Carl (a former atheist) wrote in one of my posts about Ray Comfort, that he, "wonder(s) if atheists have ever truly looked at Christian Apologetics objectively."
I found this comment interesting because I do have several bookshelf feet of Christian apologetics.
Carl did mention a couple of apologists that I didn't know about. And because of that, I've just ordered a copy of "The Devil's Delusion: Atheism and its Scientific Pretensions" by Discovery Institute Senior Fellow David Berlinski. I chose this book due to the review by Rebecca Hamilton on the blog "Public Catholic".
I've also added Ravi Zacharias, and St. Ignatius of Antioch to my apologetics wishlist on Amazon. William Lane Craig is already in my list, and I own copies of "Hard Questions, Real Answers" and "Reasonable Faith" by Craig.
I purchase anywhere from 10-20 physical books a month, and more digitally. I prefer purchasing physical copies of apologetics because I like to write my thoughts in the margins. (You should see my copy of "Mere Christianity"!)
But if it comes down to it, if I have the choice between purchasing a book for work, or for personal growth, or for entertainment, or for religion - religion takes a back seat to the rest. My primary wish list has over 900 books on it!
So here is where you might be willing to help me out. First, suggest a book that will make me abandon atheism for your religion. I don't care if you are Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Hindu, or a Bön shamanist from Tibet. If you know a great apologetics book for your relgion, suggest it to me and I'll add it to my apologetics wishlist on Amazon.
Next, if you wish (no pressure here!) you might see it clear to actually browse my apologetics wishlist and actually PURCHASE one of these books for me as a gift. You could purchase it for me used if it is available. I don't mind.
In fact, many of my books are used, either from Amazon, or from me combing through the local used bookstores, Goodwill, AmVets, or Salvation Army. The demographics of this area include lots of older religious conservatives, and when they die their books are frequently donated. (I find lots and LOTS of books from Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, James Dobson, and Tom Clancy. That gives you a broad idea of what the local conservative mindset is like.)
So, let me know what book you want to see on my Amazon wishlist. Or take a look at it yourself, and send me a copy. But only if you really feel like it.
14 comments:
Interesting. Most of the apologetics books I've read, I read while I was still a Christian. I was pretty much an amateur apologist for a large portion of my time as a Christian. Those books ring hollow to me now, and so do any I've read since.
I don't fault anyone for having faith, but since losing my faith in 2008 (Sting's If Ever Lose My Faith In You is on Pandora right now. Ha!)I have not experienced anything that has led me to believe in any higher power. I'm still open to the idea though.
I'm still trying to get settled into my new home. Part of that is setting up my woodshop so that I can build more bookshelves.
Once I have my books shelved, I'll scan them all into librarything.com and link to it from here so everyone can see exactly what I have.
I doubt that I'm going to move away from atheism, but I do my best to keep an open mind about it. Evidence might make me change my mind. Of course, any deity that exists could change my mind for me.
Yeah, I have the feeling that if a deity exists, they know where to find me. Regardless, I will go on living my life, loving my friends and family, and trying not to be too much of a jerk. ;)
@ Calladus
Will you read an online book if I send you the link?
Or you only collect the books and you are fond of collecting only.
What's your book's Amazon or New York Times ranking paarsurrey?
I have had several people send me their own self-published books. None of them were well edited, and few of them were well thought-out.
I treat any self-published book like any publisher or literary agent would treat the manuscripts in their slush pile. I'll read the first 5 pages, and if it doesn't grab me I'll reject it.
So far, no self-published book has managed to keep my interest past 5 pages. But maybe yours will be different.
As for digital vs physical books, I have a lot of digital books. Their chief failing is that I cannot write in their margins.
Not a book, but a guy uploading videos on Youtube. He's nowadays more into quantum physics. I think he really proves that we aren't passive observers of the Universe, but the Universe BEHAVES in a different way when we observe. Why? He offers an argument for God.
Here are two examples of his work:
"Virtual Universe" (based on quatum physics) would prove God:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2Xsp4FRgas
Debunking Materialism:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C5pq7W5yRM
@Calladus :4/2/14 8:51 AM
The name of the book is “Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam” by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad 1835-1908; it can be accessed freely at the following link:
http://www.alislam.org/library/books/Philosophy-of-Teachings-of-Islam.pdf
I give below a short introduction of the Book from Wikipedia:
'''The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam''' is an essay on Islam by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, founder of the Ahmadiyya religious movement. The original was written in Urdu with the title Islami Usool ki Falāsifi, in order to be read at the Conference of Great Religions held at Lahore on December 26–29, 1896. It explicitly deals with the following five broad themes with detail set by the moderators of the Conference:
1. The physical, moral, and spiritual states of man;
2. What is the state of man after death?
3. The object of man's life and the means of its attainment;
4. The operation of the practical ordinances of the Law in this life and the next;
5. Sources of Divine knowledge
The essay on the philosophy of the teachings of Islam gained much popularity since it was delivered in the conference. It received numerous favorable reviews in various newspapers in India, England, and America. The well known Russian writer Count Leo Tolstoy commented on it thus:
“I approved very much two articles, ‘How to get rid of the Bondage of Sin’ and ‘The Life to Come’, especially the second. The idea is very profound and very true.”
