Why I'm Still a Christian: After Two Decades of Conversations with Skeptics and Atheists--The Reason I Believe

by Justin Brierley, Alister E. McGrath (foreword)

A compelling and intriguing discussion of why believing in God makes the most sense of human existence and our purpose on earth by one of the most respected Christian thinkers of our time.

“Highly readable survey of the reasons for Christian faith. Not just an academic exercise, Justin has respectfully engaged many thoughtful atheists and sceptics over years, which is always a test for a believer. The book is therefore very personal—it explains how his own faith has emerged while working through the challenges he has received.” —Timothy Keller

Popular radio host and podcaster, Justin Brierley, has been creating and facilitating constructive conversations about faith for more than two decades. He is an expert in Christian apologetics and has had a ringside seat as believers and nonbelievers alike have debated Christianity. Surprisingly, Justin has come out on the other side of these debates more convinced than ever of the truth of Jesus’ claims—and the power of good conversations.

With this book, you get to watch Justin as he engages with the most unlikely of conversation partners—from Richard Dawkins to Philip Pullman—on the subject of faith. You’ll understand why Justin, after hearing the strongest objections to the Christian faith and religion, is still a Christian. For him, God makes sense of human existence, the inherent value of human life, and our ultimate purpose on earth.

With this book, you’ll explore tough questions, with Justin Brierley as your would God allow suffering?Are Christianity and the existence of God compatible with science?Is there any evidence for the resurrection?And much more.Discover the reasons to believe.

This book is a revised and updated edition of the Unbelievable book published in 2017, with a new chapter on deconstruction.

Genres: Christianity, Theology, Christian, Christian Non Fiction, Nonfiction

215 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 22, 2025

Reviews

[Chad D · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I read a book of Christian apologetics, and this one is utterly worth the picking up. The author has hosted a seventeen-years-running show, Unbelievable? -- a series of debates between Christian believers and skeptics. He's a gracious host who understands the many many approaches, positive and negative, toward Christian faith and can explain them clearly; he knows the game, and he knows the moves to the game, and he has tremendous authority as someone who still, after all those arguments, believes in Jesus and Christianity. But his last two chapters go farther than conventional apologetics. They tackle deconstruction (very hopefully and almost pastorally, although he seems to think it is synonymous with destruction, and "reconstruction" would be the constructive bit) and the need to taste and see that the Lord is good rather than just decide with the head. Highly recommended. I've been reading bits of it to my sixteen-year-old son who hates to read, and he keeps asking for more.

[Faithful Intellect · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review Rating: 7/10

This Book Is:
- A great summary of the common arguments for and against Christianity
- Easy to follow even for those new to apologetics

This Book Is Not:
- Providing a new argument for faith
- Purely academic, but includes helpful anecdotes from interviews

My Takeaway:
- Relationships Over Reason: This book does exactly what an apologetics book intends to do. It lays out logical reasons why Christianity is a better explanation for what we observe and experience. I appreciated how Brierley points out the limited scope of apologetics. Apologetics is to remove barriers to faith. No one has ever been argued into the Christian faith. In reality, arguments often remove barriers that allow seekers to embrace the faith they were moving towards all along.

The opposite is true of atheists too. Brierley points out that he has often asked atheists "what evidence would convince you?" and the response is often "nothing". This shows how the logical arguments back and forth are often just a surface-level show that don't change the underlying belief. Christians and theists both have faith in their foundational beliefs, and it can be hard to change them. When they do change, it is often experience and not reason that makes the difference.

I also appreciate how Brierley concludes with the important clarification that "God may be more interested in people loving him and trusting him than in believing in him". "He doesn't just want changed heads; he wants changed hearts". This takeaway for me could also be called my critique. In some sense, this idea undercuts the whole project of apologetics. The logical side of me loves a good debate, but I question the value and effectiveness of apologetics in general. I suspect that we would be more effective at leading people to faith in Jesus by getting better at sharing our own life stories with the unbelievers in our lives. Relationships are more powerful than reason!

Click here to read the full review at Faithful Intellect.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[BJ Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book over Christmas break just after teaching a high school apologetics class the previous semester. If I had only read it a few months earlier, I certainly have pulled excerpts from the book for reading and discussing.

