Greater Than You Think: A Theologian Answers the Atheists About God [Paperback]

Thomas D. Williams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 23, 2008

The recent runaway bestsellers God Is Not Great and The God Delusion have left Christians feeling defensive but not necessarily equipped to refute the accusations of nonbelievers. The bestsellers have also provoked those who are the fence about whether God exists, and if so, whether He's good. In his trademark elegant prose, Father Williams provides accessible but intellectually rich answers for both groups. Questions include "Isn't religion just another name for superstition (or magic or myth)?" "If God is all-good and all-powerful, how can evil exist in the world?" and "Hasn't science disproved God's existence?" For believers and those searching for something to believe in, Father Williams offers an easy-to-use resource for building up one's own faith and igniting others'.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Thomas D. Williams, LC, ThD, is Vatican Analyst for CBS News and a professor of theology at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University in Rome. He has also worked extensively for NBC News and Britain's Sky News, covering church and ethical issues, including the final illness and death of Pope John Paul II, the 2005 papal conclave, and the election of Pope Benedict XVI. Father Williams also regularly appeared in the MSNBC series The Ethical Edge and is author of several books and dozens of articles, both scholarly and popular.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: FaithWords (June 23, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446514934
• ISBN-13: 978-0446514934
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.5 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #124,960 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Father Thomas D. Williams, LC, ThD, is an American Moral Theologian living in Rome. He teaches Ethics and Catholic Social Doctrine at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical Athenaeum, and has served as Vatican Analyst for NBC News, CBS News, and Sky News in the UK.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Atheist smackdown, June 16, 2008

By 

Elizabeth Barnes (Baltimore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Greater Than You Think: A Theologian Answers the Atheists About God (Paperback)

Having read another of Father Williams' books, I ordered this one on a whim. I ended up reading it all in one night! He refutes the atheists' arguments against God and religion with solid logic and a sense of humor to boot! I really enjoyed it, and stored up some of his wisdom for my own encounters with non-believers. This is a truly great book.

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Supported by Reason, Written with Love, July 17, 2008

By 

Alan J. Droste (Laguna Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Greater Than You Think: A Theologian Answers the Atheists About God (Paperback)

Starting with the clever title with multiple meanings (as the font size decreases to form separate phrases), Father Thomas presents a well reasoned rebuttal to Hitchens, Dawkins et al. This book explains what the nouveau-atheists cannot admit to themselves -- that they cling to their beliefs through a "faith" they claim to rise above. Father Thomas explains his views with love for all, using a quiet voice that best proclaims the value of his foundations.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth the Time But..., December 5, 2008

By 

Michael Gooch "Management Consultant-HR" (Washington, Indiana) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Greater Than You Think: A Theologian Answers the Atheists About God (Paperback)

I enjoyed 'Greater Than You Think'. I really did. I found it a better book than the other rebuttal type book I purchased at the same time - Answering the New Atheism: Dismantling Dawkins' Case Against God. The author, Thomas D. Williams is simply a better writer than the other authors are.

With that said, I offer the opinion that the Atheist Hitchens was too much of the focus. It is obvious that Atheist Hitchens hates God, which distracts from his arguments especially considering he hates something he claims does not exist. In the same manner, I was distracted in my reading by the author's continual reference and scathing comments to Atheist Hitchens. The reader would have been better served without a personal agenda. At least the author got it off his chest.

In addition, I would submit that the book is too broad in scope. That is, too many chapters/topics with too little said about each one. It would have been better for me to have just a few major topics and then to really dig deep and provide us the answers we deserve. The topics presented are very important and very complex. A two or three page cursory address is neither sufficient nor compelling.

Nevertheless, I believe the author did a commendable job overall and will be recommending this book to my friends.

I hope you find this review helpful

Michael L. Gooch - Author of Wingtips with Spurs