But while the subplot strengthens the character’s journalistic bona fides, it adds little to the story other than providing the opportunity for Frankie Faison, playing Lee’s hard-boiled editor, to fulminate like Perry White.

The story of Lee’s anti-Christianity quest is interwoven with another storyline involving his investigation into the shooting of a police officer. And indeed he has, as evidenced by a scene in which Lee’s parents come to visit their new grandchild and Lee coldly rebuffs his father (Robert Forster). He consults experts in various fields, including medicine, archeology, religion, and, most amusingly, psychiatry, the last in the form of a famous shrink (Faye Dunaway) who instantly diagnoses that he has daddy issues. One of his colleagues suggests he prove that Jesus didn’t actually rise from the dead, pointing out that such a revelation would cause the religion to fall apart “like a house of cards.”Īnd so Lee doggedly pursues his story, lining his basement with notes and photographic evidence as if he were tracking down a serial killer. During a heated argument about her newfound faith, he bitterly comments that he’s “going to file a missing person report.”ĭesperate to convince his wife that her beliefs are mistaken, Lee decides to investigate Christianity for the purpose of debunking it.

Much to Lee’s consternation, it isn’t long before his wife becomes born again. The fateful experience causes Leslie to seek Alfie out and attend church with her.

The case for christ by lee strobel