Are Christians opposed to reading The God Delusion and other atheistic books?

Question

I've actually read books about the authenticity of the Bible and why you can trust the Bible even though I am atheist. These types of books only promote understanding.

To be honest, I've never read The God Delusion, but right now it's the most popular atheist book on TV.

Answer 1

*Probably, all the churches i attended to were against any books like this.*

Answer 2

When i used to live with my Catholic family, they opposed any kind of book that was atheist or along those lines. Well, fiction books were allowed like harry potter, but scholarly sources telling us that there is no god and such were not allowed because they were apparently made by the devil. The idea that we evolved from apes was preposterous! Pretty much anything scientific that could prove god wrong wasn't allowed, EVEN if it was obviously true! They thought that all scientists were intentionally making up stuff to attack Christianity, when really it's quite the opposite. I wasn't even allowed to have a Buddha incense burner. Of course I still had Daniel Dennett and Dawkins books and many others, but I had to read them secretly.

Thanks to my parents, I am a World Religion's Major (I know more about the bible than anyone in my whole family) and I'm minoring in paleontology. I collect books that are from both sides of religion and own many different figures of different religions. Religion excites me for some odd reason. Ironically, thanks to my parent's close-mindedness I learned how to appreciate ALL religions and to find out as much from both sides as possible before making a conclusion. Oh and I'm agnostic, not atheist.

Answer 3

I keep seeing The God Delusion book mentioned on this site and plan on reading it. I totally understand atheists as I used to be one.

A book I really enjoyed was "The Signature of God" by Grant Jeffrey which provided proof for the bible being 100% accurate.

Answer 4

I am sure that there is a Christian out there that would read it. I don't feel like I need to.

This is also what I think; that certain Christians such as myself are not worried about what people who doubt say. I am not searching for another way to go, I have it pretty good right now. The promise that Jesus gave about never thirsting; I think this is what he means. I do not need to seek anymore, but I do need to grow in my trust of him. That's why you might get a lot of negative answers from Christians.

Answer 5

I've read plenty of atheistic books. I have a stack on my bedstand including Sam Harris' The End of Faith, Ludwig Feuerbach's The Essence of Religion, James C. Turner's Without God, Without Creed: The Origins of Unbelief in America, Critiques of God by Peter Angeles [Ed.], and so forth. I am probably more well read in atheism than most atheists here, easily.

See my trivia quesion...

Answer 6

Hi,

Yes many Christians are opposed to reading books that are not pro Christian. Much of it has to do with that which they are taught by their leaders not Christian tenants.

I am Christian and read a great many books that are not of a Christian persuasion. There is nothing in my understanding of the Gospel of Christ that would preclude one from seeking knowlege. In fact, quite the opposet.

I do however have and issue with books such as the one you point out (and yes I have read it, infact, I have it and occasionally refer to it as there are some interesting lines of thought). I do not commonly search after books that are "anti" anything but rather search for athoritative books written by those educated in and encouraging exploration of their belief. I have a library full of writtings of buddist thought, hinduism, mysticism, and the like. I have an early copy of the Dewy-Rhimes Bible and a great many books of commontary and reserch on Christianity from all perspectives and yes I have many Athiestic books as well.

For me I am much more intersted in what and why someone belives as they do rather than the all to frequesntly mislead and bashing arguments of those who have subpar knowlege of that which they are tying to refute.

As a Christian, I suscribe to the belief that unto all men is given the light of Christ or a conscience that is able to decern that which is promoting of truth (even if not totally accurate at the hands of man) and that which is cause for deception. I read, study ponder and pray. I ask for a confimation of those things which feel right after having truly examined them.

I have, over the years found that those who are truly in pursuit of truth, Christian, Athieist or otherwise, are open minded and do not hide behind a shroud of finger pointing of what they, with there limited understanding, feel are points of discredit of another's faith.

The book you reference while interesting, causes only confusion of the unlearned but offers no guidance or cause for positive momentom or progression. As such, while I have it, it is not one I would reccomend.

Answer 7

Absolutely not... although I would say that depends on your faith and whether you have committed your life to Christ to begin with.

I will occasionally pick up atheistic material to either a) understand where my atheistic counterparts are coming from or b) to strengthen the understanding of my faith.

If there is something tangible that can be viewed as a challenge to my faith, then I will research it and see what the evidence weighs. However, the experiences and changes in my life that I have seen in not only myself but in the testimonies of others could never be discounted, even if a single piece of atheistic doctrine proved valid.

I guess it's quite the opposite with our counterparts. They choose to prove 1% of the bible is wrong, and discount the remaining teachings. On the other hand, if we accept 1% of what an atheist says, we are supposed to reject the other 99% of what we know and have experienced.

Answer 8

I'm not opposed to reading almost anything- as long as it is not harmful or degrading in some way. Actually, I am very interested in learning what others believe and why- you're right, it does promote understanding and tolerance for my fellow human beings.

Answer 9

Christians read everything.
The author of 'The God Delusion' was on a radio show only last week. Although he stressed that belief in a God is a Delusion, he stumbled on two questions asked by the radio show host on the Scientific views of God.

Answer 10

I am not opposed to it. I actually started thinking along those lines recently. I challenged athiests to read Lee Strobel's books, asking if they had open minds and were willing to search out answers instead of just posing questions. I realized that I should turn that back to myself and ask if I'm willing to read opposing literature to gain more understanding. I think it is good. My only issue would be that it would probably make me mad and I prefer my reading to be relaxing. :)

Answer 11

Good for you. I on the other hand, I don't have time for that type of thing. I am too busy reading books that "only promote understanding."