed with the conceit that a defense must be carefully calibrated against the actual offense, McGrath proposes that the church take advantage of the insight nestled in Tolkien’s “story of a larger kind” and Lewis’s “true myth” conception of the Christian faith. While suspicious of “meta-narrative,” the world still hungers for something to make sense of all that happens. McGrath’s formulation of an apologetic method seeks to present the Christian story as the only viable “meta-narrative,” against which all lesser stories are judged.

Apologists, if the internet is an adequate sample size, typically have the favorite methods and arguments, which as far as they are concerned settle the apologetic question once and for all. While McGrath’s approach doesn’t necessarily discount those methods, situating them within a wider framework of narrative (over against, for example, positivistic or empiricist argumentation) seems more natural to how the Scripture does apologetics: not through conceptual abstractions but through the meaty, historical narratives of god’s work.

The book is short and accessible, and McGrath writes clearly. For an introduction to a new and potentially fruitful method of apologetics, Narrative is certainly worth picking up.

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Disclosure: I received this book free from Baker Books through the Baker Books Bloggers http://www.bakerbooks.com/bakerbooksb... program. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa....

[Clayton Keenon · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a book about narrative, there weren't a lot of stories in it.

[John Hilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book, but not my favorite preaching book...

Kindle highlights below...

Notes and highlights for
Narrative Apologetics: Sharing the Relevance, Joy, and Wonder of the Christian Faith
McGrath, Alister E.
________________________________________
1. Introducing Narrative Apologetics
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To be told what to think is one thing ; to discover and embrace a way of thinking as a willing and joyful act of personal commitment is something very different .
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When the prophet Nathan wanted to criticize David’s adulterous relationship with Bathsheba , he told a story of deceit and corruption — and then located David within that narrative ( 2 Sam . 12 : 1 – 25 ) .
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When Christ was asked an important theological question — Who is my neighbor ? — he answered it not by using conceptual theological analysis but by telling a story . The parable of the good Samaritan ( Luke 10 : 25 – 37 ) is thus important on account of both its substance and its form . The story itself is a vehicle for disclosure , which draws its readers into that story and invites them to correlate it with their own personal stories .
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stories enable us to make meaningful connections between the gospel and lived human experience . We are able to show that the gospel is not merely true but has the capacity to transform lives , truthfully and meaningfully .
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A point of major apologetic importance here concerns the cultural shift from modernity to postmodernity . 30 While this transition is rather more complex than this simple binary suggests — for example , it fails to take account of the importance of the recent emergence of “ multiple modernities ” 31 — it nevertheless highlights an important point . Back in the eighteenth century , it was important to show that Christianity was true ; in the twenty - first century , it has become important to show that it works . 32 Telling the story of how people came to faith is an affirmation that Christianity works and an elaboration of the ways in which it works , which will vary from one individual to another .
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Apologetics is a principled attempt to communicate the vitality of the Christian gospel faithfully and effectively to our culture . Apologetics is not primarily about persuading people that a certain set of ideas is right , although the demonstration of the truth and trustworthiness of the Christian faith is clearly important . It is more about depicting its world of beauty , goodness , and truth faithfully and vividly , so that people will be drawn by the richness and depth of its vision of things . It is helpful to think of there being three main elements to this task , 33 which has become of increasing importance as Western culture has lost contact with a foundational Christian narrative and failed to understand its distinctive vocabulary or grasp its distinctive rationality . Cultural empathy . Here , the apologist recognizes the sensitivities and difficulties that the Christian faith encounters in any specific cultural context . This may take the form of responding graciously and winsomely to specific objections to Christianity or to potential misunderstandings or historic misrepresentations that may stand in the way of an appreciative reception of the gospel . The best apologist is likely to be one who knows this cultural location well and understands its sensitivities , concerns , and anxieties . She can speak its language and address its concerns in terms it can understand and respect . Evangelical depth . Apologetics rests on the deep understanding and appreciation of the Christian gospel , which both generates the motivation to communicate the faith and informs the way in which this is done . The best apologist is likely to be someone who is deeply steeped in the Christian faith and is able to discern how its riches can be faithfully communicated within a specific cultural context . Attuned to the resonances between the gospel and the deepest human concerns and longings , he will be able to construct bridges between the world of faith and a wider culture . Effective translation . Finally , the apologist has to translate the language of the Christian faith into the cultural vernacular . The Christian faith is traditionally expressed using a wide range of abstract conceptual terms that are becoming increasingly disconnected from contemporary Western culture . Central New Testament terms — such as “ justification , ” “ salvation , ” and “ sin ” — are now likely to be simply dismissed as antiquated and irrelevant , or at best misunderstood , generally by being inappropriately assimilated to the nearest cultural equivalent . These terms need to be translated or transposed — that is to say , reformulated in terms of narratives or images capable of connecting with a wider audience , while retaining maximum continuity with the Christian tradition .
