Rating: 
Summary: Surprisingly interesting!
Review: I got this as a gift for a friend who had gone through an analogous "deconversion" process. Before handing it over, I read it myself, and was surprised at how interesting the basic narrative was. Barker tells the tale of being a missionary before freeing his mind, from the inside out.
There's quite a few pages devoted to bible-debunking and internal contradictions in the bible, and I skimmed a few of those and skipped the rest--but this book might make a useful study guide for people preparing to debate those topics.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining and Eye-Opening
Review: Like Dan, I too have been struggling mightily trying to reconcile reason with faith that God exists. I read his book with the hope of finding out how he went from preacher to atheist. In the first few chapters of the book he tells of this "conversion" and how people around him reacted. The rest of the book is various articles he has written that basically defends freethinking and atheism. The two that really hit home for me were the "Dear Believer" and "Dear Theologian" chapters. He sums up the logical fallacy of believing in a deity so well. Sometimes he comes off as an atheistic preacher, like when he makes comments to retailers about "In God We Trust" on the money he was giving to her, or advocating "Bible free" rooms at hotels. This seemed petty to me, but it just shows his dedication to the cause. I'd recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Its a good introduction to the basics of freethought and atheism without being too philosophical. Of course if you're a deeply believing Christian I think you should read it too. And then try to reconcile you faith with what he says. It won't be easy.
Rating:
Summary: A very good read.
Review: This was a book I read straight through without getting bored. If you are questioning religion and looking for your first free-thinking book, then this would be a fine choice.
I gave only four stars because I have two concerns about the author:
1)After years of preaching, he seems to be trying to turn atheism into a religion by writing atheist songs/hymns. I guess it's a hard habit to break;)
2)He goes on too much about abortion. I may be an atheist, but I still find it an objectionable practice. I wish he had left his particular opinion on this out of the book so that the words atheist and abortionist do not become synonymous.
Rating:
Summary: a must-read for skeptics
Review: Anyone who questions religion and Christianity in particular should enjoy the rational arguments contained in this book. He points out new ways of looking at the bible that are very insightful. If you like to debate religion, you'll want this book. He doesn't pull any punches about supernatural belief, so I'm sure plenty will get their toes stepped on reading it. Nevertheless, there is lots to think about for anyone who can open their mind. It is part description of his life and journey, and part information and arguments. A nice balance to make an easy read plus a handy reference book.
Rating:
Summary: Should be required reading for all Christians
Review: It's amusing to read the negative reviews of this book. As Dan points out in this book, "Ad hominem" arguments are the last defense of the losing side....attacking the character of the author and ignoring the arguments and evidence do little to make your case, folks!! Let's stick to the issues! You don't because you can't! As the lone freethinker in a family of Christians (although they are beginning to think for themselves, I'm happy to say), I have experienced all aspects and phases of Christianity from the inside out, and I could relate to virtually all of Dan's experiences in converting from a person blinded by faith to a reasonable, clear thinking human being who is free from the shackles of superstition. The book itself is primarily a collection of individual articles written at different times, so please keep that in mind. That being said, the book itself is a personal and humorous account, but still contains a good introduction to the philosophical arguments that demolish the concept of "God" and the house of cards that is religion. For more meaty, philosophical books on these topics, check out "Atheism: The Case Against God" by George Smith and "Why I Am Not A Christian" by Bertrand Russell. The nice thing about "Losing Faith In Faith" is that it is written by a former Christian minister, so no one can possibly say that Dan doesn't know what he is talking about... he was a Christian minister for 19 years, folks! The only way that any rational person could review the arguments against religion in general and Christianity in particular as set forth in this book is to cover their eyes and ears, close their mind, and scream "LA, LA, LA, I CAN'T HEAR YOU, I WON'T LISTEN!!" Please buy this book and read it for yourself... or better yet, buy copies and give them to Christians you know.
Rating: 
Summary: If you can't refute the evidence refute the author!
Review: This is an excellent anthology of an ex-Christian who has found the path to reality. Most of the critical reviews below appear to come from devout Christians who have not taken the time to even read this book. Barker has already answered most of their questions and arguments. His book takes the reader through the tortuous journey from Christian to Atheist. In spite of the ludicrous arguments from Christians claiming that anyone who deconverts was never a "real" Christian, Barker was a "real" Christian. He does a rather good job showing the fraudulent world of the supernatural pushers. His bottom line is - where is the evidence? His answer is - there is none.
Rating: 
Summary: Do You Dare Face the Facts?
Review: The single, greatest book ever written about Atheism v. Christianity is from C.S. Lewis. The book is called "Mere Christianity." Review it in the face of Mr. Barker's book. You will see what no-nonsense, intense scrutiny of the issues is realy all about. Mere Christianity is probably the greatest book on any subject that I have ever read. Don't be afraid. As for the two stars here, give the guy guts for trying. However, if you really want to try, read C.S. Lewis.
