Book Reviews and More: 20 Answers Atheism - Matt Fradd - 20 Answers Series from Catholic Answers

20 Answers Atheism
20 Answers Series from Catholic Answers
Matt Fradd
Catholic Answers Press
ISBN 9781938983528
eISBN 9781938983542
ASIN B01HDW0QEC

This fall three new volumes were released in this great series. There are now a total of 26 books in the 20 Answers Series from Catholic Answers. And I have read 23 of the 26. If the 23 that I have read 19 received 5/5 stars rating. When I first looks at this title an old story from my days in university, I had a friend who was in Campus Crusade for Christ, one Christmas on the bus home from school he met a guys and was having a discussion. The gentlemen said he was an atheist, so my friend told him he was in the bible, the guy asked how and my friend quoted Psalm 14:1 'Only fools say in their hearts, "There is no God."! And off began a discussion that lasted a very long bus ride. Now I do not believe that approach would work with most atheists, especially extremely militant ones. But this book will give you a good starting point in how to handle that sort of conversation! But my friend who was mentioned earlier who was a philosophy major would likely skim this book and find it wanting. This book is a good jumping off point, but unlike many topics covered in the 20 Answers Series, this one really does need a much deeper study than this booklet can provide. Fortunately there is a resource section at the end of the book. But that section is website heave and short on book recommendations.

Speaking of sections, the 20 questions answered in this volume are:

1. Atheism is not a positive proposition, so it does not have to be proven. The burden of proof is always on the theist.
2. can't prove atheism because it is impossible to "prove a negative." To do that, I would have to know every single thing in reality and demonstrate that none of these things is God. That's humanly impossible.
3. Christians sometimes argue that God is the basis of morality. But can't an atheist be just as good a person as a believer?
4. How can God exist when religion is the number-one source of hatred, intolerance, and violence in the world?
5. Religious believers don't care about people on earth because they are so focused on heaven.
6. Isn't it arrogant for you to think that your views are the correct ones and that everyone else is wrong?
7. How can we believe in God without scientific proof?
8. What about evolution? Isn't that a scientific theory that contradicts the existence of God?
9. Doesn't the theory of evolution contradict the creation story in the book of Genesis?
10. You theists say that since everything needs a cause, there must be a God. But if everything needs a cause, then God does too, right?
11. Could God create a rock so heavy that even he could not lift it? Whether the answer is yes or no, it proves that the idea of an omnipotent God is self-contradictory.
12. How can you believe in an all-powerful and all-loving God in the face of so much evil in the world?
13. Why would a God of love and mercy condemn people to hell?
14. Why is God such a cold-hearted judge in the Old Testament and more of a "pacifist" in the New Testament?
15. The only reason you're a Christian is because you were born in the West. If you were born in another part of the world, you'd believe in a different God-or no God at all.
16. Faith has been defined as "believing without seeing." Doesn't that make faith irrational?
17. Okay, then, so what evidence is there for God's existence?
18. Maybe God does exist, but that doesn't mean that Christianity is true.
19. Many different religions tell myth stories, some of them about dying and rising gods. Isn't Jesus just a spinoff of these pagan myths?
20. How can I decide about God's existence if I'm not sure?

The introduction of this book concludes with:

"I have a lot of sympathy for people who don't believe in God. I used to be in that position myself, and for a long time no one gave me good answers to the questions and concerns I had. But I have since discovered that there are good answers-that there are good arguments for God's existence.In the pages that follow, we will look at twenty common questions and objections that atheists pose-that I used to pose-and offer solid theistic answers. Whether you are an atheist, an agnostic, or a believer, it's my sincere hope that this booklet will help you as you study the issue of God's existence.After all, there is no bigger question."

And the book lives up to that goal. It really is a good jumping off point. But there is a big difference between agnostics and true atheists. This book bundles them together and I believe it would have been better served if they had been separate volumes. Overall I would say it is a good read, but not one of the best in the series. (But there is a lot of competition in that regard!)

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2017 Catholic Reading Plan!

Note 2: Currently this series of books is being offered at a greater than 50% discount so get it while you can. That is right you can get all 26 physical books or all 26 eBooks for just $39.95! If you want a way to go deeper this year give this series a try!

#20AnswersChallenge

20 Answers: Relics & Sacramentals - Shaun McAfee

20 Answers: The Communion of Saints - Karlo Broussard

20 Answers Eastern Catholicism - Father Daniel Dozier

20 Answers Anti-Catholic Myths - Jimmy Akin

20 Answers The End Times - Jimmy Akin

20 Answers The Rosary - Tom Nash

20 Answers Seasons & Feasts – Michelle Arnold

20 Answers New Age - Michelle Arnold

20 Answers Catholic Social Teaching – Mark Brumley

20 Answers Prayer – Hugh Barbour O. Praem and Sebastian Walshe O. Praem

20 Answers Faith & Reason – Christopher Kaczor

20 Answers The New Testament – Jimmy Akin

20 Answers Protestantism – Jimmy Akin

20 Answers Marriage & Sex – Todd Aglialoro

20 Answers The Early Church – Jim Blackburn

20 Answers The Old Testament – Jimmy Akin

20 Answers Judaism – Michelle Arnold

20 Answers The Sacraments – Father Mike Driscoll

20 Answers St Thomas Aquinas - Dr. Kevin Vost

...

Other Books from Catholic Answers:
Hard Sayings: A Catholic Approach to Answering Bible Difficulties - Trent Horn
A Daily Defense: Apologetics Lessons for Every Day - Jimmy Akin
The Apostasy That Wasn't: The Extraordinary Story of the Unbreakable Early Church - Rod Bennett
Answering Atheism - How to Make the Case for God with Logic and Charity - Trent Horn
Persuasive Pro Life: How to Talk About Our Culture's Toughest Issue - Trent Horn and Fr Frank Pavone
The Protestant's Dilemma: How the Reformation's Shocking Consequences Point to the Truth of Catholicism - Devin Rose
Behold Your Mother: A Biblical and Historical Defense of the Marian Doctrines - Tim Staples
Handed Down: The Catholic Faith of the Early Christians - James L. Papandrea
Demons, Deliverance, Discernment: Separating Fact from Fiction about the Spirit World - Fr. Mike Driscoll
Navigating the Tiber: How to Help Your Friends and Family Journey Toward the Catholic Faith - Devin Rose
100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura - Dave Armstrong
The Drama of Salvation: How God Rescues You from Your Sins and Brings You to Eternal Life - Jimmy Akin
The Truth is Out There (Brendan and Erc in Exile Book 1 - Brother Amadeus and Amadeus
...Memorize the Reasons! Defending the Faith with the Catholic Art of Memory - Kevin Vost
Marching Orders: A Tactical Plan for Converting the World to Christ - Dan McGuire
The Fathers Know Best - Jimmy Akin
Why We're Catholic: Our Reasons for Faith, Hope, and Love - Trent Horn
The Old Evangelization: How to Spread the Faith Like Jesus Did - Eric Sammons
...

Sunday, 12 November 2017

20 Answers Atheism - Matt Fradd - 20 Answers Series from Catholic Answers

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