Book Description
Throughout history, arguments for and against the existence of God have been largely confined to philosophy and theology. In the meantime, science has sat on the sidelines and quietly watched this game of words march up and down the field. Despite the fact that science has revolutionized every aspect of human life and greatly clarified our understanding of the world, somehow the notion has arisen that it has nothing to say about the possibility of a supreme being, which much of humanity worships as the source of all reality. Physicist Victor J. Stenger contends that, if God exists, some evidence for this existence should be detectable by scientific means, especially considering the central role that God is alleged to play in the operation of the universe and the lives of humans. Treating the traditional God concept, as conventionally presented in the Judeo-Christian and Islamic traditions, like any other scientific hypothesis, Stenger examines all of the claims made for God's existence. He considers the latest Intelligent Design arguments as evidence of God's influence in biology. He looks at human behavior for evidence of immaterial souls and the possible effects of prayer. He discusses the findings of physics and astronomy in weighing the suggestions that the universe is the work of a creator and that humans are God's special creation. After evaluating all the scientific evidence, Stenger concludes that beyond a reasonable doubt the universe and life appear exactly as we might expect if there were no God.
Customer Reviews:
How do you prove the unprovable?.......2007-10-10
Stenger has bitten off a large argument here, and done a fairly admirable job at tackling certain aspects of it, but his larger premise is faulty based on his belief that humans, at present, have the ability to disprove the existence of a supreme being. While I agree with some of his goals, he takes it one step too far. Rational scientific evidence suggests that a god does not exist, and never has. This, however, is far from conclusive. Strong atheism requires almost as much faith as fundamentalism.
Perhaps the day will come when human knowledge will be such that we can provide a scientific proof against the existence of a god, but that day has not yet arrived. Stenger can disprove the "proofs" of the faithful quite convincingly, but that is all. The larger question remains unanswered, and will for some time; perhaps for all time.
Conversely, Stenger IS convincing in his assertions against religious visitations, miracles, and the answering of prayers. These are mythical stories perpetuated by those who want to believe. In all cases of so-called miracles there is a logical scientific alternate explanation. Remember Occam's Razor: the simplest solution should be the right one. Are we to believe a scientific explanation, or call it divine? Science is simpler and makes much more sense. Same goes for prayers allegedly being answered.
As for the historical evidence of the resurrection, I'm afraid the tales in ancient books of mythology do little to sway me. Many have faith that it, along with other biblical claims, did indeed happen. Faith does not equal proof.
Perhaps a god does exist, and perhaps he/she/it did create the universe. The limits of human knowledge at present are such that this can neither be proven nor disproved. However, the burden of proof is on the faithful. If I claim that the Loch Ness Monster exists, I need to provide some proof. It is not the job of unbelievers to disprove my assertion. While I find Stenger's arguments interesting, we as a species do not yet have the ability to irrefutably claim that god does not, or never has existed. Just as the faithful cannot prove that a god does exist. Perhaps we should stop trying and just agree to disagree.
Whether a god exists or not, there is substantial evidence that such a god does not intervene in worldly affairs. The stories of divine intervention on Earth have a more rational, scientific explanation. For example, Dr. Michael Persinger offers a reasonable explanation for why people can feel as though they have communed with a divine spirit. Did the Virgin Mary really appear in a grilled cheese sandwich, or is there a more rational explanation? Did Moses really see a god in a burning bush, or did he perhaps make it up? He may even have been schizophrenic. Again, Occam's Razor.
My basic point is that we can't prove that a supreme being does not exist. The evidence against it leads me to believe that a god does not exist, but this is far from conclusive. However, there is ample convincing evidence against such a god being involved in the daily happenings of its creation.
Let's say, for sake of argument, that there was a god that created the universe. What has he been up to since then? Scientific evidence indicates that he/she/it has left the universe to its own devices. Is he collecting unemployment insurance? Did he tire himself out and decide to sleep away the eons? Is he like an innocent bystander who just doesn't want to get involved? Did he figure he was finished his work and willed himself out of existence? Did he die? We can't know.
IF a god created the universe, then I guess he deserves our thanks. So, just in case, "Thanks, dude." That is all you will get from me. Daily or weekly groveling and prayer accomplishes nothing tangible, from my perspective. For the faithful, it can act as a shield against the some of the universe's harsh realities. It can also compel less thoughtful individuals to live more ethically.
As for me, I believe and accept that this is the only life I have, so I should live it fully. I can live a moral life without divine guidance. Unlike militant atheists, I can also respect the beliefs of those who disagree with me. If faith provides you with comfort and/or guidance, who am I to try and convince you otherwise? Unless you are a Scientologist, in which case I might want to call you a wack-job.
I am uncertain that strong atheism does anything to further the cause of rational scientific thought. It merely polarizes viewpoints, resulting in, as an example, a mixture of five-star and one-star reviews.
Many strong atheists see the faithful as deluded and irrational, while fundamentalists see atheists in a similar light. One interesting difference between the two groups is who holds the political power in the United States. The first President Bush once made a claim that atheists should not be considered citizens and not have the right to vote; how very enlightened from a man who once had control of a nuclear arsenal.
The atheist/agnostic movement has much to overcome to be accepted by society at large. I am not convinced that this book will help the cause.
Pseudoscience and bad history.......2007-10-07
Firstly, I would just like to point out that Professor Stenger has no historical credentials whatsoever. He is a physicist and an astronomer, not a historian! It is quite apparent that the little historical research he did, if any, is extremely skewed and faulty.
Secondly, I would like to mention how science cannot disprove any event in history, such as the resurrection of Christ. It is pseudoscientific to the extreme if any scientist attempts to do so! What happened in history happened, regardless of where science takes us.
I will now reveal the most important historical fallacies Stenger made in this book. The first historical error in this book is the claim that no extra-biblical records corroborating the darkness and earthquake during the crucifixion of Jesus exist. That is simply incorrect! There were two ancient Greek historians, who were extremely critical to the early church, who acknowledge this event in their writings. Thallus writes that this darkness was the result of an eclipse, even though he tries to explain the reason he is indeed aware of this event in history. Another Greek historian, Phlegon, also describes the darkness and the earthquake as well. He includes in his writing that the earthquake destroyed the temple in Jerusalem and killed thousands of cattle. He also includes the fact that the entire Mediterranean area was affected by the darkness.
Another major fallacy in Professor Stenger's book is his reliance on the King James Version of the Bible. I would just like to point to the fact that the KJV Bible has been shown to contain several fatal misinterpretations of the original manuscripts of the Old and New Testaments. This is due to the fact that when the KJV was written, the writers had a scarce amount of the original manuscripts. Today, we have a vast amount of the original manuscripts, thanks to archaeology. The KJV Bible should no longer be used as a source of information!
Dr. Stenger's third error, more of a speculation, in his book is the claim that some of the prophecies from the Old Testament were not fulfilled in the life of Jesus. Now, the ancient Jews thought that the fulfillment of prophecies in the time of the messiah would depend upon Israel's moral state. When Jesus of Nazareth came, he fulfilled about half of the prophecies from the Hebrew Bible. The rest of the New Testament shows that the second half of the prophecies will be fulfilled at the end of time, when Christ comes again. It is a matter of time which describes how the prophecies were, and will be, fulfilled, not Israel's moral state or a "failure" of certain prophecies!
