Atheism: The Case Against God

Rating:
Summary: Gold standard--until now
Review: For years George Smith's book has been the gold standard in atheism. He presents the arguments for/against god(s) very convincingly, and all atheists--and all theists, quite honestly--should be familiar with his work. After they have read it and thought about it rationally, of course all theists should atheists!
However, Smith ONLY focuses on the arguments for/against god(s) to the exclusion of other important contemporary issues, including church/state separation, the debate between science and religion, and the worldwide phenomenon of fundamentalism. Also, he continues to make certain non-rational assumptions and claims, particularly the one that there are rational and irrational beliefs. However, even by his own measure, if we look at belief itself more closely, we see that all beliefs are irrational by definition. They might not all be WRONG, but then some guesses are right too. The question is whether one arrives at one's positions by reason (evidence and logic) or by some other process. If one arrives by evidence and logic, then one has knowledge, not belief. If one does not arrive by reason, they one has belief, not knowledge. So, all beliefs--even the (accidentally) correct ones--are nonetheless irrational. And why would you want to hold an irrational position that might equally well be false or true?
For a more complete study of religion, reason, and contemporary culture, including a more consistent application of reason, look at my "Natural Atheism" here at Amazon or at its companion website, www.naturalatheism.us.

Rating:
Summary: This book is one of the best I have ever read
Review: This Book is one of the best I have ever read

Atheism: The Case Against god is a serious study and analysis to question beliefs and the structure of Theism and Agnosticism which are in fact the result of human mind creativity, fear and imagination.


Rating:
Summary: A Logical and Devastating Attack on Christian Theism
Review: In his book Atheism: The Case Against God, George H. Smith reduces belief in the Christian God to a lesser position then that of a child's belief in Santa Clause. Can a believer in God even define what it is he believes in? Smith makes a convincing case that he cannot. If a person believes in something that they cannot define based on the facts of reality their “belief” is entirely arbitrary. Is faith a legitimate road to knowledge? Smith blasts this idea logically and mercilessly. Does the "order" within existence somehow lead to "God"? While this seems logically far fetched to begin with Mr. Smith provides excellent metaphysical and logical arguments that (in my opinion) eliminate the idea's validity entirely. Does existence in the universe require a first cause? Smith spends a good portion of the book arguing the position that existence is primary. This is a crucial issue, and while I am not entirely convinced of the primacy of existence based on Smith's argument I find it far more convincing then arguments against it. In addition, the ability of the Christian (or Jewish or Islamic) theist to bring his own mythologies back into relevance after these attacks is entirely destroyed. A religionist can still attempt to prove rationally that existence is not an irreducible primary but how does he then bring his own faith based belief system back to life given the rest of the attacks in this book? The book only briefly touches on the inconsistencies and mythological nature of the Bible itself. There are numerous other books on this subject.

Smith closes the book with arguments supporting his view that Christian ethics are irrational and psychologically harmful to people and proposes an ethical system (in this case Ayn Rand's Objectivist ethics) based upon the facts of reality.

This is an excellent book. Before reading it I always considered myself an agnostic. After reading George Smith's effective arguments I can confidently consider myself an atheist.

- Jason


Rating:
Summary: Opinions, not facts.
Review: This book is filled with opinions, supported by conspiracy theories. Nobody, Nobody, can disprove Christianity and Christ. There is too much archeological evidence.

Rating:
Summary: fantastic book
Review: Thanks to this book I can now win every argument related to religion. I have turned bible thumping christians into blathering fools in front of crowds of people. I have reduced my religious friends to stammering idiots. I have destroyed the credibility of the beliefs of everyone I know.

I have no friends anymore either.