Lee Strobel

Lee Patrick Strobel (born January 25, 1952) is an American Christian author and a former investigative journalist.[1] He has written several books, including four which received ECPA Christian Book Awards (1994, 1999, 2001, 2005)[2] and a series which addresses challenges to the veracity of Christianity.[3] He also hosted a television program called Faith Under Fire on PAX TV[4] and runs a video apologetics web site. Strobel has been interviewed on numerous national television programs, including ABC's 20/20, Fox News, and CNN.[5]

Lee Strobel
Strobel on October 21, 2007
Born (1952-01-25) January 25, 1952
Arlington Heights, Illinois, U.S.
OccupationLegal editor, writer, journalist, clergy
NationalityUnited States
Alma materUniversity of Missouri (BA)
Yale University (MSL)
PeriodCurrent
GenreChristology
Historicity of the Gospels
SubjectChristian apologetics
SpouseLeslie Strobel
ChildrenKyle
Alison
Website
leestrobel.com

Life and career

Strobel was born in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He received a journalism degree from University of Missouri and a Master of Studies in Law degree from Yale Law School, becoming a journalist for the Chicago Tribune and other newspapers for 14 years. In 1980, the UPI Illinois Editors Association newspaper award program gave him a first place for public service (the Len H. Small Memorial award) for his coverage of the Pinto crash trial of Ford Motor in Winamac, Indiana.[6][7] Strobel later became assistant managing editor of the Daily Herald, before leaving journalism in 1987.[8][9]

Strobel was an atheist when he began investigating the biblical claims about Christ after his wife's conversion. Prompted by the results of his investigation, he became a Christian at the age of 29.[10][11]

Strobel was a teaching pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois, from 1987 to 2000, before shifting his focus to writing and producing his TV show, Faith Under Fire.[12] He continues to speak periodically at churches and has been a board member of the Willow Creek Association. In 2007, he was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by Southern Evangelical Seminary in recognition of his contributions to Christian apologetics.[13]

Strobel and his wife Leslie have two children and several grandchildren. His daughter Alison is a novelist,[12] and his son Kyle is an Assistant Professor of Spiritual Theology and Formation at the Talbot School of Theology.

Selected works

The Case for Christ

The Case for Christ book summarizes Lee's interviews with thirteen evangelical Christian scholars—Craig Blomberg, Bruce Metzger, Edwin Yamauchi, John McRay, Gregory Boyd, Ben Witherington III, Gary Collins, D. A. Carson, Louis Lapides, Alexander Metherell, William Lane Craig, Gary Habermas, and J. P. Moreland—in which they defend their views regarding the historical reliability of the New Testament.[14] Strobel's personal experience while encountering these scholars and their beliefs was portrayed in the 2017 drama film of the same name.

The Case for Faith

In his book The Case for Faith: A Journalist Investigates the Toughest Objections to Christianity, Strobel replies to doubts about Christianity, including the problem of evil, the contradiction between miracles and science, whether God is worthy of worship if he kills innocent children, whether Jesus is the only way to God, and the church's history of oppression and violence.[15]

The Case for a Creator

The Case for a Creator consists of interviews with intelligent design advocates and Christian apologists who argue for the existence of a creator. Some of these advocates include William Lane Craig, Robin Collins, Jay Richards, J.P. Moreland, and several other advocates.[16][17]

The Case for the Real Jesus

The Case for the Real Jesus: A Journalist Investigates Current Attacks on the Identity of Christ presents a number of counter-arguments to challenges to the evangelical Christian view. Strobel addresses differences between the portrayal of Jesus in the non-canonical gospels versus the four canonical gospels, whether the church has changed this depiction over time, new explanations that challenge Jesus' resurrection, the proposed origins of the Jesus story in pagan religions, whether Jesus fulfills messianic prophecies, and whether contemporary people should have the freedom to believe what they want about Jesus.[18]

The Case for Christianity Answer Book

The Case for Christianity Answer Book uses a question-and-answer format to address typical questions concerning Christianity, including the internal consistency of the Bible, intersections between religion and science, the problem of evil and the resurrection of Jesus.[19]

Other books

Strobel says that he wrote Inside the Mind of Unchurched Harry and Mary to help advance lay people's understanding of Christianity and to increase the effectiveness of evangelistic efforts, and says the book includes insights drawn from his own experiences as a former atheist as to why people avoid Christianity.[20]

Experiencing the Passion of Jesus was co-written with Garry Poole as a discussion guide for Mel Gibson's film The Passion of the Christ.[21] Strobel and Poole also co-authored Exploring the Da Vinci Code.

Bibliography
  • Reckless Homicide? Ford's Pinto Trial (1980) ISBN 0-89708-022-X
  • Inside the Mind of Unchurched Harry and Mary (1993) ISBN 0-310-37561-4
  • What Jesus Would Say (1994) ISBN 0-310-48511-8
  • God's Outrageous Claims (1998) ISBN 0-310-26612-2
  • Surviving a Spiritual Mismatch in Marriage (2002) ISBN 0-310-22014-9
  • Experiencing the Passion of Jesus (2004), with Garry Poole, Zondervan, ISBN 0-310-26375-1
  • Discussing the Da Vinci Code: Exploring the Issues Raised by the Book and Movie (2006) ISBN 0-310-27263-7
  • The Unexpected Adventure: Taking Everyday Risks to Talk with People about Jesus (May 29, 2009), Zondervan, ISBN 0-310-28392-2
  • The Ambition: A Novel (Fiction Work) (May 14, 2011), Zondervan, ISBN 0-310-29267-0
  • Today's Moment of Truth: Devotions to Deepen Your Faith in Christ (July 12, 2016), Zondervan, ISBN 0-310-35940-6

