Customer Reviews

Against Atheism: Why Dawkins, Hitchens, and Harris Are Fundamentally Wrong

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Markham starts off the book with a great presentation comparing atheists to color blind people. However, he never produces any reasoning of any depth while not bothering to structure his arguments in a logical manor. He appears to miss or misunderstand many of the New Atheists' arguments (such as Dawkins' meme concept). In some cases his responses just don't make sense. For instance, Dawkins claims that the bible is not a great moral reference as it encourages genocide, slavery, and child sacrifice. Markham responds that we need to interpret the text carefully. For instance, when the bible tells us to destroy our neighbors and show them no mercy (Deuteronomy 7), it really does not mean that. He does not even handle standard arguments well, such as the anthropic principle or the ultimate moral authority. The book is also filled with many references to god's desires and intentions, but Markham never tells us how he knows god's feelings.

Markham certainly does paint faith, belief in god, or a transcendental spirit as worthy things. However, he never addresses whether these feelings are the result of the world independent of people or an artifact of humanity. I was disappointed.

If someone gives you this book, read the introduction and chapter 1 and forget the rest.

I began this book looking for excellent arguments and tough questions to answer. Unfortunately, I found myself completely disapointed.

Here are the major problems I found in the book:
-The author builds a philosophical facade to give him credibility, and completely fails to understand and correctly interpret multiple texts and concepts.
-He constantly "modifies the meaning" of various parts of the Bible to suit his arguments.
-He spends a great deal of time ad hominem attacking Hawkings, Hitchens, and Harris.
-Finally, he spouts a cacophony of supposed defenses for his views without ever providing anything close to sufficient supportive discussion.

I give this book two stars because it does manage to introduce a few interesting ideas worth looking into, and it provides a few useful tidbits of information on three major world religions. Overall though, I found it to have absolutely no swaying concepts, and more than likely will serve to further bludgeon a person into holding their concepts/beliefs.

This is an excellent book. It is powerful and polite challenge to atheism as a belief system.

The book is well produced, well written and fully referenced. It is easy and straightforward to read. The author makes his arguments briefly and well. He acknowledges the strengths of his opponent's positions, and so accepts the challenge to respond to them with proper argument. His main opponents in mind are Dawkins. Hitchens and Harris.

I think the author succeeds in achieving the aim expressed in the subtitle of showing "Why Dawkins, Hitchens, and Harris are fundamentally wrong." I suspect my atheist friends will disagree with my assessment, and that's fair enough. Markham is a considered and considerate author, and keen to encourage conversation, not polarities.

To summarise the content for readers Markham makes his case against atheism on six main grounds, namely:-
1. We have a spiritual sense- this doesn't come from nowhere.
2. His analysis of the problem that our knowledge is always local and rooted, but that we have beliefs (hopefully held tentatively and humbly) that go far beyond our locality. (Think about Kant in Konigsberg...and how far round the world his thoughts have gone!)
3. Science is now one of the best reasons for faith
4. His answer to the problem of suffering. (a version of the "free will" defence)
5. The problem of Islamophobia- and how we can better understand Islam and its followers- and why Muslims and Christians need to listen more to each other's ideas.
6. The implications of Nietzsche's thought about how far reaching and damaging the consequences of the death of God are- he thinks Dawkins et al have failed to fully understand the seriousness of the death of God both for morality and science.

This brief summary is outline only, and does not do justice to the quality of Markham's presentation of evidence.

Markham's book is a demonstration of the fact that Christianity is a coherent, sensible and rational response to the complex world we find ourselves in. As such it will surprise atheists, and in the same way that atheists force Christians to sharpen their arguments, I think this book will make some atheists come up with better arguments for their views.

I can recommend this book to Christians for encouragement, and to atheists as a spur to their thinking.

There is no real,reasoned evidence presented in this little book that would cause one to re-think their dis-belief in god. Actually, my atheism is strengthened as a result of two hours wasted with this "little" book. If you wish to buy a copy, please buy mine.

An apologist claiming atheism is fundamentally wrong is oxymoronic in nature and that perspective alone should say enough about the rest of the book. Apologetics is an art of intellectual dishonesty, appealing to the intellectually impatiently and the ignorant. You will find very few who denounce intellectual honesty and logical reasoning for the sake of being servile to a celestial deity of the Middle East.

One book I truly suggest reading is Six Ways of Atheism by Geoffrey Berg. His arguments provide very clear perspectives on why argument for an existences of God is ultimately against logic and meaningless in a incomprehensible universe.

Full disclosure: I didn't read the whole book. In fact, I read the first few pages and realized there was nothing new here. What tipped me off? "Why should a blind person believe in colors?" is used to explain why religious faith is important, implying that anyone who lacks religious faith must be blind. However, colors are facts and we understand the mechanism by which the brain perceives colors. The same cannot be said for god.

In the first few pages, the book offers the same old argument: "I have faith, and this faith helps me so you're missing out if you don't have faith, too." Nonsense. It is not necessary to believe in a god in order to feel wonder, humility and compassion. These are emotions and attitudes available to any human, anywhere.

I kept reading until I came to this: "None of our atheist fundamentalists have studied theology." As if understanding the intricacies of a myth makes it any more real! It is not necessary to study theology to argue that god does not exist. The argument starts long before any elaboration on a particular god begins. Is it real? That's the only question I have. Can it be proved? The book didn't indicate it was going to provide proof, only support the importance of religion.

So back on the shelf it went.

This may be the best or one of the best critiques of atheism. In my opinion it presents atheism very truthfully and acknowledges the problems of both religious and atheistic world-views. Markham is also very open to different religions, though clearly states his own belief. It seems to me that the fundamentalist atheists want to fight until the very end. What it is I do not know. They want their opponents to be similar than they are. Not an inch must be given in! The first reviewer states that reading this book strenghtened his atheism. I can say the same about my Christian belief. This makes one wonder about our mind. It does curious things. It is amazingly closed to different opinions. I recommend this book warmly.
Markku Ojanen, professor of psychology, Finland