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Why I Became an Atheist: A Former Preacher Rejects Christianity |  | Author: John W. Loftus
Publisher: Prometheus Books
Category: Book
List Price: $19.98
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Seller: atlanta-book-company
Rating:  46 reviews
Sales Rank: 41493
Media: Paperback
Pages: 428
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9 x 5.9 x 1.1
ISBN: 1591025923
Dewey Decimal Number: 211.8
EAN: 9781591025924
ASIN: 1591025923
Publication Date: August 21, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| • | ISBN13: 9781591025924 | | • | Condition: NEW | | • | Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark. |
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Product Description
For about two decades John W. Loftus was a devout evangelical Christian, an ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and an ardent apologist for Christianity. With three degrees--in philosophy, theology, and philosophy of religion--he was adept at using rational argumentation to defend the faith. But over the years, as he ministered to various congregations and taught at Christian colleges, doubts about the credibility of key Christian tenets began to creep into his thinking. By the late 1990s he experienced a full-blown crisis of faith, brought on by emotional upheavals in his personal life as well as the gathering weight of the doubts he had long entertained.In this honest appraisal of his journey from believer to atheist, Loftus carefully explains the experiences and the reasoning process that led him to reject religious belief. The bulk of the book is his "cumulative case" against Christianity. Here he lays out the philosophical, scientific, and historical reasons that can be raised against Christian belief. From the implications of religious diversity, the authority of faith vs. reason, and the problem of evil, to the contradictions between the Bible and the scientific worldview, the conflicts between traditional dogma and historical evidence, and much more, Loftus covers a great deal of intellectual terrain. For every issue he succinctly summarizes the various points of view and provides references for further reading. In conclusion, he describes the implications of life without belief in God, some liberating, some sobering. This frank critique of Christian belief from a former insider will interest freethinkers as well as anyone with doubts about the claims of religion.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 46
A good book, with one glaring omission December 1, 2009
D. Sadro (Wisconsin)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is a good book that goes over a large number of arguments, in a relatively basic overview of each topic, with a large bibliography for those who wish to read more on a specific topic. I found myself disagreeing with the author on several points he made, however the book is written in such a way that I was able to understand his perspective, even if I didn't agree with it.
The book is definitely written at the level of a college textbook, so it might be a difficult or less enjoyable read for some. It is, however, a book that will make you think about the subjects he writes about.
To me, the one glaring omission is the lack of an index. A book of this type and size (over 400 pages!) would be much more useful as a reference if it was easier to refer back to the topics throughout the book. However, this omission should not preclude any person, atheist or theist, from reading this book.
Be prepared to learn something... November 25, 2009
David G. Leonard (Ormond Beach, FL United States)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book is very well written and has some interesting takes on the subject. My perspective was as someone who has read a little on atheism and am very familiar with fundamental christians and their arguments.
This book often takes a technical philosophical approach to different aspects of the subject, and sometimes it gets hard for the non-academic to understand. Other areas are more grounded in rational arguments regarding the potential accuracy of the Bible and the logical reasons often given for belief/faith.
He cites many christian apologists and other believers and tries to refute when possible with logic and facts, not faith and speculation.
There were a number of times I wished I could join the argument or add my two cents in.
I am almost done with it, am happy with my purchase, and glad I read it.
 questions I'd like to discuss with the author September 8, 2009
BigV (Chicago area, IL)
7 out of 28 found this review helpful
First, I did not read the complete book, so perhaps those of you who think the author answers these questions, please feel free to chime in.
Here are my questions for the author -
1. They claim to have experienced the Christian life, but what does it mean to be a Christian? There are many groups today that claim they are "Christian". Many of them have conflicting beliefs. There are Catholics, Protestants, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnessess, Christadelphians, etc.... Many of these have contradicting views on what it means to be a Christian. The author mentions that he was in a Church of Christ denomination in Fort Wayne, IN area. From what I know of Church of Christ, they tend to be legalistic/performance based.
Here is my response - to be a Christian is to posses here and now ETERNAL life. This life is obtain by simply believing in Jesus for it.
John 5:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
Based on the author's personal confession, he believed that Jesus is the ".. one person who could help me through the troubled waters.."
If this means that the author trusted in Christ to help them in THIS life, then I'm afraid they were not a Christian.
The Gospel message was never about Jesus helping us in this life with our difficulties (though He could do that). The Gospel is the CROSS of Christ and how we get eternal life as a result. NOTHING more and nothing less.
So, did author trust in Christ for eternal life?
I'm disappointed that the author was surrounded by Christians who did not get the following:
1 Cor. 15:19If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
And who did not get that Hebrews 11 has two parts:
1st Part:
Heb. 11:32And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35Women received back their dead, raised to life again. ...
But notice the following:
Heb. 11:35(b)...Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated-- 38the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 39These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
The author noted that some may doubt his authenticity based on his sins. I agree that many Christians look at WORKS of others as proof of their regeneration, but this is the exact wrong thing to do. We all sin. The fact that my sin is different from your sin does not make me more righteous or you more holy. With this I agree with the author. However, I don't doubt his conversion based on his performance, but based on his confessed beliefs.
2. The author did not really respond to William Lane Craig argument about morality. Dr. Craig's point is that ALL morality is relative, so it ultimately does not matter what we do in this life, whether kill or save lives, whether we lie or work honestly. In the end, it's all useless anyways.
The author misinterpreted what Dr. Craig said to mean that ALL atheists are *expected* to murder, lie, steal, etc..... That was not Dr. Craig's argument at all.
We don't always act in accordance with our beiefs, as the author knows. We don't exercise when we know we should. We don't love our neighbor that we know we should love.
However, Craig's argument stands. WHY should I love my neighbor, if ultimately, (as atheism claims) there is no eternity, there is no accountability for my actions? Why should an atheist do GOOD if by doing BAD they can better themselves? Any residue of 'morality' that they have is meaningless anyways, or is it?
 Average book, simply elevated due to author's past August 21, 2009
karsten klien (los angeles, ca)
14 out of 27 found this review helpful
This book is a rather average critique of faith which is simply held to a higher regard due to the issue of loftus being an ex-pastor. There are better critiques out there, and it means hardly anything that one rogue pastor out of thousands rejects his faith. There are many pastors more brilliant than loftus who maintain their faith intellectually, likewise there are other writers from the atheistic mindset who give a better critique than loftus.
 An Awesome Book August 10, 2009
Cypress Green (Cleveland Ohio)
6 out of 9 found this review helpful
I'm hard pressed to come up with any original comments on this book; the other positive views mostly cover my thoughts. However, I'll press on! I just finished this book on my medieval vacation. What goes better together than a hammock, a great atheist book, incense, wind chimes and a medieval dress? LOL
Mr. Loftus is obviously well read, intelligent and thoughtful. He makes many good points I have never thought of or seen in print before. He draws together many quotes and viewpoints from theists and non-theists and has extensive source notes after each chapter. I enjoyed reading his personal conversion/deconversion story. It can be easy as an atheist to keep a closed mouth over bad experiences in the church, as theists seem to use this against one in discussions. Mr. Loftus, however, was driven not just by 'bad experiences' but also by how those experiences illuminated his faith. Also, he was driven by his open minded exposure to another point of view. I admire him sharing his life and admissions of his failings as much as reading his triumphs.
Thank you, Mr. Loftus, for a great read. I hope to lend it out soon!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 46
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