Hello! For those who don't know me, I'm a Christian...but I'm VERY interested in understanding other perspectives better. Right now, I'm working on purchasing books that counter intelligent design. So far I've gotten books by Carl Sagan, I'm rereading Origin of Species (which I own a 1927 edition of), and I'm ordering The God Delusion. I'm also considering Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris.
Can you guys give me a list of books to consider? I can't promise I'll buy ALL of them right this moment, but I am buying a few.
I'd really appreciate a comprehensive list.
And for any Christians who might peek in here, this question can work for you, too. If you know of books that counter the ones the atheists list, I'd appreciate those too.
Thanks in advance!
2007-07-05 10:32:40 · 28 answers · asked by The_Cricket: Thinking Pink! 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Um, I've read science textbooks. I took biology my freshman year, and chemistry my sophomore year. I read the entire textbook within the first couple weeks of the year starting.
I also read other friends' textbooks, so I read books on philosophy, and astronomy, as well as my own books on psychology and psychoanalysis.
I will, however, consider the answers that encouraged me to read different books by Richard Dawkins.
2007-07-05 10:39:39 · update #1
Daniel Dennett and Arthur Clarke wrote some good ones that you might find relevant (though you'll have to dig through Clarke's fiction to find the nonfiction ones).
Good luck on your project - I admire your openmindedness.
2007-07-05 10:37:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Atheism: The Case Against God by George H Smith
god is not Great by Christopher Hitchens
The End of Faith
&
Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris
The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine
2007-07-05 17:38:27 · answer #2 · answered by ZER0 C00L ••AM••VT•• 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The God Delusion has a decent rebuttal to the argument for intelligent design. Letter To a Christian Nation defends secular ethics, not so much evolution.
Sorry I don't have a comprehensive list -- I haven't read all the big books out there on this... But those two you already are interested in are good ones, especially Letter.
2007-07-05 17:36:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Let's leave Dawkins out of the equation for the moment and instead, have a look at the following:
1: The Bible Unearthed by Finkelstien and Silberman
2: Why God Won't Go Away and Why We Believe What We Believe by Andrew Newberg and others
3. A History of God by Karen Armstrong
4. Misquoting Jesus by Dan D. Ehrman
Bear in mind that I'm even more dangerous than an atheist. I'm an agnostic.
2007-07-05 17:49:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I can just see Jesus studying the teachings of the pagans? Does not make much sence to me that a true christian would study false teaching. They go door to door like Jesus taught them and they are told to teach and to preach. They must know the topic they are teaching. right! And the topic you are looking at is Design..Hum, Do you believe that design is conceivable without a designer? To say that design simply exist without a designer is crazy. The Bible says Every house is constructed by someone (heb. 3:4) He that constructed all things is God, it simply does not make sence to acknowledge that a house needs a designer and builder and at the same time claim that a complicated cell ACCIDENTALLY sprang into existence!. The senseless one has said in his heart: There is no Jehovah. ps.-14:1 Life overwhelms us with the appearance of design..look around. To accept blind chance and subsequent evolution as the cause of our universe and life on earth would actually be to abandon any attempt to get a meaningful explanation. After all you believe most likely that Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa...right?....Who created all things on earth. Rev. 4:11
2007-07-13 15:39:43 · answer #5 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
`The Ancestor`s Tale` by Richard Dawkins counters all ID nonsense. It is not lightweight reading, I repeat, it is not an easy read and requires some previous understanding of evolution. Freud`s `Moses`paints a picture of the biblical patriarch that is as near the truth as you are likely to get.
2007-07-05 17:50:22 · answer #6 · answered by ED SNOW 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have always been a big Sagan fan, but his books are much more about science than his atheism. And some of that science is dated now unfortunately. If you are looking for science material Hawking has some pretty good stuff like The Universe in a Nutshell and others.
The big one you left out is Nietzsche.
2007-07-05 17:39:36 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well the problem with that is there is no actual evidence refuting evolution and no creationists holds any actual evidence anywhere. If they did have evidence disproving, refuting, or altering evolution then they would have submitted it to the scientific community long ago. The scientific community accepts any theories or data given to them and can be replicated. They investigate them. In fact ID was submitted to the scientific community and didn't even pass the cursory examinations. In fact, the Flying Spaghetti Monster fulfilled more requirements of the screening.
2007-07-05 17:43:33 · answer #8 · answered by meissen97 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Evolution: the Triumph of an Idea by Carl Zimmer
It is textbook like, easy to read, and has more information than you will ever need to counter ID. It is not too expensive either.
2007-07-05 17:41:42 · answer #9 · answered by atheist 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Here's a book that fits nicely into your interest. I must apologize, for I don't recall the author's name, but the book is, "God, the Atom, and the Universe." Its written by a physicist who attempts to disprove the existence of God. It is out of print, but I have seen copies on EBay and certain other sites. You gotta get it! I promise, you will love it!
2007-07-13 16:00:47 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try "The Dark Side of Christian History" by Helen Elerbe
2007-07-05 18:05:59 · answer #11 · answered by Abby C 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