Rating: 
Summary: A significant book
Review: This is a very significant book which shouldn't be ignored. It contains many valid refutations against religious fundamentalism. While reading the book, it struck me however that Barker hasn't found much of a balance while losing his faith in theism. (I think "moving faith" is a more accurate term than "losing faith", because issues regarding the nature of the Infinite and life's ultimate purpose - or non-purpose, depending on your belief - must be accepted by faith.)I'm an atheist, but I like to keep an open mind. Barker's tone and intolerant attitudes in this book toward religious believers led me to conclude that Barker's mind hasn't opened much since his religious days. His narrowness has just changed form. We should give religionists their own space for their own beliefs, rather than attacking them and ridiculing them. The good side of this book is that it brings us a step closer to ruling out the narrowness of extreme religious fundamentalism. But we need to be careful that we don't swing to the other extreme by ruling out some possible answers to the eternal philosophical questions, which, whether we like it or not, in the face of the Infinite must be accepted by faith. Who can blame religionists for believing that there is transcendent purpose to the cosmos, and that this world is not the be all and end all of life? I'm not afraid to admit that after losing a loved one, my mind opened more than Barker's new found faith would have tolerated.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Analysis
Review: Everyone should be required to read this amazing book. Barker knows from where he comes and has come full circle to an insightul analysis of the failings of the concept of faith and why science is the only answer. Don't pass up the opportunity to read this book. Especially good for children. Bob Smith -- Dublin, OH
Rating: 
Summary: An interesting read
Review: An interesting read. Dan Barker and I both changed from fundamentalist Christian to atheist within a few months of each other in 1983. We both did so for the same reason: the Christian doctrines didn't make sense and we couldn't compartmentalize intellect from religious belief. I was 20 when I loosed those ties. Barker was 34 and had spent almost 20 years in the ministry. Maybe that's why, unlike Barker, I don't care to proselytize the believer. I didn't have as much invested. If one hasn't figured it out for himself after well into adulthood, he is unlikely to do so. Also, religion gives many people comfort, and I'm not sure I'd want to be responsible to taking that from them. At the same time, I recognize the danger of Christianity run amok: "I don't know that atheists should be considered citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God."-- George Bush In general, I believe religion to be kind of like a mental virus that mankind will always suffer. You can look at it like herpes. There are the common and less bothersome forms like herpes simplex I (Methodists, Lutherans, Episcopalians) and the more annoying herpes II (fundamentalists). Fortunately, unlike with herpes, some people seem to be able to completely rid religion from their system. But Barker seems intent on persuading the devout. The fervor he once had for converting people to Christianity has changed to a fervor to persuade people to leave the faith. While some of Barker's arguments are strong, I find others weak. I feel confident I could successfully defend the Christian position against some of his arguments (especially against some of the "biblical contradictions" he claims exist). If they are unconvincing to me as an unbeliever, they have little chance to persuade the devout. And all it takes is one or two unconvincing arguments and the believer will dismiss the whole book (they probably would anyway, but why make it easy?). But others seem strong, such as the illogic of an omnipotent, omniscient, benevolent God. Ultimately, for me, it simply required too much mental gymnastics to believe the Christian story. I enjoyed reading Barker's book as it made me revisit many of the intellectual battlefields I lived in 20+ years ago. And it made me appreciate the intellectual freedom I enjoy from having won the war against religion.
Rating:
Summary: Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist
Review: It is like a breath of fresh air, excellent reading for theists and Skeptics alike. By his account of his experience, Dan Barker lays a good foundation for anyone who has ever tried to come to grips with any of the many nagging questions about his or her faith or prefer to hide in the shadows due to fear of hostility and aversion to confrontations. After all even the bible goes so far as to forbid contact with atheists (2 Corinthians 6:14), thereby stemming debate and preventing the incursion of logical and non-religious ideas from entering the flock. Why would an all-powerful, all-perfect, and all-knowing entity create an imperfect world then get bent out of shape when things "don't go right"? Your free will not withstanding, an all-knowing god should have known that mankind would act in accordance with its imperfect nature (which he created) Never the less we are told he we sit in judgment. Strange isn't it? Because belief is not subject to the willpower and mankind will think as they must, Losing Faith in Faith also is guide for helping the budding Freethinker to become more comfortable telling others about ones views. I give five gold stars for Mr. Dan Barker.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book!
Review: This stuff should be required reading in Sunday Schools to further prevent the spread of the disease known as religion.
Rating:
Summary: Occasionally simplistic, but overall very good
Review: Some of the reviewers complain that some of his arguments aren't very scholarly. And, I can agree somewhat. He touches on so many subjects, that he doesn't really delve deeply into any single one. But, I don't think his goal was to try to do a scholarly defense of each of his claims. He was trying to give an overview of many of the arguments against theism, too much depth would probably loose a lot of his intended audience. Sometimes, I found myself surprised that he acts as if he doesn't know how a theist would answer some of his challenges. Given the fact that he was a preacher for so long, this sometimes seemed strange. But, overall, I'd have to say that the strengths far outweight the negatives. So, 4 out of 5 stars is what I rate it.