List of Scientific proof of NO God usefull.......2007-10-06
I find the lists of Scientific proof that there is NO God are very usefull when countering the pig-ignorant primitive superstition of christians.
The Right Approach, the Wrong Conclusions.......2007-09-19
Victor Stenger tries to demonstrate that, far from confirming theism as some (myself included) have claimed, science actually demonstrates positively that God does not exist. Although considered by many commentators to be part of the `new atheist movement,' along with books from atheists Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris, Stenger's book is much better than those by Dawkins and Harris because he actually attempts to deal with the evidence for and against God's existence rather than complain about the supposed social problems that religion creates. Stenger is straight to the point, for which he should be commended.
In the book, Stenger tries very hard to limit his discussion to issues of science, trying to leave out considerations of philosophy. However, while I understand his desire to approach the topic of God's existence from a unique angle, I think that this decoupling of science from philosophy raises several problems.
For example, in chapter 3, Stenger discusses scientific evidence from the field of neuroscience. He contends that evidence linking conscious states with brain states demonstrates that there is no soul, or, as he puts it, `world beyond matter.' Such a demonstration might be convincing if we are restricted to analyzing science alone. However, as many scientists have recognized, finding a link between brain states and conscious states is not the end of the game. Steven Pinker, a prominent psychologist, distinguishes between the `easy' and `hard' problem of consciousness. The easy problem is trying to identify the link between certain brain states and certain conscious experiences. As Stenger points out, science has made tremendous headway on this problem, and progress will likely continue. But, the hard problem will not go away, because the hard problem of consciousness deals figuring out why there is a first-person, subjective experience of consciousness. This hard problem of consciousness will not go away no matter how much science works on the easy problem. So, in my view, the evidence Stenger raises does little or nothing to challenge the idea that there is a soul. The existence of a soul is necessary to solve the hard problem of consciousness. Thus, in this case, Stenger's reliance on only science has led him, I think, to conclusions that are false and irrelevant.
Stenger runs into the same problem when he discusses morality. He attempts to use science to show that moral ideas come from our evolutionary history, and that religious believers are no better behaved then nonbelieving counterparts anyways. But these questions do not address the philosophical question "are moral values objective, and if so, then where do they come from?" Stenger can argue till he is blue in the face about the gradual development of moral instincts through evolution, but this is simply not relevant to the moral argument for God's existence.
Stenger's lack of philosophical reflection also allow him to reach absurd conclusions while trying to undermine theistic arguments. One particularly potent example in found on page 133, where he tries to answer the question, "Why is there something rather than nothing?" He says,
"...Many simple systems of particles are unstable, that is, have limited lifetimes as they undergo spontaneous phase transitions to more complex structures of lower energy. Since `nothing' is as simple as it gets, we cannot expect it to be very stable. It would likely undergo a spontaneous phase transition to something more complicated, like a universe containing matter."
This view, however, is clearly metaphysically absurd. True nothingness cannot have any properties whatsoever, including the property of instability.
Other than a lack of sound philosophical thinking, the main problem with Stenger's book is the lack of depth. Each chapter is very short and Stenger simply tries to cover too much material in the space he allots. Many of his arguments are left with no support except for a footnote directing the reader to another one of his books.
Unfortunately, it is this lack of depth that ultimately diminishes the value of the book greatly. Although Stenger, unlike some of his atheist comrades, does at least look at the evidence for and against the existence of God, the treatment of the different subjects is too shallow. Moreover, by overlooking a consideration of philosophy, Stenger makes several errors in thinking and overlooks some powerful evidences for God's existence.
Long Live Stenger.......2007-09-16
This is not a Science book. One has to admire Stenger's courage to take on a "supreme being (the one "beyond matter, space, and time") that much of humanity worships. "Learning an enormous amount from this splendid book" (Richard Dawkins) will not be easy for the average reader, who selects this report (by a former physicist and astronomer) of a trial subjecting the God hypothesis to scientific study. The reader has the benefit of learning how scientific methods (as presently understood) are utilized to arrive at the conclusion that God does not exist.
Stenger's excellent and plentiful NOTES and extensive BIBLIGRAPHY are a signal that it takes a so-called scientific inclination (attitude or mind) to master and ultimately enjoy this book.In a 2003 book Stenger found claims of scientific evidence FOR God to be "inadequate". The present book now promises (and mostly succeeds) how "Science shows that God does not exist". Readers, not already having "committed themselves to God as an act of Faith" or "still practicing their religion out of respect for their heritage", who learn to handle the first two Chapters ("Models and Methods" and "The illusion of Design") will with less difficulty follow the evidence as presented by Stenger in nine wonderfully titled Chapters (each with an epigraph - several by David Hume - quite wisely selected). I certainly welcomed Stenger's claim that "if scientific arguments for the existence of God are to be allowed into intellectual discourse, then those against his evidence also have a legitimate place". He ends his book with a refreshing Chapter on "Living in the Godless Universe". Stenger is there to help whenever we are confronted by the never-ending religious onslaught as enjoyed and practiced by many militant believers.
Never forgetting - throughout the book - that the hypothesis to be tested is the existence of God, the reader will find this "journey" to be enjoyable (Stenger's style of writing helps a lot) and probably convincing.
Book Description
Though it is the fastest-growing religion in the world, Islam remains shrouded in ignorance and fear for much of the West. In No god but God, Reza Aslan, an internationally acclaimed scholar of religions, explains this faith in all its beauty and complexity. Beginning with a vivid account of the social and religious milieu in which the Prophet Muhammad forged his message, Aslan paints a portrait of the first Muslim community as a radical experiment in religious pluralism and social egalitarianism. He demonstrates how, after the Prophet’s death, his successors attempted to interpret his message for future generations–an overwhelming task that fractured the Muslim community into competing sects. Finally, Aslan examines how, in the shadow of European colonialism, Muslims developed conflicting strategies to reconcile traditional Islamic values with the realities of the modern world, thus launching what Aslan terms the Islamic Reformation. Timely and persuasive, No god but God is an elegantly written account of a magnificent yet misunderstood faith.
Customer Reviews:
A good begining .......2007-08-27
If your interest in Islam stems from the media attention the religion receives then this book is a wonderful way of learning about the beginning of it all. Aslan's work is clearly structured and unbiased. I wants the reader to understand the gentleness of the religion as well as the powerful protectiveness of the muslims that practise this faith.
War can be found within any religion, just look at the Crusades.
The book is a wonderful piece that I would highly recommend to people who would like to learn more and make their own opinion rather than rely on the views of others.
Excellent Intro to Islam.......2007-08-18
After 9.11, there has been a sudden obsession with Islam. The extreme right-wing media would like to portray the religion as spewing hate and preaching violence. But what is the truth? There are so many versions out there trying to explain Islam to you -- but as an ignorant person, how do you determine what is true and what is fiction?
My knowledge of Islam is practically nil. With growing interest in the religion and my curiosity to learn the origin and spiritual leanings of Islam and the reasons behind the fanaticisms that seem to pervade through a section of the middle east - I decided to read No God but God. Basically, I wanted to form my own opinion rather than being fed with half-baked truths by the media, erroneously termed as facts.
