Atheist Overreach What Atheism Can't Deliver [Hardcover]

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.

InAtheist 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.

Introduction

Chapter 1: Just How Good without God Are Atheists Justified in Being?
Chapter 2: Does Naturalism Warrant Belief in Universal Benevolence and Human Rights?
Chapter 3: Why Scientists Playing Amateur Atheology Fail
Chapter 4: Are Humans Naturally Religious?

Conclusion

Many essays and books have been written in response to the anti-theistic polemics of the so-called New Atheists. Christian Smith'sAtheist Overreachis 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 thls$