Is Believing in God Irrational?

Is Believing in God Irrational?
Author: Amy Orr-Ewing
Publisher: IVP Books
Total Pages: 142
Release: 2008-10-02
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9780830833535

Download Is Believing in God Irrational? Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Is God really real? And how can we know if anyone's experience of God is actually valid? Skeptics today are increasingly vocal in their assertion not only that God is unverifiable, but also that believing in God is irrational and even dangerous. Even those who believe wonder if they can speak objectively about the actual reality of God or if they can only appeal to a subjective belief in God. Amy Orr-Ewing addresses key questions and objections that many people today have about God. She explores whether our understanding of God is delusional or merely a psychological crutch. She probes whether the Christian claim to a unique personal relationship with God is plausible in light of other world religions, and how anyone can continue to believe in God in a world of pain and suffering. If you have questions about God, you're not alone. Come consider some possible answers.

God Is Not Great

God Is Not Great
Author: Christopher Hitchens
Publisher: McClelland & Stewart
Total Pages: 322
Release: 2008-11-19
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 1551991764

Download God Is Not Great Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Christopher Hitchens, described in the London Observer as “one of the most prolific, as well as brilliant, journalists of our time” takes on his biggest subject yet–the increasingly dangerous role of religion in the world. In the tradition of Bertrand Russell’s Why I Am Not a Christian and Sam Harris’s recent bestseller, The End Of Faith, Christopher Hitchens makes the ultimate case against religion. With a close and erudite reading of the major religious texts, he documents the ways in which religion is a man-made wish, a cause of dangerous sexual repression, and a distortion of our origins in the cosmos. With eloquent clarity, Hitchens frames the argument for a more secular life based on science and reason, in which hell is replaced by the Hubble Telescope’s awesome view of the universe, and Moses and the burning bush give way to the beauty and symmetry of the double helix.

Irrational Faith

Irrational Faith
Author: Anthony L. Taylor
Publisher: Xulon Press
Total Pages: 82
Release: 2014-03
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9781629524450

Download Irrational Faith Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Life definitely comes with its difficulties, uncertainties and questions of what the next step will be for you and your family. Some people choose to rely on their own strength and understanding to overcome the challenges in their way, while others may just let despair take over and convince themselves no solution is available. However, true believers in Jesus Christ know that through their salvation in Him, God hears, recognizes and will bless those who love and trust in Him. These believers have what author Anthony Taylor calls Irrational Faith, the title of his newest book that focuses on keeping believers' eyes on God while in complicated situations. Irrational faith comes through in heartfelt, groundbreaking decisions that a believer makes in order to surpass their negative outlook on their situation while faithfully seeking the will of God. From making the decision to accept Jesus as their savior to being tireless in prayer and patience, believers will become acquainted to God's voice and direction for their journey through life. Our attitude alone cannot define our faith. Faith must be developed by obeying God's word through the storms of life. It is during these times that we rely on God's provision, promises and overall concern for us revealed in His word. Anthony uses the familiar life stories of Rahab, Noah, Abraham and others to exemplify how each were faced with similar opposition in different scenarios, and received God's abundant blessings when they relinquished their lives to Him. By allowing God to take over the reins of your life, you, as the believer, are ready to face the obstacles in your path, with the full force of the Savior and Heavenly Father in front. Seeing follows believing when you give everything over to God, and find freedom in your breakthrough from sin. Anthony L. Taylor is a U.S. Army Chaplain, and one of today's dynamic speakers on the themes of faith development, spiritual resilience, empowerment, goal-setting, marriage and family wellness. He previously served as a senior pastor in Norfolk, Virginia from 1992 to 2000. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Howard University, a MFT degree from Texas A&M Central TX, a CPE Certification from Riverside Regional Medical Center and a Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary. Anthony and his wife, Paula, are the parents of three grown children, and reside in Central, Texas.

Divine Evil?

Divine Evil?
Author: Michael Bergmann
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2013-01-10
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9780199671854

Download Divine Evil? Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Eleven original essays by philosophers and biblical scholars addressing the character of God as portrayed in the Hebrew Bible. Includes a critical commentary on each essay by another author, and replies to the critical comments by the original author.

A Manual for Creating Atheists

A Manual for Creating Atheists
Author: Peter Boghossian
Publisher: Pitchstone Publishing (US&CA)
Total Pages: 267
Release: 2014-07-01
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 1939578159

Download A Manual for Creating Atheists Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

For thousands of years, the faithful have honed proselytizing strategies and talked people into believing the truth of one holy book or another. Indeed, the faithful often view converting others as an obligation of their faith—and are trained from an early age to spread their unique brand of religion. The result is a world broken in large part by unquestioned faith. As an urgently needed counter to this tried-and-true tradition of religious evangelism, A Manual for Creating Atheists offers the first-ever guide not for talking people into faith—but for talking them out of it. Peter Boghossian draws on the tools he has developed and used for more than 20 years as a philosopher and educator to teach how to engage the faithful in conversations that will help them value reason and rationality, cast doubt on their religious beliefs, mistrust their faith, abandon superstition and irrationality, and ultimately embrace reason.