I should also confess - I chose this book because of the author. Reza Aslan has appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher and on the Daily Show. On these shows, he appeared intelligent, eloquent, and exuded a firm grasp of the politics and history of the underpinings of the Islamic movement and the religion itself.
Needless to say, I was impressed. I wikkipedia-ed and googled him; read through his website and discovered he was a scholar - a major plus. Obviously, there are many books out there on Islam. However, as a researcher myself, I decided to go with my kind. I was not wrong with my choice.
The book is very well written. At no time, do you feel that you are getting a boring history lesson. The information is overwhelming, but at the back of my mind, I kept thinking - Does the author have an ulterior motive? Is there a hidden agenda? Is he espousing something specific? Unfortunately, it is difficult to know because I have nothing to compare to. He is a research scholar not the average novelist and therefore, I am inclined to accept his explanations and historical accounts.
The book does not disappoint, it is a fascinating read. I learned a lot and now have a better understanding of the nature of Islam and also, why a faction of Muslims are imposing their myopic interpretation of Islam.
He does a great job in narrating and combining history with current happenings. He beautifully leads us through the origins of the Prophet, his beliefs, principles, and persuasions behind the characterization of the Quran. You also read about the Ka'ba at Mecca, its inextricable link with the origins of Islam and the politics of the rulers that came and went. You learn about the struggle to dissociate Islam, the religion, from the politics of establishing law and governance, as espoused by the various Islamic sects. And finally, you learn about the continuing struggle - as Islam and its believers unravel what the Prophet truly hoped to establish and the future direction of this massive religious movement.
What I found most interesting was the confluence of the origins and teachings of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. Ironically, despite the clear commonalities between these main religions, there is so much strife and hate.
I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more of Reza's work.
[...]
3 1/2 Stars. Not objective like the author intends, but still a good read.......2007-06-20
As a Muslim, I read this book with interest. In NO GOD BUT GOD, Reza Aslan attempts to narrate and analyze the Origins and Evolution of Islam, and a vision of its Future.
Starting with an exploration of Pre-Islamic Arabia, he details the life of the Prophet Muhammad (s), and follows up with the 4 Rightly Guided Caliphs. He then focuses on the evolution of Islamic thought, including the development of the Ulama in Sunni Islam, and the development of other schools of thought/sects such as Shiism and Sufism. He finishes by detailing the response of the Muslim world to colonialism, and modern issues today, especially Islam's struggle towards democracy.
Aslan aims to portray what he feels is an 'objective' portrayal of Islamic history, by correcting what he feels are errors by past scholars, especially Muslim scholars with idealized views. However, ultimately, he is not very successful in his quest. While he criticizes early Islamic historians for portraying '9th century Baghdad' rather than '7th century Madina', one can argue that his view of Islamic history is '21 century American' rather than '7th century Madinan.' His biases are evident, and are typical of 21st century America and the West: Denial of supernatural events, resistance to established historical (especially religious) authority, preference for free-flowing spirituality versus formalized doctrines of law, and importance given to issues such as democracy. (Note, as an American, I share some of these biases, but its important to note their existence as biases in a quest for objectivity.)
Aslan usually starts each section by presenting 'the idealized' view of a topic, as narrated by early Muslim scholars (what he terms as 'myth') and then presents what he believes 'really happened' (history). Myth typically includes miracles, and heroic portrayals of people involved. Those inclined to believe in miracles (and I am one) may have difficulty with this approach, as he flatly says that it doesn't matter whether or not miracles happened (ie, whether Jesus raised the dead) but rather, what role such myths play in shaping the beliefs of a particular religious community. I heartily disagree with Aslan here- I believe it matters a great deal whether or not the beliefs of a religious community are shaped by actual historical events (including wonderous, amazing ones) or whether such beliefs are based on, in the end, lies and falsehood. In any case, Aslan was not there to witness events such as Lazarus rising from the dead, and neither were the early historians, so ultimately, it is up to each person to make up their own mind about the actual historicity of such supernatural events.
Aslan also occasionally over stretches himself in his attempts to deny miracles. For instance, he suggests that its unlikely that the Prophet (s) was illiterate, because as a merchant, he supposedly had to be able to read and write. Clearly Aslan has not spent much time with illiterate people- and is unable to recognize just how much these people can do without reading and writing. (illiterate people today are health workers treating pneumonia and malaria using complex medical regimens, and performing internationally recognized research, including recording results, about endangered species).
However, I must admit that I greatly appreciated Aslan's candor about the religious personalities involved. Sunni Islamic scholarship presents early Islamic historical figures (such as the first 4 Caliphs) and the early Muslim community as incredible, nearly error free, almost absolutely perfect, human beings- almost super-beings. I was always struck at the incongruity of such idealized descriptions and the fact that within a few decades after the death of the Prophet (s), the early Islamic community entered a massive civil war from which one could argue Islam never recovered. I wondered, how could such a supposedly perfect community made with such supposedly perfect people get into such a serious mess so quickly? Reading Aslan's descriptions (which included Sunni, Shii, and western sources) of the personalities involved was very helpful in this regard: they weren't perfect people, but were deeply religious, well meaning people who, yes, had their share of faults, misunderstandings, and disagreements (about Islam and a lot of other things) which built up over the years, and in the chaotic transition after the Prophet's death, exploded into civil war.
Aslan is unable to hide his obvious disdain of the Ulama (Islamic Scholars who have codified Islamic Law, or Shariah). He paints them entirely in a negative light, as a power hungry, control-mad group which has stifled all flexibility from the religion. While this view undoubtedly has a good deal truth to it (I am extremely sympathetic), it must also be admitted that the Scholars did a great deal of work to preserve the religion, and its history, without which we may not even have the religion today, and certainly would know far less about the events surrounding its birth and rise. Aslan is equality negative about the Ayatollah Khomeni, who he feels promised democracy but in reality bamboozled the Iranian people into accepting a theocracy (in reality, a dictatorship under his rule) through his powerful persona. Aslan's views on Khomeni are understandable given the fact that he lived his early life in Iran, experienced the hope that the Iranian people felt during the revolution, only to have to flee the country with his family.
On the other hand, Aslan is quite positive about Sufism, the spiritual branch of Islam, defending all its variations, despite admitting that at least some Sufi beliefs don't square very well with the basic Islamic creed, "No God but God." Aslan correctly states that Sufism is quite complex, and is not generalizable. However, he occasionally tries to generalize anyway, with a view of defending Sufism against the barrage of negative criticism it has received for the unorthodox views of some of its branches. However, this approach leads to occasional contradictions: for example Aslan states that all Sufis follow Islamic acts of worship such as 5 daily prayers, but then also says that some Sufis believe acts of religious worship are only important for the masses, and others believe it is a shell that can be cast off once deeper layers of spirituality are realized.
Aslan's biases are finally represented in his vision of Islam's future. He clearly believes in Islamic pluralism, and believes that it can best be represented by a democracy. Furthermore, he believes that when God's law and the popular will contradict, the popular will should win out. The limits of Islamic pluralism is hotly debated today in the Muslim world, but for me, the claim, "No God but God" is the key to Islam, along with the belief in Muhammad (s) Prophethood. These two aspects should be the backbone of anyone calling themselves a Muslim.
