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Review
'Few things are so delightful as watching someone who has taken the time to acquire a lot of learning casually, even effortlessly, dismantle the claims of lazy grandstanders - Hart isn't making a bid for wealth, fame, or cocktail-party acceptance: he knows whereof he speaks.' --Stefan Beck, 'New Criterion'
'Anyone interested in taking the debate about God to the next level should read and reflect on Hart's spirited brief on behalf of Christian truth.' --Damon Linker, 'New Republic'
'Anyone interested in taking the debate about God to the next level should read and reflect on Hart's spirited brief on behalf of Christian truth.' --Damon Linker, 'New Republic'
Product Description
Currently it is fashionable to be devoutly undevout. Religion's most passionate antagonists - Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris, and others - have publishers competing eagerly to market their various denunciations of religion, monotheism, Christianity and Roman Catholicism. But contemporary antireligious polemics are based not only upon profound conceptual confusions but upon facile simplifications of history or even outright historical ignorance: so contends David Bentley Hart in this bold correction of the distortions. One of the most brilliant scholars of religion of our time, Hart provides a powerful antidote to the New Atheists' misrepresentations of the Christian past, bringing into focus the truth about the most radical revolution in Western history. Hart outlines how Christianity transformed the ancient world in ways we may have forgotten: bringing liberation from fatalism, conferring great dignity on human beings, subverting the cruelest aspects of pagan society and elevating charity above all virtues. He then argues that what we term the 'Age of Reason' was in fact the beginning of the eclipse of reason's authority as a cultural value. Hart closes the book in the present, delineating the ominous consequences of the decline of Christendom in a culture that is built upon its moral and spiritual values.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Some of the reviewers on Amazon seem not to have noticed that this book is not a defence of Christian beliefs, nor an attack on atheism as such. It is instead a defence of Christianity against claims made about its allegedly harmful historical impact and character by many today, including the 'new atheists'. It argues that Christianity gave to the world revolutionary ideas of charity and justice: they have been so successful that we hardly notice how radical they were, though most of us accept them. It argues that the Church, for all its many failures, has been, in general, a positive influence on the world. It cites many cases where the story behind the myth shows the Church to have acted better (or, at least, less poorly) than legend holds - the Galileo case for example. It sets out the argument with verve and wit even if, at times, it appears to be indulging its polemical style a little too much. It made me realise how accustomed even knowledgeable - even Christian - people have become to making assumptions about the past that do not reflect well on the Church. Those who do not like the book might do better to stop attacking it for what it is not, and demonstrate its historical errors if they can.
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book does not set out to "disprove Dawkins" as you might have thought from the title (and some reviewers seem to have thought).
It is a careful review of certain parts of the history of Christianity aimed entirely at correcting areas of ignorance and misunderstanding about Christianity that are very popular or common today. The writer points out that one of his reasons for writing is that these misconceptions and misunderstandings are often seized upon -or indeed invented by- the "new atheists" as reasons to discredit Christianity, often in the most strident terms.
Thus if you thought that the ancient Greek and Roman world was bustling with scientific vigour and enquiry until the Christian church stifled it- read the facts and you will find you are very much mistaken. If you thought that the "wars of religion" in the 1600s arose as the result of violence between Christian persuasions- read this to find out why you are wrong and see how they were in fact, secular in origin.
The writer in no way actually makes a case out for or against Christianity per se, and he clearly states that it is not his intention to do so. He is good at pointing out the limitations of inference that one can draw from the factual material he cites which makes a refreshing change from some writers in this area. The book is easy enough to read and helps clear up a lot of lazy thinking about the last 2000 years.
If you are a Christian it will probably give you a better knowledge of the past of your own church unless you are well read already.
If you are not a believer read it anyway for the sake of integrity, so that you at least know the historical truth behind Christianity, not the rubbish that people like Hitchens churn out.
If you like to feel superior to religious people and think that none of them can think from a to b for toffee, read it as well- the book does not go into arguments, that is not its job, but it at least gives you brief hints and allusions as to how plenty of intelligent people arrived at other philosophical standpoints than materialism.
It is a careful review of certain parts of the history of Christianity aimed entirely at correcting areas of ignorance and misunderstanding about Christianity that are very popular or common today. The writer points out that one of his reasons for writing is that these misconceptions and misunderstandings are often seized upon -or indeed invented by- the "new atheists" as reasons to discredit Christianity, often in the most strident terms.
Thus if you thought that the ancient Greek and Roman world was bustling with scientific vigour and enquiry until the Christian church stifled it- read the facts and you will find you are very much mistaken. If you thought that the "wars of religion" in the 1600s arose as the result of violence between Christian persuasions- read this to find out why you are wrong and see how they were in fact, secular in origin.