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We might conveniently paraphrase these three approaches as logical argument ( logos ) , personal appeal or plausibility ( ethos ) , and emotional arguments ( pathos ) . While Christian apologetics must never be considered a purely rhetorical device , without reference to God’s grace , it is nevertheless important to give consideration to the ways in which Christianity can best connect with people . Narrative apologetics connects with people in a way that is not fully acknowledged by Aristotle — namely , through the appeal of a story to the imagination . Neither Plato nor Aristotle seems to have fully grasped the role of narratives in expanding the capacity of the human mind to visualize reality .
2. The Theological Foundations of Narrative Apologetics
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Stories thus gave way to intellectual systems — a timeless set of ideas that stood in contrast to the transient and shifting world of human experience expressed in narratives .
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As pastor Timothy Keller remarks , “ Suffering is unbearable if you aren’t certain that God is for you and with you . ” 62
3. The Practical Application of Narrative Apologetics
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Feuerbach , for example , makes the generic point that human beings have a tendency to construct worlds that they find intellectually congenial . If God is seen as a consolation , this indicates that such a belief might be adopted as a protection against a sense of meaninglessness or pointlessness . Yet this argument works equally well against atheism , which is a worldview that offers human beings autonomy . Those searching for absolute freedom might wish to liberate themselves from transcendental interference . Atheism might therefore be seen as a post hoc intellectual ratification of an emotional desire . A good example of this is philosopher Thomas Nagel’s atheism , which is ultimately an intellectualization of a more fundamental longing on his part for a godless world . “ It isn’t just that I don’t believe in God , and , naturally , hope that I’m right in my belief , ” Nagel states . “ It’s that I hope there is no God ! I don’t want there to be a God ; I don’t want the universe to be like that . ” 9
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Eustace Scrubb , Jill Pole , and Puddleglum find themselves in an “ Underland ” ruled by the Lady of the Green Kirtle , who tries to persuade them that Narnia is simply a figment of their imaginations . Puddleglum tries to explain that beyond the dark realms of the Underland , there really is an “ Overworld , ” which is illuminated by the sun . The Lady of the Green Kirtle ridicules this idea . Puddleglum has simply invented his ridiculous idea of a sun , basing it on the lamps he has seen around him in the Underland : “ You have put nothing into your make - believe without copying it from the real world , this world of mine , which is the only world . ” 13 In any case , the idea of a sun is incoherent . Puddleglum talks about the sun hanging in the sky and lighting up the Overworld . Well then , just what does the sun hang from ? The reader of this passage encounters a seemingly sophisticated argument , which would clearly convince any inhabitant of the Underland . Like the prisoners in Plato’s cave , they knew no other world and would thus probably dismiss Puddleglum’s ideas about the sun as delusional and incoherent . Yet we read this passage from our own perspective — that of knowing that there is indeed an Overworld , illuminated by the sun . The reader can switch perspectives , seeing how an argument that works well from one perspective is shown to be flawed from another . Lewis’s narrative allows his readers to flip their points of view , thus changing their informing perspectives . It offers another way of seeing things , challenging the narrative of a materialist or naturalist worldview . Unless we see things in this new way , we shall remain trapped in our underground cave , being predisposed to believe not merely that there is nothing beyond it but that there cannot be anything beyond it . Lewis thus creates imaginative space for his readers to place their beliefs about God and show that there are plausible alternatives to naturalism .
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One such story concerns the Wannsee Conference of January 1942 , held at a villa in a leafy suburb of Berlin , which laid the groundwork for the “ Final Solution ” — the attempted extermination of the Jews at death camps like Auschwitz . 35 This conference was attended by thirteen Nazi technocrats . Their task was to agree on protocols and procedures for the elimination of Jews from Germany and the occupied territories . Yet those who planned this event were highly educated , with doctorates or medical qualifications from leading German universities . They were part of the elite of one of the most cultured states in Western Europe . So if education humanizes people , how could such individuals have plotted mass murder on an industrial scale ? George Steiner has pointed out that human beings are rather more complex than optimistic educationalists appreciate . Someone could quite easily read great poetry or play great music in the evening and then take part in mass murder on an industrial scale the next day . Steiner observes , “ We know that a man can read Goethe or Rilke in the evening , that he can play Bach and Schubert , and go to his day’s work at Auschwitz in the morning . ”
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And when the dragon scales are finally removed , the lion plunges the raw and bleeding Eustace into a well from which he emerges purified and renewed , with his humanity restored . The immersion in the water of the well picks up on the New Testament’s language about baptism as dying to self and rising to Christ ( Rom . 6 ) , in effect breaking free from a narrative of oppression and captivity and becoming part of a narrative of liberation .
4. Biblical Narratives: Opening Windows of Perception
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The merchant comes across a special pearl that captivates him , perhaps giving rise to a devastating moment of illumination in which he realizes the inadequacy of what he had once thought to be satisfying . He wants and needs something better , something that will really satisfy him . Seen in this way , the parable engages the long human search for meaning and significance . The parable thus reminds us that many of the beliefs and values that we take hold of are like those lesser pearls . They seemed worthwhile and for a time offered fulfillment . Yet , deep down , we knew that there had to be something better .
