Narrative Apologetics - by Alister E McGrath (Paperback)

About the Book

One of the world's leading Christian apologists delivers a groundbreaking book that shows how the Christian story can be told and retold to connect effectively with unbelievers in today's post-Christian culture.

Book Synopsis

The Bible is a narrative--the story of God's creation, humankind's fall, and God's plan of redemption. And it is filled with countless smaller stories that teach us about people, history, and the nature of God. It's no surprise that God would choose to reveal himself to us in story--after all, he hardwired us for story. Despite this, we so often attempt to share our faith with others not through story but through systems, arguments, and talking points--methods that appeal only to our mind and neglect our imagination and our emotions.

In this groundbreaking book, scholar and author Alister McGrath lays a foundation for narrative apologetics. Exploring four major biblical narratives, enduring stories from our culture such as Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia, and personal narratives from people such as Augustine of Hippo and Chuck Colson, McGrath shows how we can both understand and share our faith in terms of story.

From the Back Cover

"This is a must-read for all who want to show others how the gospel of Jesus Christ addresses the deepest hopes and fears of the human condition."--Richard Mouw, Fuller Theological Seminary

The Bible is a narrative--the story of God's creation, humankind's fall, and God's plan of redemption. And it is filled with countless smaller stories that teach us about people, history, and the nature of God. This comes as no surprise. After all, we are hardwired to tell stories because we are created in the image of God. Despite this, we often attempt to share our faith with others not through story but through systems, arguments, and talking points--methods that appeal to the mind but neglect the imagination.

In this groundbreaking book, scholar and author Alister McGrath lays a foundation for narrative apologetics before considering the many ways in which it can be used. Exploring four major biblical narratives, enduring stories such as Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia, and personal narratives from figures such as St. Augustine and Chuck Colson, McGrath shows how we can both understand and share our faith through the use of stories.


"A compelling call to resist a reductionist rationality and to enter into the 'imaginative embrace' of the Christian faith. Read this book to be envisioned again about the expansiveness of the Christian story and to be given practical insight into how we might 'out-narrate' the stories of our cultures with the better story of Christ."--Dr. Tanya Walker, dean, Oxford Center for Christian Apologetics


Alister E. McGrath is the Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion at Oxford University and director of the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion. He holds Oxford doctorates in the natural sciences, intellectual history, and Christian theology. McGrath has written extensively on the interaction of science and Christian theology and is the author of many books, including Mere Discipleship, Mere Apologetics, and the award-winning C. S. Lewis--A Life.

About the Author

Alister E. McGrath is the Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion at Oxford University and director of the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion. He holds Oxford doctorates in the natural sciences, intellectual history, and Christian theology. McGrath has written extensively on the interaction of science and Christian theology and is the author of many books, including Mere Discipleship, Mere Apologetics, and the award-winning C. S. Lewis--A Life. McGrath also serves as the Gresham Professor of Divinity, a public professorship in the City of London, established in 1597, that promotes the public engagement of theology with the leading issues of the day.