The New Atheist Crusaders and Their Unholy Grail: The Misguided Quest to Destroy Your Faith (Paperback)

by Becky Garrison (Author)
Key Phrases: new atheists, atheists seem, Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, New Testament (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Garrison has long wielded wit against the buffoonery of the Religious Right in her articles for the Christian humor magazine the Wittenburg Door and at the blog God's Politics. Now she turns her satirical glance against the New Atheists, among whom she sees a similar obscurantist self-seeking at work. The result is an uneven book. It is occasionally witty, as when she compares Sam Harris to Anne Coulter, or Daniel Dennett to the pot-smoking professor in Animal House. At times she scores what could be devastating points against the New Atheists: if imposing religion on the young really is child abuse, why do these young people not show the medical symptoms of abuse victims? Garrison is also adept at pointing to places where radical Christianity is transforming society. But these successes are often lost amid informal writing, sentences like Simply put, I need to pay attention here because when my gut starts acting up, something ain't right, and paragraphs that end with single words like Kewl and phrases such as  'Nuff said. Finally, Garrison's turn to her own story—a minister father, dead too young of alcoholism—is touching at times, but it sits awkwardly beside the casual witticisms. (Jan.)
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Product Description
A challenge has been issued on matters of faith and Becky Garrison meets it head on in this witty yet poignant answer to the Anti-God gurus Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Daniel Dennett.

Becky Garrison, religious satirist and senior contributing editor for The Wittenberg Door, is taking a stand. Where most Christians assume the character of the Cowardly Lion chanting, "I do believe, I do believe, I do believe," Garrison refuses to simply thrust tracts at these self-proclaimed infidels.

Instead, Garrison steels her pen and takes on the ungodly program of the New Atheists, skewering each argument with her sharp satiric wit. Garrison turns aside the atheists' assault without ignoring its real criticisms, namely, the church's inadequate response to war, evolution, medical ethics, social justice, and other important issues in the post-9/11 world.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 084991972X
• ISBN-13: 978-0849919725
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #709,970 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars New Atheist Crusaders very eye opening, June 13, 2008

By	Clark Bunch - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

An atheist used to just be a person who didn't believe in God. Becky Garrison does a good job showing us that today's New Atheists are in an all out war against religious faith. As contributing editor for the Whittenburg Door, her background is in religious satire. She has studied both sides of the reason vs. faith argument, and often quotes from many sources, ranging from atheists like Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins, theologians such as C.S. Lewis and N.T. Wright, to South Park, Monty Python and House M.D. She asks the tough questions, but is not afraid to poke a little fun at atheists and the faithful alike when they deserve it. I wrote a complete review which is hosted by the Internet Monk at [...]. I highly recommend this book as an eye opener to the battle lines drawn between your faith and their reason.

13 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Lacks Understanding of Proactive Atheism, May 7, 2008

By	Christopher Ockman "cultureslum" (Hammond,LA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I always give writers/critics like this a chance, but I still end up feeling that we're being demonized. There has never been a war fought over the non-existence of God or in the name of a non-God. Of course people put their philosophies up against others'. It's how philosophy grows stronger/how bad or false philosophy gets phased out. Keep in mind that we do it with words, not with violent holy wars.
Books like this are just signs of religion growing weak. While we're still a minority, we're growing like the ice caps are melting (bad analogy, I know :).). People are getting smarter/less gullible, and are demanding reason and logic. Go ahead and boohoo about how us mean old atheists are trying to take away your blankies.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Live the Gospel , August 28, 2008

By	M. Steger - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Ms. Garrison suggests that if Christians follow the example of people like Peter Rollins and try to live the Gospel then whatever it is that is getting their goat: atheists or whomever, that they will be more a peace and not so stressed. What she says is simple... Hey you Christians just focus on following Christ, living the Gospel... and amazingly whatever annoys you will go away. The New Atheist Crusaders and their Holy Grail is a great book that encourages you to laugh away your issues and come out ahead and closer to what your faith really is.