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It is not surprising that many apologists focus on the parable of the prodigal son ( Luke 15 : 11 – 32 ) , with its central themes of alienation , disconnection , reconciliation , and homecoming — each of which could be the basis of an apologetic conversation . Perhaps the most significant retellings of this parable are found in the works of Marilynne Robinson , especially Gilead ( 2004 ) and Home ( 2008 ) . 55 These novels are best read in full for enjoyment and apologetic insight , and it would be impossible to do them justice in this brief section .
5. Strategies and Criteria for Narrative Apologetics
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Christians must engage the dominant stories of our culture , either by telling a better story that shows that these stories are inadequate or incoherent , or through subversive storytelling in which they enter into a rival cultural narrative and retell its story in light of the Christian worldview . 1 We are called to out - narrate the dominant stories that shape our culture , by exposing their weaknesses or showing how they are enfolded by our own or how they are eclipsed by a more luminous and compelling story .
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The serious deficiencies of such polemical readings of history are easily demonstrated from Christopher Hitchens’s God Is Not Great ( 2007 ) , a flagship manifesto of the New Atheism . Noting ( correctly ) that Christian writer Timothy Dwight ( 1752 – 1811 ) opposed smallpox vaccination , 27 Hitchens draws the wider conclusion that Dwight’s position demonstrates how religious obscurantism stood in the way of scientific advance then , as it continues to do to this day . Religion poisons all attempts at human progress . The specific example confirms the general principle . But Hitchens’s simplistic narrative is both subverted and redirected through a closer reading of the history of smallpox inoculation . For example , Jonathan Edwards ( 1703 – 58 ) — now widely regarded as America’s greatest religious thinker — was a strong supporter of scientific advance and was committed to the new medical procedure of smallpox inoculation using the “ variolation ” technique introduced into America from Europe by Cotton Mather ( 1663 – 1728 ) , probably the most famous Puritan pastor in New England . 28 Wanting to reassure his students at Princeton that it was safe , Edwards was vaccinated himself — only to die as a result . 29 Using the same highly selective narrative approach favored by Hitchens , it could be argued that this single case proves that Christianity was supportive of scientific advance . Or , to complexify Hitchens’s inadequate and superficial account still further , consider the case of the atheist writer George Bernard Shaw ( 1856 – 1950 ) , who opposed smallpox vaccination in the 1930s , ridiculing it as a “ delusion . ” He dismissed leading scientists whose research supported it — such as Louis Pasteur and Joseph Lister — as charlatans who knew nothing about the scientific method . 30 Applying Hitchens’s cherry - picking approach , it could be argued that this single case provides that atheism was hostile toward scientific advance . But nobody with any knowledge of the history of smallpox vaccination and concerned to tell its full story would draw such ludicrous conclusions . History is complex . It is open to multiple interpretations , none of which is self - evidently “ right . ” Revisionist approaches to many of the historical incidents traditionally interpreted in light of the “ conflict ” or “ warfare ” narrative have debunked these interpretations . 31 Their continued use within the New Atheist movement is a worrying indication that it relies upon “ fake news ” for its intellectual and cultural appeal .
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Franco Moretti reflects on why the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle — creator of the London detective Sherlock Holmes — remain so widely read , when other Victorian crime authors are overlooked or neglected . His answer is significant , and of obvious apologetic importance . Conan Doyle makes systematic use of clues : entities or observations that demand an explanation that can only be provided by a coherent narrative that binds them together . Some other authors of this period mention clues but seem to have little idea about what to do with them ; others make virtually no use of them at all . Clues are pointers to a larger picture — to a coherent story that can be told , explaining how those clues came into being and what their place and significance is within that story . This point is highlighted by the novelist Dorothy L . Sayers , who emphasizes the need for a coherent narrative to provide connections between clues . 51 Sayers sees human beings as searching for “ patterns ” in life , 52 and she explores this theme in her Peter Wimsey detective novels as well as her religious writings . How can we find the best explanation of what we observe ? What is the best story that we can tell , that holds as many of these clues together as persuasively as possible ?
6. The Christian Story and the Meaning of Life
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Whether people survived depended on their will to live , which in turn depended on being able to find meaning and purpose in even the most demoralizing situations , which would otherwise be experienced as overwhelmingly destructive . Those who coped best were those who had frameworks of meaning that enabled them to frame their traumatic experiences within their core narratives . The Christian narrative of a suffering savior resonated deeply with the human experience of suffering , enabling people to cope with adversity and even to grow through it — a well - recognized phenomenon now widely referred to as “ post - traumatic growth . ” 5
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There were , he argued , four fundamental questions that had to be answered convincingly if a worldview was to count as offering a credible account of the “ meaning of life ” : Identity : Who am I ? Value : Do I matter ? Purpose : Why am I here ? Agency : Can I make a difference ?
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N . T . Wright argues for a virtue ethic that is “ generated and sustained by grace , ” within which human agency is seen as enabled by grace . He thus excludes “ any suggestion that the ‘ virtue ’ we are going to talk about is something that ‘ we do ’ through self - effort . ” 48 God’s grace enables us to become the people we are meant to be , so that “ our journey is not one of achievement but of implementation , not of unaided goodness but of unmerited grace . ” 49 Wright sums up this narrative approach as follows : “ The Christian teaching and practice of virtue , then , can be understood in terms of the life that is lived withi

