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101 of 106 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Clever, Thoughtful, Informative...a good read!, July 10, 2009
This review is from: The Atheist Camel Chronicles: Debate Themes & Arguments for the Non-Believer (and those who think they might be) (Paperback)
I spend a lot of time discussing (arguing) with Evangelicals at work. Mostly it's them spouting their prepackaged proselytizing. I'm amazed to see how many religious topics this author covers that have been tossed at me in one form or another by the Born Agains, and the tidbits of information he has collected that I wish I had had at my disposal sooner.
As an example, the chapter where he discusses the Christians need to appeal to "context" every time they are faced with some really horrible biblical verse that they can't weasel out of. The author makes some excellent points about how the escape clause of "context" doesn't work too well when you ask "In what context is it good and right that a God kills 42 children with wild beasts to teach them a lesson?" or in what context is God's demand that a wife's hand be chopped off because she touched the genitals of her husband's attacker while helping fend off the attack?
Or the chapter on absurd laws that God supposedly gave to the Hebrews. So often I hear Christians say Jesus did away with the laws. But as the author points out, so many of those laws were just inexplicably stupid to begin with ( like no cross breeding of cattle, no blending of fibers in garments). He rightly points out that whether the old laws were satisfied by Jesus' sacrifice or not, the laws themselves were important enough for a so called supreme being to outlaw hybrid animals, and cross pollinating plants, things that could have benefited civilization had their God had any scientific knowledge at all.
Lots of similar discussions stimulated my thinking, and better prepared me for fending off the tired tripe that Christians never give more than a passing thought to, if that. Mr. Hump is really funny, obviously well read, and entertainingly sarcastic. I'd hate to be on the receiving end of his wrath in debate. A good read and worth the money I plan to buy another just to leave on my desk!
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58 of 62 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Review of Atheist Camel Chronicles, July 12, 2009
This review is from: The Atheist Camel Chronicles: Debate Themes & Arguments for the Non-Believer (and those who think they might be) (Paperback)
"Atheist Camel Chronicles" by Dromedary Hump contains clear, concise pearls of wisdom via the process of critical thinking that takes the reader to an oasis of logic, reason and sanity.
These essays can be used as debating themes or they can help non-believers and skeptics clarify the injustices and intolerance perpetrated in the name of religion during the last several thousand years. The strong introduction sets the stage for the book in a bold way.
Not every one of these 105 essays is equal. The overwhelming majority is well written and can be used to explain and counteract the illogical tenets of religion and irrationality of faith. I found two essays to be logically weak and need deeper explanation and one essay is a strident rant that needs to be rethought.
Several of these essays can profoundly affect the reader. Two of my four favorite chapters demonstrate the absurdity of religion ("Letter from God to a Chosen Believer", "Following God's Orders: How Far Would They Go?"). One shows the positive methods that atheism uses to replace belief ("Gods I Can Accept"). My other favorite emphasizes the illogical stance of accommodation ("On Belief and Respect").
It is relevant that the cover uses the large "Scarlet A" of the Richard Dawkins "Out Campaign" because this book makes it clear what atheism represents as well as the prefix of the "A" signifying the antithesis of theism which is a major theme throughout.
Written in plain language, this book is a delight to read. Forceful and witty, the author often provides citations and web links for readers to follow for completeness.
I highly recommend this book to everyone who has an open mind.
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53 of 58 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Thoughtful Camel, June 30, 2009
This review is from: The Atheist Camel Chronicles: Debate Themes & Arguments for the Non-Believer (and those who think they might be) (Paperback)
The Atheist Camel Chronicles is a collection of religious debate topics by an Atheist camel named Dromedary Hump. If you're an Atheist and enjoy a good, in-depth discussion on theological matters, this is the book for you. If you are a believer and would like to get inside the mind of an Atheist, this is also the book for you. Though a majority of the debates are of an Atheist vs. Abrahamic pantheon nature, the Camel doesn't shy from other beliefs. Any religion whose tenants are oppressive, or whose clergy uses the tenants as a means of oppression or manipulation are fodder for the Camel. The debates are well presented, based in life experiences in many instances, and those based in science or fact provide citations to let the reader know the Camel isn't just spitting verbiage at them. I highly recommend this book.
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