"The Case for..." series
  • The Case for Christ: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus (September 1, 1998), Zondervan, ISBN 0-310-22605-8
  • The Case for Faith: A Journalist Investigates the Toughest Objections to Christianity, (October 1, 2000), Zondervan, ISBN 0-310-22015-7
  • The Case for a Creator: A Journalist Investigates Scientific Evidence That Points Toward God (2004), Zondervan, ISBN 0-310-26386-7
  • The Case for Easter: Journalist Investigates the Evidence for the Resurrection (2004), Zondervan, ISBN 0-310-25475-2
  • The Case for Christmas: A Journalist Investigates the Identity of the Child in the Manger (2005), Zondervan, ISBN 0-310-25476-0
  • The Case for the Real Jesus: A Journalist Investigates Current Attacks on the Identity of Christ (September 10, 2007), Zondervan, ISBN 0-310-24210-X
  • The Case for Christianity Answer Book (July 1, 2014), Zondervan, ISBN 0-310-33955-3
  • The Case for Hope: Looking Ahead with Confidence and Courage (2015), Zondervan, ISBN 0-310-33957-X
  • The Case for Grace: A Journalist Explores the Evidence of Transformed Lives (2015), Zondervan, ISBN 0-310-25923-1
  • In Defense of Jesus: Investigating Attacks on the Identity of Christ (2016)
  • The Case for Miracles: A Journalist Investigates Evidence for the Supernatural (2018)

Children's apologetics series
  • The Case for Faith for Kids (2006), Zonderkidz, ISBN 978-0-310-71146-9
  • The Case for Christ for Kids (2006), Zonderkidz, ISBN 978-0-310-71147-6
  • A Case for a Creator for Kids (2006), Zonderkidz, ISBN 978-0-310-71148-3
  • Off My Case for Kids: 12 Stories to Help You Defend Your Faith (2006), Zonderkidz, ISBN 978-0-310-71199-5

Film

Strobel appeared in the 2016 film God's Not Dead 2.[22]

A film entitled The Case for Christ, based on Strobel's book, had its theatrical release in April 2017.[23] The film was directed by Jonathan M. Gunn and is about an atheist reporter who tries to prove Christianity to be a cult.[24] The film was produced by Triple Horse Studios and distributed by Pure Flix Entertainment.[25]

References
  1. Marieann Klett, Leah (December 2016). "Former Atheist Lee Strobel on 'The Case for Christ' Film and Why He's Encouraged Amid Post-Modern Society (Interview)". The Gospel Herald. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  2. "1994 Gold Medallion Book Awards Winners – Missions/Evangelism". Archived from the original on November 2, 2007. Retrieved 2008-10-28.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). ecpa.org
  3. Smith, Lisa (September 12, 2007). "Author digs deeper to defend Christianity". Daily Herald. Archived from the original on September 22, 2007. Retrieved November 5, 2007.
  4. Falsani, Cathleen (October 1, 2004). "Ex-reporter still asking tough questions on 'Faith Under Fire'". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved November 15, 2007.
  5. "Biography". Archived from the original on October 30, 2007. Retrieved December 31, 2007.
  6. "Tribune wins 21 awards in UPI contest". Chicago Tribune. May 16, 1980. p. 5. ProQuest 170148234.
  7. "Tribune Reporter Honored". Chicago Tribune. June 8, 1980. p. b12. ProQuest 170211586.
  8. Daley, Steve. "Paper Didn't Trample Privacy With Scoop", Chicago Tribune. May 25, 1986. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  9. Swartz, Tracy. "Former Tribune journalist to premiere his new Christian film in Chicago", Chicago Tribune. March 10, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  10. "Lee Strobel Answers Your Questions, Part 1". Friendly Atheist.
  11. "A Case for Grace: Lee Strobel's Story". LifeWay.
  12. About Lee Strobel Archived October 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. Leestrobel.com. Retrieved on 2011-11-14.
  13. "Lee Strobel". Archived from the original on October 31, 2007. Retrieved November 7, 2007.
  14. The Case for Christ, September 1, 1998, Zondervan, ISBN 0-310-22605-8
  15. "ChristianBooks.com". Retrieved November 12, 2007.
  16. Callahan, Tim. No Case At All, Skeptic, June 22, 2005.
  17. Foster, Charles A. (2009). The Selfless Gene: Living with God and Darwin. Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson. p. xvi. ISBN 978-0-8499-4654-7.
  18. "Publishers Weekly Nonfiction Reviews: Week of 7/23/2007". Archived from the original on April 15, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-15.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  19. "ChristianBook.com". Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  20. Product Description. Christianbook.com. Retrieved on 2011-11-14.
  21. Christianbook.com. Christianbook.com. Retrieved on 2011-11-14.
  22. "'God's Not Dead 2' Offers Compelling Arguments for Jesus (Review)". The Christian Post. Retrieved November 2016
  23. "Ex-Atheist Lee Strobel's Journey From Atheism to Christ Hits Theaters in Spring 2017 (Trailer)". The Christian Post. Retrieved November 2016
  24. Jeremy Kay (November 3, 2016). "AFM: Pure Flix launches talks on 'The Case For Christ'". screendaily.com. Screen International. Retrieved November 2016
  25. Mark Judge (December 2016). "'Faith is Based on Truth' -- Former Atheist Lee Strobel on 'The Case for Christ' Movie". CNSNews.com.
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