The issue of popular sovereignty over divine law (properly understood and contextualized) is considerably more complex. I ultimately agree with Aslan, one cannot force on a community any law, including a law from God, over a people who do not believe in it, or do not want it implemented in their community. However, Aslan leaves it there, as if that is the end of the story. I would argue that every effort should be made to make the community see the wisdom of divine laws, emphasizing positive consequences in implementing them (improved justice, equality, social harmony, etc) and pointing out negatives of not following them (chaotic society, broken down families, etc), both in this world and in the afterlife.
As other reviewers mention, Aslan is a good writer. His writing is clear and he is able to explain complex concepts deftly. I actually found his 'idealized' sections (the 'myths') often even better written and more powerful than this supposedly objective analysis that follows: his 'myths,' whether of the Prophet (s), the companions, the Caliphs, or Sufi legends are dramatic and pulsating with life. After reading them, it was a bit of a let down (and at times, even irritating) to be told, 'well this is what REALLY happened' and reading an analysis of events that I did not find objective. Aslan should try his hand at fiction!
Know thy enemy.......2007-06-10
Being an agnostic, I look at this book as an analysis of Islam from a present and future aspect. I did not realize that there were so many sects within Islam. Most members of this faith that I have known or been acquainted with have been normal members of society,mainly of Pakistani origin. I am of Jewish origin and some Islamists, mainly from Egypt, would not talk to me. This is against the teachings of Mohammed, a fact unknown by most Mohammedans. The politicalization of this faith is also contrary to his teachings.Since there is so little organization within the relgious factions, I can now understand how the faith can be manipulated by a few. It is almost like the takeover of Germany in the 1930's by Adolph Hitler and his group. I used to think it was sloganism when people said that the faith was hijacked by radical politicians. Now It seems to me, after reading this text, to be a reality .I think it should be a must reading especially by our politicians,but also people of all faiths, especially Islamists!
Wishfull thinking.......2007-06-08
Not in our grandchildren's lifetimes will they see anything remotely resembling enlightened Islam. The author's major problem is that he grew up in America, and understanably, sees the Islamic world and history from that Christianized perspective. The Koran is written in an old fashioned language and script that is not easily accessible to the modern arabic reader. Couple that with the fact that illiteracy rates are very high in many Islamic-dominant countries, except his home country of Iran, and they are at the mercy of the mullahs who preach and teach whatever they interpret as "holy writ". With over 240 admonitions to control, convert, or kill the infidel, and only one or two mentions of Love in a Christian sense, it's no wonder the Islamic fundamentalist have won the reformation battle. Game over. Anyone who espouses a modernistic reform agenda will be be rooted out, and struck down. It's dangerous wishful thinking otherwise.
Customer Reviews:
What IF.......2006-08-30
It seems to me that the people who have given this book a less than desireable review are the ones who are steeped heavily into the brainwashed religious diatribes of what religions have been pushing down their throats as the truth. What they forget is that the bible was written and re written and edited so many times over and over, that one can only believe that the end result is nothing more than what those religions want you to believe....which of course is for their own agenda.
After being a student of many books along these lines, it only comes to say that these people are "young souls" and are NOT ready for the next step. So you can only go by what they say, with that in mind. Eventually in some life time they will awaken.
This book is one of the best ones I have read, other than Sheppard Hoodwin's "The Journey of Your Soul." These two books together answer and explain any question that you may ever have. I belong to no organized religion, nor ever will be as I find that the "rules" that have been made up in them are just not believable at all.
Open your mind and really look inside these books. You will find a wealth of information beyond anything that you could ever hope for. A world so totally amazing it will boggle your mind.
Guidebook.......2006-02-24
It goes one more further step in the book of the Conversation with God (Book1). Very analytical and offers tips and guidance along CWG book1.
Hilarious.......2006-02-24
It's amazing what some people believe. This is basically
blasphemy. The author's definitely inspired from something,
but it's not God. And all of you so-called "ministers" that
are buying into this trash is mind-boggling.
When the Bible says in 2 Tim.3:16 that God's Word is inspired by God, God was saying through Paul that it is God-breathed, that these words are actually God's Words to us of the salvation story. NO ONE since the conclusion of the writing of the books of the New Testament are inspired by God in the same way. No one
can write or speak today without fallacy or error. Those writers of the Bible wrote what God said to write without error or contradiction. Those words are life-changing words as no other writings are. They are living words from God's mouth.
Christians beware............2006-02-22
If you are a Christian and believe in the Bible, then you need to stay away from this book. As the old adage goes, "You can't judge a book by its cover".
The author purports to answer various questions from kids using the "voice of God". However, the "answers" that he gives are not Bible-based and go against the very infallible word of God. For instance (and I paraphrase), when a girl asks the question "Why am I a lesbian?" His answer is that she was born that way because of genetics (just as you were born right-handed, with blue eyes, etc.). Then he tells her to go out and "celebrate" her differences.
Another girls poses the question "I am living with my boyfriend. My parents say that I should marry him because I am living in sin. Should I marry him?"
His reply is, "Who are you sinning against? Not me, because you have done nothing wrong."
Another question asks about God's forgiveness of sin. His reply "I do not forgive anyone because there is nothing to forgive. There is no such thing as right or wrong and that is what I have been trying to tell everyone, do not judge people. People have chosen to judge one another and this is wrong, because the rule is "'judge not lest ye be judged.'"
And the list goes on. Not only are these books the false doctrine, but in some instances, it even quotes the Word of God in error.
A Hindu girl found this book to be brilliant!!.......2006-01-26
What can I say about this book, WOW!! it really is a must read for all, I have read books 1 and 2 and am now on book3 I am Hindu by birth and naturally have not followed a Christian path but I do believe that all beliefs are very similar and there is one creator-one god for everyone. That is how I was bought up. I was never bought up to believe in Satan God created everything and as he says in his book 1 why would he create Satan? There is no hell, there is no judgment. This book is not for people who have only one vision and can only relate to what they have been taught. This book is for people who have expanded views on life and are looking to find there way to there soul/God and there is nothing in this book that would change a person for the worst it can only change a person for the better or not at all, so I guess you have nothing to loose. There is much to absorb from book 1 and books 2&3 and they may need to be read many times. I find pleasure in reading them over and over. They truly fascinate me.
No one recommended this book to me I just stumbled upon the book at my temple, whilst looking for a different book. The name of the book intrigued me and the back of the book drew me in! From the time I bought the book I do not want to put it down. I am grateful that I found it; it has been enlightening for me! This is a book of substance and everyone can draw their own conclusions but for me I believe they are the words from God! And I am the biggest skeptic!
Book Description
It is not by accident that you just picked up When God Winks. Whether you call it synchronicity or coincidence, what brought you to this book today is worth remembering. In fact, you may have suspected all along that there is more to coincidence than meets the eye. These seemingly random events are actually signposts that can help you successfully navigate your career, relationships, and interests. SQuire Rushnell shows us that by recognizing our "God Winks," we can use the untapped power of coincidence to vastly improve our lives.
The author applies his compelling theory as to why coincidences exist to fascinating stories in history, sports, medicine, and relationships involving both everyday and famous people including Barbra Streisand, Charles Schulz, Oprah Winfrey, Kevin Costner, Mark Twain, and Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
Customer Reviews:
Quite Disappointing.......2007-09-28
This book was extremely disappointing. I was very excited about it. I've had times in my life when I KNOW the Lord has worked and I was hoping this book would help me be more in tune to the Lord's work in my life and help me see specific situations I may have missed. What a joke!!!
