Overview

In recent years atheism has become ever more visible, acceptable, and influential. Atheist apologists have become increasingly vociferous and confident in their claims: that a morality requiring benevolence towards all and universal human rights need not be grounded in religion; that modern science disproves the existence of God; and that there is nothing innately religious about human beings. In Atheist Overreach, Christian Smith takes a look at the evidence and arguments, and explains why we ought to be skeptical of these atheists' claims about morality, science, and human nature. He does not argue that atheism is necessarily wrong, but rather that its advocates are advancing crucial claims that are neither rationally defensible nor realistic. Their committed worldview feeds unhelpful arguments and contributes to the increasing polarization of today's political landscape. Everyone involved in the theism-atheism debates, in shared moral reflection, and in the public consumption of the findings of science should be committed to careful reasoning and rigorous criticism. This book provides readers with the information they need to participate more knowledgably in debates about atheism and what it means for our society.

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9780190880927

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Reviews

"""Many essays and books have been written in response to the anti-theistic polemics of the so-called New Atheists. Christian Smith's Atheist Overreach is the equal of any of those writers in his acquaintance with the relevant literature and in the acuity of his critique of the claims of the New Atheists. What makes his book stand out from the crowd is that he is writing for the general reader, rather than specialists, that he never overreaches in what he claims to have established, and that — unlike much of the writing on both sides — he is never abusive of those whose views he is critiquing. The style is lucid and engaging. In every way, an admirable contribution to the debate."" - Nicholas Wolterstorff, Yale University""Clearly and accessibly written, Atheist Overreach eschews polemics on a topic that usually evokes nothing else. Christian Smith raises questions that every thoughtful atheist must deal with."" - James W. Jones, author of Can Science Explain Religion? The Cognitive Science Debate""This book provides an invaluable resource for believers and nonbelievers to dialogue about important moral questions, presenting a thorough and readable evaluation of the claims of authors who write as a moral voice of atheism in the public square. At a time when we struggle to have civil discussion about challenging issues such as religion, Christian Smith's balanced approach will undoubtedly help launch an important, productive dialogue among atheists, religious believers, and those who are not sure."" - Margarita Mooney, author of Faith Makes Us Live: Surviving and Thriving in the Haitian Diaspora"

""Many essays and books have been written in response to the anti-theistic polemics of the so-called New Atheists. Christian Smith's Atheist Overreach is the equal of any of those writers in his acquaintance with the relevant literature and in the acuity of his critique of the claims of the New Atheists. What makes his book stand out from the crowd is that he is writing for the general reader, rather than specialists, that he never overreaches in what he claims to have established, and that — unlike much of the writing on both sides — he is never abusive of those whose views he is critiquing. The style is lucid and engaging. In every way, an admirable contribution to the debate."" - Nicholas Wolterstorff, Yale University""Clearly and accessibly written, Atheist Overreach eschews polemics on a topic that usually evokes nothing else. Christian Smith raises questions that every thoughtful atheist must deal with."" - James W. Jones, author of Can Science Explain Religion? The Cognitive Science Debate""This book provides an invaluable resource for believers and nonbelievers to dialogue about important moral questions, presenting a thorough and readable evaluation of the claims of authors who write as a moral voice of atheism in the public square. At a time when we struggle to have civil discussion about challenging issues such as religion, Christian Smith's balanced approach will undoubtedly help launch an important, productive dialogue among atheists, religious believers, and those who are not sure."" - Margarita Mooney, author of Faith Makes Us Live: Surviving and Thriving in the Haitian Diaspora

Many essays and books have been written in response to the anti-theistic polemics of the so-called New Atheists. Christian Smith's Atheist Overreach is the equal of any of those writers in his acquaintance with the relevant literature and in the acuity of his critique of the claims of the New Atheists. What makes his book stand out from the crowd is that he is writing for the general reader, rather than specialists, that he never overreaches in what he claims to have established, and that -- unlike much of the writing on both sides -- he is never abusive of those whose views he is critiquing. The style is lucid and engaging. In every way, an admirable contribution to the debate. -- Nicholas Wolterstorff, Yale University Clearly and accessibly written, Atheist Overreach eschews polemics on a topic that usually evokes nothing else. Christian Smith raises questions that every thoughtful atheist must deal with. -- James W. Jones, author of Can Science Explain Religion? The Cognitive Science Debate Many essays and books have been written in response to the anti-theistic polemics of the so-called New Atheists. Christian Smith's Atheist Overreach is the equal of any of those writers in his acquaintance with the relevant literature and in the acuity of his critique of the claims of the New Atheists. What makes his book stand out from the crowd is that he is writing for the general reader, rather than specialists, that he never overreaches in what he claims to have established, and that -- unlike much of the writing on both sides -- he is never abusive of those whose views he is critiquing. The style is lucid and engaging. In every way, an admirable contribution to the debate! -- Nicholas Wolterstorff, Yale University

Author Information

Christian Smith is William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Sociology at the University of Notre Dame. Smith holds an MA (1987) and PhD (1990) in Sociology from Harvard University and has studied at Harvard Divinity School. He has taught at Notre Dame, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Gordon College, MA.

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