The reason for that is not just because of the views and perspectives Brierley shares. I usually am in full agreement with him, but not always to every degree on every issue. What I appreciated most about this book was the tone the book takes and the respect the author shows to those he disagrees with. I have never heard of him of "Unbelievable?", the show Justin Brierley hosted for nearly two decades. He has clearly mastered the art of truly listening and engaging with an opposing perspective while clearly expressing your own views with honor. This is a fading skill in our time, and it is one I also need to better learn myself.

[Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brierley was the host of the radio show/podcast Unbelievable? from 2005 to 2023. Each episode would feature two thinkers/academics/apologists—one Christian and one atheist/agnostic, brought together for a lively but polite discussion about issues of faith, science, philosophy, morality, and life.

After hearing firsthand some of the best arguments against Christianity, Brierley finds that the Christian worldview still provides the most satisfying answers for our deepest questions about ultimate things. In this book he lays out the best arguments presented by the non-theist side—and I think he does a decent job of strongmanning their views—before he presents the Christian alternatives/rebuttals.

Overall this is very good. There is definitely a lot of CS Lewis in here, but who can blame him?

My favorite books in this category remain Making Sense of God by Timothy Keller and Why God Makes Sense in a World That Doesn’t by Gavin Ortlund.

Once again, Bob wrote up a great review/summary of this book (of course!):
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


Here’s a passage about how atheists will contend that morality is relative/subjective—which it must be if there is no creator/lawgiver:

‘This is the most common response I hear from my atheist friends. They deny the objectivity of moral values, explaining that they are merely a social framework for living that evolution has instilled in us. For example, the golden rule of "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is manifested all over the world because people get on better together when they apply it.
‘But even if we accept this as a complete explanation of how morals arose (and I don't find it terribly convincing), it still leaves unanswered the question of why we should expect anyone to abide by them. The problem is that you can't get an "ought" from an "is." Telling me how my morality came about doesn' tell me why l should obey it. What makes a code of moral behavior, such as the golden rule, binding on me or anybody else?
‘The answer usually comes back: because we build a better society that way.
‘But wait a minute—that response neatly smuggles in the very thing we are debating. By talking about a "better" society, or moral "progress," or human "flourishing," there is an assumed objective standard we are measuring things by or to which we are progressing. And if there is an objective standard, it turns out there's a belief in objective morality after all.’

[Kaelyn Prince · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never read a Christian apologetics book before, and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It definitely challenged me to think, and I really had to wrap my head around some concepts, but the author explained these ideas in language that was helpful for the average reader. I genuinely learned so much and found this book to be extremely encouraging. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is struggling with the claims of Christianity. Even if that’s not a struggle for you, this is a great book to bolster your faith.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this read for Christians, non-Christians and those in-between and not sure what to think about Christianity. It is well written and well researched. The author believes that discussions between atheists and Christians are imperative and it is important for us to understand each other and have respectful conversations.

[Crystal Reaume · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy Justin Brierley and because I have listened to so many of his podcasts I basically heard his voice in my head the entire time I read this.
I enjoyed it and it gave me a lot to think about and some interesting people to research.
I think ultimately, I prefer The Surprising Rebirth, but found this to be useful as regards apologetics.

[Cody Feisel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very similar to the last apologetics book I listened to, just with different stories.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: After two decades of interviews with atheists and skeptics, the author explains why he still follows Christ.

Justin Brierly hosted a podcast called Unbelievable? for nearly two decades. During this time he interviewed numerous atheists, skeptics, and believers from other religions. Among his guests were Richard Dawkins, Lawrence Krauss, and Philip Pullman. They had spirited, no-holds-barred but civil conversations. Sometimes Brierly hosted dialogues between Christians and skeptics. Despite a steady diet of atheist and skeptic challenges to Christian belief, Brierly remains a Christian. In this book, he offers his reasons why, often elaborating these in the context of those conversations.

However, Brierly begins by explaining why he pursued these conversations. In short, he was tired of Christians talking to themselves in their own echo chambers. He wanted better conversations–ones that weren’t scripted but rather open-ended. He sought real dialogue between thoughtful skeptics and Christian believers. It wasn’t “safe.” He confesses that it caused him to struggle afresh with questions about his faith. But he created a space for honest discussion, something many seekers appreciated.

