Is God Just a Human Invention? And Seventeen Other Questions Raised by the New Atheists
Overview
Atheism is making a comeback. From bookstores to bus campaigns, the question of God is up for public debate—and well-known atheists like Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens are leading the charge. While these authors, who have been dubbed “The New Atheists,” argue against religion in general, they aim most of their criticisms and complaints at the world’s largest religion—Christianity. Why are people reading books that bash God and ridicule faith? And how can Christians respond?
The writings of the New Atheists are especially challenging to the emerging generation who are skeptical of authority and have not been given answers to the hows and whys of faith’s honest questions. For these readers especially, authors Sean McDowell and Jonathan Morrow have penned an accessible yet rigorous look at the arguments of the New Atheists. Writing from a distinctively Christian perspective, McDowell and Morrow lay out the facts so that the emerging generation can make up their own mind after considering all the evidence. Divided into two parts—the first addressing the scientific and philosophical challenges to belief in God and the second dealing with the moral and biblical challenges—Is God Just a Human Invention? will respond to each major argument in a way that is balanced, thorough, and easy to understand.
McDowell and Morrow believe that the current religious landscape is both an opportunity and a challenge for people of faith. Now is the time to respond.
- Addresses scientific and philosophical challenges to belief in God
- Discusses moral and biblical challenges to belief in God
- Explores issues including faith, reason, evil, and creation
Part 1: Responding to Scientific and Philosophical Challenges
- Is Faith Irrational?
- Are Science and Christianity at Odds?
- Are Miracles Possible?
- Is Darwinian Evolution the Only Game in Town?
- How Did the Universe Begin?
- How Did Life Begin?
- Why Is the Universe Just Right for Life
- Has Science Shown There Is No Soul?
- Is God Just a Human Invention?
Part 2: Responding to Moral and Biblical Challenges
- Is Religion Dangerous?
- Does God Intend for Us to Keep Slaves?
- Is Hell a Divine Torture Chamber?
- Is God a Genocidal Bully?
- Is Christianity the Cause of Dangerous Sexual Repression?
- Can People Be Good Without God?
- Is Evil Only a Problem for Christians?
- What Good Is Christianity
- Why Jesus Instead of the Flying Spaghetti Monster?
Finally, a book about the ‘New Atheism’ that is not only hard-hitting, but also accessible and engaging for the average reader. Sean McDowell and Jonathan Morrow have assembled some of the finest thinkers in the Christian world and have turned them loose to provide clear and articulate answers to the questions ‘backyard skeptics’ in our lives ask. You get only a few pages into this book before you see the shallowness and blindness of the popular New Atheism and, by stark contrast, the rationality of belief in the God of the Bible. This is a book to buy for all of your skeptical coworkers, neighbors, or family members. Then challenge them to meet with you weekly as you work through the chapters. They (and you) will never be the same.
—Craig J. Hazen, PhD Founder and director of the MA program in Christian Apologetics, Biola University, and author of Five Sacred Crossings
Fashion trends come and go. Music trends come and go. New ways of challenging historical Christian faith come and go. Truth lasts. But sadly, many miss the difference between truth and trends. In another time period of challenges to faith, this book provides well-thoughtout, intelligent, and very practical responses. These are the questions that we cannot ignore today. Sean McDowell and Jonathan Morrow guide us to see unshakeable truth in the midst of what can feel like unnerving and scary questions.
—Dan Kimball, author of They Like Jesus but Not the Church
Sean McDowell and Jonathan Morrow ask questions that deserve to be discussed between believers and their atheist friends. I hope this book will be a springboard for that dialogue. I, for one, want to debate it with them!
—David Fitzgerald, Atheist author/activist and director of the Atheist Film Festival and Evolutionpalooza!
- Title: Is God Just a Human Invention? And Seventeen Other Questions Raised by the New Atheists
- Authors: Sean McDowell and Jonathan Morrow
- Publisher: Kregel
- Publication Date: 2010
- Pages: 304
- Resource Type: Topical
- Topic: Apologetics
Sean McDowell (MA, Talbot Theological Seminary) is an award-winning educator, speaker, and author. A popular speaker at camps, churches, schools, and conferences nationwide, Sean has spoken for organizations including Focus on the Family, Campus Crusade for Christ, and Youth Specialties. He has co-written or edited several books, including Understanding Intelligent Design, Evidence for the Resurrection, and More Than a Carpenter, and has also contributed to YouthWorker Journal, Decision Magazine, and the Christian Research Journal. He blogs regularly at www.seanmcdowell.org.
Jonathan Morrow (MA and MDiv, Talbot School of Theology) is the author of Welcome to College, coauthor of Is God Just a Human Invention?, founder of www.thinkChristianly.org, and contributor to the Apologetics Study Bible for Students and Foundations of Spiritual Formation. Currently, he is the equipping pastor at Fellowship Bible Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where he lives with his wife and two children.