The writer in no way actually makes a case out for or against Christianity per se, and he clearly states that it is not his intention to do so. He is good at pointing out the limitations of inference that one can draw from the factual material he cites which makes a refreshing change from some writers in this area. The book is easy enough to read and helps clear up a lot of lazy thinking about the last 2000 years.
If you are a Christian it will probably give you a better knowledge of the past of your own church unless you are well read already.
If you are not a believer read it anyway for the sake of integrity, so that you at least know the historical truth behind Christianity, not the rubbish that people like Hitchens churn out.
If you like to feel superior to religious people and think that none of them can think from a to b for toffee, read it as well- the book does not go into arguments, that is not its job, but it at least gives you brief hints and allusions as to how plenty of intelligent people arrived at other philosophical standpoints than materialism.
89 of 108 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book is an in-depth exploration of the bad history, as well as the misconceptions and ignorance about what it is people believe, that is so often used to attack religion. Written by well known American University lecturer, philosopher, and theologian, Professor David Hart, Atheist Delusions tackles such contentious moments in history as Galileo's trial and the witch hunts, explaining history and faith without resorting to popular misinformation or rhetoric, his history strong, verifiable, even-handed, and matter-of-fact, his arguments giving plenty of room for you to make up your own mind, something totally lacking from the populist rants of New Atheism's most virulent supporters, who tend to assume, if not demand, that you agree with their every view, regardless of how extreme or defamatory.
Professor Hart does not take not the opposite stance of defender railing against atheism itself, but instead attacks idealistic fanaticism on both sides, confessing that there are many denominations of Christianity that he vehemently dislikes, as well as many outspoken atheists he admires, warning against the angry and destructive creed of aggressive 'New Atheism', as well as challenging those who attack Christianity and other faiths without any idea of what they are about and the bad logic that they often use.
Though I wish it this book could have been a little stronger, and maybe a little less wordy in the introduction, this is a very good book for anyone who has already experienced much of the debate and despairs of the simplistic and pedantic nature of many current arguments, and is a timely warning not to take history's headlines at face value.
Professor Hart does not take not the opposite stance of defender railing against atheism itself, but instead attacks idealistic fanaticism on both sides, confessing that there are many denominations of Christianity that he vehemently dislikes, as well as many outspoken atheists he admires, warning against the angry and destructive creed of aggressive 'New Atheism', as well as challenging those who attack Christianity and other faiths without any idea of what they are about and the bad logic that they often use.
Though I wish it this book could have been a little stronger, and maybe a little less wordy in the introduction, this is a very good book for anyone who has already experienced much of the debate and despairs of the simplistic and pedantic nature of many current arguments, and is a timely warning not to take history's headlines at face value.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
He's done the research
This book is a must-read for anyone who's interested in the historical influence of Christianity on the world. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Phillip Sacre
A bold defence of historic Christianity
I am currently half way through this book and enjoying it hugely. As other reviewers have said, it is not a set of arguments for God but a corrective to much contemporary comment... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Philip Manning
The impact of Christianity in the world
As with quite a lot of books, the title is a little misleading. It might, more accurately, have been entitled "the truth about Christian history", or something of that sort. Read more
Published 2 months ago by daddycool
NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED
I won't bore you too much, a very well written book, hard hitting and to the point. It demolishes the notion some have about Christianity and exposes the prejudices of certain... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Phillip J. Brown
A strong defence of the benefits of Christianity
As other reviewers have noted, this book is NOT a defence of the truth-claims of the Christian faith. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Alan Pavelin
A hard read
Old age must have started to affect my brain for I found I had to re-read each chapter twice if not three times in order to grasp Dr Hart's arguments. Read more
Published 10 months ago by RCrumpler
I'll huff, and I'll puff, and - that's it, really
There is something deliciously undignified about the spectacle of the devout rising to the bait of the Dawkins/Hitchens heavies, but those of us looking to have our ideas changed... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Simon G. Barrett
Interesting read - but too spongy
As a person absolutely neutral in anything religious, I was hoping for a book on the pros of religion that would be as scientifically strong as Dawkins and colleagues. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Robert P. Duvalle
'Atheist Delusions' - David Bentley Hart.
This is a quite superb book. It is a strong counter blast to the current popular books written by 'The New Atheists'. It is densely written, yet it is not a difficult read. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Mike F.
Could have been interesting
...but just doesn't live up to it. If you want entertainment, take a look at the actual Bible. That's enough horror, gore, paedophilia, rape, murder, hate, revenge and supernatural... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Sarah
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