The next seven chapters offer Brierly’s reasons for believing in the context of issues raised in his discussions. These include:

1. God makes sense of human existence. He explores why there is something rather than nothing, the fine-tuning of the universe, and multiverse explanations.
2. God makes sense of human value. Why do we believe in human rights and dignity? Why are some things just wrong? While skeptics often concur with these judgments and live moral lives, Brierly argues Christianity provides the best explanation for why we value human beings.
3. God makes sense of human purpose. Humans are purpose-oriented creatures. But why is this so? Is it just biology? Should we worry about this or just enjoy life? The fact of our longings, as Lewis pointed out, may be best explained by the idea that we were made for another world.
4. The evidence for Jesus. Some, including Richard Dawkins, propose that the very existence of Jesus is a fiction. Others reinvent him into a guru, a zealot, or even a husband. He points to an interview with skeptic Bart Ehrman, who dismantles these claims, as well as pointing to Richard Bauckham’s work on the gospel as credible eyewitness accounts of Jesus.
5. Facts that only fit the resurrection. Perhaps the clearest evidence for the life of Jesus is the evidence of his death and his followers claims that he rose from the dead. But how is this plausible? Brierly discusses the “minimal facts” approach of Michael Licona and Gary Habermas including five facts best explained by the bodily resurrection of Jesus. He also considers objections to this approach.
6. The atheist’s greatest objection: suffering. He takes on board the serious challenge this poses and the limits of any explanation. He notes that the objection implies a moral basis to the universe and that doing away with God doesn’t do away with trying to explain suffering. He also notes the realities of human free will–that we are responsible for much of the world’s evil–and that we are in a spiritual war zone.
7. Atheism 2.0. Brierly addresses five “atheist memes” that have been raised by Richard Dawkins. One of these concerns a God who would send one to hell not being worth worshipping. We learn that Brierly is among those who would endorse an annihilationist rather than eternal conscious torment understanding of hell (as did John Stott).

In the final two chapters Brierly addresses those “deconstructing” their faith and those investigating Christianity. First, Brierly notes the reasons people “deconstruct” and then draws on a dialogue between Jon Steingard, a former Christian, and Sean McDowell. pointing the way toward reconstruction. Finally, Brierly talks about choosing to live in the Christian story, including “atheist prayer experiments,” the question of what evidence will convince someone to believe, and that above all, God seeks not belief but relationship. Ultimately, quoting Os Guinness, he asserts “The Christian faith is not true because it works; it works because it is true.”

What sets this book apart from other apologetic texts is that it roots reasons in real conversations rather than hypothetical topics. For many of us, it was conversations with skeptical friends that drove us to clarify our reasons for believing. Or it was our own investigation of Christianity, asking our own hard questions and honestly seeking answers. That’s what makes this such a helpful resource whether you are the Christian engaging a friend’s skepticism or a skeptic giving the faith an honest look.

There are no “silver bullets” or ‘lead pipe cinch” arguments here. What you have are reasons to believe that have proven sufficiently credible to sustain Brierly through two decades of conversations with skeptics. They’ve helped remove obstacles on the way to faith for some. That’s not everything. But it’s something to be reckoned with.

____________________

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.

[Jared · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Why I’m Still a Christian: After Two Decades of Conversations with Skeptics and Atheists–The Reason I Believe” by Justin Brierley is a thoughtful and engaging apologetic work drawn from the author’s long-running podcast.

One of the book’s strongest assets is its comprehensive scope. Brierley covers an impressive array of topics that touch on nearly every major objection to Christianity. He delves into cosmology and fine-tuning arguments for God’s existence, the origins of morality and human consciousness, the problem of suffering, the historical evidence for Jesus’ life and resurrection, and even the intersection of science and faith. He doesn’t shy away from including counterarguments from prominent atheists, creating a balanced dialogue that feels honest and thorough. This makes the book a one-stop resource for anyone wrestling with intellectual doubts, and it’s refreshing to see such a wide net cast without sacrificing depth in key areas. Though I think if one wants to go dealer on certain topics it would have been nice to reference exactly which podcast episodes to listen to if you want to hear the full arguments.

That said, I’m curious how an unbeliever would respond to Brierley’s case. As someone who’s hosted countless debates, he anticipates skeptical pushback well, incorporating objections like the multiverse hypothesis or evolutionary explanations for morality. Yet, while his arguments are compelling and rooted in evidence, it ultimately hinges on whether the reader is open to the idea that Christianity provides the best explanation for reality’s big puzzles.

