G
GreggAlvarez
Guest
I am a huge fan of James Loftus’ “Why I Became an Atheist”. Considering his past beliefs as a Christian preacher, I think he has some great insights from both sides of the table. “Why I Became an Atheist” is certainly a must have for any Christian who wants to engage themselves in apologetics. I consider this book to be better than anything Dawkins, Hitchens, Wolpert and Harris. Although, I rather like Harris. He is easy to listen to and takes religion from an objective point of view (most of the time). “Letter to a Christian Nation” is certainly a great little book. I have not read much of Daniel Dennett and nor do I care to, so I cannot compare Loftus’ work with his. Most other atheist books like “50 reasons people give for believing in a god” should not have even been published due to lack of intelligence. Unfortunately, people will fall for its stupidity.
With that said, I am not saying Christians write the best stuff ever. Far from it. There are some really really bad Christian apologetics books out there. “God: The Evidence” is almost as bad as the book I am about to rant on. Only 14 chapters of the 50 are worth anybody’s time. “I don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist” is also pretty bad. Only one chapter is a legitimate read (which is actually pretty good). I am saying this to show anybody who cares to read this that I am about as objective as they come. It kills my own spirituality and it is not because they are at odds as some irrationalists might presuppose. It is because my mind never shuts up. I NEVER read anything with the assumption that it will be right. (Only the Bible, but I do not put the Word of God on the same par as the word of man.) Contrary to popular belief, Christians are critical thinkers.
However, in “The Christian Delusion” there were only 3 chapters that were worth reading and it certainly was not worth buying for only those 3 chapters. They were good, but when I saw 15 chapters, I was assuming that it would be 15 great chapters that were completely objective. I was under the impression that if there were 15 chapters, then I will at least get 10 objective chapters at the very minimum and 5 entertaining ones. Boy, how wrong was I! (The book is a compilation of articles compiled by James Loftus, so he only wrote a few of them.)
The first three chapters were garbage. Admittedly, chapter 1 was not necessarily to debunk anything. It was just another irrational rant by another dime-a-dozen irrational atheist. Chapter 2 had a scientific study of faith and was so filled with all kinds of rhetorical additions that it was hard to believe it was objective in the first place. Chapter 3 was predisposed to the idea that Christians have no evidence. What is funny is that they do not accept the evidence we give them, even if it is completely reasonable.
Chapter 4 was the first chapter I like and guess who it is by: James Loftus. The only guy with intelligence in that book, or so it seems. The OTF is certainly an awesome thing. One thing he forgot though: people who believe based on evidence and reality. I am probably the only Christian who is a walking OTF. The Outsider Test of Faith is a test that invites a person of the Christian faith or any other to examines his/her beliefs with the eyes that examines other religions. For example, when I look at doctrines of Evangelicals, I start with the idea that they are wrong (and rightly so). So, that is the idea. But, as I said, I am a walking OTF and it kills me I think too damn much.
Chapters 5 and 6 deal with the Bible and their theology is terrible at best. I call it “atheology”. Come on… If the two Genesis Creation stories and Romans3:28/James2:24 are atheists best attempt at “contradictory verses” in the Bible, then there are some serious problems in the integrity there. I can find way more syntactical “errors” than any atheist would ever dream of. Me=OTF
Chapter 7 is James Loftus but it is very subjective. He bases his argument on the idea of what God should or would do if He actually existed.
Chapter 8 is a Dawkinsian approach to what he thinks God is. “A maniacal, blah blah blah… God”
9 - Reverend Loftus makes clear and rather concise objections to Christian apologists on undeserved suffering, but forgets one thing. I will leave it up the honest reader to figure that out. I like this one.
10 - A criticism of criticism. Seriously?
11 - The author tries to show that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is false. He overlooked WAY too many things to be considered in this book. This book should have only had 14 chapters in my opinion. Even the ones I did not like took into consideration many things.
12 - James Loftus tries to show Jesus as a failed Apocalyptic prophet at best. This is why no atheist should ever criticize based on theological precepts because then they will look like fools and I hate to say that about Mr. Loftus.
13 - An objection to the argument from morality. Nothing fresh here.
14 - Bias argument based on Hitler’s view of the Church and Martin Luther. Ok… This book should have had 13 chapters.
15 - Needless to say, things that are “needless to say” need not be said.
Unfortunately, many atheists think this is a complete win against “myths of Christianity”. As a former atheist, I can certainly see why people would fall into the trap of believing every word as their own little word of god.