[Angie Fehl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alister McGrath is an Irish priest, historian, and professor of theology and science. In this new work, he delves into the relevance, joy, and comfort that can be found within the Christian faith through the exploration and use of stories from classic literature. McGrath's theories not only lean on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis --- the standards when you want to talk biblically inspired analogies --- but also the works female writers such as Dorothy L. Sayers and Marilynne Robinson. Occasionally there is also a nod to the writings of St. Augustine.

Previously an atheist, McGrath now identifies as a natural scientist and Christian apologist. What is an apologist, you ask? Well, in the plainest terms the idea of an apologist dates back to the Greek word "apologia", meaning "in defense of"... so Christian apologists are those who work to address objections against their faith through an academic style of debate / discussion. Within the textual notes at the back of Narrative Apologetics, McGrath uses the example of the story of Paul sharing an apologia, his tale of an encounter he had with Christ, as a means to explain his dedication to the faith. Also, within the main text, McGrath surprisingly --- or perhaps not, depending on who picks up this book --- occasionally references the philosophical works of outspoken atheist or agnostic authors such as Christopher Hitchens and Bertrand Russell, but in that notes:

"Writers such as Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens judge others by standards that they refuse to acknowledge as normative for assessing their own beliefs. As Dawkins conceded in an Oxford University debate with Rowan Williams, he could not verify his own atheism on scientific or rational grounds and was therefore an epistemological agnostic.

Other New Atheist writers are equally prone to overstatement at this point, presenting their atheism as intellectually monistic, possessed of views that are so self-evidently correct that they are exempt from any requirements of proof placed upon lesser schools of thought. Hitchens, for example, boldly and inaccurately declares that New Atheists such as himself do not hold any "beliefs", in that they only accept what can be proved to be right. "Our belief is not a belief." Yet Hitchens's atheism actually rests on a set of assumed moral values (such as "religion is evil" or "God is not good") that he is simply unable to demonstrate by rational argument. Hitchens appears merely to assume that his moral values are shared by his sympathetic readers, who are unlikely to ask awkward critical questions about their origins, foundations, or reliability. The proponents of the New Atheism seem unable or unwilling to apply the criteria by which they evaluate the beliefs of others to their own ideas."

In that excerpt alone, you can certainly see McGrath's apologist side stand up and shout! So what is he getting at with this particular book? Well, it boils down to the idea of sharing the gospel and the choice of delivery for your audience. One of the challenges of sharing your story of faith with someone is that you can have all the facts ready to go, the highlights reel cued up, maybe even a list of compelling positive attributes illustrating the benefit of being a follower of the faith.... but even with all this, one isn't guaranteed a captive audience. Even with the most enthusiatic delivery, it may just not be enough for a current non-follower to see the relevance or beauty of a lifelong commitment to a walk of faith.

So what is the answer? That's where this book steps in. Sometimes the overly rational, factual approach to sharing your faith can be a turn off for your audience. Maybe it's then that you realize your style needs a little boost, a little pizzazz in your pitch! McGrath recommends turning to relevant pieces of classic literature to really cultivate a sense of beauty and wonder around your testimony. Going this route may lead to a more successful outcome towards inspiring / breeding receptiveness when sharing your faith. To back up this idea, McGrath points out that C.S. Lewis, during his own writing career, came to realize that the narrative of the Bible frequently followed the basic construct of traditional myths and fables.

Just some of the points of debate McGrath covers (and ways apologists can respond):

* How to handle the topic of sin

* How to address the idea of God being "merely a projection of the human mind" as German philosopher Ludwig Feuerback first posed as a theory

* How to "construct a bridge from the narrative to its audience" and how to make the story individualized in a way that makes the listener feel personally "addressed and engaged"

McGrath speaks well on the topic of grief. One of the most common questions posed to followers of the Christian faith is "How can God allow so much suffering in the world? Explain that!" To that, McGrath's answer, in part, falls back to the stories. Stories, he writes, help us sort out our emotions regarding tragedy, bereavement, moments that are just challenging in general, etc... but here he also notes the importance of learning the distinction between trying to understand suffering versus simply focusing on learning to cope and grow from the experience. We don't always find the answers to the big questions. Sometimes we find we don't actually need them. But through just the right story at just the right time, we can be assured that, in time, we're going to be okay.

