| Title | : | Is Christmas Unbelievable?: Four Questions Everyone Should Ask About the Worlds Most Famous Story |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1784986402 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781784986407 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 64 |
| Publication | : | First published October 1, 2021 |
Is Christmas Unbelievable?: Four Questions Everyone Should Ask About the Worlds Most Famous Story Reviews
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Short but compelling. I love everything Rebecca writes.
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Rebecca McLaughlin is my go-to author for apologetics. Not only does she hit you with evidence from leading experts in history, science, and philosophy (atheist's and Christian's alike) but also with references from Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Doctor Who. She is definitely my kind of author.
This deceptively small book answers some of the big questions that pop up this time of year. Such as: Was Jesus even a real person? Can we take the gospels seriously? How can you believe in the virgin birth? And why does it matter? McLaughlin answers these questions in a logical and winsome way. So if you're a believer looking to settle some doubts or a seeker searching for answers, this is the book for you! -
I love books written by Rebecca McLaughlin, everything I have read by her has blessed me and challenged me all at the same time. This little book was no exception. We are going to give these away to people this year for Christmas. Highly recommended!!
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McLaughlin is a wonderful and winsome apologist for the Christian faith. Here she explains why believing the Christmas stories as presented in the gospels makes sense both rationally and emotionally. Everything here is worthwhile, but it’s pretty short and focused specifically on the Christian claims related to Jesus’ birth. She gives deeper and more comprehensive arguments for the truths of Christ in
Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion. -
We all know the Christmas story.
But do we believe the Christmas story?
Rebecca McLaughlin, author of
Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion, has written this super short (64 page) book outlining briefly, yet convincingly, why we can believe the Christmas story.
“I hope this little book will help you think a little more about the man who landed in our world 2,000 years ago, I hope it will persuade you that he’s more important than you thought. And I hope it will make you wonder if his unbelievable claim that he’d come to save the world… might just be true.”
The four questions mentioned in the subtitle of this book are these:
1. Was Jesus even a real person?
2. Can we take the Gospels seriously?
3. How can you believe in a virgin birth?
4. Why does it matter?
The logic follows:
If the main character of the Christmas story is Jesus, then first of all— did he really exist? The answer to that one is easy— yes. She gives three extra-biblical historical sources that name Jesus and confirm claims made by the gospel accounts.
If Jesus is real then can we trust what was written about him? She talks here about eyewitness accounts and pokes holes in the theory that the authors of the Gospels would have made all of it up.
So then if we can trust that the authors were telling the truth, then we must accept a virgin birth? Yes. Here she poses that if we believe in a God who created the universe then it would not be irrational to believe in a virgin birth. So we must consider the origins of the universe.
I like the quote she includes from Australian author, Glen Scrivener: “Christians believe in the virgin birth of Jesus. Atheists believe in the virgin birth of the universe. Choose your miracle.”
And at this point, if we are thinking through all of this we must ask- why does it matter? Here she talks about what we lose if we remove God from our moral structures that undoubtedly are influenced from biblical principles.
Consider why we believe universal human rights exist— where do those come from? (She talks about this further in her book
‘The Secular Creed: Engaging Five Contemporary Claims.’)
Does your life have worth and meaning? It matters because life matters and we should know why.
And of course she ends with the message of the gospel. Because the reality is, if Jesus is real, if the Bible is trustworthy, and if Jesus, fully God and fully man, truly died and rose again, then we must believe all that the Bible tells us.
Which is bad news. And good news.
The Bible tells us that we are sinners deserving of death who cannot save ourselves. We are doomed. Yet there is a path to redemption and that path is in Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone.
We therefore have two choices: Either we accept this gift of salvation and choose to trust and follow Christ. Or we reject it.
That’s why considering whether the Christmas story is believable matters. Because if it is true, your choice is a choice of life or death.
That sounds dramatic. But it’s the truth.
This is a great, concise, sufficient resource to consider these questions but it is by no means exhaustive. Her first book I linked may provide more depth to questions you have about Christianity.
Don’t let the familiarity of the Christmas story numb you to the reality of the Christmas story.
Do you believe it?
[Spoiler Alert: This spring she is releasing a follow-up book called ‘Is Easter Unbelievable?’ where she will go more in-depth on the resurrection than she did in this book]
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Short book demonstrating the historical plausibility of the Christmas story. It assumes a decent amount of familiarity with the Christmas story - at least as much to object to elements of it!
