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Victor J. Stenger

God: The Failed Hypothesis. How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist Paperback – April 8, 2008

by Victor J. Stenger (Author), Christopher Hitchens (Foreword)

316 ratings

Throughout history, arguments for and against the existence of God have been largely confined to philosophy and theology, while science has sat on the sidelines. Despite the fact that science has revolutionized every aspect of human life and greatly clarified our understanding of the world, somehow the notion has arisen that it has nothing to say about the possibility of a supreme being, which much of humanity worships as the source of all reality. This book contends that, if God exists, some evidence for this existence should be detectable by scientific means, especially considering the central role that God is alleged to play in the operation of the universe and the lives of humans. Treating the traditional God concept, as conventionally presented in the Judeo-Christian and Islamic traditions, like any other scientific hypothesis, physicist Stenger examines all of the claims made for God's existence. He considers the latest Intelligent Design arguments as evidence of God's influence in biology. He looks at human behavior for evidence of immaterial souls and the possible effects of prayer. He discusses the findings of physics and astronomy in weighing the suggestions that the universe is the work of a creator and that humans are God's special creation. After evaluating all the scientific evidence, Stenger concludes that beyond a reasonable doubt the universe and life appear exactly as we might expect if there were no God. This paperback edition of the New York Times bestselling hardcover edition contains a new foreword by Christopher Hitchens and a postscript by the author in which he responds to reviewers' criticisms of the original edition.

Print length

310 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Prometheus
Publication date

April 8, 2008
Dimensions

6.02 x 0.63 x 8.99 inches
ISBN-10

1591026520
ISBN-13

978-1591026525
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"I learned an enormous amount from this splendid book."
-Richard Dawkins, author of the New York Times bestseller The God Delusion

"Marshalling converging arguments from physics, astronomy, biology, and philosophy, Stenger has delivered a masterful blow in defense of reason. God: The Failed Hypothesis is a potent, readable, and well-timed assault upon religious delusion. It should be widely read."
-Sam Harris, author of the New York Times bestsellers The End of Faith and Letter to a Christian Nation

"Extremely tough and impressive...a great book...a huge addition to the arsenal of argument."
-Christopher Hitchens, author of the New York Times bestseller God Is Not Great

About the Author

Victor J. Stenger (1935 - 2014) was an adjunct professor of philosophy at the University of Colorado and emeritus professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Hawaii. He was the author of the New York Times bestseller God: The Failed Hypothesis, God and the Atom, God and the Folly of Faith, The Comprehensible Cosmos, and many other books.

Product details

Publisher : Prometheus; Reprint edition (April 8, 2008)
Language : English
Paperback : 310 pages
ISBN-10 : 1591026520
ISBN-13 : 978-1591026525
Item Weight : 13.6 ounces
Dimensions : 6.02 x 0.63 x 8.99 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,238,469 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #776 in Atheism (Books)
- #2,094 in Science & Religion (Books)
- #4,276 in History of Religions

Customer Reviews:
316 ratings

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Rationale, logical, incisive and persuasive, a must read for all who wonder.

Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2019

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This is one of the best books I’ve ever read that addresses the questions surrounding the existence of God. Excellently, researched and logically written Professor Stenger applies scientific models to test theories of the existence of God and he concludes with evidence and the lack thereof that a monotheistic God fails logically to exist. As one who grew up in a fundamentalist religion, I have studied many religions And belief systems to find a comfort level. I finally found that comfort in atheism and finally shed my religious guilt imposed by traditional religion. Professor Stenger along with Richard Dawkins and others who are not afraid to tackle the hard questions have helped provide solid answers. The rigorous analysis and logic contained in these pages should be read by the curious. I am certain I will use this book as a reference for years to come.

2 people found this helpful

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Philonous

God-Hypothesis can be Tested, thus falsifiable!!!!!

Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2011

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Victor J. Stenger's overall thesis is this: That God is a testable hypothesis, therefore falsifiable; To say that God is a testable hypothesis is to say that God can be formulated in the scientific model in accordance to what most believers believe about God (given that there is sufficient consensus). The function of scientific models is to both explain the observable data and to make observable or testable predictions. If concept of God can be formulated into a scientific model, as Stenger suggested, then it follows that the scientific model of God can make testable predictions that can be tested, therefore falsifiable. Stenger also noted that the scientific model of God would not be concerned with the very nature of God, and this is important since many theologians and beleivers assert that God's nature is ineffable. Rather, the scientific model of God concerns what the universe should look like if God exist, given that God is an agent with purpose and intention who performs actions that intervene into the natural order of things. The intervention of God's actions in relation to Nature is a key concept of God that is testable, because if God truly does interfere with Nature, then the effects of that interference should be observable since any event in nature (including God's interference) is observable.

This overarching thesis is not only crucial, but detrimental, especially when Stenger gathers all the examples and evidences to support his argument that God-Hypothesis is either rendered falsified or superfluous. Stenger pointed out that because there are other hypothesis that explains many natural phenomena which believers insist requires Supernatural cause, the God-Hypothesis is not without its competitors. While the God-Hypothesis does have a potential to be a grand scientific theory in the midst of this competition, this is not the case given that many other independent hypothesis with a natural explanation has made observable predictions that have been successfully tested and supported. Given that these hypothesis explains the phenomena without resorting to the supernatural cause, what scientific value does the concept of God have?

Theist can reasonably argue that Stenger has not falsified the God-Hypothesis, but such arguments do not bother me at all (nor do I think they would bother Stenger himself). Why is this? Because Stenger convincingly demonstrated that God can be a testable scientific model, thus a falsifiable hypothesis. By arguing this point, the theological ramifications are significant: There is no longer any excuse to vindicate God from scientific inquiry, and an appeal to Faith or Mystery simply will not do anymore. Appealing to faith or ineffability will not render God an unfalsifiable and untestable hypothesis, rather it would not do very much since the very definition of God as an intervening agent could sufficiently entail testability. A theistic believer (with the exception of a deist) cannot appeal to faith without also including the definition of God as an intervening agent, whose actions interfere with human and natural affairs, because the very faith that believers appeal to also depends on that definition.

The scientific ramifications of Stenger's argument is also significant in regards to theism, because this would mean that the scientific model of God would predict the effects of prayers, the occurrences of miracles, the prophecies, the problem of evil, and the fine-tune arguments. Stenger succeeded in articulating this implication to such a degree that nobody can easily argue that God transcends scientific inquiry. What is even more disturbing is that there actually has been scientific studies on prayers and miracles, and so far the majority of the results have been negative. This would be a problem to the majority of the believers who believe in intercessory prayers.

So far, I applaud Stenger for making a successful argument that God can be a testable hypothesis, and showing many scientific evidences that could reasonably be construed as contrary to the predictions that the God-Hypothesis made. People can argue all they want about the existence of God, but if Stenger's argument is both valid and sound, then the God-Debate may eventually end with a solid conclusion pretty soon.

12 people found this helpful

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Scott

Impressive, thorough, point by point analysis

Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2020

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There is much to love about this book. Most notably is the rigor and open-mindedness of the author. He set out looking for evidence of the God worshipped by Jews, Muslims, or Christians. He evaluates all of the major "claims" made by adherents of those religions and lays out clearly why each of them fails as evidence. He looks at what else we should expect to see if an interventionist God were to exist... and finds nothing. It is clear that if there were any actual evidence he would be glad to embrace it. But there is not.

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Cameron Doelling

Excellent

Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2020

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I found Victor's work very thorough in providing proofs and evidence that the god or gods that hold attributes commonly ascribed to and believed in don't exist.

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Lucid Prose with Compelling Arguments!

Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2011

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God: The Failed Hypothesis: How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist by Victor Stenger

God: The Failed Hypothesis is a provocative book that contends that if God exists science should find objective evidence for it. Physicist Victor Stenger uses his background in science to create a hypothesis based on claims of God's existence. This 310-page book is composed the following ten chapters: 1. Models and Methods, 2. The Illusion of Design, 3. Searching for a World beyond Matter, 4. Cosmic Evidence, 5. The Uncongenial Universe, 6. The Failures of Revelation, 7. Do Our Values Come from God?, 8. The Argument from Evil, 9. Possible and Impossible Gods, and 10. Living in the Godless Universe.