For conservative Christians, however, the book comes with caveats. Brierley holds several untraditional beliefs that might challenge those who adhere to more fundamentalist views. He accepts theistic evolution, viewing it as compatible with Genesis rather than insisting on young-earth creationism. He rejects the doctrine of biblical inerrancy or infallibility, arguing that it’s a modern construct not explicitly taught in Scripture and that it can lead to rigid interpretations that miss the Bible’s deeper purpose. On hell, he leans toward annihilationism—the idea that the unsaved cease to exist rather than endure eternal conscious torment. And Women being pastors, These positions align with a more progressive or “mere Christianity” approach, emphasizing core essentials over secondary doctrines, but they could feel like departures from orthodoxy for evangelicals who see inerrancy or eternal hell as non-negotiable.

This brings me to my main critique: when Brierley addresses deconstruction in the later chapters, it sometimes feels like a plea to salvage faith at any cost. He encourages doubters to reconstruct around “primary” truths—like Jesus’ existence, death, and resurrection—while treating other parts of the Bible as flexible or non-essential. It comes across as saying, “Hey, don’t give up; just get rid of any part of the Bible you don’t like, and you can still believe in the gospel’s core.” While I appreciate his empathy for those in faith crises and his nod to C.S. Lewis’s “mere Christianity,” this approach risks diluting the faith into something too subjective, where everything beyond the resurrection feels optional. Is that truly sustaining, or does it undermine the holistic authority of Scripture?
Overall, “Why I’m Still a Christian” is a solid, heartfelt read that reinforces faith for many while inviting skeptics to the table. Brierley’s passion shines through, and his book succeeds in showing why Christianity endures amid doubt. Recommended for anyone navigating belief in a post-Christian world, though conservatives might want to approach with an open but discerning mind.

[Lydia Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Thank you to NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for this ARC. I was not paid for a good review. These are my honest thoughts.*

Starting his broadcast career with a segment on a Christian radio show in the UK called “Unbelievable?”, Justin has a long history of sitting down and facilitating debates between the atheist and Christian. This book is his answer to sharing how he still believes in Jesus after years of listening to often compelling arguments lead by atheists.

He shares many answers and examples to the familiar debates that often lead a person away or towards faith, and gives an incredible defense as to why believing in Jesus is not only logical based on historical evidence, but also trustworthy.

For those who are atheist, you may disagree on all points that Justin has to offer for the validity of Christ and His resurrection. The same could be true for the agnostics who may read his book. But on the quest for Truth, I highly recommend reading this book and testing your previous convictions to see if they still hold up to Justin’s defense for Christianity.

Regardless, this book also shares the importance of having discussions with those who hold a different set of beliefs than yourself. Rather than avoiding one another and potentially villainizing your opponent, this book will convict you to share the love you claim for your enemies and your neighbors, and actually humanizing them.

[Cinnamon Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced reader copy!

For context, I really enjoy apologetics and so it's probably no surprise that I really enjoyed my time with this book.

This book is a little different from typical apologetics books though in the way it's structured which I really appreciated.

I like Justins ability to lay out common objections and then provide the most logical and reasonable answers to those objections. It's not really a "debate" it's more of a "I see where you are coming from and here is where I think you are off base" type of thing. It's a humble yet practical approach which I think a lot of people would really appreciate.

I think this would be a great book to have on hand (or a few) to give to those in your life who earnestly have questions about the validity of Christianity and want a good resource that provides a bit of both sides and WANT to learn more.

I'll definitely be picking up a few copies of this once it is published in April to have on hand!
Highly recommend!

[Madison Pletan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have listened to many episodes of Justin Brierley’s podcast and enjoyed this short, compelling apologetics book, which has significant topical overlap with works like The Reason for God and Making Sense of God (a laudatory quote from Tim Keller appears on the cover of Why I’m Still a Christian). What sets this book apart for me is the final chapter, in which Brierley reflects on the limits of apologetics. He uses several helpful analogies: 1) the task of the apologist is to remove road barriers for belief, not to drag someone down the path; 2) Christianity is like a church that can be examined from the outside but must be entered to be fully experienced and understood. While his book is filled with thoughtful and persuasive arguments for the existence of God, the reliability of Scripture, and the historicity of Jesus’s resurrection, Brierley’s ultimate conclusion echoes Anselm: “For I do not seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand.”