It was originally published in The report of the Conference of Great Religions and was later published in book form as Islami Usool Ki Falāsifi. It was subsequently translated into English. It has seen many editions and has been translated into French, Dutch, German, Spanish and various other languages.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Philosophy_of_the_Teachings_of_Islam
I'll take a look at this. Thanks
I don't understand why a person would want to be religious for the sake of being religious. Jesus even called the religious "Vipers".
What about just wanting to know what the truth is (about something)?
However, I understand why people wouldn't want to actually know truth but then they would have to live with the consequences whatever the truth is about that.
@Calladus :18/2/14 10:47 AM
Did you read the book I suggested?
I suggest you start researching one of the most scientifically researched objects on this planet, namely the shroud of turin.
It seems to be something that many atheists never do more then a very shallow reading into.
Most of the evidence points to authenticity now that agnostic thermal chemist Ray Rogers senior fellow at the los Alamos labs has invalidated the only evidence against authenticity (namely the 1988 c14 tests) with his peer reviewed chemical analysis published in the secular chemical specialist journal thermochimica acta.
Once you start leaning towards authenticity you come face to face with the image itself and all of its unique qualities.
Former Agnostic lawyer mark Antonnachi originally set out to debunk Christianity because his Christian Girlfriend at the time was giving him a headache.
He started with the shroud and what he thought would take a few weeks max ended up taking 20+ years and not only didn't he debunk the shroud but because of it ended him converting to Christianity himself.
To study the shroud you must research it from a totality of history , science and common sense.
We know only 2 people in hiostiry were crucified in this way and it was Jesus and the man of the shroud.
Hope this helps a bit
Mike aka MonolithTMA said...
Yeah, I have the feeling that if a deity exists, they know where to find me. Regardless, I will go on living my life, loving my friends and family, and trying not to be too much of a jerk. ;)""
Everyone has a certain itch to scratch Mike, maybe yours is something you can touch , feel or see.
I think the shroud of turin could be something that, while maybe it wont bring you all the way back, it could be a nice small step forward.
As far as him finding you, maybe the joy is in the journey.
I remember an atheist guy I went it with for 5 months about the shroud. By the end of that 5 months he admitted the evidence was actually pretty good and he converted to agnosticism.
I am Christian inclusivist.
Inclusivists believe that as long as you are seeking God with your best of intentions you can be saved, while exclusivists believe that if you don't profess Christ as your lord and savior you are going to hell, no matter if your a muslim growing up in Lebanon (my parents home country) or from a pygmy tribe in southern Africa.
If God is everything we attribute to him to be, then he is also the God of understanding as well.
If you read the writings of the earliest apostolic fathers you will see most of them were inclusivists.
I was telling this to a friend of mine who is from the bahai faith a week back. Great conversation but even better food lol
Calladus , just as I suggested to Mike ill suggest to you. The shroud of turin is a great object to study. It has made quite a few atheists into agnostics and quite a few agnostics into spiritualists or theists.
but be sure to make your study very thorough, there are lots of sites about the shroud but make sure that their science is from peer reviewed papers.
The first and only immediate obstacle will be the the 1988 c14 tests that dated the shroud from 1250 to 1390 ad which was spread by the media like wildfire but few people these days outside of serious shroud researchers know about Agnostic Chemist Ray Rogers thermochimica act paper published that invalidated the 1988 c14 tests.
Once you get a hold of the shroud, it will get a hold of you and it will become an obsession like it did for unbelievers, Mark Antonacci, Doctor August Accetta, historian Ian Wilson and Barrie Schwortz.
here is a good presentation to help get you started into shroud research
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcKTkjWkqEU&feature=kp
As far as being atheist or Christian why does it have to be either?
Veridical NDE's are very compelling evidences for a life after death, the soul and spirituality.
Rememeber I said veridical NDE's not regular NDE's.
I would also study the philosophy of inclusivism
Doctor Pim Van liommel, a dutch cardiologist was an atheist before studying veridical NDE's and later became a spiritualist (probably new age spirituality) after he studied the NDE's of all his heart patients.
http://www.pimvanlommel.nl/home_eng
Doctor Lommel fits right into the inclusivist umbrella because he is trying his best to seek God or seek the truth.
I know many of my fellow Christians would have my head because of my inclusivistic views, but if you read the writings of the early Christians most of them were inclusivists going all the way back to Justin Martyr in 160 ad.
Ever heard the parable of the good Samaritan? Most people these days didn't know that while Christ talked about this parable that the Samaritans were not only not Christians but were totally anti-Christian to the point where they wouldn't let Christians into their village.
The Good Samaritan :)
My ancestors were the canaanites but thats another story lol
Seriously? The Shroud of Turin?
You are going to have to do better than that.
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