The book seems to be more of a manual for how to use coincidences to do what you want and feel good about it. Many of the examples of "God Winks" lead people to do things that our Lord would not approve of (one example being divorce).
But my biggest complaint is that the vast majority of the author's examples of "God Winks" comes from the rich and famous. I got the impression that the author apparently can not even relate to or understand the work of God in the average person's life. This mistake on the author's part could lead to a reader becoming hopeless rather than hopeful that the True God is working in their life.
I did not come away from the reading believing that the author knew and understood the True God of the Bible, though I did gain some benefit from reading the book. Reading it did remind me that God does work in my life in a personal way and that I need to always be looking for that work - and more importantly that I need to acknowledge, cherish and remember that work.
I would like to share two instances that I know God worked in my life. One could be considered a "coincidence" but the other is just God's work. And both are simple, average examples of the Lord working in an ordinary person's life. They do not describe any life-changing events, but they are God's work non-the-less.
1) My car - a Subaru Justy - was doing it's job getting my family of 5 around (two in car seats!). We joked about it being the clown car because we could all squeeze in and it looked funny; all of us piling out. The driver's side seat belt broke. We called to find out how much it would cost to fix and discovered that we really, really could not afford it, but what else could we do? Days later we received a letter in the mail informing us that the seat belts had been recalled and we could have it repaired at a dealership for free. What a BLESSING! This seems like a coincidence (or a "God Wink") but I took it for what it was....the Lord watching over us and taking care of our needs.
2) Shortly before my grandfather died we made a trip to visit him. He was my favorite person in the world. The whole time we were there (as other times before) I would get on to my boys for being loud and rambuctious. My grandfather would sit in his chair in the living room and seemed to be sleeping. He was very frail. I was afraid that my boys would bother him. At one point the boys came bouncing loudly into the room. As I was about to get on to them and scold them for being loud I looked over at my grandfather. He was sitting in his chair laughing! He was wasting away at the end of his life, yet he was enjoying his grandsons' romping around his house. That was pure gold to me. You can't call this a coincidence. You could call it a "God Wink", but after reading Rushnell's book I have an aversion to that term. God did move and speak into my life, but it was absolutely nothing like what Rushnell describes in his book.
I could give many more boring examples of how God has worked in my ordinary life. They probably wouldn't be as appealing as Rushnell's examples because they weren't coincidences on my path to being rich and famous. But they are real examples of a real God working in an ordinary person's life. And they didn't lead me to do something that God would not approve of, quite the opposite. All of the personal experiences I've had with God working in my life have led me away from sin and toward God.
All that to say that if you believe in the God of the Bible don't waste your time reading this book. Instead spend the time really thinking on and praying about how the Lord has worked in your life. Thank Him for it and rejoice!
titus2want2b
Inspiration in a Wink.......2007-03-16
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is a quick read and has a lot of short stories to illustrate how God is making Himself known in our lives. I came away with the hope that the coincedences in my own life really are signs that God is touching my life.
When God Winks:How the Power of Coincidence Guides Your Life.......2007-03-15
Wonderful book! I've given copies to 20 plus friends.
Amazing how it helps you see life differently.
God Winks has changed the way I view everyday happenings.
Highly recommendthis book!
Love It!.......2007-01-30
This book is an easy read, but it makes you think about different events in your life. It also helps give you a new perspective on your life. I highly recommend it!
Everyone should read this book!.......2007-01-19
Great book for young and old. I encourage everyone to read this book. It really makes you think about your life and the path that we choose. Pay attention to the signs in life!!!
Book Description
Every moment of your life is like a page in a Where’s Waldo book. God is there, the Scriptures tell us—on every one of them. But the ease with which he may be found varies from one page to the next. God is closer than you think!
Download Description
Two works of art help John Ortberg think about the presence of God. One is Michelangelo Buonarroti's brilliant painting of God and Adam on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. God is close. His hand comes within a hair's breath of the hand of the man. It seems to say that God is closer than we think-he's here, now, today, accessible to all who will but "lift a finger." The second work of art is Martin Hanford's cartoon character Waldo. He is on every page of the Where's Waldo? books, but he can be difficult to find. In the same way, even though God is present on every page of our lives, he's often not easy to spot. In God Is Closer Than You Think, John Ortberg examines this frustrating paradox of the Christian life. "When it is so easy to 'see' God all around me (in trees, in birds, in nature) why is it so hard to feel his presence-especially when I need him most?" Ortberg helps readers discover the secret to living daily in the reality of God's most frequent promise in Scripture, "I will be with you."
Customer Reviews:
Outstanding!.......2007-07-27
Ortberg is a master. Next to his book, If You Want To Walk On Water, You've Got To Get Out of the Boat, this was as good as it gets for relating to God in our limited human minds. Ortberg has tremendous way of taking ordinary stories, humor and life experiences and making them clear pictures of what Scripture communicates. Excellent, excellent book.
Where's Waldo?.......2006-11-10
I purchased this book for a small group setting and it fit the bill perfectly. Ortberg has a way of uncovering truth and in this book, encourages you to find Waldo, a God who wants to be part of your everyday life. I enjoyed it personally, was challenged by it and found the group setting enhanced my learning. I do look for God differently now since I've read the book. He is closer than we think.
I would have kept the orginial jacket cover. It focuses you to the subject matter much better.
Not bad.......2006-09-23
This book is a pretty decent book if you are interested in a mostly narrative style of discussion on Christian Living. Entertaining, well written, and clear, I would recommend it if you are looking for this type of book.
Don't try so hard!.......2006-07-19
This is a very helpful little book on how to find God in your everyday life. The discussion of Martha & Mary is particularly astute. My only complaint about the book is that Ortberg tries way too hard to be funny and even hip. (This is the first book of his that I've read, so I don't know if he does this all the time or not; I suspect he does.) Humor should be natural, not forced, as it is in this book. His attempts to be hip are merely pathetic. For instance, he quotes the line "The jerk store called & they've run out of you" attributing it to a friend of his. He obviously has no clue it comes from a Seinfeld episode! Still & all, a good book, though, for a Christian at any level.
I Am Convinced!.......2006-04-14
Upon a recommendation from my pastor, I picked this book up and I was not disappointed. John Ortberg writes with a Max Lucado approach. Taking everyday things and making us realize that they too have a place in our spritual walk. He challenges us to look for God in everyday occurences. His premise, as indicated by the title, is that God is more active in our everyday walk than we give Him credit for. In turn, he challenges us to do our part in praying that God bring His Kingdom to earth.
Book Description
"A colorful reinterpretation…. Stewart's wit and profluent prose make this book a fascinating read."—Publishers Weekly, starred review
Philosophy in the late seventeenth century was a dangerous business. No careerist could afford to know the reclusive, controversial philosopher Baruch de Spinoza. Yet the wildly ambitious genius Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, who denounced Spinoza in public, became privately obsessed with Spinoza's ideas, wrote him clandestine letters, and ultimately met him in secret.
