Comments on: Reading Opposing Views

By: Russ

Russ — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 11:31:35 +0000

Some friends of mine are on their way out of the Faith because of the relatively trivial problem of contradictions in the Bible. Considering some of the powerful arguments of men like Dawkins and Russell, it is strange that they should become unhinged over something so insignificant. In any event, if Christians would read more of the opposition, they would be better prepared to deal with their arguments and would be better able to spot their errors in reasoning.

Kind regards,
Russ

By: MWorrell

MWorrell — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 03:30:15 +0000

Ehrman was just on Fresh Air on NPR:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=19096131

Really, I think he’s a good example of what happens when someone commits fully to a line of thinking (particularly a doctrinally idiosyncratic one, which seems to be a prerequisite in cases like Ehrman’s) and only discovers much later that there are good arguments on both sides. He wouldn’t be the first person I’ve heard express a feeling of betrayal in finding out that there were well-reasoned arguments against the Christian faith in existence, after some time of having no exposure to them. I think Ehrman’s challenges are pretty impotent myself, but maybe that’s because I’ve heard them before.

By: Philip

Philip — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 03:13:59 +0000

It tends to be more edifying intellectually to read someone you disagree with, I find. I already have a one-up on my side of the issue, so keeping up with the other side seems to almost take precedence to me. I’m extremely under-read, but that’s a good principle, I think.

Ehrman just came out with a new book–saw it at Barnes & Noble the other day. It is the case that the Bible does not give a satisfactory solution to the problem of human suffering. Very personal for him; apparently that was the direct cause of his loss of faith.

By: MWorrell

MWorrell — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:11:08 +0000

I think it’s imperative that you read substantial works from opposing viewpoints; I don’t see how you can arrive at a real conclusion/conviction otherwise. I was pleased to learn recently that “The God Delusion” is being read by at least one professor’s philosophy students at Moody Bible Institute. Yet I’m routinely shocked to discover how little exposure my non-Christian acquaintances have to better Christian books, or the Bible, or even to evangelical Christians.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:01:35 +0000

Tom, I tend to the shorter forms, like this blog, because I find I can’t read a longer work when it’s not making any sense from the get-go. A complex work creates a complex logical structure, so when I find myself disagreeing with the foundation, from the beginning, I see there’s no hope of sustaining the argument, so I have no incentive.

I applaud you as a theist yourself for reading those atheist authors.

By: Jordan

Jordan — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:05:49 +0000

I recently read a debate, in book form, between Craig and Sinnot-Armstrong. I think it was simply titled “God?”. I really enjoyed it. I’ve also perused “The Existence of God” by Swinburne, and a Plantinga reader called “The Analytic Theist”, although I confess I haven’t actually read either of them cover-to-cover (yet). I’ve got a couple of Process Theology books in the queue as well. I imagine that, if I ever become a theist (doubtful as that seems at the moment), it’ll be through Process Theology or something like it.

It’s just a matter of finding time to sit down and read. Usually, when I get home from a stressful day at work, reading is the last thing I feel like doing.