Is Easter Unbelievable?

Peter J Williams

A really short book, showing that the best-ever story is not only historically true but also great news for people today. What more could you want?

Molly Worthen

Christianity stands or falls on the truth of the resurrection, and this is the pithiest, zestiest case for the resurrection that I’ve seen. Whether you are looking to renew your faith or exploring the evidence for the first time, McLaughlin will guide you along the way—in roughly the time it takes to find all the Easter eggs.

“Great for apologetics and evangelism”

Quick and concise read with 4 short chapters to explore the Easter story. Rebecca McLaughlin packs a punch of evangelism and apologetics in these 60 pages as she covers

Is Jesus’ Life Historical?
Is Jesus’ Death Ethical?
Is Jesus’ Resurrection Credible?
Is Jesus’ Offer Desirable?

Clear and encouraging. Humble, yet standing firm in Scripture. A great read for those who doubt, for those who are young in their faith, and for the spiritually mature who can always use a reminder of the truth surrounding Jesus, the foundation of our faith.

“Helpful, concise argument for Easter”

Very engaging and well-explained, compelling argument for the historicity of Easter and a helpful explanation of why it matters.

“Helps skeptics come to terms with the Easter story”

Easter is around the corner, and perhaps there is someone in your life who is a bit skeptical of the story of a man coming back to life 2,000 years ago after being brutally tortured and then crucified on a wooden cross. Consider gifting them this new, short book (<60 pages) published by @thegoodbookcompanyusa. Is Easter Unbelievable? by Rebecca McLaughlin provides a basic overview about the historicity of Jesus, the implications of Jesus’s death on a cross, the plausibility of his resurrection, and the desirability of Jesus’s offer of eternal life with him. As I’ve come to expect from her other books, she deftly uses other stories to illustrate the truths of Christianity, like events from Harry Potter. But my favorite analogy in this work is how she uses the 007 movie, No Time to Die, to explain the greatness of Jesus’s love for us and his actions as the Savior. In a world where happy endings are hard to come by, McLaughlin shows why the resurrection of Jesus makes for the happiest ending of all.

McLaughlin writes, “You see, if Jesus really did come back to life, it's not just a matter of magical curiosity, like "What do mermaids eat?" If Jesus did come back to life, it means the Maker of all time and space has stepped into the universe for love of you. It means that you were worth his death and that he wants you in his life. It means you are more seen and known and loved than you could dare to hope and that the greatest offer ever made is sitting on the table, waiting for you to take it up.”

“perfect for educated doubters”

This book hit the sweet spot for my friend who had wandered from the faith. She wanted to believe, but struggled with the resurrection and what it meant. I have ordered ten more to give to other friends. Also great for college campuses! It's clear, encouraging, and culturally relevant. If I could give it ten stars I would. Thank you for such a wonderful book!

“Excellent Mini Book for Easter Evangelism”

Rebecca McLaughlin writes some superb resources for Christians and she's recently been writing resources for evangelism. This is another superb example of her giving us books which could easily be given away to those already starting to ask questions about faith, especially at Easter. For those Christians who have friends who are starting to ask questions about faith (especially Jesus death/resurrection and its credibility), this would be a perfect gift to read together. It would also be a good option for churches who want a giveaway book for Easter services or to, like us, have available as part of the free book stall that those enquiring about faith can help themselves to.

“Excellent Apologetics Resource”

This short, highly readable apologetics resource addresses four key questions that people should ask to fully understand the Easter story and the Christian faith. These questions are about the historicity of Jesus's life, whether or not a sacrificial death for other's sins is ethical, if the resurrection claim is credible, and if Jesus's offer of eternal life through himself is even desirable. Rebecca McLaughlin answers these questions with thoughtful reflections, explanations from Scripture, and references to scholarly historical writings from both secular and Christian authors.

This concise booklet is about sixty pages long, and it is a quick, easy read for people who are curious about the Christian faith. Because the book is very brief, it does not touch on every possible objection, but it provides a basic introduction to show why the Easter story is far more plausible than most modern, secular people would think. There are much more in-depth resources available for skeptics who want to explore their complex questions and doubts, but this will be a great introduction for people who are passively curious or are reading this at a friend's behest, and don't feel invested enough to read something longer.

This book is a great evangelism resource, and it will also appeal to Christians who want to better understand and articulate the basis for their beliefs. However, people who have already read McLaughlin's other works should be aware that this book presents many of the same arguments and examples that she has already used elsewhere. She uses them afresh in a new context here, and it doesn't feel overly repetitive, but people who have already read McLaughlin's full-length works should be aware that they have already experienced most of this book's foundational material.

Note: I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.