For this reason, it's probably not going to have a wide readership in my own primary context (among university students). But it would be a great present to give to serious seekers (e.g. on Alpha or Christianity Explored courses). We are buying copies to give to older teens who attend our church. -
How can we share the Christmas story? In Is Christmas Unbelievable? Rebecca McLaughlin answers four questions everyone should ask about the world’s most famous story.
In this quick yet compelling book, McLaughlin gives evidence to prove the incredible claims of Christianity. Was Jesus even a real person? Can we take the Bible seriously? How can you believe in a virgin birth? These are all questions that are frequently asked of our faith.
Read and See
McLaughlin writes with authenticity and eagerness. I appreciated the endnotes to encourage further searching. There is a genuine concern and care for the questions being asked. Pop-culture references help make connections, including The Big Bang, Harry Potter, and House M.D.
This book is the perfect gift to give away. Unbelievers will be challenged. Believers will be encouraged. Read and see that Jesus Christ and the Christmas story is unbelievably true.
I received a media copy of Is Christmas Unbelievable? and this is my honest review. -
So much packed into this book. Rebecca attacks the greater question of the belief in Jesus. If we believe in him then the story is true. If we do not then none of it matters. This is spectacular for the non-believer to read.
One quote I found helpful was:
As Australian author and speaker Glen Scrivener puts it, “Christian’s believe in the virgin birth of Jesus. Atheists believe in the virgin birth of the universe. Choose your miracle.” -
A quick but interesting read. It doesn't go into a lot of detail but it does give some good jumping off points for further research. I still struggle with skepticism, but I think this is a helpful little book with some good resources provided for doing deeper digging. I like the use of pop culture references as examples.
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{First posted here:
https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/is...}
Christmas is an important celebration for believers. It’s a time we remember a baby born in human form, the fulfillment of prophecies, and how power is found in humility. If we’ve grown up in the church, Luke 2 is nearly committed to memory, and I wonder if our familiarity prevents us from considering the mystery and miracles of the Christmas events, because they’re truly astounding!
In Rebecca McLaughlin's short book, "Is Christmas Unbelievable?" she answers four questions:
-Was Jesus even a real person?
-Can we take the Gospels seriously?
-How can you believe in a virgin birth?
-Why does it matter?
She shares with us the evidence that Jesus was a real person, that the gospels were not made up, and that the miracles of Christmas haven’t been disproved by science. With an encouraging tone, she addresses these honest questions and equips us as believers with reasons why this celebration is pivotal for our lives today.
“You see, if there is a God who made us and loves us, that’s wonderful news. It means that our lives are meaningful, that there are such things as good and evil, and that justice and love will win in the end.”
Our lives are given purpose and meaning through the life, death and resurrection of Christ, and our celebration of his birth points us to the gospel.
If you’re looking for a short book to answer a few questions about Christmas, this one is for you!
Quick Stats
# of pages: 64
Level of Difficulty: Easy
My Rating: 5 stars
A big thanks to the Good Book Company for the complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to post an honest review! -
Great little reminder on how the story of Christmas isn’t some fantasy story created to spur false hope in December, but that it’s a real story of a real historical figure who died a real death and gave his life as a ransom for many.
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Raised in a Christian family, I was taught to love Jesus Christ. But as I realized that part of my family were not good Christians at all and were like the people in John that wanted to throw stones at Jesus and He basically said "You're not sons of Abraham. You're sons of Satan", I've harbored a very large disliking to Jesus. Which is not great. I struggle with so many mental conditions that it's not even funny. But I found this book being given away for free at a church, and this is what made me go back to church recently. I'm nowhere near being a perfect child of Christ, but at least this book made me try Christianity again.
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3.5 - Good little booklet that serves as a handout for skeptics, and also a reminder for followers of Christ.
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A fantastic apologetic book for Christmas and the gospel.
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Brilliant
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I always love this author. This was a quick, great, well-researched read. Plan to buy a few copies to give out at Christmas time.
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Did this as a Hoopla listen, would live to own it!!
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It was a quick and easy read. I like how the author brings in modern cultural references to better understand the birth of Jesus and why he had to come into this world as well as the multiple historical and scientific facts that she uses to help build her arguments.
