John W. Loftus - How to Defend the Christian Faith: Advice From an Atheist

HOW TO DEFEND THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

I dont know anyone who can match the high definition clarity of John Loftus when it comes to navigating the labyrinthine world of Christian evangelical apologetics for the general public. This is a relentless and incisive critique of the pseudo-scholarship that passes for genuine intellectual inquiry under the name of Christian apologetics.

Dr. Hector Avalos, Professor of Religious Studies at Iowa State University and author of The End of Biblical Studies (2007), Slavery, Abolitionism, and the Ethics of Biblical Scholarship (2011), and The Bad Jesus: The Ethics of New Testament Ethics (2015)

Loftus is one of the few atheists who actually understands religion. This book displays the knowledge of a Christian theologian as well as rationality of an atheist. Both sides can learn a lot from it.

Dr. David Eller, author of Natural Atheism (2004), Atheism Advanced: Further Thoughts of a Freethinker (2008), and Introducing Anthropology of Religion: Culture to the Ultimate (2014)

Once again, Loftus raises the bar in the enduring conversation between atheists and Christian apologists with How to Defend the Christian Faith. This book will sharpen and hone the argument for either side, and woe to the unread debater going against someone who has absorbed this books relentless reasoning. I highly recommend this book for anyone who debates religionon either side.

David Silverman, President of American Atheists, Inc.

For years I have despaired about the sorry state of Christian apologetics, and even sorrier state of Christian apologists. If there be Christian truth, it lies beyond the reach of rational inquiry, and perhaps that is OK. In How to Defend the Christian Faith, John Loftus lays waste to a colosseum full of bad arguments, including my own tentative efforts at the problem of evil. (Loftus says I am ignorant but less ignorant than Ken Ham, which was a relief.) Believers should read Loftus engaging assault on their intellectual champions. They will be dismayed at how often they agree. I know I was.

Karl Giberson, Scholar-in-Residence in Science & Religion at Stonehill College, and author of Saving the Original Sinner: How Christians Have Used the Bibles First Man to Oppress, Inspire, and Make Sense of the World (2015)

The world has just become a richer place. Who can calculate the added value to our planet when bright, young aspiring apologists decide to redirect their talents and energies to evidence-based careers? Many of themthe ones who sincerely care about truthwill certainly do that after reading the wise counsel in John Loftus caring and sobering book. How to Defend the Christian Faith is a welcome mutual aid for Apologists Anonymous.

Dan Barker, author of Life Driven Purpose: How an Atheist Finds Meaning (2015), and Co-President of the Freedom From Religion Foundation

I will watch any movie with Denzel Washington in it and I will buy any book written by John Loftus. The formerwell, hes just one hell of an actor, and the latter, because he is one hell of a thinker and writer. His mastery of the material shows a depth that most writers simply could never accomplish. This book adds to the body of work being done so eloquently and convincingly by this second wave generation of New Atheists. But even better, it raises the bar on how good scholarship should be done. Kudos to Loftus for another amazing text that will stand the test of time. My advice to readers? Buy it! Read it! Tell others about it, especially those who need it the mostevangelicals and believers who need a dose of objective reality and science-based reasoning.

Sharon Nichols, retired Associate Professor of Geography, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL, and former President of the Illinois Geographical Society

Loftus once again exposes the intellectual and moral bankruptcy of Christian apologetics. As the title promises, Loftus offers practical advice to the believer in his or her quest to defend the indefensible. The books greatest strength is its accurate exposition of the apologists challenges. Loftus documents the moral weaknesses of Gods biblical commandments, the absurdity of a God who cannot do a better job revealing Himself, and the intellectual dishonesty that religious adherence requires. With wit and insight, Loftus offers the believer the tricks necessary to remain in the faith and to persuade others to do likewise. Self-delusion and deception are necessary attributes and Loftus humorously explains how it is done from someone who has been there. This is a great book for the believer who is ready to take an honest look at the moral and intellectual cost of his or her faith.

Carolyn Hyppolite, MA, author of Still Small Voices: The Testimony of a Born Again Atheist (2014)

Pitchstone Publishing

Durham, North Carolina

www.pitchstonepublishing.com

Copyright 2015 John W. Loftus

All rights reserved.

Printed in the USA

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Loftus, John W.

How to defend the Christian faith : advice from an atheist / John W. Loftus ; foreword by Peter Boghossian.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-1-63431-056-7 (pbk. : alk. paper)

1. ChristianityControversial literature. 2. ApologeticsMethodology. I. Title.

BL2775.3.L63 2015

230dc23

2015015166

I dedicate this book to several scholarly friends who have greatly influenced my thinking.

On the darker side I am most grateful to Christian apologists James D. Stauss (19292014) and William Lane Craig.

On the brighter side I am most grateful to four atheist intellectual giants, Hector Avalos, Peter Boghossian, Jerry Coyne, and David Eller.

David Ellers luminous works contain important perspectives you wont find from anyone else in todays world. We are all in his debt. You arent a fully informed person if youre not reading them.

Peter Boghossians brilliant book, A Manual for Creating Atheists, is a significant game changer coming from a one-of-a-kind intellectual strategist. Hes raising up a grassroots atheist movement to help believers realize theyre pretending to know what they dont know when they claim to know with 100 percent certainty their faith is true.

Jerry Coyne, in his published works and daily writing on his website (https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/), is doling out one beating after another to religious and faith-based reasoning. No other scientist of his stature is writing so much, so knowledgeably, and so passionately. His influence is being felt around the world.

Hector Avalos is expertly leading a second wave of atheist biblical scholars following the first wave of new atheists. His writings are multidisciplinary in scope (covering biblical, scientific, ethical, and political issues), cross-cultural in nature (in both English and Spanish), and utilize a variety of venues (scholarly books, journals, blog posts, and newspapers). He is a one-man demolition machine when it comes to debunking Christianity and its influence in todays world.

be ready always to give an answer to every man
that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you

1 Peter 3:15

If youre a Christian, and you read only one book about how to defend your faith, this is that book. It is the one book on apologetics whose guidance, advice, and recommendations will lead you to what is true.