Customer Reviews

I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist

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THE BOOK:

I am an agnostic who is looking for something to believe in. I have searched for years now, and generally am met with lukewarm explanations and radical fundamentalism from both camps. I am not self-righteous or pig-headed enough to categorically dismiss atheist or religious arguments simply because their tone bothered me, but it does get tiresome to be on the receiving end of what is usually more bitterness and dogmatic posturing than any kind of intelligent thought or reason.

Again, I'm talking about atheists as well as religious zealots.

Which is why I enjoyed this book so much.

This is a concise, well-crafted, thoughtful and thought-provoking piece of work. There is real insight to be gleaned from the pages, and although the sum total isn't what any open-minded person would call 100% convincing, it definitely gets much closer than anything else I've discovered.

There is much talk about this book setting up straw men to be knocked down, and although the book does do that on a few occasions, it is by no means what the ultimate premise is based on. In fact, although there were some sketchy arguments and hastily covered bases, and although there were explanations missing and topics omitted, I still felt, on the whole, that it was one of the more successful books I've read from either camp.

The tone (while every once in a while devolving into brief moments of snideness and cockiness) is generally quite intelligent and emotionally removed. There is little here that is bullying or smug, and for that I was grateful. It leant the text, with its vast array of debates and discussions, a snappy and no-nonsense delivery that helped elucidate the more hazily understood, philosophical explanations.

Although, in the end, I wasn't entirely convinced by the book, I was pushed much closer to being convinced than I have yet by any book, religious, atheistic, or otherwise.

THE CRITICS:

In the course of my research, I read the reviews and the comments made by consumers on Amazon.com in order to determine how best to spend my money. I don't want to buy an atheist or christian apologetic book if what I'm going to get is watered down theories and trite cliches.

At this point, I think it would be appropriate to point out that this is, in fact, a forum for discussing the merits of the product, and not the merits of the beliefs or arguments espoused within. I understand that it's hard to remove the deeper values of the work from the work itself, but it can be done. So, if, for instance, if you are an honest consumer, you can point out the cinematic brilliance of films like the Last Temptation of Christ in spite of what that film may or may not say about the religion you may or may not adhere to.

I was dismayed by how many inflammatory and rather pointless criticisms I found for this book. I'd never read it, but I could tell by the tone and stance of the reviews that they were reacting more out of indignation toward the subject matter than out of any knowledge of the text itself. One reviewer scorned the book for being written by David Limbaugh, when the man only wrote the forward. Another person decried the book for being "all about politics," when, as far as I could tell, there wasn't a word about politics, just beliefs or the lack of them.

If you are a critic of christianity, that's fine. Trust me, I understand your point of view. But your clumsily summarized view points and your indignant rebuttals do little to enlighten people who may be interested in buying this book. There are forums in which you can openly discuss and debate these topics, but this is not one of them. This is about saying whether or not the book is worth buying. Instead of doing that, most of you have instead attempted to explain your own beliefs, as if you want to write your own book in response to Christianity, but can't be bothered.

For someone such as myself, looking for intelligent and candid help with the question of Larger Purposes (or their absence), your poorly worded rants and emotional appeals -- especially those of you wearing your rage on your sleeve -- do nothing to help me. For future reference, if you really want to help someone like me understand your points of view, instead of typing out some sloppy summation or more key-worded dismissals (argument from ignorance! straw men!), perhaps you could actually RECOMMEND A DIFFERENT BOOK.

I am always on the lookout for some way to increase my knowledge of the world, and my knowledge of what that world may do to better explain the validity or non-validity of any religion. Unlike many of you, though, I haven't been convinced yet, either way. I read your reviews in the hopes that you may be able to point me down the same path that led to your own enlightenment of absolute certainty, but all most of you did was make vacuous complaints about the book and then insult people who might actually believe or buy it.

