Episode # 160 "Christianity, Is It Fiction Or Fact?"

In The Shape of the Past, John Warwick Montgomery examines historiography and the principles by which historians assess and reconstruct historical events. He applies these principles to the New Testament, arguing for the credibility of its documents and the historicity of core Christian claims. Montgomery leverages his experience in law and theology to evaluate sources, eyewitness testimony, and textual transmission. The book addresses skeptical critiques and defends the reasonableness of accepting Christian historical assertions. Its purpose is to demonstrate that faith in Christianity can be grounded in sound historical methodology.

John Warwick Montgomery's Where is History Going? explores how historians establish facts and the relevance of historical method to religious claims. The book examines criteria for historical certainty and applies them to Christianity, arguing that historical evidence supports Christian assertions. Montgomery draws on his legal and theological background to assess documents and testimony, especially regarding New Testament reliability. He engages with skeptical positions and defends the use of historical methods in theological reasoning. The book aims to show that Christianity rests on verifiable historical foundations rather than mere subjective faith.