Positives:
1. Well-written, accessible, fascinating and thought-provoking.
2. A scientific approach to God!
3. Great use of logic and thinking outside the box. Great overall approach.
4. Scientific method explained and applied.
5. Great quotes and lucid explanations.
6. Argument of design properly debunked.
7. A series of well laid out God hypotheses falsified, very interesting.
8. Physicalism explained. Dualism debunked.
9. Does prayer work? Great historical cases presented, fascinating stuff.
10. The best physics explained for the masses. Worth the price of the book, bravo!
11. Cosmological argument debunked.
12. Fine-tuning argument debunked.
13. Failures of scripture revealed.
14. Logical explanation of values.
15. The problem of evil is a theist's worst nightmare.
16. The hiddenness problem is compelling.
17. Each chapter ends with notes that include reference materials.
18. A bibliography worthy of a library.

Negatives
1. Let's be honest some concepts of physics are complex no matter how well it is explained.
2. The chapter of divine revelation may be the weakest of the book but even then I'm just being nitpicky.

In summary, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's unique, fascinating, thought-provoking and a page turner. Mr. Stenger maintains a respectful air of discourse throughout the book. I highly recommend this book!

Further reading: " Atheist Universe: The Thinking Person's Answer to Christian Fundamentalism " by David Mills, " The Christian Delusion: Why Faith Fails " by John Loftus, " 50 Reasons People Give for Believing in a God " by Guy P. Harrison, " Decoding the Language of God: Can a Scientist Really Be a Believer? " by George C. Cunningham, " Atheism Advanced: Further Thoughts of a Freethinker " by David Eller, and " Atheism Explained: From Folly to Philosophy (Ideas Explained) " by David Ramsay Steele.

10 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

J. Taylor

Stenger missile!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 10, 2011

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There is a profusion of books on the existence or non-existence of God. I wanted a perspective from a professor of physics and astronomy. In this regard the book is fantastic. What I didn't realise before purchase was that Stenger is also adjunct professor of philosophy at Colorado university. Whilst I agreed these arguments added completeness and were often edifying, I felt they watered down the strength of the other arguments, here's why:

The philosophical material regularly took the form of syllogisms to make a point. These sets of statements always start with positions which are held to be self evidently true and swiftly draw a logical deduction. The trouble in my view is, it is far to easy to make a 'false syllogism' to prove an absurd point of view. This is often because the initial statements are out of context, or have obscure but relevant exceptions. Therefore, Stenger's subtitle "How science shows that God does not exist" seems to have be stretching the subtitle from "science showing", to "syllogisms suggesting", in order to include other interesting material.

The core of the book, however, involves the debunking of some really hard hitting questions. Stenger's knowledge and scientific expertise are in their element here. The central chapters easily justify the meagre price of this book. These are real answers, not amateur fudging or political spin. I would like to see this section with an extra chapter (expanding p231-233), it would reveal the impossibility of explaining through natural causes a universe that really had been designed.

Finally, I found this book very readable and structured. Stenger has a truly wicked sense of humour (the hiddenness of God paradox and the Ecclesiastical solution is a classic.) I hope Stenger's enthusiastic disbelief hasn't translated to biased objectivity where opinion inevitably arises. This book is a keeper!

5 people found this helpful

Petri

He proves it!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 24, 2012

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A must-read for everyone who wants to understand what's real and what's not. The book is filled with strong arguments and evidence to counter the claims of theists. I was a bit skeptical about the title, but having read the book I'm convinced: the God/Gods of Christianity, Islam and Judaism don't exist.

5 people found this helpful

Peter

Top Marks

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 4, 2015

Verified Purchase

Well researched well documented. A very able view of religion from a scientific view point. I don't know how those who believe in a God any God can ignore this and still expect to be taken seriously. But they will.

Mark A. Collins

Brilliant

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 10, 2015

Verified Purchase

A brilliant and well written summary of much more than I have discovered alone when researching the God question. Stenger takes what was spinning around in my head after years of looking at the question, puts it together methodically and adds crucial logic and references. Just when you think of the next "but" he pre-empts your but with his simple logical reasoning.

Painspotter1

Interesting but tough read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 2, 2015

Verified Purchase

I read this book twice to really get to grips with the depth and breadth of great content, evidence and rationale that Senger brings. Will probably read again and get a whole lot more from it

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