Any atheists willing to take up a challenge?

Question

I am currently reading through The God Delusion and God is Not Great in an attempt to understand the atheist point of view. Are any atheists willing to match me by reading Mere Christianity by CS Lewis and The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel.

Atheist Kitty- So it is just Christians who have to challenge their beliefs?

Cameron C.- I have read that book as well and notice that I did not ask you to read it.

Atheist Machine- So you are not aware of the arguments presented and reject them out of hand.

Tourist of the Mind- I am reading a book about philosophy from a scientist so yes you should. What books have you read by the way?

Gypsy- Done, email me at [e-mail]

Deicidal- People do not understand all parts of the Bible and this is an attempt to help explain parts of it to them.

Francois- What is your point?

Acid-Zebra- Like how Dawkins does not use any reputable theologians in his claims? Do not forget that Lewis offered an explanation for why those cultures came to those conclusions.

Prirate AM- It seems you need to read Strobel again because he does provide "eyewitness testimony" and also shows that you do not need it to make a case.

Dr What- I am not asking you to read any of his fiction and is it possible that you could not get into The Case for Christ because it presents truths that you do not want to think about?

Vicarious Cynic- That is what I am asking, that people look at both sides of the argument.

His4Life- Observations of what? It is not possible for you to have a complete picture and that is all I am asking you to do.

CC- Well done

Magpieix- I had read a number of articles and watched numerous interviews with Dawkins to know that I would never want to read a book by him, but it is important to my intellectual honesty to read all sides and who knows maybe the book will convince me that I have been wrong in my faith.

Also, even though I am a fundamentalist I agree with Lewis and found through my studies that the Bible backs him up.

As soon as I am done with these two I will try and find that book and give it a try.

LayknInfinity- What is your point, I live with atheists and do not agree with them as well. It does not stop me from looking into what they believe to see if it might be true. It is intellectually dishonest to assume you know everything about Christians just by talking to people you live with, unless you live in a seminary. So barring that you still have a great deal to learn. This is why I am reading books written by prominent atheist scholars to understand the position better. I know about the idea but I do not know everything there is to know.

LayknInfinity- What is your point, I live with atheists and do not agree with them as well. It does not stop me from looking into what they believe to see if it might be true. It is intellectually dishonest to assume you know everything about Christians just by talking to people you live with, unless you live in a seminary. So barring that you still have a great deal to learn. This is why I am reading books written by prominent atheist scholars to understand the position better. I know about the idea but I do not know everything there is to know.

LakynInfinty- sorry for the typo, my mistake.

Answer 1

great point- I am a believer- and maybe I should read the God Delusion too just to see what it says, even though I a believe 100% in Jesus. By the way , for those who do not know who Lee Strobel or CS Lewis were, they were both bonafide atheists under they researched about Christ, and as Lee was documenting a book he was writing He found the case for Christ to be true.

Answer 2

I've read enough articles by Lee Strobel to know that I couldn't force myself to read an entire book of his tripe.

As for C.S. Lewis, I find it amusing and surprising that modern Christians are so quick to hold him up as an example, since his views on Christianity (at least in much of his work) seem to be the antithesis of the "believe in Christ or burn in Hell" brand of Theology.

Just a thought.

edit: oh, and btw, I've never read any book by Dawkins, and am unlikely too. It's bad enough someone telling me what I should believe, without reading about WHY I should believe what I already believe.

You want a good book about atheism? Read "Small Gods" by Terry Pratchett.

Answer 3

I've read both already. Lewis seems to forget that other cultures with other gods have created their same 'moral law', in fact, this seems common to most civilizations (some predating your Christian/Judaic beliefs. You apparently don't need gods to figure out killing people might be a bad idea.

The case for Christ where Strobel defends the historical reliablity of the New Testament features no expert holding views skeptical of the historicity of the New Testament was interviewed. In fact, Earl Doherty wrote a book entitled Challenging the Verdict: A Cross-Examination of Lee Strobel's "The Case for Christ", in which he challenges Strobel's conclusions.

Answer 4

Already read them. Lee Strobel does Christianity a grave injustice by presenting a one sided case and illustrating the need for eyewitness evidence and never presenting any.

It''s been years since I last read C.S. Lewis, but I continue to review apologetic and creationist sites and books. So far, I'm underwhelmed at the lack of scholarship, outside of the Bible, and the literal fallacies they accept without proof for example the continued misquoting and misapplication of the 2nd law of thermodynamics, or the many blatant mis/out of context quote of biologists.

Answer 5

Why not recommend the Bible? You don't feel the Word of God will convince us but somehow these books will?

Plus I get a headache from reading Christian dribble. It's hard to convince an atheist anyways because in order to be convinced we have to start believing in God and not just any God, the Bible God.

Answer 6

I am currently reading "The Heart of Christianity" by Marcus Borg, and "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins. They are interesting side by side reads. It has been slow going, as life can be busy.

Answer 7

I am an atheist and I have read Lee Strobel and CS Lewis.

Answer 8

I don't have to. I LIVE with Christians, and I've read the Bible. I understand the point of view, I just don't share it.

Answer 9

No thank you, I've come to my conclusions based on observations not by reading someone else's words. I must admit though that the Bible helped convince me that God was myth and I am forever grateful for that. I don't believe in Gods Devils, curses and such...I just can't.

Answer 10

sounds like you perchance fearful that an Atheist might want to come out on properly, so your reaction is to mission them. that is yet another celebration of one upmanship, and its no longer a race ,quiz, or i'm better than you kind scenario. It makes me ask your self that "equivalent interior the eyes of God"(God's command no longer mine or yours, or the clergy, or Monty Python's), is forgotten (or completely understood interior the first position), and that is no longer being a christian, in any experience of the count number number, and it really is no longer up for debate by ability of residing people as God commanded it, I state back for result commanded it that would not recommend in besides in case you experience like it. I experience that in case your question changed into about to develop right into a actuality, then someone or a society might want to ascertain the Atheist did not prevail in no longer in basic terms difficult (that is going on each and each and every of the time previous and present) yet proving that God did not reason the creation if all else failed then the Church might want to attempt their damnedest to end it for glaring motives.No no longer the Da Vinci Code it changed into fiction (or changed into it, scary) As for non secular human beings or Atheists being afraid , naa neither might want to, one aspect might want to get over it in time perchance at the same time as those right now worried being deceased), society/existence might want to flow on.