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Atheism (eBook)

by Steve Hays

in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats

Steve Hays' "Atheism" is a thought-provoking exploration that addresses the challenge of engaging with atheism from a Christian perspective. Hays meticulously examines the nature of atheism, juxtaposing popular and intellectual atheistic arguments with robust Christian counterpoints. This book stands out for its comprehensive approach, blending philosophical rigor with accessible language, making it suitable for both lay readers and scholars.

Hays does not shy away from tackling the most formidable atheistic thinkers, ensuring that his readers are well-equipped to understand and respond to various atheistic claims. He begins by defining atheism through the lens of notable atheist Graham Oppy, highlighting that atheism involves the rejection of theism as false, unbelievable, rationally, and morally unacceptable. From there, Hays explores complex topics such as set theory and its implications for divine omniscience, engaging with intricate philosophical arguments that challenge the coherence of atheism.

One of the book's strengths is its ability to demystify technical concepts without oversimplifying them. Hays uses examples from set theory, cosmology, and the philosophy of science to demonstrate the intellectual shortcomings of atheism while simultaneously affirming the rational foundation of Christian theism. His discussion on the concept of irreducible complexity and specified complexity is particularly compelling, illustrating how the intricate design in nature points to an intelligent creator rather than random, materialistic processes.

Moreover, Hays addresses common misconceptions and stereotypes about atheism and atheists. He acknowledges that many atheists are not well-versed in the best arguments from either side of the debate. By doing so, he fosters a more nuanced understanding and encourages respectful dialogue.

"Atheism" by Steve Hays is an essential read for anyone interested in the intersection of faith and reason. It equips Christians with the tools needed to engage thoughtfully and respectfully with atheists, while also providing atheists with a clear and compelling presentation of theistic arguments. Whether you are a believer seeking to strengthen your faith or a skeptic open to exploring the intellectual viability of theism, this book offers valuable insights that challenge and inspire.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface
    What is atheism?
    Set theory and omniscience
    William Provine
    Creation and extinction
    After the dust settles
    Historical holonovels
    Seashells
    Measuring prior probability
    Even if it happened, I refuse to believe it!
    The Look
    Vetting miracles
    Why won't God heal leprechauns?
    What could God do about evil?
    Posner on morality
    Mere theism
    Poker and prayer
    Break the bank
    Where is God?
    The problems of unanswered prayer
    Are miracles antecedently improbable?
    Poisoning the well
    All flesh is grass
    Moral ontology and evolutionary psychology
    "For good people to do evil things, that takes religion"
    The death of God
    There's no evidence for atheism
    Is the world a brute fact?
    Fables
    Prison of the mind
    50 "myths" about atheism
    Atheism, trust, and friendship
    Blindsight
    Mind-traps
    How does it differ from no gardener at all?
    Perceiving God
    What's more certain: God or my hands?
    Divine hiddenness and evil
    Abraham, Isaac, and extraterrestrials
    Looking for God in the wrong places
    Chimp gang-bangers
    The guarantor
    Must purported revelation pass a moral test?
    Sonny Corleone
    What would it take to abandon your faith?
    An atheist dilemma
    Political polarization
        Post hoc rationalizations
    "Thoughts and prayers"
    Alternate Bible history
    Gardens grow at night
    Conversion testimonies
    Divine contrivance
    Doctrine and evidence
    Reverse Freudianism
    Global Atheism Versus Local Atheisms
    "Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven"
    Pseudo-dilemmas
    The Christian theory of everything
    Is immortality a road to nowhere?
    Hedge maze
    Compresence
    Atheism and Agnosticism
    Sye-Clones
    Good truths and true goods
    Cosmic simulation
    Eating and excreting
    Secular bromides on death
    Science, faith, and God
    The elusive God
    Platonic realism to the rescue
    Strategic inscrutability
    Is God a postulate?
    God and good
    Does prayer work?
    Gerrymandering naturalism
    What if evolution bred reality out of us?
        Explaining evil, part 3
    Is Paul begging the question?
    Are specific claims improbable?
    Secular neutrality
    Why not commit apostasy?
    Is there no evidence for God's existence?
    Life in the compound
    The problem with TAG
        Is open-mindedness a virtue?
        Is God malevolent?
    Cosmic deceiver?
    Cartesian demons and evolutionary psychology
    The many-gods objection to Pascal's wager
    The difference a miracle makes
    Does math point to God?
    Handicapping the Craig/Oppy debate
    Approaching the ontological argument
    The bell curve of atheism
    "Death is what gives life meaning"
    12 hard questions
    Evidence for God
    Required reading for atheists
        Worshiping a Bronze Age sky fairy
    Questions for theists
    Has presuppositionalism evolved?
    Atheism at an impasse

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