Atheism Remix: A Christian Confronts the New Atheists [Hardcover]

R. Albert Mohler Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 25, 2008

A leading Christian intellectual explores the newest strain ofatheism, its foremost thinkers, the cultural conditions that havebred it, and how Christians should respond.

Something has changed in American culture. What for years was alittle-regarded belief system-atheism-has now gained a large, andincreasing, national hearing through the writings of "new atheists"such as Dawkins, Dennett, Harris, and Hitchens.

Wanting to both inform and equip serious-minded Christiansregarding this cultural shift, R. Albert Mohler Jr. explores theenvironment that has bred the "new atheism" while also introducingreaders to the movement's four leading thinkers and the contours oftheir arguments. Mohler-deemed "the reigning intellectual of theevangelical movement in the US" by Time magazine-thenuses this foundation to pinpoint eight major distinctives that makethe new atheism new, and to discuss the future ofChristianity in relationship to it.

At school and in the community, Christians are sure to encounterpeople who have been shaped by this strain of atheism. Here is keeninsight that any believer can use to understand and challenge thenew atheists.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Thoughtful and insightful, this readable work illuminates for scholars, pastors, and students alike the key issues that must be addressed in order to engage the thinking of Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens, and others. I applaud Albert Mohler for his clarity and conviction in helping us understand that biblical theism is the only true alternative to the New Atheism. I gladly recommend this book!” David S. Dockery, President, Union University “Instead of becoming just one more voice in the rising debate between Christians and the New Atheists, Dr. Mohler has chosen to provide us with masterful coverage of the dominant writers on both sides. I know of no other introduction to this crucial debate that is as comprehensive and clear in such brief compass. Mohler tells us what’s going on, shows us how much depends on the outcome of this titanic cultural shift, and provides guidance to the resources Christians need to challenge the New Atheism root and branch.” D. A. Carson, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School “The New Atheism needs a clear-headed, straightforward analysis. Atheism Remix does this, and does it well. Al Mohler is clear and concise in his critique, and the readability of this book makes it accessible to a wide audience. This is a fine introduction and overview of the self-proclaimed ‘Four Horsemen’ of atheism. They are examined and exposed for the vacuous arguments they offer.” Daniel Akin, President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Review

"Thoughtful and insightful, this readable work illuminates for scholars, pastors, and students alike the key issues that must be addressed in order to engage the thinking of Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens, and others. I applaud Albert Mohler for his clarity and conviction in helping us understand that biblical theism is the only true alternative to the New Atheism. I gladly recommend this book!"
—David S. Dockery, President, Union University

"Instead of becoming just one more voice in the rising debate between Christians and the New Atheists, Dr. Mohler has chosen to provide us with masterful coverage of the dominant writers on both sides. I know of no other introduction to this crucial debate that is as comprehensive and clear in such brief compass. Mohler tells us what's going on, shows us how much depends on the outcome of this titanic cultural shift, and provides guidance to the resources Christians need to challenge the New Atheism root and branch."
—D. A. Carson, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

"The New Atheism needs a clear-headed, straightforward analysis. Atheism Remix does this, and does it well. Al Mohler is clear and concise in his critique, and the readability of this book makes it accessible to a wide audience. This is a fine introduction and overview of the self-proclaimed 'Four Horsemen' of atheism. They are examined and exposed for the vacuous arguments they offer."
—Daniel L. Akin, President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Crossway Books (July 25, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433504979
• ISBN-13: 978-1433504976
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #172,854 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

R. Albert Mohler Jr. (PhD, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) serves as the ninth president of Southern Seminary and as the Joseph Emerson Brown Professor of Christian Theology. Considered a leader among American evangelicals by Time and Christianity Today magazines, Dr. Mohler hosts a daily radio program for the Salem Radio Network and also writes a popular daily commentary on moral, cultural, and theological issues. Both can be accessed at www.albertmohler.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Informative, but Mistitled, October 17, 2008

By 

Brian G Hedges (South Bend, Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Atheism Remix: A Christian Confronts the New Atheists (Hardcover)

This short book (108 pages) is an informative guide to the challenge of the New Atheists and their challenge to Christian theism. Mohler targets the "four horsemen of the New Atheism" - Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennet, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens.