All in all, Chapters 4, 7 and 8 (barely) made it on the list of chapters that are worthwhile. If anybody argues that the other ones are objective, just read them again and again. Hopefully, integrity will trump your desire to not be a Christian.
Anyway, I just wanted to rant a little bit on this “scholarly” work.
With that said, I am not saying Christians write the best stuff ever. Far from it. There are some really really bad Christian apologetics books out there. “God: The Evidence” is almost as bad as the book I am about to rant on. Only 14 chapters of the 50 are worth anybody’s time. “I don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist” is also pretty bad. Only one chapter is a legitimate read (which is actually pretty good). I am saying this to show anybody who cares to read this that I am about as objective as they come. It kills my own spirituality and it is not because they are at odds as some irrationalists might presuppose. It is because my mind never shuts up. I NEVER read anything with the assumption that it will be right. (Only the Bible, but I do not put the Word of God on the same par as the word of man.) Contrary to popular belief, Christians are critical thinkers.
However, in “The Christian Delusion” there were only 3 chapters that were worth reading and it certainly was not worth buying for only those 3 chapters. They were good, but when I saw 15 chapters, I was assuming that it would be 15 great chapters that were completely objective. I was under the impression that if there were 15 chapters, then I will at least get 10 objective chapters at the very minimum and 5 entertaining ones. Boy, how wrong was I! (The book is a compilation of articles compiled by James Loftus, so he only wrote a few of them.)
The first three chapters were garbage. Admittedly, chapter 1 was not necessarily to debunk anything. It was just another irrational rant by another dime-a-dozen irrational atheist. Chapter 2 had a scientific study of faith and was so filled with all kinds of rhetorical additions that it was hard to believe it was objective in the first place. Chapter 3 was predisposed to the idea that Christians have no evidence. What is funny is that they do not accept the evidence we give them, even if it is completely reasonable.
Chapter 4 was the first chapter I like and guess who it is by: James Loftus. The only guy with intelligence in that book, or so it seems. The OTF is certainly an awesome thing. One thing he forgot though: people who believe based on evidence and reality. I am probably the only Christian who is a walking OTF. The Outsider Test of Faith is a test that invites a person of the Christian faith or any other to examines his/her beliefs with the eyes that examines other religions. For example, when I look at doctrines of Evangelicals, I start with the idea that they are wrong (and rightly so). So, that is the idea. But, as I said, I am a walking OTF and it kills me I think too damn much.
Chapters 5 and 6 deal with the Bible and their theology is terrible at best. I call it “atheology”. Come on… If the two Genesis Creation stories and Romans3:28/James2:24 are atheists best attempt at “contradictory verses” in the Bible, then there are some serious problems in the integrity there. I can find way more syntactical “errors” than any atheist would ever dream of. Me=OTF
Chapter 7 is James Loftus but it is very subjective. He bases his argument on the idea of what God should or would do if He actually existed.
Chapter 8 is a Dawkinsian approach to what he thinks God is. “A maniacal, blah blah blah… God”
9 - Reverend Loftus makes clear and rather concise objections to Christian apologists on undeserved suffering, but forgets one thing. I will leave it up the honest reader to figure that out. I like this one.
10 - A criticism of criticism. Seriously?
11 - The author tries to show that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is false. He overlooked WAY too many things to be considered in this book. This book should have only had 14 chapters in my opinion. Even the ones I did not like took into consideration many things.
12 - James Loftus tries to show Jesus as a failed Apocalyptic prophet at best. This is why no atheist should ever criticize based on theological precepts because then they will look like fools and I hate to say that about Mr. Loftus.
13 - An objection to the argument from morality. Nothing fresh here.
14 - Bias argument based on Hitler’s view of the Church and Martin Luther. Ok… This book should have had 13 chapters.
15 - Needless to say, things that are “needless to say” need not be said.
Unfortunately, many atheists think this is a complete win against “myths of Christianity”. As a former atheist, I can certainly see why people would fall into the trap of believing every word as their own little word of god.
All in all, Chapters 4, 7 and 8 (barely) made it on the list of chapters that are worthwhile. If anybody argues that the other ones are objective, just read them again and again. Hopefully, integrity will trump your desire to not be a Christian.
Anyway, I just wanted to rant a little bit on this “scholarly” work.
Have you read his “Why I Became an Atheist?”