"In refreshingly lucid terms" (Booklist) Matthew Stewart "rescues both men from a dusty academic shelf, bringing them to life as enlightened humans" (Library Journal) central to the religious, political, and personal battles that gave birth to the modern age. Both men put their faith in the guidance of reason, but one spent his life defending a God he may not have believed in, while the other believed in a God who did not need his defense. Ultimately, the two thinkers represent radically different approaches to the challenges of the modern era. They stand for a choice that we all must make.
Customer Reviews:
Baruch Wins by a Knockout!.......2007-08-30
So many reviews already! Mine will be brief. Matthew Stewart's exegesis of Spinoza is brilliant, the clearest I've ever encountered, and should be taken as a challenge from the past by all adherents of "Intelligent Design". Leibniz is portrayed less sympathetically, indeed as a bit of an intellectual opportunist, as if Voltaire had not already convinced all the world that "Pangloss" was a hapless fool. Even if you, dear reader, are utterly indifferent to the theological/philosophical issues of the 17th C (which are still with us), you may well find this book as sprightly and engrossing as any historical novel.
Of Course We Should Care!.......2007-08-18
If you are honest enough to ask "why do I exist?" or "is there a God?" then you should care. These "old philosophers" affirm the enduring and ever-present tension between the power of reason to understand and the necessity of faith (or an approximation of such) to carry on and to cope. It is rational to struggle with such notions, irrational not to. To peer under the context and understand the motivations, personalities, and failings of those who rose to intellectual heights is to assure oneself of an appreciation of how the greatest of us have sought answers. To suppose such things not worth a care is to sleep through life.
Do we really care what old philosophers have to say?.......2007-05-18
The book is quite readable for the layperson. It is historically interesting, especially the interplay of notables of the era. There is too much repetition of the basic philosophic positions of the principals. The philosophy of both men has for the most part been dicarded by modern thinkers. It would be more interesting if the author had spent more space explaining how more latter day thinkers appraise the contributions of Leibniz and Spinoza. On the whole it was good. R Stageman
Opposing Views on Religion.......2007-05-14
On the back of the paperback's cover, the author, Matthew Stewart, is described as philosopher having sold off his consulting business to live a life of contemplation in Santa Barbara. Intriguing and interesting! Stewart has woven together the ideas and story behind two very distinct minds and world viewpoints. A life of contemplation has been very good for him.
Spinoza, the heretic, lived a simple life not seeking luxury or fame. His atheistic view of an inanimate God is largely viewed as the start of modernity. Leibniz was everything Spinoza was not. He was paragon of superlatives. Fashion-conscious, materialist, well-educated, and overly ambitious seemed to be intrigued with the ideas of Spinoza. After recognizing the consequence of Spinoza's ideas, he defended traditional beliefs. Leibniz was largely forgotten by the world after his death, even though he invented calculus at roughly the same time as Newton and influenced the philosophy of Kant.
I do wish the author took the time to use modern words when presenting some of the philosophical concepts. The language of the late 1600s and early 1700s is hard to conceptualize. For example, Leibniz postulated that the universe is composed of countless conscious centers of spiritual force or energy, known as monads. What the heck is a monad? A small complaint in an otherwise wonderfully executed and researched book.
lots of interesting facts.......2007-05-13
Matthew Stewart's scholarship has yielded an amazing harvest of very interesting facts not learned in a history of philosophy course.
It's sad to learn how human all too human Leibniz was. What a waste of a sharp mind.
But philosophy as soap opera is no better than other soap operas. Wittgenstein likened a gathering of philosophy professors to an outbreak of bubonic plague.
Book Description
This book describes how understanding the structure of reality leads to the Theory of Everything Equation. The equation unifies the forces of nature and enables the merging of relativity with quantum theory. The book explains the big bang theory and everything else.
Customer Reviews:
The Real Deal.......2006-09-25
Although Mr. Wheatley is a little verbose in sections, his documentation of Zen Buddhistic Principles found throughout the disciplines of Mathematics, Physics, Theology, etc. forms a nice reference guide for anyone tuned into that wavelength. In particular, his explanation of how Godel's Theorem and Cantor's "Confusion" shed great light on the difference between GOD's Logic and Man's Logic should be a revelation to any undergraduate level math students who encounter these ideas for the first time. Curiously, Mr. Wheatley makes many misstatements about both Zen Buddhism Principles and the Bible, however. For example, by accepting the false biblical teaching of Original Sin, he misses the point that eating the proverbial apple gave Adam and Eve the ability to make Moral Discernments in fulfillment of GOD'S PERFECT PLAN. As proof, read Genesis 1 which states that Man and Woman were made in GOD's Image. Genesis 4 shows that Adam and Eve weren't the first humans on Earth at all, there were plenty of others by then. The allegorical meaning of the story of Eden, then, isn't that Adam and Eve were the first humans on Earth, but they were the first humans with the ability to make Moral Discernments (in GOD's Image). In fact, Moral Discernment is God's Unique Gift to Man, which is the basis of consciousness, not some Math Formula. But because the wages of the resulting, unavoidable sin are Death, many people foolishly try to return to Eden by: (1) living a sinless Life (2) by removing choice altogether by passing and enforcing strict Laws (3) by attempting to do away with Moral Discernment and the resulting consequences for our actions altogether by trying to remove Shame from Shameful actions. GOD is not some ethereal Man-In-Space, but is simply the Totality of all Real Things, The Set of All Real Sets. GOD's Love manifests itself from the amazing sub-atomic relationships that underly this magic Life all the way to the grandest of Macroscopic Scales, the Interconnected Totality itself. The Zen Buddhism connection can be found by simply superimposing the 0 symbol and the symbol for infinity (8 on its side) in Mr. Wheatley's supposedly "new" formulation that 1 = 0 x infinity. Superimposing them gives you the yin-yang symbol. A potential disadvantage of artificially separating the infinity from the zero, however, is that Mr. Wheatley is able to equate the entire expression to be equal to 1. This potentially might obscure the fact that the deepest meaning of the yin-yang symbol is that it is both 2 and 1 AT THE SAME TIME. His overall equation does preserve that important meaning by utilizing a single element on one side of the equation and two elements on the other side of his final TOE equation. This may be hard to see for some at first, however, which could potentially obscure the richest meaning of this beautiful symbol/equation. A much more GODLY TOE, in my opinion, comes from Euler, who discovered that e ^ (i * pi) - 1 = 0. When someone can explain that relationship, then they can say they know GOD.
A life changing experience??.......2005-06-13
This book is an easy read and does succeed in being somewhat thought-provoking. However, I am a little surprised at the awesome, "life changing" experience it apparently was for many of the readers. Wheatley's conclusions were interesting but nothing really new. All of his material should have passed through the mind of any thinking person without the aid of this book.
The reason I gave this book three stars is because he uses unneccessarily wordy ways of describing simple things. Also, the author and many other reviewers insist that Wheatley makes only one assumption. Wrong-his whole theory is one big assumption.
Overall though it was a very interesting and worthy book.
Should be Required Reading for everyone.......2004-06-26
This book will change your life. You will never think the same way you did before reading it.
