Stepping Stones to Christianity: Reflections on Intelligent Design, Natural Theology, and the Historical Jesus, introduces a rational case for Christianity in three steps, starting with scientific arguments for design in biology and cosmology, moving on to philosophical arguments for the existence of God, and closing with an overview of the evidence for a Christian understanding of the historical Jesus, in the context of competing contemporary worldviews. By bringing together revised and expanded versions of materials written to introduce three of the author’s “Essays on . . .” books with Wipf & Stock, Stepping Stones to Christianity equips readers to consider the case for design in nature, to investigate philosophical arguments for God, and to wrestle with the identity of Jesus.
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Contents
Author’s Preface | ix
Chapter One Reflections on Intelligent Design | 1
Chapter Two Reflections on Natural Theology | 61
Chapter Three Reflections on the Historical Jesus | 110
Recommended Resources | 199
Resources for Chapter 1 | 200
Resources for Chapter 2 | 211
Resources for Chapter 3 | 219
Bibliography | 235
Praise for Stepping Stones to Christianity
“Stepping Stones is exactly that, a look at the credibility of Christian claims about Jesus one step at a time in a world that does not know what to do with him. Whether we think about the world we live in, its design, or what we can know about Jesus, the world portrays much uncertainty about who we are, where we came from, and why we are here. This book helps to point us in a solid direction for all those key questions. So read this book and take a step in a most useful direction.” – Dr Darrell L. Bock, Executive Director of Cultural Engagement and Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary
“Weaving together substantial evidence and arguments from scientific, philosophical, and historical sources, Peter Williams presents a forceful case for Christian faith. His use of autobiography and humor makes the book personable, without loss of rigour. Highly recommended to anyone interested in the reasonability and truth of Christianity.” – Charles Taliaferro, Emeritas Overby Distinguished Professor, St. Olaf College
“This is a book for anyone who feels that embracing Christianity is like jumping into the deep end of a swimming pool! By providing a variety of scientific, philosophical, and historical ‘stepping stones,’ Peter Williams acts as a wise and helpful guide for those searching for a deeper faith.” – Justin Brierley, author of Why I’m Still a Christian
Selected Resources by Peter S. Williams
Listen
Williams, Peter S. “Archaeological Evidence and Jesus (ELF 2025).” The Peter S. Williams Podcast, May 30, 2025.
———. “Arguing for God (Oslo, 2022).” The Peter S. Williams Podcast, October 29, 2022.
———. “Atheism Today: The Collapse of the New Atheism & the Rise of Metamodernism.” The Peter S. Williams Podcast, October, 2024.
———. “Christian Spirituality at the Cutting Edge of Contemporary Culture.” The Peter S. Williams Podcast, June, 2024.
———. “Escaping the Closed Universe: C.S. Lewis vs. Naturalism.” The Peter S. Williams Podcast, October, 2023.
———. “Four Reasons God Won’t Go Away.” The Peter S. Williams Podcast, October 31, 2022.
———. “Veritas 2022: Outgrowing God? Learning from Dawkins’s Failed Arguments.” The Peter S. Williams Podcast, November 1, 2022.
Read Papers
Williams, Peter S. “A Beginner’s Guide to the Theistic Argument from Desire.”
———. “BioCosmos Interview on Natural Theology: A Universe From Someone.”
———. “A Brief Introduction to and Defence of the Modern Ontological Argument.” Theofilos 7.3 (2015) 339–44.
———. “Can Moral Objectivism Do Without God?”
———. “C.S. Lewis as a Central Figure in Formulating the Theistic Argument from Desire.” Linguaculture 10.2 (2019).
———. “The Design Inference from Specified Complexity Defended by Scholars Outside the Intelligent Design Movement—A Critical Review.” Philosophia Christi 9 (2007) 407–28.
———. “The Emperor’s Incoherent New Clothes – Pointing the Finger at Dawkins’ Atheism.” Think, Volume 9, Issue 24, Spring 2010.
———. “Five Arguments for God.”
———. “Intelligent Design, Aesthetics and Design Arguments.”
———. “An Interdisciplinary Inquiry into Dating the Fourth Gospel, Part I: John 5:2 and Papyrus 52.” Theofilos, vol. 13, 2021.
———. “An Interdisciplinary Inquiry into Dating the Fourth Gospel, Part II: Other Evidence.” Theofilos, vol. 14, 2023.
———. “A Pre-Modern Reflection Upon the Modernist Foundations of Postmodernism.” Theofilos, Volume 7, 2015:2.
———. “Re-Defending Arguments from Desire: A Second Response to Gregory Bassham.” Sep 2016.
———. “A Universe from Someone: A Critique of Lawrence Krauss.”
Read Books
———. Behold the Man: Essays on the Historical Jesus. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2024.
———. C.S. Lewis vs. the New Atheists. Milton Keynes: Paternoster, 2013.
———. A Faithful Guide to Philosophy: A Christian Introduction to the Love of Wisdom. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2019.
———. Getting at Jesus: A Comprehensive Critique of Neo-Atheist Nonsense about the Jesus of History. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2019.
———. I Wish I Could Believe in Meaning: A Response to Nihilism. Southampton, UK: Damaris, 2004.
———. Outgrowing God? An Introduction to Richard Dawkins And The God Debate. Eugene, OR: Cascade, 2020.
———. Understanding Jesus: Five Ways to Spiritual Enlightenment. Milton Keynes: Paternoster, 2011.
———. A Universe from Someone: Essays on Natural Theology. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2022.
———. A Sceptic’s Guide to Atheism. Milton Keynes: Paternoster, 2009.
Selected Videos:
Debating God’s Existence