In the closing chapter, this book is described as "a manifesto for joyful, creative, and faithful use of stories to communicate and command the central truths of the gospel". Though there are references to books and authors aplenty, the overall tone of Narrative Apologetics didn't quite give me the feel of a text seeped in literary joyfulness. In the end, for something written with the intent to inspire a more artistic, creative approach to sharing one's faith with others, McGrath came at this with a rather strong academic hand. Understandable, given that he himself is a college professor, but in that, at least to this reader, it felt like he missed his goal a bit. While he makes some strong and interesting points, the delivery doesn't make for the most easily readable thing to settle in with.... it had too much the feel of a PhD thesis transferred into book form.

FTC DISCLAIMER: Baker Books kindly provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions above are entirely my own.

[Martin Augestad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fikk mye mer utav denne boken nå, enn da jeg leste den for første gang for noen år siden. Alister McGrath kan gjøre noen ting han skriver litt for avansert enn nødvendig, men i denne boken skriver han kortfattet og godt. Boken fokuserer på hvordan mennesker er historiefortellende skapninger og hvordan historier former og påvirker oss. Dette kan man bruke apologetisk gjennom en tilnærming som kalles narrativ apologetikk. Han skriver om hvordan vi kan analysere kulturelle narrativ, bibelske narrativ og til og med våre egne personlig narrativ til å skape apologetiske åpninger. Anbefales!

[Shirley Alarie]

Apologists aim to affirm, defend, and explain Christian faith. Author Alister McGrath proposes that making apologetic cases using stories (narratives) creates a deeper and more meaningful case than a purely academic argument. And the Bible is full of such stories.

In Narrative Apologetics - Sharing The Relevance, Joy, and Wonder of The Christian Faith, Mr. McGrath takes the reader through many examples of narratives that can be used to make arguments, notably C. S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia. Most applicable are biblical cases that apologists can use to build bridges from our current culture to Christianity. Examples presented are the stories of Jesus, God’s Kingdom, the exodus from Eygpt, and captivity in Babylon.

Mr. McGrath lays the foundation of narrative apologetics. He calls upon apologists to out-narrate the dominant stories that currently shape our culture. Apologists can accomplish this by telling a better story than their rivals, using the concept he’s described in his book.

Narrative Apologetics is very academic and probably beyond usefulness for novices (like me). Even the section of “Practical Application” is not really applicable for newbies. Narrative Apologetics is well-written and organized. Even with the philosophical weight, the concept is made clear.

How this book affected me:
I wasn’t even familiar with the term apologetics until a few years ago and, quite honestly, it intimidated me. Having only a basic understanding that it was an academic exercise to make a case for Christianity to non-Christians, I knew I would be out of my element because I’m more of a touchy-feeler than a philosopher. But it intrigued me. When Baker Books presented Narrative Apologetics to me, I jumped at the chance to read it. Besides being a good reason to dip my toes into apologetics, I immediately related to the ‘narrative’ aspect. The subtitle of ‘Sharing The Relevance, Joy, and Wonder of The Christian Faith’ is my goal as a Christian, so it seemed to be a perfect fit.

This book proved my assumption to be correct that apologetics is quite academic and this book was not for novices.

Who would enjoy this book:
As stated in the book description, this book is intended for preachers and scholars. Apologists who are interested to understand the ‘emerging field’ of narrative apologetics would find this book to be very helpful due to the many examples presented.

Our Christian Book Reviews:
The book reviews at Finding God Among Us focus on Christian books - adult and children, fiction and nonfiction. We're proud to be included in the Top 50 Christian Book Review Bloggers. I chose to read an ARC from Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This review is my honest opinion.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a free copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I haven’t read a really academic book in a long time, so the plunge into Alister McGrath’s Narrative Apologetics was a rough one. However, the topic is one that I am deeply interested (and invested) in, as that was the basis of my graduate school studies and something I currently teach. McGrath puts forth his arguments for presenting the Gospel as and through narrative, rather than purely reason.

McGrath introduces the topic of narrative apologetics (basically, showing people God and the Gospel through story), offers practical application, and then uses various narratives, both Biblical and otherwise, to illustrate why and how narrative is so powerful. Using several powerful narratives from the Bible, as well as mentioning narratives from C. S. Lewis, Marilynne Robison, and Dorothy Sayers, McGrath lays forth his reasoning for leaning more on story to share “the relevance, joy, and wonder” of Christianity (to borrow the subtitle), as it reaches more people.

