Defending your Faith, An Introduction to Apologetics (DYF) is a 200 page book on apologetics by Christian author and teacher R.C. Sproul. DYF looks at two issues - the case for the existence of God and the case for the divine origin of the scriptures, along with four principles that are necessary to logically defend your faith in Christ. Sproul writes in the introduction, "The task of this book is to set forth, in a brief and non-technical way, the basic truth claims of Christianity, and to show that at its core Christianity is rational." He further writes, "Defending the faith to the best of our ability is not a luxury or an indulgence in intellectual vanity. It is the task given to each one of us as we bear witness to our faith before the world."

Sproul's theology is Reformed. Reformed Christians believe that no one comes to faith in Christ until God the Holy Spirit changes their heart. Apologetics (defending your faith) does not bring about salvation, but it may aid in nurturing the seed of faith in the unsaved. Therefore, as Christians we are responsible to know and tell of the truths of Christianity. This is where the study of apologetics comes in. I may know what I believe, but can I explain it to someone who has doubts about Christianity?

DYF is divided into 6 sections. They are: The Apologetic Task; The Four Essential Principles of Knowledge (the law of noncontradiction; the law of causality; the basic [although not perfect] reliability of sense perception; and the analogical use of language); Natural Reason and Faith; The Case for God's Existence, Four Possibilities; God and the Philosophers; and The Case for Biblical Authority.

Sections II and III are the backbone of DYF. I spent several weeks reading these two sections (60 pages), and then rereading them. I wanted to really understand what Sproul was saying. I also wanted to be able to help my 16-year-old daughter when she read the book after I finished. What I found is that this book is not for most high school students. It is very complex, almost like a college textbook. I have decided that my 16-year-old daughter, and most of her friends, would find this book way too difficult to read and understand. I would recommend it for college students and adults as a first-rate primer on apologetics. For those who want a lighter approach to apologetics from Sproul, look into his Defending Your Faith audio/video/CD program. I have not seen it, but I have watched other productions he has done and his live presentation is much easier for me to understand.

If you decide to use DYF with your high school student, consider getting them their own copy that they can mark in. I had to look up numerous words, and I jotted their meaning in the margin so I would not have to look them up again. I also found that underlining difficult passages and rereading them several times helped to 'cement the idea' in my mind. I would award my student a ½ credit in Apologetics for reading and discussing DYF. If you have a student who has difficulty reading, or is an auditory learner, consider reading sections aloud with them.

Did I enjoy reading Defending Your Faith? No. Did I benefit from it? Yes. Would I read it again? Yes. Will I recommend it to others? Yes. If you like Sproul and want a challenging and educational introduction to apologetics get a copy of DYF. Don't expect to read it in a weekend.

-- Product Review by Tina Rice, Contributing Writer, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, March, 2006