Atheists and Reading?

Question

I have a great respect for the intelligence of atheists on this site. As a Christian, you have challenged me by far to acquire knowledge so that I do not appear ignorant as the majority of Christians in the world do.

I also hear a lot of talk about Christians needing to read books by atheists, and whenever it is realized that most Christians haven't, atheists claim they are afraid. (My library won't give me a card because I am a temporary resident in the city, thus Dawkins and Harris must wait two weeks to be read. I have watched "The God Who Wasn't There" though and took 3 pages of typed notes.)

So my question is, what books written by Christians on the subject of science and atheism have you read lately? If you haven't, then why not? If you have, what did you like or dislike about them?

Um...why isn't anyone putting any books? I didn't want to dance around the issue. Can someone just answer my question? Or can no one answer it because everyone asks Christians to do things that they themselves do not do.

Congrats. I've had two atheists ask me for books I would recommend. 2 of 22 isn't bad. I mean, I guess it disproves the whole thought that Christians are more closed minded though. "the Bible is all I need to read to understand Christianity."

I'm glad you have the answers for Christianity whenever you're not a Christian.

Thanks to all who answered.

Answer 1

I really enjoy your outlook and open-mindedness. I think it's great that you question your faith and want to be more knowledgable about it and wish more Christians, not only on this site, were that way.

I actually have not read any books by Christians on the subject of science and/or atheism and this is mostly because I have not heard of any that interest me. I have read books by both Dawkins and Harris and share their beliefs so I read the books because I knew I would find them interesting. I did, however, purchase the Bible the other week and plan on beginning to read it soon. My reason for reading the Bible is because I want to have a better understanding of Christianity so that I can be more knowledgable about what I don't believe. It is my opinion that you can't truly know what you do believe if you don't understand what you don't believe (if that makes sense...). I did attend Catholic school from age 5-13 so I am not without knowledge and study of the Christian religion.

If you or anyone else has any suggestions of book(s) by Christians on the subject I would be glad to read them.

Answer 2

I have read many of the websites. I have read the Bible.

The problem with the websites is that they are just flat out dishonest most of the time. I have a Degree in Chemistry and their discussion of Carbon dating is just flat out full of out right lies. I couldn't tell you how many times I have see that this test returned dates on the order of millions of years. It is complete crap. The test can only return about 50,000 years and a few new methods that require very large samples can go to 100,000. They argue about its use in dating fossils. That is also not possible. First there is the age thing. Second it only works on things that were alive. Fossils are rocks. I mean if you have to just make stuff up, what is the point? I mean at least stay in the test parameters if you want to lie about it.

Added: I quite honestly don't know of any books. If you could tell me they have something different than Dr. Dino or Answers in Genesis I would look at them. At least Answers in Genesis tries to be honest. I did take a look at the peer reviewed paper (the ONLY peer reviewed paper) that Dr Behe published. I even emailed him and asked a couple of questions but he didn't respond.

Answer 3

I'm not necessarily an atheist - I tend to agree with them on some points, but they can sometimes come across as smart-azzes when they are shooting holes in religious beliefs.

I tend to try to respect other peoples beliefs as much as I can, but I also do not suffer fools lightly. A lot of 'christians' (discounting trolls posing as christians) are basically ignorant, not just of reality in general, but even their own supposed 'beliefs'.

I have read a wide variety of books and articles, and watched films and film clips by athiests and christians, - and seem to have one thing in common. They are right, and everyone else is wrong. This kind of certainty and close-mindedness gaurantees that even if they have a good point to make, and there might even be some truth to it - that they will miss something important.

Learn everything you can - do not accept things on 'faith'.

Answer 4

"So my question is, what books written by Christians on the subject of science and atheism have you read lately? If you haven't, then why not?"

I haven't read any to my knowledge (then again, the author could have been a Christian and I just wasn't aware of it). I haven't read any because I don't seek out books from either side. When I read a science book I read it to learn about the topic. I do not want to see how the author uses the topic to show me he's right about whether or not god exists and spending 300+ pages to do it. The topic of the book is what is of interest to me, not the author's attempt to show me he's right by using the books topic.