I will admit, the language of the book really did prevent me from delving into this perhaps as deeply as I should have. It is not written for the layperson at all, but rather for the expert in the field. McGrath expects you to know a lot of things already. This is not a criticism, as this is obviously the audience of the book—I’m just trying to explain why I struggled a bit with it (I’m technically an expert, but I’m too used to more casual books). The book is rich in research and footnotes, and McGrath methodically and expertly explains everything. What I liked most about the book was the last chapter where McGrath offers suggestions for how to use Biblical, personal, and cultural narratives in teaching and showing others the Gospel. As a teacher, my mind immediately started thinking of ways to incorporate those into my classroom.

The analytical language and the academic nature of the book did throw me for a loop, but Narrative Apologetics is a book that’s worth returning to in order to take it in more deeply. I feel like I only skimmed the surface and that lots more meaning and application will come out on another read.

[Mary Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review:
In his new book Narrative Apologetics Alister McGrath contrasts “the more clinically rational approaches to apologetics (an explanation of the truths of Christianity) which lack imaginative depth and emotional intelligence” (Narrative Apologetics, Alister McGrath, Baker Books, 2019, p. 8) with a narrative approach that embraces “a series of stories that illuminate, inform and engage the different aspects of our experience” (p.13) and “set out the powerful Biblical vision of truth, beauty and goodness…[He says, ] Stories enable us to make meaningful connections between the gospel and our own lived experience. We are able to show that the gospel is not merely true but has the capacity to transform lives truthfully and meaningfully” (p.16). And that’s the key.

He continues, “The Christian Grand Story gives us a big picture of reality, enabling us to make sense of our subjective experiences and our observation of the world…It is all about human transformation” (pp.25-26). And, narrative apologetics does that through stories. In terms of the scripture in John 1:14 that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”, McGrath notes that the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD set out to “explain the doctrine of Christ’s two natures… But understanding His dual nature can seem theoretical and abstract, appealing primarily to the mind rather than the imagination” (pp.87, 88). So, McGrath emphasizes God’s love in the Biblical metanarrative. He says that tis narrative demonstrates God’s love in the horrific implication of Christ laying down his life in crucifixion so that those whom he loves might live (Jn.15:13).
McGrath’s thesis is that engaging in Biblical truths with our imagination and feelings, as narrative apologetics makes possible, enables people to enter into these theological truths and feel their power to transform our lives. His emphasis broadens the pursuit of apologetics and enables God’s intent through the Bible to be more fully realized.
5 stars M.L. Codman-Wilson, Ph.D. 12 5 19

[Chris Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this book is short in length, don’t be fooled into thinking it’s a quick and easy read. This is more a scholarly approach to unpacking the power and importance of story to communicate the Christian world view. McGrath self labels this book as his “manifesto” for narrative apologetics, which is helpful to know when taking on this book. It is not a deep theological dive on why narrative apologetics should be considered, rather it is more of a collection of ideas surrounding past and current world views and the most effective way to communicate the Gospel. He draws from C.S. Lewis in almost every chapter which is enjoyable, and almost feels like a book about C.S. Lewis at times. Can’t complain there :) My guess is that their conversion stories are very similar.

I do think this is a important and timely work. In a time where evangelical Christians are loosing credibility because of institutionalized faith that is shouting dogma more than transformation in Christ, it is helpful to consider the time tested and proven method of story telling to share our faith with others. McGrath challenges the reader to view the world, the meaning of life, and Christianity by understanding that everything fits inside the meta narrative of the Bible, which is in itself the most powerful narrative, influencing generations of story tellers and all of humanity whether Bible believing or not.

I am most excited about the challenge he leaves the reader with at the end of the book. I won’t spoil that, but let’s just say he gives some practical ways to walk out narrative apologetics that I am enthusiastic about trying.

My 3 stars is less about the concepts presented in this book and more about how hard it is to stay engaged with the scholarly approach. For A book about story telling it would have been cool to hear McGrath peel back the curtain a bit and share some of his story. Again that is more of a subjective opinion based on my personality than a critic of his work.

Overall, a great read and defiantly recommended!

[Travis Heystek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Narrative Apologetics was a different type of book than I usually read. I don’t usually dive too much into the topic of apologetics, unless I know of a faith conversation coming up where I’ll need to freshen up. But, as a pastor, it’s one of those topics I feel I should know more about so I thought I would start with this book. Alister does a good job showing why narrative apologetics are so useful to the Christian story.

Jesus’ teachings in particular use narrative, and the creation account itself reads as a narrative. Understanding how the stories in the Bible connect to a greater narrative help us to see how our individual stories connect to a larger story. I love that he shows how some different modern writers have used narrative to show the Christian story set in fantasy in order to illuminate the teaching of the Bible in a way that connects well with people. Because so many of us understand our lives as story, narrative apologetics is a very effective way to connect people with the reality of the Christian faith.