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another BANGER. super thoughtful little evangelistic book full of reminders we all need. would be a good gift particularly for someone that likes dr who and harry potter lol. this book points to the great hope of Christmas & rebecca mclaughlin is a master of apologetics tbh
“Christians believe in the virgin birth of Christ, atheists believe in the virgin birth of the cosmos. Choose your miracle.”- Glen Scrivener -
Such an informative little read, which I’d recommend to anyone regardless of what you believe.
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Good stuff in here, and I love that it’s packaged in an accessible way. I’d be interested to hear how it’s received by someone who doesn’t already share her beliefs. Also, way too many exclamation points, ha!
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Great little book concerning the historicity, Scriptural, and metaphysical implications of the Incarnation yet through an easily approachable vernacular and writing style. I was impressed by each of McLaughlin's chapters for they felt like an efficient summary of many of my seminary studies yet with a ministerial heart to the stranger.
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A nice little book. It might be just right for some people who are skeptical. If anybody is serious about whether the Gospel of Jesus is "unbelievable", I would recommend Can We Trust The Gospels? by Peter Williams, who is one of McLaughlin's sources here. It's a little longer than this one, but it has a lot more meaty information.
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"As Australian author and speaker Glen Scrivener puts it, 'Christians believe in the virgin birth of Jesus. Atheists believe in the virgin birth of the universe. Choose your miracle.'
Whether or not you believe in God, my guess is that you believe in human rights. You probably believe that racism is wrong, that women are as valuable as men, that rape is evil, and that the rich should not oppress the poor. But ask yourself this question: why? If there is no God, these claims are not moral facts, they're opinions. If there is no God then, as Yuval Noah Harari puts it, 'Homosapiens have no natural rights. Just as spiders, hyenas, and chimpanzees have no natural rights.'
Even if historians agree that our moral building blocks came to us from Christianity, it's tempting to think we can keep the values we cherish while gently removing the claims about Jesus himself. Like easing out a bottom layer jenga block. Perhaps we can build our moral tower higher without belief in God at all. But extracting Jesus from our moral structure isn't like gently sliding a jenga block, it's like pulling a pin on a grenade. In the resultant explosion, we don't just lose morality, our sense of meaning blows up too. As Harari explains, 'As far as we can tell from a purely scientific viewpoint, human life has absolutely no meaning. Humans are the outcome of blind evolutionary processes that operate without a goal or purpose. Our actions are not part of some divine cosmic plan. Hence, any meaning that people ascribe to their lives is just a delusion.' Do you believe that your life is meaningless? Maybe you do. Or maybe you're immediately thinking of the things in your life that feel meaningful. My hunch is that deep down, none of us want Harari to be right. But if there is no God, then we're left with a disturbing reality: we live and then we die. And like the billions of homosapiens before us, we are forgotten.
Some of us are deeply aware of our sin, even if we don't use that word. If there is a God who sees our words, thoughts, and deeds, we know that's not good news for us. Frankly, we find it harder to believe that a God who knew our thoughts would love us enough to want to die for us than to believe he would diagnose our moral failure. If that's how you feel, I'm glad. This is no self-help book to tell you that you're enough. You're not. And nor am I. But time and again in the gospels, the people who knew they weren't good enough for God were the people Jesus welcomed.
Trusting Jesus as your narrator guarantees an ending more wonderfully happy than you could ever imagine. But to get there, we must stop pretending we're the hero of the story. We must admit we don't deserve a happy ending. In fact, we are the unsuspecting villain. And yet, in the most shocking twist of all, the hero of the story loves us." -
SUMMARY: Despite Christ's birth being foretold and chronicled in the Bible, it is sometimes difficult to accept that Jesus came to Earth as a baby. Thousands of years have separated us from the birth of Christ, making it is easy to begin questioning the legitimacy of the Biblical account. That is where author Rebecca McLaughlin's Is Christmas Unbelievable? comes into play.
"I don’t know how you think about the Christmas story...But now the story of the infant Son of God, cradled in a manger but born to save the world, sounds about as far-fetched as Doctor Who," McLaughlin writes. "Messenger angels. A virgin giving birth. A guiding star. Can anyone too old to believe in Santa really be expected to believe such things?"
