The Atheist Debater's Handbook [Paperback]

B. C. Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1981

This handbook is, in part, an attempt to summarise the best arguments from these journals, and to offer a concise set of rejoinders for use by atheists in their formal (and informal) debates with theists. Older, more traditional, arguments are included as well, but these are treated in greater detail than ever before. The author has set forth original arguments which will advance the debate if only slightly. Great care has been taken to ensure that digressions and rhetoric are minimised. The result is a short book, yet one that contains an unrelenting presentation of argument and analysis.

Product Details

• Paperback: 134 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books (June 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879752106
• ISBN-13: 978-0879752101
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #703,731 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Scholarly but not useful in everyday debate, November 19, 2001

By 

Jason Randall Nash "HawkeyeGK" (Council Bluffs, IA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Atheist Debater's Handbook (Paperback)

This book provides an excellent bird's eye view of atheistic philosophy, but falls remarkably short of being remotely useful when arguing with the average zealot.

I bought this book pumped about getting those fantastic barbs that one can plant quickly and effectively. What I got was a rehash of the month we spent on atheistic/theistic arguments in my freshman Philosophy 101 course. In being a quick rehash, it does a commendable job. The arguments are well spelled out in simple terms and frequent examples are given. The book is a very quick read. There are only 124 pages.

For quick shots in for an argument with your born-again cousin, I recommend you look elsewhere. I highly recommend From Preacher To Atheist and the Jesus Puzzle.

However there are some interesting tid-bits that I managed to file away in the Useful In An Argument file. The chapter on the problem of evil is quite well done. And as every casual atheist debater knows, the first thing you have to establish is that the burden of proof is on the theistic point of view. You will find lots of ammo on this topic. The chapters on God and the Mind and God on the Universe are useful, but you will find more good information elsewhere.

All in all, I would contend that this book provides an excellent introduction to scholarly study of theistic/atheistic arguments, but lacks the punch and brevity of argument required for more casual debate.

Three stars -HawkeyeGK

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A good introduction but philosophically naive, January 8, 1999

By 

Gregory Klebanoff - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Atheist Debater's Handbook (Paperback)

The Atheist Debater's Handbook is a relatively decent introduction to atheistic argumentation. Herein you will find the tools to attack most standard pro-religion/pro-Christianity arguments. On the negative side, the work lacks philosophical depth. While it may prove useful to atheists with little philosophical background, anyone wishing to seriously challenge intelligent theists will have to delve deeper. Toward this end, Douglas Krueger's What is Atheism? A Short Introduction is recommended. For still greater depth M. Martin's excellent Atheism: A Philosophical Justification and J.L. Mackie's The Miracle of Theism should be consulted.--Greg Klebanoff, Ph.D. philosophy

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Introduction to the objections of Theism, April 22, 2000

By 

Harry L. Machin, Jr. "professor emeritus, phi... (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Atheist Debater's Handbook (Paperback)

For the more philosophically unsophisticated, which is most everyone, this is an excellent way to get to the heart of the main objections to the traditional belief in the Judeo-Xian God. The main arguments/issues should be filled in with further reading, since this is just an intro-duction. Objections that the book is "thin" in content, or "philosophically naive" are unfair, since this book is at attempt to take the beginner right to the most serious (and in most cases, sound) objections to the existence of the traditional Judeo-Christian God.