I have a degree in chemistry and I think this book should be read by everyone in the sciences. Without a doubt, the best book I've ever read. Why and what are two of our best friends
A Very Important Book.......2004-01-26
I must preface my review by stating that I have never been so excited and moved by a book that I have wanted to contact the author. That is what I found myself doing upon reading this book. This book is just what its title says. The author does not "miss a beat" describing in great detail using practically every aspect of scientific knowledge from atomic structure through logic to quantum theory---we are even given a valuable explanation of Love. This text may be challenging to read for those unfamiliar with scientific terminology. And it can also be difficult for those with a science background, such as myself. However, for me it is well worth the work necessary to strive to understand the unfamiliar terminology. (I am continually learning from this book. I am presently on my third reread).
One of the author's main messages is "not" to believe anything without first verifying it with reality, as we know it. He calls it the "Personal Explanation Principle". He indicates that religions are just such belief systems that we as people "fall" victims of; because we do not verify the beliefs with the facts, as we know them, of reality. He gives a very detailed explanation of how the New Testament can be explored using his methodology.
The author methodically and meticulously walks us through his thought processes, which took 30 years to assimilate, of delineating the structure of reality and the nature of consciousness. Included in the "walk" are many of reality's phenomena made revelatory. An example of that, for me, would be the dual nature of light. It's particle/wave duality, which is explained as "functions". Also, when the author took me on the mental journey of "Setness" an exhilaration of the magnificence of life swelled up in me.
To me this is a very important book that should be read by all that are seekers of truth. It is for all those wanting to gain an understanding of the purpose for their existence, wanting to know where life is headed towards, and wanting to know who God is.
This book will enlighten and develop one's mind substantially. You will discover that this is our objective.
And yes, I contacted the author and he responded openly.
Illuminating!!!.......2002-12-30
This is a really great book. It combines philosophy and science in order to tackle a multitude of existential problems. The author's style of writing is fresh and alive, I recommend ths book to anyone interested in expanding the fronteirs of their understanding. Books I also liked are a Universe in an Nutshell by Steven Hawkings and Descent into Illusions by Paul Omeziri.
Average customer rating:
- Excellent philosophical critique of theism
- The Right Way to Do It
- Flawless arguments against some theist positions, but limited scope
- Still the Strongest Argument for Atheism in Print
- Why You Should Not Believe In God
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The Miracle of Theism: Arguments For and Against the Existence of God
J. L. Mackie
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
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ASIN: 019824682X |
Customer Reviews:
Excellent philosophical critique of theism.......2007-05-11
The Australian philosopher John Mackie, sadly now deceased, has always been one of my favorite philosophers, and when I heard from several religious people that this was in their view the best critique of religion, I decided to buy it at once. The book is indeed highly rewarding of its praise, for it is the most thorough philosophical (here as opposed to scientific) critique of all (mono)theist apologetics written so far.
Unlike such recent anti-theist writers as Dawkins and Dennett, Mackie is extraordinarily charitable to the theists' claims, making sure to mention every possible argument in their favor and using only counter-arguments that could not possibly be considered controversial or contingent on a given scientific theory, etc. In fact, he is much more charitable in some places than is really necessary; I would not have the same patience with the meaningless phrasings of Swinburne or Küng that Mackie has. In any case, Mackie diligently and cordially addresses each of the main issues surrounding theist apologetics: miracles, the ontological argument, the cosmological arguments (including Kalam), moral arguments, the issue of consciousness, free will, the argument from design, the argument from faith alone (Kierkegaard), the argument from popularity (William James), the problem of evil, the possibility of atheist morality, and so on.
Mackie shows himself at his best here - an impressive array of arguments and decisive counterarguments, even against such modern superstars of apologetics like William Lane Craig and Alvin Plantinga, are dealt with in sequence with seemingly no effort at all. Not a single theist argument remains standing, and Mackie is sure to remind us at all times that not only is the burden of proof on the theists, but they also have to show their view more likely than not as well as more likely than naturalist explanations, if their view is to succeed. As Mackie makes abundantly clear, this is a bar far too high for any theology whatever to achieve.
This book is strongly recommended for everyone interested in religion and philosophy, although the work is written at a high level and is not easy or 'popular' reading. To further dig into the issue of ethics and atheism, I would also recommend reading Mackie's defense of ethical anti-realism: Ethics: Inventing Right and Wrong.
The Right Way to Do It.......2006-10-26
I don't agree with Mr. Mackie's ultimate conclusion, but that is not the point of my review. Mackie has addressed the question in the proper fashion. He shows proper respect for the arguments of those with whom he differs and he lets the case stand or fall on its ultimate merits. Were I an atheist this book would be my model for argument. Compared to Mackie the recent works of Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins seem to be the work of crackpots. "The village atheists screaming at the village idiots" to parphrase Chesterton. I can actually envision having a rational debate with Mackie on the topic. I only hope that I would be able to hold my own. He quite cogently for his point of view and even though its not mine
any person of faith and any non believer who is interested in the concept of God from a philosophical point of view will be enriched by reading this work.
Flawless arguments against some theist positions, but limited scope.......2006-10-21
Mackie's book discusses the main arguments for and against the existence of God. The book covers many different kinds of proofs for the existence of God, for example, ontological, cosmological, teleological proofs, moral arguments for God, as well arguments from consciousness, and religious experience. He goes back to Anselm, Aquinas, Descartes, Hume and Berkeley, but a lot of his focus is on modern proofs (Plantinga, Hans Kung, Swinburne). Using what I consider nearly flawless logic he argues convincingly against all of those proofs, including the more complex modern versions. However, I do not consider his handling of the cosmological proof fully satisfying. Even though it is correct that the cosmological proof is flawed because it is possible that the Universe has always existed, modern cosmology implies an actual beginning of the universe (including time).
He is also discussing the "problem of evil" (how can evil exist if there is a good and omnipotent God). In particular he argues against Alvin Plantingas' defense of the theistic position (Plantingas defense is based on free will). However, it should be noted that many modern theological belief systems do not require an omnipotent, or all good God, and some also consider evil a "good" in the long run (soul development). So the famous problem of evil does not apply to those systems.
The book is well written, coherent, concise, and uses well constructed and correct logical arguments throughout. It is an excellent book in philosophy. However, I question its relevancy to the average theist and atheist alike. For example, I have never met anyone who is basing his faith on the ontological proof for God's existence. Clearly religious faith is often an adaptation to the faith of your family and society. However, faith is also sometimes based on very personal and profound religious experiences, which may not be relevant to other people, but are compelling to the experiencer himself. In addition, the scope of the book does not cover many modern forms of spirituality, some that does not even require a "classical definition of God".
So in conclusion, the book is a great book on philosophy, but it is far from the last word on spirituality and faith.
Still the Strongest Argument for Atheism in Print.......2005-11-02
In "The Miracle of Theism" J.L. Mackie examines the arguments for and against the existence of God from an atheistic perspective. John Mackie is a highly respected twentieth century philosopher and along with Anthony Flew has been one of the most capable contemporary proponents of atheism.
Written almost a quarter of a century ago, "The Miracle of Theism" remains a classic in the field of religious philosophy and is widely considered to be one of the best-stated arguments for atheism in print. Unfortunately, many popular works supporting the atheistic perspective come across as unduly angry and self-righteous. In contrast, Mackie's work is a much-needed breath of fresh air. One may disagree with Mackie while at the same time respecting his views. The book touches on a wide range of important issues, I offer the following thoughts for potential readers:
The approach is largely evidentiary in nature - Mackie examines different arguments for and against the existence of God and assesses the overall likelihood of theism in light of his analysis of these arguments. This is not an uncommon approach, however, theists often argue that it is the wrong way around and that a more direct awareness of God is available (see Plantinga's Warranted Christian Belief for an opposing view).
