Customer Reviews

Is Believing in God Irrational?

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Amy Orr-Ewing has written an interesting, persuasive and accessible book that deals with very relevant questions she has encountered in the course of her work and travels.

Now, that I read the line I just wrote, it occurs to me that it sounds a lot like something you would read in a book review. But, having re-read it, I stand by the statement. "Is Believing In God Irrational" is a helpful book on the subject of apologetics.

Orr-Ewing does a great job of explaining how atheists often sneak their philosophical presuppositions into their arguments while acting as if they are approaching the subject of God as neutral, rational, scientific observers basing their opinions solely on scientific, empirically verifiable fact.

Orr-Ewing effectively points out how critics of religion and/or Christianity often apply a double standard, exempting their viewpoint from the criteria by which they judge Christianity.

For example, she notes the assumption of skeptics that "you as a Christian are biased by the circumstances of your life"--something that any defender of Christianity has certainly encountered. She continues with the unbeliever's argument, "[however], I as a skeptic am completely neutral in my thinking."

It's remarkable how completely dispassionate and neutral and totally rational all of the skeptics of Christianity are, isn't it? Mr. Spock would be proud.

Orr-Ewing goes on to say, "Isn't it just as likely that the secular thinking of the questioner has been passed on by the environment of the person and is culturally conditioned?"

This is an excellent point and, yet, it is one that seems to escape some very smart people. It makes you wonder if there is a measure of very intentional self-deception occurring.

For a weightier treatment of the subjects she raises you would have to go on to some other books, but this is an excellent response to a number of genuine and valid questions that seems to come from a very authentic Christian heart.

Dan Marler
Oak Lawn, IL

Amy has done it again. She writes a quick read based on current questions she gathers from her discussions and presentations to today's young people. She is a battle tested question taker in the current of scholastic ideas coming from today's students. Some questions are hostile, some are thoughtful, and some are old objections in new clothes. Her book manages to include her encounters with people and then she offers rational, thoughtful and experientially relevant answers to the posed questions. She takes on the new hardline atheism when they say God is just a disease of the mind to be expelled so its danger does not affect our culture. Her book is easy to read and not a million pages of analytical philosophy. It is very popular and relevant. I would recommend any person from the age 18 to 30 to sit with her and pose her questions. This book is the next best thing. My recommendation to Amy is to get working on her next little but substantial book and someday these will be an anthology for this generation and the next. When Ravi Zacharias' work is over, Amy and her collegues will continue. In summary-- affordable price, easy read, substantial content, and gets at current questions youth are deep down asking but don't know who to ask. Ask Amy and listen.
Mark J. Armstrong

Great introduction into defending what you believe. Are Christian beliefs irrational? Or are the Skeptics beliefs irrational? This is an outstanding apologetic work.

This book had some decent points but in the end seemed lacking. After a couple of hours of reading, I backtracked to find I had only highlighted a couple sentences. If you want to read a similar book with more soundly structured arguments, try "The Reason for God" by Timothy Keller. Just my humble opinion.

If you are looking for an answer to, or even the issues surrounding the title question, "Is believing in God irrational?" you'll have to keep looking. Amy Orr-Ewing answers her collection of questions with an odd mixture of anectdotes and ramblings, but never seems to get to the heart of the matter. Nowhere is there a discussion of what it means for a belief to be rational or irrational. Nowhere is there a discussion of why believing in God is rational or not believing in God is not rational. Instead, we are treated to a pitter-patter that could only appeal to the those who are begging to be convinced.