Rating: 
Summary: Great example of "freethinking" that really isn't
Review: Often you will hear the term "freethinker". It is usually stated by someone who by definition isn't one. Atheists, in this case Barker, have simply REPLACED one faith for another. Now, I have no issue with that, and in fact read his book with interest. What I do have a problem with is the delusional ego-centric viewpoint of Barker, and other fellow hypocrites who left positive reviews here, who somehow have mistakenly detrmined they operate from a position to think "freely". My friends, nothing is farther from the truth. It is said that the "Truth will set you free", but what Barker is pushing here is not truth, but rather preferance and opinion. What is apparent to someone who doesn't care either what Barker believes is that his belief system exhibits the same consistent pattern, the only thing that changed is the source. His arguments are weak, but imagine they were weak when he was arguing from the polar opposite perspective as well. This is an indication of just how far down the intellectual chain atheists have fallen. Once, it was considered appropriate to the scientific method to acknowledge bias, yet now it seems that atheists are no different at all from those they ridicule. What was once a truly objective search for truth has become merely a belief system in secular humanistic mysticism. Atheism is the new religion, bearing little resemblance to anything like honest searching, and more like that of the most oppresive religious orders by sacrificing truth and objectivity on an alter of self righteous belief in humanity as the ultimate god. Thank you Mr. Barker for not only illuminating this bias in yourself, which is obvious to all, but also in the process exposing it among your legion of blind followers. Long live the religion of atheism.
Rating:
Summary: A worthy read...
Review: This book is interesting and thoughtful. I enjoyed the chapters on bible contradictions and gives some details of his process of deconversion. This text will certainly challenge a believer to take a closer look at what exactly they are holding on to. That being said, this book fails not only to live up to the hype but also fails to explain why he lost faith in faith. It is a collection of his writings piled together that are sometimes very monotonous to read. This book is certainly worth taking a look at and will challenge in some areas but overall after reading I felt a little disappointed and wished for more details and a better explanation.
Rating:
Summary: A Convincing Conversion Story
Review: We love apostates, if they come over to our side. Religious people have a special fondness for those who were doubters and scofflaws and have come to see the light. Because more people belong to religions, it seems sometimes as if there are more conversions to belief; perhaps it is that the converts have a forum from which to boast of the change, too. But there are changes in the other direction, also, which perhaps are less noticed because a change to a minority is better left as a quiet change and not trumpeted to others. It is not Dan Barker's way to keep quiet. Barker was a top-rank fundamentalist minister, in demand for his ability to get converts and renew faith. After years of success, he starting doubting and reconsidering. He went over to the other side, finding that atheism was more to his satisfaction. He wrote _Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist_ (FFRF, Inc.) to explain his position ten years ago, and has continued to speak out for atheism and to debate believers since then. Barker was called to the ministry when he was fifteen years old. He went to Bible college, was a missionary, and a touring musical evangelist. He wrote Christian musicals, still performed. His credentials as a soul-winning preacher cannot be doubted. It was when he had turned thirty that some questions started coming. There was no revelation, no incident causing revulsion from the church. There was first a tiny step away from literalism. Barker began to allow himself to have dealings with even liberal Christians. He eventually realized: "There is no basis for believing that a God exists, except faith, and faith was not satisfactory to me." He sent a letter to all he knew, to say that he was no longer a Christian. The responses were "everything from friendly curiosity to outright hatred." Many insisted he must be hurt and bitter. His marriage came apart, and he lost many friends, but realized that friendships that can endure only if religions are identical are not very sound friendships after all. He is a social and basically happy person, who did not have trouble finding friends in his new world. His parents both tried to talk him out of it, but came around to his side, instead. _Losing Faith in Faith_ is not a unified autobiography, but a series of chapters of reminiscences and essays about an atheist's beliefs. It is cheerful and written with a good deal of humor; if you want profound or florid rhetoric on the same subject, Robert Ingersoll is your man, but Barker is quite able to tell a lively illustrative story or poke fun at the way he used to believe. There are essays here on the historicity of Jesus, the nature of the Bible as a moral guide, the possibility of ethical behavior without belief in the supernatural, and various biblical contradictions. Those who have no faith in gods will find an inspiring story and many reasons to cherish their current unbelief. The believers who are bold enough to pick up this volume will, if they are open-minded enough, find a great deal of entertainment, and will enjoy attempting to counter some persuasive arguments from the other side.
Rating:
Summary: A tough journey
Review: I greatly respect the strength exibited by Dan Barker in this book how he describes his intellectual journey from blind, conditioned from childhood religious belief to Freethought. Written in a easily read manner it lacks pretension and has the ring of sincerity. A good source of reasoned arguments that refute religious beliefs in general and Christianity in particular.
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