by Steve Hays
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
Steve Hays' "Atheism" is a thought-provoking exploration that addresses the challenge of engaging with atheism from a Christian perspective. Hays meticulously examines the nature of atheism, juxtaposing popular and intellectual atheistic arguments with robust Christian counterpoints. This book stands out for its comprehensive approach, blending philosophical rigor with accessible language, making it suitable for both lay readers and scholars.
Hays does not shy away from tackling the most formidable atheistic thinkers, ensuring that his readers are well-equipped to understand and respond to various atheistic claims. He begins by defining atheism through the lens of notable atheist Graham Oppy, highlighting that atheism involves the rejection of theism as false, unbelievable, rationally, and morally unacceptable. From there, Hays explores complex topics such as set theory and its implications for divine omniscience, engaging with intricate philosophical arguments that challenge the coherence of atheism.
One of the book's strengths is its ability to demystify technical concepts without oversimplifying them. Hays uses examples from set theory, cosmology, and the philosophy of science to demonstrate the intellectual shortcomings of atheism while simultaneously affirming the rational foundation of Christian theism. His discussion on the concept of irreducible complexity and specified complexity is particularly compelling, illustrating how the intricate design in nature points to an intelligent creator rather than random, materialistic processes.
Moreover, Hays addresses common misconceptions and stereotypes about atheism and atheists. He acknowledges that many atheists are not well-versed in the best arguments from either side of the debate. By doing so, he fosters a more nuanced understanding and encourages respectful dialogue.
"Atheism" by Steve Hays is an essential read for anyone interested in the intersection of faith and reason. It equips Christians with the tools needed to engage thoughtfully and respectfully with atheists, while also providing atheists with a clear and compelling presentation of theistic arguments. Whether you are a believer seeking to strengthen your faith or a skeptic open to exploring the intellectual viability of theism, this book offers valuable insights that challenge and inspire.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface
What is atheism?
Set theory and omniscience
William Provine
Creation and extinction
After the dust settles
Historical holonovels
Seashells
Measuring prior probability
Even if it happened, I refuse to believe it!
The Look
Vetting miracles
Why won't God heal leprechauns?
What could God do about evil?
Posner on morality
Mere theism
Poker and prayer
Break the bank
Where is God?
The problems of unanswered prayer
Are miracles antecedently improbable?
Poisoning the well
All flesh is grass
Moral ontology and evolutionary psychology
"For good people to do evil things, that takes religion"
The death of God
There's no evidence for atheism
Is the world a brute fact?
Fables
Prison of the mind
50 "myths" about atheism
Atheism, trust, and friendship
Blindsight
Mind-traps
How does it differ from no gardener at all?
Perceiving God
What's more certain: God or my hands?
Divine hiddenness and evil
Abraham, Isaac, and extraterrestrials
Looking for God in the wrong places
Chimp gang-bangers
The guarantor
Must purported revelation pass a moral test?
Sonny Corleone
What would it take to abandon your faith?
An atheist dilemma
Political polarization
Post hoc rationalizations
"Thoughts and prayers"
Alternate Bible history
Gardens grow at night
Conversion testimonies
Divine contrivance
Doctrine and evidence
Reverse Freudianism
Global Atheism Versus Local Atheisms
"Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven"
Pseudo-dilemmas
The Christian theory of everything
Is immortality a road to nowhere?
Hedge maze
Compresence
Atheism and Agnosticism
Sye-Clones
Good truths and true goods
Cosmic simulation
Eating and excreting
Secular bromides on death
Science, faith, and God
The elusive God
Platonic realism to the rescue
Strategic inscrutability
Is God a postulate?
God and good
Does prayer work?
Gerrymandering naturalism
What if evolution bred reality out of us?
Explaining evil, part 3
Is Paul begging the question?
Are specific claims improbable?
Secular neutrality
Why not commit apostasy?
Is there no evidence for God's existence?
Life in the compound
The problem with TAG
Is open-mindedness a virtue?
Is God malevolent?
Cosmic deceiver?
Cartesian demons and evolutionary psychology
The many-gods objection to Pascal's wager
The difference a miracle makes
Does math point to God?
Handicapping the Craig/Oppy debate
Approaching the ontological argument
The bell curve of atheism
"Death is what gives life meaning"
12 hard questions
Evidence for God
Required reading for atheists
Worshiping a Bronze Age sky fairy
Questions for theists
Has presuppositionalism evolved?
Atheism at an impasse