Why We Need Religion

Why We Need Religion
Author: Stephen T. Asma
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 273
Release: 2018-05-09
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0190469692

Download Why We Need Religion Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

How we feel is as vital to our survival as how we think. This claim, based on the premise that emotions are largely adaptive, serves as the organizing theme of Why We Need Religion. This book is a novel pathway in a well-trodden field of religious studies and philosophy of religion. Stephen Asma argues that, like art, religion has direct access to our emotional lives in ways that science does not. Yes, science can give us emotional feelings of wonder and the sublime--we can feel the sacred depths of nature--but there are many forms of human suffering and vulnerability that are beyond the reach of help from science. Different emotional stresses require different kinds of rescue. Unlike secular authors who praise religion's ethical and civilizing function, Asma argues that its core value lies in its emotionally therapeutic power. No theorist of religion has failed to notice the importance of emotions in spiritual and ritual life, but truly systematic research has only recently delivered concrete data on the neurology, psychology, and anthropology of the emotional systems. This very recent "affective turn" has begun to map out a powerful territory of embodied cognition. Why We Need Religion incorporates new data from these affective sciences into the philosophy of religion. It goes on to describe the way in which religion manages those systems--rage, play, lust, care, grief, and so on. Finally, it argues that religion is still the best cultural apparatus for doing this adaptive work. In short, the book is a Darwinian defense of religious emotions and the cultural systems that manage them.

The Ultimate Proof of Creation

The Ultimate Proof of Creation
Author: Dr. Jason Lisle
Publisher: New Leaf Publishing Group
Total Pages: 289
Release: 2009-06-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1614580987

Download The Ultimate Proof of Creation Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

It's a bold title: The Ultimate Proof of Creation - But is there such a thing? There are many books that contain seemingly powerful arguments for biblical creation. But is there an ultimate proof of creation? There is an argument for creation that is powerful, conclusive, and has no true rebuttal. As such, it is an irrefutable argument - an "ultimate proof " of the Christian worldview biblical creation. Master the method outlined in the following chapters, and you will be able to defend Christianity against all opposition. Learn how to apply the ultimate proof in dialogues with evolutionists, how to spot logical fallacies, and biblical examples of defending the faith Discover the nature of scientific evidence and its proper role in the origins debate Details how to address theistic evolution, "day age" creationism, and other compromised positions of biblical creationism An exceptional book for pastors, ministry leaders, seminary attendees, and students of religion and philosophy This book is a complete guide to defending the Christian faith, emphasizing the defense of the Genesis account of creation, built on techniques that have been developed over many years and presentations. They are not difficult to apply when you learn how to do it properly. Ready to move beyond the circular arguments? It is time to get to the real heart of the issue and rationally resolve the origins debate. It is time to discover The Ultimate Proof of Creation.

The Case for Christ

The Case for Christ
Author: Lee Strobel
Publisher: ReadHowYouWant.com
Total Pages: 510
Release: 2010-11
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1458759202

Download The Case for Christ Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

The book consists primarily of interviews between Strobel (a former legal editor at the Chicago Tribune) and biblical scholars such as Bruce Metzger. Each interview is based on a simple question, concerning historical evidence (for example, "Can the Biographies of Jesus Be Trusted?"), scientific evidence, ("Does Archaeology Confirm or Contradict Jesus' Biographies?"), and "psychiatric evidence" ("Was Jesus Crazy When He Claimed to Be the Son of God?"). Together, these interviews compose a case brief defending Jesus' divinity, and urging readers to reach a verdict of their own.

Why Would Anyone Believe in God?

Why Would Anyone Believe in God?
Author: Justin L. Barrett
Publisher: Cognitive Science of Religion
Total Pages: 160
Release: 2004
Genre: Psychology
ISBN:

Download Why Would Anyone Believe in God? Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Because of the design of our minds. That is Justin Barrett's simple answer to the question of his title. With rich evidence from cognitive science but without technical language, psychologist Barrett shows that belief in God is an almost inevitable consequence of the kind of minds we have. Most of what we believe comes from mental tools working below our conscious awareness. And what we believe consciously is in large part driven by these unconscious beliefs. Barrett demonstrates that beliefs in gods match up well with these automatic assumptions; beliefs in an all-knowing, all-powerful God match up even better. Barrett goes on to explain why beliefs like religious beliefs are so widespread and why it is very difficult for our minds to think without them. Anyone who wants a concise, clear, and scientific explanation of why anyone would believe in God should pick up Barrett's book.

When God Was A Woman

When God Was A Woman
Author: Merlin Stone
Publisher: Doubleday
Total Pages: 379
Release: 2012-05-09
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0307816850

Download When God Was A Woman Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Here, archaeologically documented,is the story of the religion of the Goddess. Under her, women’s roles were far more prominent than in patriarchal Judeo-Christian cultures. Stone describes this ancient system and, with its disintegration, the decline in women’s status.