So, if you've come online to write a scathing review or to tear apart the praisers of this book, go right ahead. But keep in mind that your own viewpoints -- as right or wrong as they might be -- are less welcome than your criticisms of the actual book in question. And if you DO think you've got it all figured out, and if you DON'T think this book does, you could at least try to share that knowledge by pointing someone like me in the right direction, and by doing that without the same snobbish condecension that you sometimes find in the relgious believers whom you so adamantly decry.

"I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist" convincingly shows why atheism and other non-Christian views require a lot more faith than Christianity. Geisler and Turek build their case from the question of truth all the way to truth of the Bible. Along the way, in a readable and often entertaining way, they debunk relativism, agnosticism, atheism, Darwinism and New Testament liberalism. Their explanations of how the big bang, the design found in both the Universe and living organisms (like humans!), and morality point to God are worth the price of the book.

I especially like the clarity they bring to the creation-evolution debate. Their point about how science is built on philosophy helps clear away much of the dust kicked into that often raucous debate. "It's not about the Bible vs. science or religion vs. science" they write, "but about good science vs. bad science." Geisler and Turek show that it's actually the Darwinists who are practicing the bad science. Darwinists rule out intelligent causes before they even look at the evidence. In doing so, they ignore observation-- the very foundation of science-- much as the opponents of Galileo once did. That's bad science built on bad philosophy.

I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist has four great chapters that systematically show why the New Testament documents are telling the truth. The authors show why we can be assured that the documents were written within a few decades of the evens which they report and contain historically-confirmed eyewitness details. They also cite non-Christian writers, archaeology, and list over 30 characters found in the New Testament that have been confirmed by secular sources. But they are at their best when they point out how the New Testament story is an unlikely invention. After listing a series of embarrassing gaffes of the apostles, Geisler and Turek ask the reader, "If you were a New Testament writer, would you include these embarrassing details if you were making up a story? Would you write that one of your primary leaders was called 'Satan' by Jesus, denied the Lord three times, hid during the crucifixion, and was later corrected on a theological issue? Would you depict yourselves as uncaring, bumbling cowards, and the women-whose testimony was not even admissible in court-as the brave ones who stood by Jesus and later discovered the empty tomb? Would you admit that some of you (the eleven remaining disciples) doubted the very Son of God after he had proven himself raised to all of you?" Geisler and Turek don't have enough faith to believe it's a made-up story. Neither do I.

This is an engaging and affirming book with a vast scope. I highly recommend it!

I was pleasantly surprised at both the quantity and quality of the evidence Geisler and Turek presented in this book; I guess I was expecting "Young Earth" material and a repetitious gloss of points made by Josh Mcdowell. (I borrowed the book from a church so conservative you half expect a moat and a drawbridge as you walk in the door.)

Some points negative reviewers below make hit the mark, I think. One can criticize the tone at times; the authors do look to be "stacking the deck" a bit. (Though the writing is generally good, and the illustrations are often amusing, and add clarity to the points they reference.) Like some other readers, I found the biology a bit spotty, (the astronomy a bit better), and some arguments from philosophy too abstract to persuade fully. For instance, how can illness be a result of the fall of man, when fossils deformed by sickness can be found from millions of years before human beings existed? It is also true that one must discuss chemical evolution to refute the idea that life arose through natural processes. (For a really first-rate and respectful discussion of this issue in depth, see Rana and Ross, Origins of Life: Biblical and Evolutionary Models Face Off.) Geisler and Turek follow C. S. Lewis in taking a philosophical approach to miracles, asking in effect, "Could miracles happen if God exists?" But it seems to me that the better question is, "Do miracles, in fact, happen?" I think an empirical argument for miracles much strengthens the case for Christianity: for many people, including me, the Bible seems more credible because they have seen evidence that miracles do in fact happen.