Rating:
Summary: I think it is the christians who are bitter
Review: This book is great! Barker does not sound like a bitter person at all as some people would have one believe. He sounds like a much happier person. Someone said that Barker is telling people what to think. HOW? He is stating his opinion, in the book he even states he doesn't tell his own children they should be atheist but to come to their own conclusions. Yes he still continues to receive royalties from christian songs he has written, I notice the person who made that comment decided to leave out the fact that 1. He doesn't cash the checks 2. He tried to buy back the songs because he doesn't want them in publication anymore but the company refused because they are best sellers. This book is great for anyone who is questioning christianity. I wouldn't suggest this to anyone else except atheist and agnostic wanting good reading material. A hardcore christian will not have an open enough mind to read this book, but if someone finds they are questioning the idea of a god or gods, they should read this book...
Rating:
Summary: An outstanding guide to clear thinking
Review: Dan Barker's book is partly an autobiography, partly a critique of religious irrationality, and partly an exploration and analysis of the freethought/humanist worldview. It takes the form of a series of essays, many of which previously appeared in Freethought Today, a newspaper published monthly by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Five chapters, including two major ones, are original to the book. The tone is often light and sometimes openly humorous, but the message is serious, firmly grounded in research, and consistently well-reasoned. Raised in a strong religious environment, Barker became an ordained traveling minister, wrote religious songs and musicals, and used his keyboard skills to back up other performers (including, on one occasion, Pat Boone). Initial doubts launched a five-year transition period (1979 through 1983) in which he questioned and studied his way from committed Christian to liberated atheist. We learn in considerable detail how he handled the task of turning over not just a new leaf, but a new life. As might be expected in view of his background, Barker places considerable emphasis on detailed criticisms of Christianity and the Bible. Included are descriptions of many interesting and illuminating exchanges with Christian friends and relatives both before and after his announced deconversion. It would be a mistake, however, to assume that Barker's overall case is limited to any particular brand or flavor of religion. His reasoning is general and applies just as well to Unitarians or Zoroastrians as to Christian fundamentalists. Built into his thesis is the recognition that successful critical thinking frees a person from all forms of irrational assumptions, not just selected sets of them. He counters the frequent charge that atheism is merely another form of religion by pointing out that atheists reject the one defining ingredient essential to every religion -- belief based on faith alone. Barker doesn't shrink from the controversial topic of morality without religion. He freely acknowledges that atheism itself does not address morality, but he goes on to explain how humanism does. For example, a humanist point of view allows us to perform logical triage on the famous ten commandments. It is easily seen that the doctrinal commandments, one through four, are self-absorbed religious edicts having no discernible relevance to practical morality. Five through ten, on the other hand, are social interaction rules which would be very familiar to anyone (religious or not) who has grown up in the company of other people. They cover several obvious cases but do not address the many subtle issues of kindness, decency, trust and personal responsibility we face in everyday life. Barker maintains that it is both possible and desirable for comprehensive human morality to have a human source. One of the major chapters in LFIF looks beyond the overrated ten commandments to examine the general moral and ethical scope of the Bible. Having carefully read both Old and New Testaments rather recently, I was in a position to agree or disagree with Barker's observations on a reasonably well-informed basis. I found that he hit point after point which had disturbed me enough to scribble emphatic notes in the margins and on the flyleaves of my copy. The people of Biblical times can readily be pardoned for being morally naive and retrograde, but by definition their creator and teacher has no excuses. When he orders the slaughter of children, passes punishment across generations, fails to condemn slavery, concocts original sin to demean and revile women forever, stoops to favoritism and jealous feuding, and instigates a monumentally selfish cult of personality, he earns himself a failing grade in Morals and Ethics 101. By the same actions, he calls into serious question his existence as anything more than a fictional character. The kinder and gentler-appearing Jesus seems benign by comparison until you look carefully, as Barker does, at his teachings. The son repeatedly and unequivocally declares his support for the Old Testament regime and all its attendant injustices. No one has put it more succinctly than Barker when he concludes, "On the whole, the Bible does not have a grasp of ethics." Although Barker devotes a substantial portion of his book to well-justified criticism of the irrational core underlying religious beliefs, his baseline message is far from negative. He emphasizes that humanism and freethought offer a means for each of us to step away from superstition and make the most of our one-and-only natural life. As he says, "We are a movement, but a new kind of movement: one without followers. Every freethinker is a leader."
Rating:
Summary: loosing faith in faith
Review: It took me some time too to shake loose from the fairy tale biblical teachings, that were based on hear-say and legends without any or very little scientific knowledge. Would readers accept a"virgin birth" of a "son of God" as real TODAY? In biblical days, the universe was what one could observe in the night sky, a few thousand pretty dots, that "God" was to have created along with the flat earth in one week. Now we know that our solar system is roughly 4 1/2 BILLION years old and our planet along with the others took hundreds of millions of years to cool off enough to even support primitive life. The known Universe to the latest observations is at least 13 1/2 billion years old, thus existed long before Earth. Did the authors of the bible and other scriptures understand what the term "billion" represents and "light-years?" Does it mean that god is also at least 13 1/2 billion years old, if "he created" this vast universe? Why would he choose this insignificant speck of dust amongst 200 to 400 billion stars in this galaxy (Milky Way) alone? - I think the Brothers Grimm wrote better fairy tales, at least we know their stories are fiction and nobody is demanding that we accept them as "truth". In any case, what about the other major religions -Hinduism, Buddhism are they all wrong? - A true Humanist/atheist
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