My biggest complaint with this book is the same complaint I have of most other theology and apologetics books. It is very academic feeling so it’s not easily accessible to the average reader. He does have some moments where he relates things back C.S. Lewis and Tolkien, which helps to connect the points. But, it does still have some spots that are hard to push through. For someone new to theology and apologetics it will be helpful to keep and dictionary close by. My one other small complaint is that it seems to lean a little too heavily on C.S. Lewis, and even though he is one of my favorite authors, it would have been helpful to have some other example to read into later. Overall I’m giving this book a 4 star rating because I think for the pastor picking it up it will be a great read. For someone not a pastor or well versed in theology I would probably have to rate it a 3 star.

[Karl Dumas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love stories. Everyone has one, and I enjoy hearing them. A person’s story gives me insight into who that person is, and what drives or motivates them. And from the perspective of sharing the gospel, your story tells me where you are on your faith walk, and gives me a place from which to start.
Alister McGrath, in his book Narrative Apologetics: Sharing the Relevance, Joy, and Wonder of the Christian Faith (Baker Books, 2019) writes about the use of stories to explain your faith. He draws heavily from the works of C.S. Lewis as well as J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” for examples of how extra-biblical stories can play a part in sharing the Gospel. And he also draws from the biblical accounts of the Exodus, (the hope of deliverance); the Exile, (Where do we really belong?); the Christ, (Rendering the love of God); and the Kingdom, (what do we really desire?).
I read through the book fairly quickly, because I didn’t take the time to head to the back of the books to refer to the several hundred footnotes. I would have liked to have seen more examples of practical applications, so this is probably not the book for a casual reader. Having said that, it would probably be useful as a textbook, or even as the basis for a Sunday School class, or a small group that wants to learn how to be more effective when it comes to personal evangelism efforts.
There is some useful information to be found throughout, and in chapter 6, dealing with the meaning of life, the reader is invited to ask questions such as “who am I”, “do I matter”, “why am I here” and “can I make a difference?”. And when we are able to answer those questions, we are well on the way to developing a world view, worthy of any Christian.
I received a copy of this book as a member of the publisher’s Blogging program. I was not required to write a positive review.
3.5/5

[Joan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had hoped this book would be for laypeople, helping them be able to share their faith through their story. It is not. It is an academic look at the theology of using (fictional) story as a means of telling people about God. It might be suitable as a text book or resource for a creative writing class in a Christian college as literary strategies are included.

I found the initial comments by McGrath to be the most enlightening. The culture today is not very much interested in rational arguments for the Christian faith. Proving something true through logic or rational thought does not have the impact it did a generation ago. More people may be open to story than they are a mental proof. Story engages more aspects of a person than just the mind. There has been encouragement recently to share one's faith in the context of their personal story, hence my hope this book would help the layperson do just that.

Potential Christian novelists who would like to have their writing be a means for readers to better understand or experience Christian belief will find much to think about in this book. Exploration of the works of Lewis, Sayers, and Tolkien, for example, will provide models to follow. McGrath identifies how these authors developed narratives to communicate aspects of the Christian faith. One example is the concept of sin in Lewis' Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

If you are interested in the theology of using story for apologetics, this book is for you. If you want to know how to use your own story as a means of sharing your faith, this book will not help.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Connie Saunders · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was eager to read this book because I have long known of Christian apologetics but I wanted to learn more. The word apologetics refers to defending one's Christian belief in Jesus Christ and His incarnation, His crucifixion, and His resurrection. In this book, Narrative Apologetics, we are shown that the use of stories can be an effective tool in convincing others of these facts and our own beliefs.

The Holy Bible, God's Word, tells the greatest story ever told. Jesus Christ used stories, also known as parables, to help people understand the principles he was trying to teach them. Author Alister E. McGrath hopes this book will introduce narrative apologetics and how they explain the Christian faith by telling stories. He shares the biblical narratives of the Exodus, the Exile, and Jesus Christ, along with the Christian narrative. How many of us have questioned our identity, our value, our purpose, and how we can make a difference?

I must admit that I found Narrative Apologetics difficult to understand at times but I do think that it is a good resource and I appreciate McGrath's encouragement for each of us to share our own personal narratives. Through our own experiences we can show others the ability of the gospel to change lives and "By telling our stories, we bear witness to the capacity of the gospel to give us direction in life to cope with uncertainty and difficulty." (p. 143)

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Baker Books. A positive review was not required and I am voluntarily sharing my opinions.

[Evelyn Lilyana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Narrative Apologetics by Alister McGrath broaches a very interesting point in the apologetics field and one I had never pondered before. He makes a valid point about embracing and utilizing narratives as a way to defend the Christian faith. He uses the example of C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, Tolkein's LDR and Biblical stories.