But all in all, the authors have crammed a rich feast of mostly telling evidence for the Christian faith into the book's 400 pages. Many of the points they offer, even on science and philosophy, are effective. And the "historical Jesus" section (140 pages) is excellent. Either the skeptics who claim there is nothing new in this book have read a lot more than me (and reading books for and against the Christian faith is both my hobby and vocation), or they have overlooked some of the good stuff here.

And looking over their criticism, I think the latter is more likely. Several critics assume that Christian faith means "a firm belief in something for which there is no proof," or that religion "tells us to ignore reason and accept faith." Having just completed a historical study of Christian thought on faith and reason from the 2nd Century to modern times, I would argue that this is not at all what Christians usually mean by faith. In fact, as physicist and theologian John Polkinghorne points out, faith in the Chrisitian sense is arrived at by means rather similar to scientific hypothesizing. Another critic implies that the Big Bang is popular among laymen, but not scientists. Nonsense. Another complains that Geisler and Turek describe Buddhism, Hinduism, and the New Age as "pantheistic," though Buddhism can be atheistic, and Hinduism polytheistic. Actually, the authors say "some forms" of Buddhism are pantheistic, and (page 198) Hinduism is "pantheistic and polytheistic."

The authors and their critics are however both wrong in overlooking theism in non-Western cultures. Geisler and Turek describe Confucianism as "atheistic," though Confucius himself believed in God, as did his most important, and many later, disciples. Theism is also common in other non-Western cultures. (See chapter 9 of my Jesus and the Religions of Man.) The almost universal awareness of God is one evidence against the claim, also advanced below, that theism is some kind of a subjective cultural accident.

Finally, another critic claims that none of those who wrote the New Testament personally saw Jesus. Actually several of the authors of the New Testament say they did, and (despite radical criticism) there is good reason to think they did. (See my Why the Jesus Seminar can't find Jesus, and Grandma Marshall Could, for an in-depth rebuttal of such modern criticism.)

G. K. Chesterton said that an open mind, like an open mouth, is meant to be "closed on something solid." If you are just looking for reasons to gripe, you can probably find things to criticize, even to mock, here. But if you are looking for solid truth in which to sink your cognitive canines, and are willing to consider evidence for the Christian faith, you can find a lot of good evidence in this book (and elsewhere) that deserves a careful taste-test.

Norman Geisler et all have written a very good text. I am an ex-atheist and once in awhile like to read apologetic material because it may help me articulate a position (English is not my first language, so it helps to read material in English to get a firm grasp on articulating a position). I noticed some criticisms, but they normally don't bring up specifics but mention words like 'mis-directions' and 'tricks' or 'scientific but not highly scientific'. Those words are misleading, after all as someone rooted in Darwinism growing up, it was the hard science of physics that is most convincing for a Theistic position (maybe I should say 'high science').

The best part of the book is not the science sections. After all, it is a primer and they bring forth enough evidence, and convincingly so, to demonstrate that a craetor is more likely than not (much more). There is no scientific evidence to date to demonstrate otherwise.

But science, no matter what, cannot prove or disprove God, only provide sign posts (which I postulates, signs to God). The best part in the book is the reliabilty and authenticity of the New Testament record and in particular the Gospels. In this section, there is a series of items (women as witnesses and self depracating information about the eye witnesses, etc)is strong, full of common sense and logically written and easy to follow.

My problems with the book, is that the scientific sections are a little basic and the book could aahve a little more information. I no they wanted to keep the book ata primer level, but I think they should ahve stilled added more info. Lastly, David Limbaugh's intro is a distraction and while it is not a bad intro, I would have prefered someone else.

Lastly, I must correct a reviewer who speaks Hinduism as polytheistic. It is nothing of the sort, one can assert it is pantheistic or monistic, but is not polytheistic. A good book.

I'm a recent Bible College grad, and a preacher whose main interest is in apologetics. I have been concerned in recent years however, with the amount of "apologetic" books that assume a christian worldview is held by the reader. Books that just jump right into topics regarding sin and salvation without first laying a ground work. I find it especially annoying when a praticular volume uses scripture to confront it's reader, when the book is intended to be read by those who do not believe in God, much less the authority of the Bible.

