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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ravi's Earlier Work is Found Here but He Has More, November 9, 2006
Many critics have attacked the work of Ravi Zacharias found here. This book "The Real Face of Atheism" is actually a slightly updated version of his 1990 book titled "A Shattered Visage: The Real Face of Atheism".
I do not consider this to be Ravi's crowning work but he did not write it to be an "exhaustive" argument against Atheism.
In his original introduction he explains his intention for this book---
It was born from a presentation to a group of scientists from Bell Labs. He addressed the topic of "Why I am not an Atheist" as a response to Bertrand Russel's "Why I am not a Christian".
Zacharias goes on to say that the questions that followed were not technical or scientific but rather were "heart-searching questions of men and women in pursuit of meaning in life." He wrote from a perspective dealing with his lecture and the questions of life that followed.
Many reviewers have said that Ravi has not argued effectively against Atheism and for Theism.
He gives a reason for that for those who care to read it---- "Others, who love the process of dialogue, might wish that the arguments were weightier than they are. My hope is that they will not fall into the trap of intellectualism and forget the splendor and power of simplicity. We are neither just brains floating around or hearts bouncing about."
Ravi Zacharias tends to dwell in the realm of bringing the highly philosophical down to the level of the more common reader. This is not always easy. A few here have pointed out that Ravi is not an effective debater. If you will listen to any of his question and answer sessions from various colleges and universities around the world and his lectures from the Harvard Veritas sessions you might think differently. His answers correlate well with his intended audience.
Other works such as "Can Man Live With God" address this topic as well.
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95 of 130 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A straightforward examination of the conclusions of atheism, September 12, 2004
Ravi Zacharias has done an excellent job of tackling a huge subject in a manner which creates an enthusiasm for further reading. This book is very well written, with a huge index of quotes and citations from a wide variety of sources. The inclusion of countless viewpoints from across the philosophical spectrum makes for a very engaging and enjoyable read.
The book is segmented into several areas of focus including values, morality, meaning, and more. In each chapter Ravi opens with some contrasting viewpoints that start a dialog about how the logical conclusions of atheism lead to some rather interesting and unavoidable realizations. Nietzsche, who is among the few to truly embrace the full conclusion of his beliefs, suffered tremendously as a result as his worldview neither answered nor solved the dilemma of a world without God. (Page 30). Aldous Huxley, another renowned atheist concluded "science has "explained" nothing". Darwin himself warned against "the presumption of believing that one could, by contemplating nature, be in possession of final truths, either in divinity or philosophy." (Page 38). Yet with atheism, the natural determinism is all that is available to examine such meaning.
Quite often, as Ravi discusses, an atheist often finds him or herself denouncing, yet embracing, a value system that they cannot uphold within their naturalistic worldview. Nietzsche understood this well and stated "When one gives up the Christian faith, one pulls the right to Christian morality out from under one's feet". Another famous atheist Bertrand Russell when in a debate on morality confessed the Achilles heel of atheism when he had to respond to the question of how one differentiates between good and bad, by stating he did so on the basis of his feelings. (Page 59) Ravi clarifies his position and the corner atheism paints itself into by stating "not all atheists are immoral, but morality as goodness cannot be justified with atheistic presuppositions" (Page 64).
In hard terms the morality that atheism teaches, implies, or espouses is unlivable. Nietzsche himself bore testimony to that fact.
What of the search for meaning and truth? The face of atheism reveals only the human intellect. G.K. Chesterton warned that the insane man is not just one who has lost his reason; he may be one who has lost everything but his reason. (Page 80). Bertrand Russell recounts with some accuracy that the inevitable conclusion of atheism's search for meaning is "only on the firm foundation of unyielding despair". (Page 91) After a long study of the many who have defined atheism, Ravi states that having in essence killed god, the atheist is left with no reason for being, no morality to espouse, no meaning to life, and no hope beyond the grave. Of what hope he or she may possess, it is does not exist within the framework of their worldview.
In the end Ravi discusses the hope of faith. God has put enough into the world to make faith in him a most reasonable thing, and he has left enough out to make it impossible to live by sheer reason or observation alone. (Page 113). G.K. Chesterton responds to critics of Christianity by saying "The problem with Christianity is not that it has been tried and found wanting, but that it has been found difficult, and left untried." (Page 117). The atheist risks everything for the present and the future, on the basis of belief that we are uncaused by any intelligent being. We just happen to be here. That one is willing to live and die in that belief is a very high price to pay for conjecture. (Page 155).
Overall, this is a wonderful exploration of philosophy, ideology and meaning. There are quotes, citations and input from far too many people to count, and I finished the book with a long reading list for follow up. If you are at all curious about the core differences between atheism and faith, then consider this a great place to get a quick overview.
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14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Primer on Christianity versus atheism, December 5, 2006
As Zacharias indicates in the preface to the book, The Real Face of Atheism touches on -- but doesn't go too deep into -- the various philosophical underpinnings for these opposing worldviews. It is a well written, easy to read and understand, informative and even enjoyable book. Zacharias does a pretty good job of highlighted the weaknesses of atheism from various angles.
In spots, he seems to gloss over some of their arguments, in something of a dismissive fashion. But part of that appears to be because the book was not intended to delve deep into any one particular argument or topic. Think of The Real Face of Atheism as a primer or introductory work.
If you're looking for answers to some of man's deepest questions, it's a good starting point. Zacharias cites scores of sources, so if you want further study, just look in his notes/bibliography. He makes abundantly clear those minds whose work he most admires (e.g. Muggeridge, C. S. Lewis) and those with whom he most strongly disagrees (e.g. Nietzsche, Russell.) He leaves it to the reader to make up his or her mind.
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