In just 64-pages, McLaughlin answers the above question with a resounding "yes" as she addresses the following four questions:
- Was Jesus even a real person?
- Can we take the Gospels seriously?
- How can you believe in a virgin birth?
- Why does it matter?
Using a blend of pop culture references mixed with quotes from leading scientists McLaughlin answers those questions through an apologetics lens with her ultimate goal being a call to follow Christ.
"The story of Jesus is the greatest story ever told. It’s also unbelievably good news. And best of all, it’s true."
KEY QUOTE: "God rules the universe from first to last. He cares about the world he’s made and the people he’s made—about you and about me. We know this because of what we celebrate at Christmas. Jesus was born to be 'Immanuel,' which means 'God with us' (Matthew 1:22-23). And when we contemplate that the eternal God out there—with the power to create billions of stars and planets—would become a tiny baby down here, born to live with us and die for us because he loves us, the only right response is worship."
MORE: Visit
SundaytoSaturday.com where we curate content for the church. -
This book opens and closes with powerful illustrations from Doctor Who, so of course I loved it. However, even if someone doesn't connect with the pop culture references that contrast with or illustrate Christian concepts, this book is well worth reading for its brief, succinct arguments for Jesus's historicity and the accuracy of the gospel narratives as eyewitness accounts. Rebecca McLaughlin respectfully addresses common questions that people have about the Christmas story, whether they are adult skeptics or her own small children.
Is Christmas Unbelievable? is only sixty-three pages long, including the endnotes, but this isn't because it is light on content. It's because Rebecca McLaughlin has the gift of brevity, and can express complex concepts in simple, well-chosen words, without any extra rambling. This incredibly succinct, well-argued book is great for adults and teenagers, regardless of their existing faith backgrounds or commitments. Because the book is so brief and easy to read, it is accessible to people who are busy with the usual holiday rush, and those who aren't sure if they're even interested in evaluating the claims of Christianity can do so in very short order.
This is a great book for skeptics who want to think more about faith, Christians who want to learn more about the historical basis for their beliefs, and teenagers who are ready to understand familiar Bible stories on a deeper level. Some families could also read through this together over a few nights, and if someone is going to ask a non-Christian friend to read an Christian book with them, this would be an excellent choice, since it is so brief, well-argued, and fully focused on the essentials of faith. I really appreciated this book, and highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. -
This is a good book for the Good Book Company to publish for this Christmas. Rebecca McLaughlin clearly and carefully engages with questions surround the historicity of the nativity. She draws a lot on Peter Williams' work on the gospels, and addresses some of the key claims of skeptics. Many Christians would probably be helped and encouraged by reading it.
In terms of outreach, it's best suited to an audience who are already quite committed to exploring the Christian message. It's not entirely accessible for casual readers, who may well switch off before you get to the actual reason why Christmas is good news. There are lots of Professors and Philosophers quoted, and a total of 34 endnotes. So, there is an audience for whom this book will be ideal, and it's a welcome addition to apologetic book lists. But it's not so good for a general Christmas giveaway - or at least, not in our church context. -
This is such an interesting and thought-provoking 59 page read about whether or not Jesus' birth is a true, factual, historical event or just a fairytale. I loved that she used non-Christian and even atheist sources to show that Jesus was a real person and His birth is believable. I loved that she pointed out in every field of science there are Christians at the forefront of research (such as the Human Genome Project) because science does not disprove the Bible but supports it, and these scientists see the God of the Universe more clearly through their work. She ends with the question of why the answer to this question--Is Christmas Unbelievable?--has ramifications in how we go about living our lives. Like anything apologetics related, it left me wanting to ask more questions...but isn't that what God wants? To know more of Him?
Would definitely recommend this to Christians and Non-Christians who want to think about the Christmas story in a new way! -
10/10, would recommend. This author is one of my favorites, highly-credible & intelligent, and a pretty BA woman. 😂👌🏽
Quick and easy to read (only 59
pages!). Good mix of pop culture analogies (if you're a Doctor Who or Harry Potter fan, you'll appreciate
this and scholarly research.
Each individual chapter addresses one of these 4 questions related to the Christmas story in the Bible:
1) Was Jesus even a real person?
2) Can we take the Gospels seriously?
3) How can you believe in the virgin birth?
4) Why does it matter?