This book is VERY different. Dr. Geisler has been a prolific writer for decades and he does not dissapoint. With the added wit and humorous sarcasm of Frank Turek this book builds a step by step, block by block, foundation for a christian worldview. It causes the reader to evaluate every element of a godless worldview. It DOES not beat one over the head with scripture. IT slowly and systematically builds a case for a theistic worldview, then a christian worldview. Landing finally at the issue that has captivated the known world for the past 2,000 years. Was JEsus who He said HE was....and did He really rise from the dead..

I HIGHLY reccommend this book to the skeptic and believer alike. It will enlighten the skeptic as to why people hold so tightly to a seemingly foolish worldview. For the believer it equps one to logically discuss the issues that divide us with skeptics. We owe it to those who differ in worldview to be able to soundly, logically discuss our reasons for belief!!

BUY THIS!!

As a Christian firmly rooted in my standards, beliefs and principles, I always knew deep in my heart that Christianity was the only right way, and that I would always be true to it, but I could never properly convey or explain to other people WHY I believe what I do. This book was so incredibly helpful! Usually when I read a book about apologetics, it takes me a long time, and I have to struggle to grasp and comprehend what the authors are trying to say. However, this book hooked me right from the start. It was fascinating for me to read on, and discover how to defeat what I know is false. It was very easy for me to understand and grasp the concepts put forth in this book, and the logical explanations that prove Jesus is THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Light.

This book has changed my life. Before I read Mr. Turek's book, I could not have begun to share these things with others. However, after reading this wonderfully detailed book, God gave me an opportunity to put to work what I had just learned.

A friend had asked me to help her prove to others that God really does exist, and I was able to use chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 to show her how to explain the proof. The people she shared it with were very persuaded, and wanted to go look for the book.

I could never have done this without the help of Mr. Turek's book, "I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist." And I don't....and thank God I never will!

I recommend this book to all of you who are searching for the answers to the questions in life such as, "How did I get here?" "Does God really exist?" "Are Miracles possible?" and "Is the Bible reliable?" For those of you who are searching for the one true way to heaven, but aren't sure about The Way, this book is a great place to begin.

I also highly recommend this book to other Christians like myself, who know in their spirits and hearts what they believe, but need some help conveying this truth to their friends, co workers, neighbors, and others. This book will help equip you to..."Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason for the hope that is within you, with meekness and humility." 1 Peter 3:15.

I will always treasure my copy of this book, and do my best to share and practice what is presented in it. My deepest prayer is that God will be glorified and worshipped in the world, and through this book. I know that He already is, in my life, and I hope He will be in yours.

This is a terrific book if you want to see principles of logic misused. Very educational.

The book and ideas are built on the foundation of nearly every logical fallacy, specifically The Straw Man, Argument from Ignorance and False Dichotomy.

Atheists are used as examples in every point made, obviously, but what an atheist actually is changes depending on how it will help prove the premise.

They even break out the hoary old "Atheism is religion" argument.

The way logical arguments are laid out and then mangled, misunderstood and ignored is truly fascinating.

Here's everything you need to know to understand that god exists.

1. Since you don't know what happened before the big bang, it's god.
2. Atheists aren't moral.
3. God exists because it says so in the bible.
4. Since Einstein said "god" once, god exists.
5. Scientists make mistakes.
6. Atheists believe that when you die you turn into worm food. When you believe in god, you can go to heaven.

Turek seems to have had an excellent education and, like good science geeks, expresses great admiration for the great minds, logical discourse and discoveries in cosmology but mangles every conclusion.

Remove each conclusion and you have an excellent book detailing the reasons to understand that there is no god.

Fascinating. Just fascinating.

