"God or Godless?" (John W. Loftus and Randal Rauser)

TITLE: God or Godless?: One Atheist. One Christian. Twenty Controversial Questions.
AUTHOR: John W. Loftus and Randal Rauser
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2013, (208 pages).

This book is an engaging debate between a Christian and an theist on twenty controversial questions. Initiated by Randal Rauser, who takes the position of a Christian apologist, the opponent is a former Christian minister and trained theologian, who has since renounced the faith and embarked upon a journey of debunking Christianity. Rauser the fervent Christian asks ten questions, mostly in defending the rationality and the plausibility of the Christian faith. He does this by highlighting the flawed arguments of Loftus, philosophically, theologically, and socially through affirmations of the Christian faith as well as questioning the assumptions of the atheist arguments. Loftus, the staunch atheist aims at the outset to deny the attributes of God (omnibenevolence, omniscience, and omnipotence); discrediting the claims of Christianity, and arguing that science is basically the answer to life's probing questions.

Each author proposes ten questions, with the proposer making an initial affirmation, followed by a rebuttal by the opponent, and subsequently a defense. Both authors then get to make closing statements to summarize their stand. Randal the Christian affirms the following ten:

1. If there is no God, then life has no meaning.
2. If there is no God, then everything is permitted.
3. Science is no substitute for religion.
4. God is the best explanation for the whole shebang.
5. If there is no God, then we don't know anything.
6. Love is a many splendored thing, but only if God exists.
7. Everybody has faith.
8. God is found in the majesty of the Hallelujah chorus.
9. God best explains the miracles in people's lives.
10. Jesus was resurrected, so who do you think raised him?

Loftus advocates affirmatively the following:

1. The biblical concept of God evolved from polytheism to monotheism
2. The biblical God required child sacrifices for his pleasure
3. The biblcal God commanded genocide
4. The biblical God does not care much about slaves
5. The biblical God does not care much about women
6. The biblical God does not care much about animals
7. The biblical God is ignorant about science
8. The biblical God is ignorant about the future
9. The biblical God is an incompetent Creator
10. The biblical God is an incompetent Redeemer.

My Thoughts

I confess that I begin this book with a bias toward the Christian faith. It is thus no surprise that I side more with Rauser than Loftus. Preconceived notions aside, when I apply as fair an understanding as possible to Loftus's viewpoints, I cannot help but wonder whether Loftus's arguments are like sawing the same branch that he is sitting on in the first place. He concludes the following:

"Because the bottom line is that atheists are skeptics. That places us in a bracket all our own. We are not affirming anything. We are denying the claims of all religionists." (181)

My doubts about Loftus's position are three-fold. Firstly, does the skepticism include itself? That will mean Loftus will need to apply his critiques on Christianity the same way he does on his atheistic beliefs as well. Secondly, by saying they are not affirming anything in the first place, and denying the religious views, is that itself not an affirmation? I find it mind-boggling to see how Loftus manages to give himself a backdoor of escape, making his own arguments too slippery for anyone to grasp. Thirdly, by denying the claims of all religions, he may very well be denying his own. After all, remove the "theist" from atheist, and you have nothing much to talk about. As one who appreciates science, I am also surprised that Loftus has taken upon himself a big leap of faith in trusting that science will solve many more things in the future. The trouble is, science is science, and needs to be understood as that. Marry that to the other disciplines, we will get s strange mangled matter than seeks not explanation but faith seeking understanding. In other words, science has a boundary marker, something that Loftus refuses to accept.

That does not mean I am fully persuaded by Rauser as well. Some of the examples he use are less than satisfactory. For example, in the opening chapter, he takes the stand that life has meaning from a hugely utilitarian standpoint. That is a view with an extremely limited view of life. However, he does make some good arguments, like the part about no one believing in Baal today, while millions believe in the God of the Bible.

Overall, I agree more with Rauser because I find the arguments more cohesive and plausible. Loftus on the other hand, makes sweeping statements that require more evidence and proof rather than mere rhetoric or philosophical statements. In fact, the arguments Loftus makes sounds rather aloof and dismissive. Just look at the way sarcasm plays in the affirmative statements about the "biblical God."

This book gives readers some clear insights about the thinking processes of a Christian vs an atheist. Rauser has a message to tell while Loftus seems to have an axe to grind. The authors argue their views passionately and make rebuttals vigorously for their stand. They have also given readers some helpful resources for researching into the different viewpoints. I commend the authors and the publisher for sharing this important engagement that should appeal to both believers as well as non-believers. What I think is most beneficial is not the winning of arguments but the manner in which the debate is conducted. I appreciate the respectful mood throughout the book, and how the authors can disagree in their basic views, but still agree to the rules of the debate. Even if readers may not agree with everything the authors say, I am convinced that we can learn from them how to engage respectfully and constructively, and maintain the dignity of all involved.


Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me free by Graf-Martin Communications and Baker Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.