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christianity has historical scrutiny in a location verified by many historians.

There are names that were common during that time period that also verify new testament accuracy.

In a patriarchal society it would be embarrassing to acknowledge the accuracy of the empty tomb being discovered by women. An embarrassing story is usually true.

Pauls' s persecution is documented by many historical sources.

The Jewish religion did not believe in the resurrection.

Why suffering question revolves around morality which does not exist without God and the argument of good verses evil.

There is free will rather than we are all puppets.

Hell is not a punishment but a choice of a refusal to acknowledge an authority for help and assistance.

Forcing proof of God's existence takes away choice and growth.

[Matthew Weston · Rating 4 out of 5]

A warm, conversational walk through many major arguments for the Christian faith (and answers to many objections). Brierley is perhaps uniquely equipped to write this book as he quotes from the many conversations he has hosted between Christians and non-Christians on his former radio show/podcast. I found he was fair, and even when had different views to him (such as on the nature of God’s sovereignty and hell), he pointed out that some Christians take a different view, but the main thing was what we made of Jesus, his claims, and his resurrection - amen.

[Tiegan Pfantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came into this book as a Christian but skeptical of apologetics (I am hesitant about "arguing" people into faith), I found this book to be refreshing and respectful. The last few chapters especially helped put apologetics into perspective. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about a rational defense of Christianity.

[Alan Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read for any Christian questioning their faith. For people of faith, atheist and agnostic viewpoints can be unsettling. Most importantly, it verifies through history and logic the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. This book is for Christians, and especially for non-Christians seeking the truth.

[Glen Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable

I enjoyed this book immensely and soul recommend it whole heartedly. My only objection would be the putting science above the scripture when discussing evolution, young earth and Genesis. But otherwise it was very poignant.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written and thoroughly honest assessment of the author’s life long exposure to Christian and atheist world views and related arguments. I find my own faith in God encouraged as a result. Excellent book. Highly recommend. It’s an easy read and simply pragmatic.

[Frank Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book that distils some of the best discussions and apologetic arguments for and against Christianity. After talking with so many people over multiple decades the author has acquired and ably written down key discussion points by many of the best apologetic communicators.

[Roger Smitter · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book goes through so many things to give a full book.

[Ryan Londeen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very worthwhile for both Christians and unbelievers. Great in audiobook format too (listened while working out).

[Jim Banman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

A very measured and gracious conversation about faith. Tries to be fair to all beliefs and presents his thoughts and struggles with faith.

[Iola · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m always intrigued to know how people (especially adults) decide to become a Christian. I’m equally intrigued to understand why Christians, in this age of doubt and deconstruction, maintain their belief in Jesus. I’m intrigued, but many of the arguments for and against faith are built on false logic. (“Christians still sin, so God can’t be real” – which is the doctrinal equivalent of throwing the baby out with the bathwater). Others are expressed in academic terms I find difficult to relate to.

Why I’m Still a Christian is built on over fifteen years of dialogue with Christians and atheists of all persuasions on his weekly radio show-turned podcast, Unbelievable. Brierley is also widely read, in that he quotes from books by mainstream Christin apologists such as C. S. Lewis and Lee Stobel, but also from nonChristian and atheist authors, who often make the case for Jesus even more powerfully than Brierley can.

This is the strength of the book.

While it is Brierley’s personal testimony and rationale for Christianity, it’s also based on extensive personal research, reading the works of many of the big thinkers about faith over the last two millennia.

Brierley discusses some big issues on contemporary science and how they can be interpreted to support or even prove the idea of a Creator: entropy, the Big Bang theory (it’s not just a TV show), the multiverse. He also points to some things that are perhaps easier to understand as proof: mathematics, gravity, and morality:

"The belief that humans are created free, equal, and with inherent dignity only makes sense if there is a God."

And:

"If atheism is true, then there is no ultimate right or wrong."

What stood out most to me, especially in the section on science, is that many of the new discoveries are pointing towards God, not away from Him (which is contrary to much of what I was taught in school). It reminds me of the importance of thinking and questioning matters of faith so we can have robust conversations on

Recommended for those who enjoy the topic of apologetics, and anyone looking for sound, reasoned and readable information that examines some of the central debates around the Christian faith from both points of view.

Thanks to Tyndale Elevate and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.