Mackie does a good job in handling the ontological argument. On examination this classic "proof" does seem to possess more force than is initially evident. Despite its subtle attractiveness, however, I tend to agree with Mackie that something does quite feel right about it. At the end of the day the attempt to define God into existence seems more like a logical -linguistic exercise than a compelling argument.
The handling of the cosmological argument is not as strong. Current scientific and philosophical thought favours an actual beginning for universe (including space and time). Traditionally, atheists had taken the tact that the universe had always existed and hence did not require an explanation. Although this supposed beginning does not let the theist entirely of the hook (an uncaused God can be a conceptual challenge), it is doubly problematic for the atheist who is faced with the universe not only being created out of nothing but also for no reason. To be fair to the author, however, much of the scientific and philosophical thought, which added to the cosmological argument's theistic appeal is subsequent to Mackie's work. A good starting point in this area for interested readers is Craig and Smith's "Atheism, Theism and Big Bang Cosmology".
Mackie's handling of the teleological (or argument from design) is interesting if a bit dated. From my perspective Mackie reliance on Hume is a bit excessive (he is an accomplished Hume scholar and his comments if not always salient to the current argument are of value in themselves). Similar to the cosmological argument, recent developments in science have also weakened the atheist position in this area. The complexity of life and the apparent fine-tuning of the universe has made its "accidental appearance" extremely improbable.
The argument from evil - i.e. that the existence of evil and a wholly good God are logically incompatible is widely viewed as the best argument for atheism. While it retains some of its emotional appeal it has lost much of its intellectual bite. It is now widely accepted that there is no logical incompatibility between God and the existence of evil and consequently the argument has shifted to a less forceful approach - i.e. how much evil is compatible with a theistic model.
Although atheism remains a popular worldview, many commentators recognise that the intellectual ground has shifted toward the theistic position. The argument from evil, while still possessing some force, has been weakened whereas the teleological and cosmological arguments in support of theism have been strengthen by developments in philosophy and science. Flew himself has recently acknowledge that theism is the more likely explanation (he appears to be advocating a deistic perspective) - it is interesting to speculate where Mackie would be given current thought?
Overall, though the argument for atheism has weakened in recent years Mackie's work remains its best and most compelling statement. It is an excellent book and I highly recommended it to all readers - atheist or theist.
Why You Should Not Believe In God.......2005-08-10
There is a principle that is more important than either science or religion.
It is the principle that belief requires evidence and extraordinary beliefs
require extraordinary evidence. Faith is simply wrong. An unsound principle.
What little evidence there is in support of the existence of a god or
gods is more than outweighed by the evidence against. And even if it
were not it would only be strong enough to lend support to a pantheistic
god or some other similar weak claim.
The gods of the common world religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam,
etc.) claim so many powers that belief in them would require much more
extraordinary evidence. In fact, there is so little evidence one should not
even believe than Moses or Christ ever existed as historical figures.
Customer Reviews:
Tom Wright = the best Bible expositor out there.......2007-10-06
Bishop N.T. Wright's The New Testament and the People of God is a marvelous work of exegesis. Unlike his 'for everyone' Bible studies which are filled with contemporary references and language, his series of scholarly tomes-of which this is one of three--are not for the casual reader. They are, however, for any Christian who wants to know more about the growth of the Christian church in the first century and how Christianity diverged from its Judaic roots. This is not light reading, but it is definitely worthwhile.
The New Testament and the People of God.......2007-01-10
Necessary reading for any student wishing to study in detail the mission and message of Jesus. It is too technical for the ordinary reader, although not too academic for students genuinely interested in the subject. A very good introducation to the other books in the series by N.T.Wright.
Great scholarship, shoddy book making.......2006-11-26
I find Tom Wright's work exciting and challenging.
I just wish the publisher spent a bit more money on the book binding and covers. Both my NTPG and JAVG have delaminated covers and spines (and I treat them very gently). Surely works as fine as these deserve better!
Masterpiece.......2006-01-11
It is difficult to speak of this work without over selling. Serious Bible students and theologians alike must read Wright's work. He does not simply rehash old theories; he steps out with fresh insight and boldly states his positions without apology. He masterfully builds his case.
The first 144 pages are spent on the subject of epistemology. After he has thoroughly introduced you to this subject he then moves on to teach, in a very readable and interesting way, about the history of the Jews from exile to Bar Kochba. He demonstrates his understanding of primary source documents to such a degree that one wonders do they even need to read anyone else on the subject. This book is thorough, but good. Wright presents his material in such a way as to teach and convince, rather than to show off how much he knows. This is not a light read. The subject matter is heavy, but definitely worth the work with what I find to be a great teacher.
Wright moves from Jewish history and thought into Church history and thought and ends with a chapter that bears the title of the book.
After I got past the first 144 pages of the book this book became hard to put down. If you get this book and find the first 144 pages too laborious, skip it and then read the first part later, but make sure you do not quit on this book. The good news is that this is just volume one and afterwards comes Jesus And The Victory of God. I am just starting on it now, but can already tell that it will equal or exceed this book.
Profoundly Intellectual and Brilliant..........2006-01-03
I was introduced to N.T. Wright in a Life of Christ class at my university, and out of my research for greater understanding of who "Christ" was and is, sought to read the great 6 volume work which has yet to be completed. I was taken-back by how large the first volume was, however, in reading the first page or two, you get sucked into this great third contemporary quest for the "historical Jesus." I am shocked that out of all those on board for the third quest, N.T. Wright is one of the only ones to believe that Jesus indeed is the Jewish Messiah. In the New Testament and the People of God, Wright establishes a greater background than people are traditionally willing to accept - that is that Jesus was Jewish. He removed the clouds that people paint over their eyes when focusing upon the greatest figure in history. The idea that Jesus was similar to the image created in our minds in the movie "Jesus of Nazareth"; an Englishman who wears clean clothes, speaks English, had a well-kept modern beard, and looked nothing like how people in the Middle East do look. In this book, I enjoy Wright's scholarly effort to tame the American Evangelical Fundamentalist view on who Jesus was. I encourage all of you who would like to enjoy a deeply complex scholarly work on the historical Jesus and are mildly serious scholars to begin your "quest" by finding out who He was, and taking into account Wright's view on the Jewishness of Christ our Lord.
Book Description
Machaelle Small Wright is a spiritual pioneer with the profound ability to "see" and "hear" the invisible forces of nature.
Her personal story is one of triumph, from a childhood of torment and isolation to discovery of her ability to communicate with the world of nature spirits and devas.
At "Perelandra," her 45-acre private nature research center in Virginia, Machaelle devotes her life to understanding and demonstrating a new approach to ecological balance:
* The foundation and development of co-creative gardening * The ecological effects of humans * The roles of the animal, mineral and plant kingdoms * Humankind's unrealized custodianship of Planet Earth
A book beyond the
God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything
Atheist Universe: The Thinking Person's Answer to Christian Fundamentalism
Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon
