Rebuttals to atheist arguments

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Dr. Greg Bahnsen became known as "the man atheists fear most" due to Michael Martin's cancellation of their scheduled debate.[1][2]

In 1990, the atheist philosopher Michael Martin indicated there was a general absence of an atheistic response to contemporary work in the philosophy of religion and in jest he indicated that it was his "cross to bear" to respond to theistic arguments.[3] In addition, in 1994, Michael Martin was criticized for his eleventh hour cancellation of his debate with Greg Bahnsen (see: Greg Bahnsen and debate and Bahnson-Martin debate press release).[4][5]

In 2001, the atheist and philosopher Quentin Smith declared:

“ Naturalists [atheists] passively watched as realist versions of theism … began to sweep through the philosophical community, until today perhaps one-quarter or one-third of philosophy professors are theists, with most being orthodox Christians…. God is not 'dead' in academia; he returned to life in the 1960's and is now alive and well in his last academic stronghold, philosophy departments."[6] ”

In 2004, Professor Alister McGrath, professor of historical theology at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University declared, "The golden age of atheism is over."[7] Jacques Berlinerblau concurs and he declared in 2011: "The Golden Age of Secularism has passed." [8]

The situation has become even worse for atheist community in recent years as the quality of their arguments has diminished and the percentage of atheists in the world is decreasing, while the proliferation of Christian apologetics/apologists is increasing in the world (for example, see: Trinity Graduate School of Apologetics and Theology and Ratio Christi and Global Christianity and Decline of global atheism).

Quotes relating to atheist arguments

 
William Lane Craig

"The absence of a debate with the foremost apologist for Christian theism is a glaring omission on your CV and is of course apt to be interpreted as cowardice on your part." - Dr. Daniel Came, a member of the Faculty of Philosophy at Oxford University writing to the new atheist Richard Dawkins concerning his refusal to debate Dr. William Lane Craig[9]

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach wrote concerning his debate with Richard Dawkins and its aftermath:

“ ...Dawkins attacked me on his website and denied that he and I had ever debated. My office quickly posted the full footage of a two hour debate which took place on October 23, 1996, a debate which Dawkins actually lost after a vote taken by the students as to which side, science or religion, caused more students to change their minds. In my article on the subject responding to his attack I was extremely respectful of Dr. Dawkins and was therefore shocked to receive a letter in return in which he accused me of speaking like Hitler. Had the noted scientist lost his mind? Hitler? Was this for real?[10] ”

(See also: Richard Dawkins and Rabbi Shmuley Boteach debate)

"No one can be an unbeliever nowadays. The Christian apologists have left one nothing to disbelieve." - Hector Hugh Munro (better known by the pen name Saki)

"After witnessing Dr. Stein's public drubbing, Dr. Martin probably contracted the well known disease skeptics often catch before debating skilled opponents: atheisticus scaredicus." - Press release after Michael Martin pulled out of Martin-Bahnsen debate

In August of 1979, Dr. Henry Morris reported in an Institute for Creation Research letter: “By now, practically every leading evolutionary scientist in this country has declined one or more invitations to a scientific debate on creation/evolution.”[11] Morris also said regarding the creation scientist Duane Gish (who had over 300 formal debates): “At least in our judgment and that of most in the audiences, he always wins.”[12]

Atheism and debates

In recent years, there has been a number of notable cases of atheists/evolutionists dodging debate offers and doing poorly in debates (see: Atheists dodging debate offers and Creation scientists tend to win debates with evolutionists and Atheism debates).

General resources: Rebuttals of atheist arguments

Quick answers to common atheist objections


Comprehensive resources/answers to atheist objections


 
The argument from beauty is a teleological argument.

Evidence for Christianity


Origin of life/Evolution/Science


Websites and other resources specifically dealing with atheism

Videos on atheism

Specific rebuttals and resources relative to atheist arguments

 
The Wall Street Journal reported: "A comprehensive new study released by Baylor University yesterday, shows ...that the irreligious and the members of more liberal Protestant denominations, far from being resistant to superstition, tend to be much more likely to believe in the paranormal and in pseudoscience than evangelical Christians."[13] See: Irreligion and superstition and Atheism and irrationality

Unreasonableness of atheism


Atheism and irrationality, specific arguments

General articles:


Atheism and the laws of logic

 
Alvin Plantinga


Transcendental argument for the existence of God

See also: Transcendental argument for the existence of God


Debates on the transcendental argument for the existence of God


 
"The heavens are telling of the glory of God. And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands." (Psalm 19:1 NASB)

Existence of the universe


Argument from contingency


Existence of consciousness


C.S. Lewis's argument from reason


Atheism and incoherence and inconsistencies

 
J.P. Moreland


Incoherence/inconsistency of naturalism:

4 part series by Dr. J.P. Moreland


Articles relating to postmodernism and non-theistic Buddhism


Logic and theism/creation


Common logical fallacies that atheists employ


Videos


Historical and legal apologetics

Historical apologetics:

 
The Apostle Paul defends his preaching. Artist: Giovanni Ricco


Christian legal apologetics:


Atheism and history


Atheism and some recent events


 
The archaeologist Bryant Wood

Bible archaeology


Bible archaeology and dating:


Biblical creation and intelligent design resources

 
Jonathan Sarfati is a scientist who works for Creation Ministries International.


Atheism and science articles:


Age of the earth:


Atheism and morality


 
The perverse and cruel atheist Marquis de Sade in prison, 18th century line engraving.

Effect of atheistic ideology on culture


Atheism and the problem of evil


Christian worldview/Christian philosophy


Atheist worldviews


Bible prophecy articles and websites

Analysis of Bible prophecy from Christian scholars/apologists


Rebuttal to atheist Steven Carr concerning Bible prophecy



 
A common and legitimate criticism of the atheist worldview is that atheism is irrational.[14]

Atheism/theism and purpose/meaning


Psychology/sociology of atheism


File:Atheist vs Theist IQ distribution GSS data.png
Citing data from the General Social Survey (GSS), Vox Day writes: "..the two most common types of atheists are the High Church atheists with +2SD IQs (128+) and Low Church atheists with -2SD IQs (65-72). Note that the Low Church atheists actually outnumber the High Church atheists, 22.9 to 17.2 percent."[15] (click on the graph above to enlarge). See: Atheism and intelligence

Atheism and intelligence


Atheism and health


Atheism and leadership


Biblical inerrancy resources


Decline of global atheism

Atheist community is lacking in confidence

 
The Oxford University Professor Daniel Came wrote to the new atheist Richard Dawkins:: "The absence of a debate with the foremost apologist for Christian theism is a glaring omission on your CV and is of course apt to be interpreted as cowardice on your part."[16]

See also: Atheist movement and Atheism and social intelligence and Atheism and emotional intelligence and Atheism and cowardice

In 2010, Professor Eric Kaufmann, who specializes in religion/irreligion/demographics/politics, wrote:

“ Worldwide, the march of religion can probably only be reversed by a renewed, self-aware secularism. Today, it appears exhausted and lacking in confidence... Secularism's greatest triumphs owe less to science than to popular social movements like nationalism, socialism and 1960s anarchist-liberalism. Ironically, secularism's demographic deficit means that it will probably only succeed in the twenty-first century if it can create a secular form of 'religious' enthusiasm."[17] ”

As noted above, the Oxford University Professor Daniel Came wrote to the new atheist Richard Dawkins:: "The absence of a debate with the foremost apologist for Christian theism is a glaring omission on your CV and is of course apt to be interpreted as cowardice on your part."[18]

For more information, please see: Atheism and cowardice

Articles about the atheist community lacking in confidence

Recommended reading

General Works Relating to Atheism and/or Defense of Theism

  • Top 15 Evidences for God and Creation by Jason Browning
  • Alister McGrath, (2004), The Twilight of Atheism: The Rise and Fall of Disbelief in the Modern World ISBN 0-385-50061-0
  • Ravi Zacharias, (1994, 2004), A Shattered Visage: The Real Face of Atheism ISBN 0801065119
  • Ravi Zacharias, (1994, 1996), Can Man Live Without God? ISBN 0849939437
  • Josh McDowell and Don Stewart, (1982) Understanding Secular Religions, Here's Life Publishers, San Bernardino, California, ISBN 0-86605-093-0

Books on the New Atheism

  • Vox Day, (2008),The Irrational Atheist, BenBella Books, Inc. ISBN 1933771364 (free pdf of the abbreviated version of his book: The Irrational atheist)
  • R. Albert Mohler Jr., (2008), Atheism Remix: A Christian Confronts the New Atheists, Crossway, ISBN 9781433504976

Atheism and history

  • Dimitry Pospielovsky, (December, 1987), A History of Marxist-Leninist Atheism and Soviet Antireligious Policies, Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN 0312381328
  • Dimitry Pospielovsky, (November, 1987), Soviet Antireligious Campaigns and Persecutions (History of Soviet Atheism in Theory and Practice and the Believers, Vol 2), Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN 0312009054
  • Dimitry Pospielovsky, (August, 1988), Soviet Studies on the Church and the Believer's Response to Atheism: A History of Soviet Atheism in Theory and Practice and the Believers, Vol 3, Palgrave Macmillan, hardcover: ISBN 0312012918, paperback edition: ISBN 0312012926

Books on the causes of atheism

See also: Books on the causes of atheism

  • Atheist Persona: Causes and Consequences by John J. Pasquini, Th.D, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Published: April 15, 2014, ISBN-10: 0761863311; ISBN-13: 978-0761863311[1]
  • Immorality and pride, the great causes of atheism a sermon preach'd at the cathedral-church of St. Paul, January the 8th 1697/8 : the first of the lecture for that year, founded by the Honourable Robert Boyle, Esq. / by John Harris, Publisher: BiblioBazaar, 2011 ISBN 1240832273, 9781240832279 [2]

Humor/comedy/satire concerning atheism

 
Logo for the Shockofgod YouTube channel

Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian

External links

Notes

  1. ↑ Bahsen at the Stein debate by John Frame
  2. ↑ The Great Debate: Greg Bahnsen vs Gordon Stein
  3. ↑ Open Questions: Diverse Thinkers Discuss God, Religion, and Faith by Luís F. Rodrigues, page 201
  4. ↑ The Great Debate: Greg Bahnsen vs Gordon Stein
  5. ↑ Bahsen at the Stein debate by John Frame
  6. ↑ Craig, William Lane (2012)."Theistic critiques of atheism". Reasonable Faith. Retrieved on July 26, 2014. Unabridged version of article published 2007. See William Lane Craig.
  7. ↑ Stewart, Marilyn (August 10, 2004). "Nobts’ Oxford Study Program spans notable lectures & historical sites". Baptist Press. Retrieved on July 26, 2014.
  8. ↑ Obama at the National Prayer Breakfast, The Chronicle of Higher Education, February 4, 2011
  9. ↑ Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God, The Daily Telegraph, May 14, 2011
  10. ↑ Richard Dawkins shameful attack
  11. ↑ Reason or Rhetoric by Henry Morris, PhD
  12. ↑ Voices for evolution - John Ankerberg website
  13. ↑ [Who is the superstitious?
  14. ↑ Atheism by Matt Slick
  15. ↑ Mailvox: The distribution of atheist intelligence
  16. ↑ Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God, The Daily Telegraph, May 14, 2011
  17. ↑ Shall the religious inherit the earth? - Eric Kaufmann
  18. ↑ Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God, The Daily Telegraph, May 14, 2011
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