Chapter one briefly surveys the history of atheism and situates the new atheism within secularism.

Chapter two is the most helpful chapter of the book; it discusses New Atheism's assault on Theism by giving thumbnail sketches of the "four horsemen,"then pointing out eight common features of their assault on theism: (1) The New Atheism is marked by an unprecedented new boldness; (2) There is a clear and specific rejection of the Christian God of the Bible; (3) The New Atheists explicitly reject Jesus Christ; (4) The New Atheism is specifically grounded in scientific argument; (5) The New Atheism is new in its refusal to tolerate moderate and liberal forms of belief; (6) The New Atheism attacks toleration; (7) The New Atheists have begun to question the right of parents to inculcate belief in their own children; and (8) The New Atheists argue that religion itself must be eliminated to preserve human freedom.

Chapters three and four discuss the defense of theism poised against by the New Atheists by various theologians and philosophers, including Alistair McGrath, Alvin Plantiga, Tina Beattie, and John F. Haught. While agreeing with some points of their arguments (especially McGrath and Plantiga), Mohler's primary criticism is that these responses represent various levels of accomodation. In contrast, Mohler argues that "Evangelical Christians simply cannot surrender biblical authority, propositional revelation, and biblical theism in order to meet the various challenges presented to us in the twenty-first century" (102). There are only two alternatives, atheism or biblical, Christian theism.

Unfortunately, this book does not itself present an argument for biblical theism. The book doesn't deliver on its subtitle, "a Christian confronts the New Atheists," for there isn't much confrontation with, and no detailed argumentation against, the New Atheists. That was disappointing. Readers who want thoughtful engagement with the New Atheists will have go elsewhere. (I'd suggest Timothy Keller's The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism.)

That said, the second chapter of this book made it worth reading for me. I appreciated the review and summary of the various NA books.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Very Substantial, April 18, 2009

By 

Lothe - See all my reviews

This review is from: Atheism Remix: A Christian Confronts the New Atheists (Hardcover)

Albert Mohler's Atheism Remix is divided into four sections. In the first, he examines the history of atheism, from its presence in the Bible ("The fool says in his heart, `There is no God'") to Nietzsche and beyond. He explores how the "conditions of belief" in our world have changed from "impossible not to believe" to "impossible to believe," and how this paves the way for the New Atheists.

The second chapter profiles the "Four Horsemen of the New Atheism," viz., Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens, touching on their lives and work. The third chapter examines the responses to these writers by Alister McGrath and Alvin Plantinga, while the final section touches on more liberal responses to the New Atheism. Mohler is dissatisfied to some extent with all of the responses, as even McGrath and Plantinga allow for the possibility of evolution; in the book's last few pages, Mohler asserts that Christians must make a stand for biblical theism, not any accomodationist form of theism that would seek to appease the New Atheists.

The book serves as a decent review of the state of the debate, in that the middle two chapters consist more of long quotations from other authors' work than Mohler's own analysis or argumentation. However, his objection to McGrath's and Plantinga's otherwise cogent arguments is only barely sketched, rather than advanced, and he ultimately fails to make a case that in no form can evolution and God co-exist. In the end, Mohler's work may be a rallying point for conservative evangelicals who share his views, but does little to "confront" the New Atheists--or persuade others of his ideas.

21 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed, September 2, 2008

By 

Norm Macdonald "NMacDonald" (Monroe, NC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Atheism Remix: A Christian Confronts the New Atheists (Hardcover)

I cannot say for certain what I expected from Dr. Mohler's book. However, I will say I was disappointed to learn that the lecture series was really only a history of atheism and not comments related to the current trend in atheism. If you are a student of apologetics and need a historical background and trends for atheism, than this book may be a decent addition to your studies. Otherwise, your money might be better spent elsewhere.

The sub-title says "A Christian confronts the new Atheists." If that's the case, the publishers left those lectures out of the book.