Norman Geisler and Frank Turek have managed to pack an incredible amount of evidence for the Christian faith into this highly accessible 448-page book. They have succeeded in crafting a persuasive and powerful case, first, for the existence of God, and, second, for the deity of Jesus Christ. Along the way, they deal with truth, logic, miracles, morality, Intelligent Design, biblical interpretation, and even the age-old question, "If God, why evil?"

As I said in my endorsement of the book, this is a clear, complete, and compelling resource that I wish had been available when I was an atheist. It sure would have made my spiritual investigation a lot easier!

If you're looking for razor-sharp thinking and a one-stop overview of the historical and scientific data that undergird Christianity, then you'll find this book to be an invaluable investment. -- Lee Strobel

I'm new to apologetics and the arguments of evolution and creation, theists and atheists and the such. I have been reading books and listened to debates on the subject. I was looking for a book that outlined, explained and provided evidence for a creator or at least identified the proofs and facts for why theists believe in a creator. Instead all I got was a book that explained everything that was wrong with the 'atheists' arguments and very little of the former. Its frustrating to read these books because they spend more time arguing why the other is wrong instead of concentrating their efforts on arguing their own points. The 'atheists' books that I've read tend to do less mud slinging and spend more time stating their points than the 'theists' ones. This book does a much better job of reinforcing the beliefs of a believer than shaking the foundation of a non-believer.

I was also frustrated by the use of probability as a reason for a creator. This idea of "what are the chances of things being as they are today." But this assumes that the result of things being as they are today was planned from the start. So it feels backwards to figure out the probability of things as they are today. If you apply this thinking it makes everything that happens nearly improbable. For instance, what are the chance of me being alive? My parents needed to meet, they needed to be born so, my grandparents needed to meet and their parents needed to meet so on and so on. All of the circumstances and things that needed to happen for me to be alive is nearly improbable unless me being here was planned from the start.

I'm paraphrasing but, the authors state that in order for things to be just right and as they are today to support life that there is one chance in one number with 138 zeros after it. Therefore there must be a creator. The authors are confusing probability as evidence. Later in the book they denounce David Hume's anti-miracle argument because they say that "Hume confuses probability with evidence." So where it benefits the authors case they use probability as reinforcement and then in the other case say probability is bunk reasoning.

One final thought is the idea behind DNA and the single cell that houses 1000 encyclopedia's full of data and how could this 'just happen'. (I'm probably way out of my league here.) The authors say that 'Darwinists' (isn't it evolutionists?) say this cell magically appeared. I'm no biologist but isn't it stated that evolutionists don't say that life started at this single 1000 encyclopedia cell but that the original cells had no DNA and reproduction started by division (falling apart) and slowly grew from there?

Overall, if you are a believer this will reinforce your original beliefs as it enhances and explains stuff you've already been taught and/or studied. If you are a non-believer its just going to leave you frustrated and you'll have to try another book like I will have to do.

This book is for both Christians and non-Christians. For the Christian who has doubts about the existance of God, doubts about the deity of Jesus, doubts about miracles, doubts about the resurrection of Jesus, or just generalized doubts about their faith, this book is invaluable! It presents logical, easy to understand evidences that confirm the Christian faith and builds a solid unshakable faith foundation. There are many Christians that are not completely "sold" on their faith beliefs. If they had to step out on their faith and put their full wieght on their own foundations, the foundations they have laid may not hold them. This book seals and heals any cracks that may be present in the foundation and firmly anchors ones faith foundation in solid bedrock.

This book is also for the atheist/non-Christian. Most of the arguments atheists use to attack Christianity are presented and logically refuted. The authors make the point that most atheists are atheists by choice of will rather than by choice of mind. Even so, this book will challenge any open-minded non-believer to think deeply about his/her belief system, and pehaps recondsider their position. It is very thought provoking.

I teach a Sunday lesson for adults on laying a solid faith foundation, and I use this book for part of my lessons. I believe it is one of the best apologist books on the subject of Christian faith and I highly endorse it!

Jim "Konedog" Koenig