The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel
Week 8: Objection 7 — Church History Is Soaked in Blood, So Christianity Must Be False
Read Objection 7 (Chapter 7) of The Case for Faith. Interview with John D. Woodbridge. Key passages: Matthew 7:15–20; Romans 3:9–18; 1 Corinthians 1:26–31.
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The Crusades, the Inquisition, the complicity of the church in slavery and genocide — this week historian John Woodbridge helps Strobel separate the failures of Christ's followers from the truth of Christ Himself.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Woodbridge does not minimize the church's historical atrocities — he names them plainly. Why is intellectual honesty about the church's failures important for apologetics? What happens when Christians either dismiss or over-explain these sins?
2.Strobel and Woodbridge distinguish between Christianity as a system of beliefs and truth claims, and 'Christendom' as the historically mixed cultural and political institution. Why is that distinction logically important? Does a person's sinful behavior in the name of Christ disprove Christ's claims?
3.Woodbridge points out that the abolition of slavery, the founding of hospitals and universities, the development of human rights concepts, and the emergence of modern science were all significantly shaped by Christian conviction. How does that positive historical record interact with the record of atrocity, and how should we hold both together honestly?
a.Is it fair to credit Christianity for its positive contributions while also holding it responsible for its failures, or does that apply an inconsistent standard?
b.What happens when we compare the historical record of explicitly secular or atheistic regimes in the 20th century to the historical record of Christendom? Does that comparison change your assessment?
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