Answer 5

I have to admit that I haven't read any books by new "Christian" authors because all the ones I've seen are full of "Young Earth" and other such bizarre Creationist things that I already know are false that I can't tolerate sitting still to read it. I've examined many of these websites, so I know what they have to say and none of it is worth my time.

After reading the Bible several times, I feel I have a valid background on the Christian side of the issues. The Bible and all the new Creationist theories are all contrived.

atheist

Answer 6

The bible is the only book that it is necessary to read in order to understand Christianity. Books written by believers, with all their myriad individual interpretations are just too ridiculous to delve into. I watch Pastors on TV almost religiously.. to wonder in awe at their total and utter lack of any connection to reality.

The enormous hordes of faithful sheep who stare entranced at this snake oil sale mans line. Incredible stuff. If the CIA could bottle this type of brainwashing, no one would be safe.

Answer 7

i cant say that i have read anything recently on the written word. but i had believed at one time and had read the bible. i also watch a few shows here and there...really to see if the story has changed with anyone. i have read publications in the past... most of which i cant make it all the way thru anymore because i just see them as too much representing the past...a very close minded "were right...follow or burn in hell" ... kinda of mentality. i have sat thru a few religious shows where i sat and watched from begining to end... and i have to say... it frightened me. and i will explain why.....
a good number of people believe in god...live how you want... but in the end... these people also believe the end of the world is coming when jesus returns.(whether by our hand or the almightys).. problem that i have .... is that the believers think... this is a good thing...if they see a mushroom cloud...they think god is coming...and they are getting ready to ascend into heaven.... so over half the planet will be joyous over this in some way!...isnt that the most warped thing you can imagine?
i watched a show...religious sunday morning type... and in this show.... a man basically demonized alllll music. he took all the quotes "made" by the bands..(which.. because he mentioned a few groups that i liked- i did some investigation) .. and tried to say that all of it is of the devil. he then went on a rant about how even christian music is full of the devil and these rock and roll influences....
when i did my investigation...some of the quotes were in fact real... but out of context... which made the band look like they slaughtered goats at midnight.... some of the quotes he used... were never spoken by that band or group. and none were right on what he said...(so a huge scare tactic)
i think over all.... bible.... good book of common sense....dont kill each other... steal from eache other..etc but when it comes to the daily message given to the masses... its full of fear and control....conform... or you will burn.
and when all is said and done.... i just cant see why a god would care. ...evidence is all around you..... he stops nothing like he did 2500 yrs ago....we keep killing each other off in more and more sadistic fashion...no parting seas... no burning bushes... no arks..... no sadom and gamora....no first born in the entire city dead.....
i dont mean to offend.... but... you posed one of the first open mined questions that i have seen from a religious person!

Answer 8

Since I am a fiction writer, most of my reading material tends to be fiction. So, although I read history from time to time, I don't really read either religious or atheistic material.

I would suggest, however, that before you attempt to debunk evolution or the big bang theory, you open up a plain science or biology book and read about what the theories actually are and what they state.

Cutting and pasting misinformation from biased Creationist websites is not impressive.

Answer 9

I haven't read a book in quite a while, I'm more of an article kind of guy (must be ADD).

One place I'm interested in that I think qualifies in this discussion is the Creation Museum (actually there are two, one in Canada and the other in Kentucky or Tennessee).

I'd like to see how they address many of the scientific points made in the "atheist" argument.

It's not close by though.

Answer 10

Not very recently, but "Pierceing the darkness" was actually pretty good. I didn't agree with the authors views on "god" and "angels" as being real. But it was well written. The chronicles of Narnia, I have the same opinion of. Bill Gothard's encyclopedias are, in my opinion, crap. But, I'm not really interested in reading more christian fiction at this point in my life. Reality is much more interesting and meaningful to me. Kudos on your quest for knowledge.