The recent rise of the New Atheism has aroused great general interest, thrown up questions of fundamental importance, and started a fascinating conversation. Why God Won't Go Away invites us to join in. The volume opens with a survey of the main ideas of the New Atheism, as expressed in the works of Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens. We then examine the core views of the movement closely, making due reference to its 'virtual community' of websites and blogs. Subjects explored include: whether religion is delusional and evil, the belief that human beings are fundamentally good, whether we should have faith only in what can be proved through reason and science, the idea that the best hope for humanity is a 'New Enlightenment' The result is a lively and highly thought-provoking volume that poses a number of interesting questions. Why is religion experiencing a resurgence in the twenty-first century, when we are meant to have grown out of such a primitive fixation? Has the New Atheism's fascination with rationality led to a fatal underestimation of the longing of the human heart to adore? And if, as Christopher Hitchens writes in exasperation, religion is 'ineradicable', doesn't this tiresome fact suggest that dismissing belief in God as irrational and unscientific might just be a waste of time?
Why God Won't Go Away: Engaging with the New Atheism
and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more
| |||||||||||||||
 Trade In this Item for up to £0.25
Trade in Why God Won't Go Away - Engaging with the New Atheism for an Amazon.co.uk gift card of up to £0.25, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Learn more
|
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Product Description
Review
Why God Won't Go Away simply demolishes New Atheism in all departments and in every respect . . . There's no way back for it from this. And to think that mild-mannered Alister McGrath delivered the fatal blow. Priceless. --Steve Morris, The Church of England Newspaper
Armed with McGrath, the message is clear - it's time for Christians to embrace science and philosophy without fear, and defend Christianity from the misleading rhetoric of the militant atheists. --Christianity
Armed with McGrath, the message is clear - it's time for Christians to embrace science and philosophy without fear, and defend Christianity from the misleading rhetoric of the militant atheists. --Christianity
About the Author
Alister McGrath is Professor of Theology, Ministry and Education, Head of the Centre for Theology, Religion and Culture at King's College, London and a prolific author. His three most recent books for SPCK are Mere Theology (April 2010), Heresy (Nov 2009), and Christianity's Dangerous Idea (2007).
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Wilson Rice
Format:Paperback
I am a Christian, so I have as my starting point a tendancy to agree with most of the points McGrath makes in this volume.
I have read "The God Delusion" and "The Dawkins Delusion?"
I do think this book would be more accurately titled "Why the New Atheists Should Go Away" as it is more a critical examination of their worst excesses and most embarrassing own goals than a defence of theism's robustness in the light of attacks on it.
Only in the last 15-20 pages does McGrath finally get round to the subject matter hinted at in the book's title. And here he is too brief for me (though stimulating and thoughtful) referring the reader in the footnotes to other volumes for a fuller exploration.
I have read "The God Delusion" and "The Dawkins Delusion?"
I do think this book would be more accurately titled "Why the New Atheists Should Go Away" as it is more a critical examination of their worst excesses and most embarrassing own goals than a defence of theism's robustness in the light of attacks on it.
Only in the last 15-20 pages does McGrath finally get round to the subject matter hinted at in the book's title. And here he is too brief for me (though stimulating and thoughtful) referring the reader in the footnotes to other volumes for a fuller exploration.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By M. White
Format:Paperback
Written from a fairly pro-theist perspective, 'Why God Won't Go Away' centres its case on the main New Atheist arguments and seeks to address and counter them in turn. McGrath openly states his intentions and the scope of his piece early on and it's clear that if you are looking for, say, a creationist/evolutionary/intelligent design debate you won't find it here. To be fair McGrath makes it clear that this is not the aim of the book and some of his arguments are compelling, but having (competently) pointed out some of the shortfalls in NA views he focuses on some points that have little to do with the issue. For example, highlighting the flagging membership of NA groups is all very well but this does not undermine any inherent validity in their position. It should be noted that this is not a critique of atheism as such, more a counter to the ASSERTION by New Atheist that God/religion is nonexistent and inherently bad; an assertion which he argues is difficult to sustain on the basis of empirical science alone.
This book does have an agenda but for all that, it's wryly written and the direct arguments are coherently constructed. A somewhat niche read within this overall debate, but a worthwhile one nonetheless.
This book does have an agenda but for all that, it's wryly written and the direct arguments are coherently constructed. A somewhat niche read within this overall debate, but a worthwhile one nonetheless.
26 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By Doctorludo
Format:Paperback
Much more accessible than The Dawkins Delusion, written with clarity, brevity and academic rigour, this book is, as the subtitle states, an engagement with "new atheism". McGrath has, in parts, sacrificed detail for the sake of readibility, but generally strikes the balance well. In particular, he takes apart some of the false assumptions and academic/logical errors that can be found in the works of Dennett, Dawkins, Harris and Hitchens.
As others have pointed out, this is not a proof for the existence of God - the subtitle is a better description of the text. It is, however, clear, gracious, well written and well researched. Whilst he does take an occasional swipe at his opponents, the general tone is one of courtesy.
This book has been needed for a long time.
As others have pointed out, this is not a proof for the existence of God - the subtitle is a better description of the text. It is, however, clear, gracious, well written and well researched. Whilst he does take an occasional swipe at his opponents, the general tone is one of courtesy.
This book has been needed for a long time.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see the review
5.0 out of 5 stars
Was this review helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
New Atheism abandoned
Not what I expected but an interesting essay on where some folks minds go. But the problem he addresses was not really my main interest.
Published 10 days ago by David Warner
5.0 out of 5 stars
An intelligent book
If you're looking for a book that discusses religion and the rise of the so-called new atheists (who worship science as their god) then this is the book to read. Read more
Published 26 days ago by The Book Nut
1.0 out of 5 stars
god not going away? or never having been there in the first place?
In this book McGrath tries to take to task some of the more prominent New Atheists - among them Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens. Read more
Published 1 month ago by danny regan
3.0 out of 5 stars
Why God won't go away
I went to a lecture by Alistair McGrath.This book challenges Richard Dawson's book 'Why God'
I enjoyed his lecture very much,Alistiar Mc grath is highly intellectual and his... Read more
I enjoyed his lecture very much,Alistiar Mc grath is highly intellectual and his... Read more
Published 3 months ago by jane morgan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well balanced.
I found the book engaging because it understood the complexity of the subject matter, pointing out some of the gaping holes in typical arguments from the New Atheists - yet without... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Dan
4.0 out of 5 stars
A useful overview
This is a brief book. In 99 pages, Prof. McGrath provides an overview of the new atheism, and supplies some general descriptions of its traits, showing how it differs from the... Read more
Published 9 months ago by K. Moss
4.0 out of 5 stars
An elegant rebuttal of the New Atheist world-view
I enjoyed this book. I don't think it is possible to have a balanced discussion with the advocates of New Atheism, as any casual reader of the more strident atheist internet forums... Read more
Published 12 months ago by HamzahF
1.0 out of 5 stars
A thin and unengaging history of 'new atheism'
Presumably the publisher, rather than McGrath, chose the title of this book, as it bears no relation to the book's content. Read more
Published 13 months ago by euthyphro.
2.0 out of 5 stars
More disappointing off-the-cuff stuff from McGrath
Alister McGrath is a theological publishing machine. When he talks about theology, he is invariably perceptive and balanced; when he (repeatedly) enters debates against the New... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mad about Religion
5.0 out of 5 stars
More of a tract than a thesis but good for all that.
McGrath has a useful perspective having moved from an atheism born in the crucible of religious hatred in Northern Ireland to a reasoned faith, the very thing that his former... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Graham Lewis
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
