The Truth Trial- The Cross Examination Book 8

In the near-future United States of 2045, the Statute on Religious Authority (SRA) strictly forbids the public defense of absolute religious truth claims. Enter Christian Cross, a fifty-three-year-old professor of apologetics at a small Tennessee university. Already acquitted in six prior trials covering everything from natural theology to theodicy, Cross now faces his most daunting legal and intellectual challenge yet: The seventh trial on his philosophy of truth itself.

Written by prolific scholar and theologian Dr. Alfred Basta, The Truth Trial is a gripping courtroom drama and a profound philosophical exploration rolled into one. Over three intense weeks in a federal courtroom in Knoxville, the prosecution argues that the central Christian claim—that Christ is the Truth—is an act of “imperialism” that must be forbidden in the public square. Armed with the timeless wisdom of Socrates, Augustine, and Aquinas, Professor Cross must defend the very grammar of reality against a brilliant, Oxford-trained prosecutor who seeks to replace absolute truth with the gentler, postmodern concept of “interpretation.”

Perfect for fans of theological fiction, legal thrillers, and classical Christian apologetics, The Truth Trial seamlessly weaves high-stakes legal maneuvering with deep discussions on relativism, consciousness, and the philosophy of knowledge. Can the word “Truth” still do public work, or has it become a costume that private convictions wear into the public square?

What is The Truth Trial about?

The Truth Trial is set in the United States of 2045, where the Statute on Religious Authority bans the public defense of absolute religious truth claims. Christian Cross, a 53-year-old professor of apologetics in Tennessee who has already been acquitted in six earlier trials, now faces a seventh case aimed at his philosophy of truth. Over three weeks in a federal courtroom in Knoxville, the prosecution argues that the Christian claim that Christ is the Truth is a form of imperialism that should be barred from the public square, and the prosecutor seeks to replace absolute truth with a postmodern notion of interpretation. Cross draws on Socrates, Augustine, and Aquinas to defend the basic structure of reality and the meaning of truth. The novel explores relativism, consciousness, and the philosophy of knowledge, and asks whether the word truth can still serve a public role or has become a costume that private beliefs wear in public.

Who wrote The Truth Trial?

It was written by Alfred Basta, a professor, author, and musician.

What genre is The Truth Trial?

It is Christian fiction, a courtroom novel that blends legal maneuvering and trial tension with extended philosophical debate, which means the story spends as much time on epistemology as on procedure.

Who is The Truth Trial for?

It is written for fans of theological fiction, legal thrillers, and classical Christian apologetics.

Is The Truth Trial part of a series?

Yes. It is Book 8 of The Cross Examination series, in which Christian Cross faces his seventh trial. You can find the series on Amazon.

Where can I buy The Truth Trial?

The Truth Trial is available in paperback, hardcover and Kindle editions. The hardcover ISBN-13 is 979-8181262775 (295 pages, published June 12, 2026).

Amazon (paperback) | Amazon (hardcover) | Amazon (Kindle) | Indigo (author page)

About the author: Alfred Basta is a professor, author of Ward No. 8 and The Malgrave Letters, and musician as The Bastas Project.

Last updated: October 12, 2026