This is the first book I read (not completely) by McGrath, although I've heard about him and know that he has written extensively on Apologetics. When I saw that this was offered for review I was excited for the opportunity to read a book by him. I was a bit disappointed, however.

As other reviewers have said, this book is not for laypeople. I was expecting a book for beginners in apologetics or at least an easier to read book for those of us who do not study apologetics as a subject. It's very academic in nature and thus a bit monotone and dry in my opinion. This book is a better fit for college students studying theology or apologetics. It's a unique topic but definitely not for ordinary people like myself.

I had a hard time reading through it, not because of the format but because I was looking forward to a book that could teach me HOW to apply narratives to apologetics. If you're looking for a how-to, then I cannot recommend this to you.

I received a copy of this book from Baker in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

[Joel Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our lives tell a story, a story of who we were, are, and who we will become. That story is only part of a larger story though - the story of all of humanity and all of creation. We can view this story through many lenses. The best lens is through the larger meta-narrative of the Judeo-Christian worldview as presented throughout Scripture. Within Scripture, this narrative is presented through the stories of people who encounter God, the creator and redeemer of all of creation. Helping us to see this is Alistair McGrath's primary goal in "Narrative Apologetics."
McGrath offers an amazing argument as to why we should use stories: the stories of our lives, the stories of Scripture, and the stories penned by a myriad of novelists in order to point to the truth of the Christian narrative. When we tell stories or use stories, people are invited into the grand meta-narrative. They begin to see their place in God's plan and design. All those who profess Christ as Lord should consider how they might use familiar cultural stories to point to the truth of the Gospel. As a preacher, this book changes that way in which I approach the Christian story and present it to those whom God places within the narrative of my life.
I received this book from Baker Publishers as part of their blogging program.

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy reading and studying apologetics, but this was more scholarly read, not what I was expecting, but he does make some great points! So don’t pass it up, I do think it is worth reading. I really enjoyed the references to C.S. Lewis and Tolkien, much can be learned from these great writers and many others. If you are a writer or planning on being a writer, this would be a great book to read and ponder on.
I relate to the importance of truth, beauty, and goodness in where are focus should be and using it. It is one reason why I homeschool my children and what I try to keep our focus in learning.
One point in the book: “There is a danger that apologetics becomes fixated on questions about the historical reliability of the Bible and in doing so fails to set out its powerful vision of truth, beauty, and goodness.” This is the reason for this book and I do like that he demonstrates that much throughout and expands on it. “We are able to show that the gospel is not merely true but has the capacity to transform lives, truthfully and meaningfully.”
There is much to be learned from this book, that I didn’t know, because McGrath is a theologian, priest, intellectual historian, scientist, and Christian apologist. I also learned about New Atheism and the dangers of it.

[Taylor Rollo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book for apologetic strategy. It brings out what I think is the most persuasive way to do apologetics in general: use the Christian story to show how it is a metanarrative that can explain reality, our lives, our desires, our intuitions better than any other competing story. It does not stop there, though, but also helps the reader think about engaging in apologetics with the use of personal, cultural, and of course, biblical stories on smaller topics within the bigger metanarrative.

I think this is crucial for making persuasive evangelism, for it keeps us from stacking up piles of evidence-based arguments that are disconnected from the Christian story and worship of God (the ultimate purpose of evangelism, missions, and apologetics). It also helps the reader to see how all people live within a larger metanarrative (whether they acknowledge it or not), and no one will leave their current metanarrative until they are shown a better one.

It makes good use of C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Dorothy Sayers, and many more authors who used stories in this way.

I highly recommend this book. It would be really good for discussion groups, so that people can bounce ideas off each other about how to put this into practice.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book but I didn't realize it was more of an academic work than a how-to on using stories to discuss your faith. McGrath explained some of the history of narrative apologetics, its importance and the different ways we can use it. He also pointed out that something is lost when certain aspects of faith are explained factually instead. Jesus used parables and there was a very good reason He did! There's a reason we were given an imagination and there's an important place for it. I loved all of the quotes from C. S. Lewis and also Dorothy L. Sayers and J. R. R. Tolkien. He also pointed out how some of the core questions we have as human beings can be best answered through the Christian narrative and how that might come about. Finally, he talked about the different narratives we can use, Biblical, personal and cultural. I think Bible teachers, pastors or anyone who wonders at the validity of using narratives when discussing their faith would find this book interesting.

I received this book from Baker Books. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be an engaging, short textbook for young college students in a Christian apologetics or worldview class. I alway love McGrath's writing--every sentence counts. Sometimes he gets slightly off track, but I was still interested in what he had to say, so he still gets points.

In addition to the obligatory Lewis and Tolkien, McGrath mentions these authors:
Alistair McIntyre
Charles Margrave Taylor
Christian Smith
Dorothy L. Sayers
Timothy J. Keller