The Book Challenge

[GCSTroop]

Originally Posted by Jazzedforhim

I hate to do this to y'all but I'm having a real hard time finishing the last few chapters and skimming through it seems to be more of the same perspective but just a different take.

I even agree that religion can be abusive...it's so sad but true. I have a friend who's family member claims to have healed an ambutee...and his leg grew back!!

Jazzed, I understand what you are saying but I suggest that if nothing else you should read the part about Children towards the end of the book. I think it's around pg. 300?? It's only a total of about 20 pages, but I know how you feel. I felt much the same when I was reading IDHEFTBA when they came to the part about Jesus. But, I did finish it as hard as it was.

[Jazzedforhim]

Originally Posted by GCSTroop

Jazzed, I understand what you are saying but I suggest that if nothing else you should read the part about Children towards the end of the book. I think it's around pg. 300?? It's only a total of about 20 pages, but I know how you feel. I felt much the same when I was reading IDHEFTBA when they came to the part about Jesus. But, I did finish it as hard as it was.

I will finish it, because I want to read the rest but I guess I feel preasured to hurry up and things have been crazy here now that school has started and I am writing lesson plans and trying to keep the house in "showroom" condition. I keep saying I'm going to read in the evenings and then I end up using that time to research our unit study and then it's late and I keep going around and around every night! This weekend we were gone until late Sunday. Sigh. Just been so busy.

[GCSTroop]

Originally Posted by Jazzedforhim

I will finish it, because I want to read the rest but I guess I feel preasured to hurry up and things have been crazy here now that school has started and I am writing lesson plans and trying to keep the house in "showroom" condition. I keep saying I'm going to read in the evenings and then I end up using that time to research our unit study and then it's late and I keep going around and around every night! This weekend we were gone until late Sunday. Sigh. Just been so busy.

Yeah I know what you mean Jazzed. I've been busier than a one legged soccer player myself.

[GCSTroop]

OK well I finally finished the second book, The God Delusion. Of the two books, I think I naturally grasped the concepts of TGD more than IDHEFTBA, but I think we are all that way in our respective opinions.

I have to say that I agreed with almost everything in TGD and I can't think of anything I'd like to dispute with the author. I, did however, find Dawkins to be a little self-absorbed and he also seemed to have many of the same characteristics that the writers of IDHEFTBA had in terms of trying to "spread" their message. Of course, I guess that was the whole point of them writing books.

Overall, I think TGD tried to strain less from a scientific presentation as to why religion is incorrect and tried to focus more on why it has the potential to ruin man. In a sense, IDHEFTBA tried to present more scientific evidence as to why God was real. So, all in all, it's kind of hard to compare the two books for their arguments. Of course, the original intentions of either book were not to dispute one another directly, as far as I know.

I did find in the end, that I have not given a second thought to religion because of IDHEFTBA. Of course, I'm sure the same can be said for the religious on the board for TGD. I did, however, thoroughly enjoy both books and the experience to gain some valuable insight as to how both sides think and feel.

As for now, I'm going to start a James Michener book and head away from the religious reading for a while. The Michener book is close to 1000 pages so it should keep me busy for quite some time!

[Jazzedforhim]

Reading TGD didn't change my mind about God BUT it did help me to better understand where an atheist is coming from. Back in the day I was agnostic and felt there probably was some kind of intelligent design, but that all gods were the same god, there was no specific god with a name. I guess sometimes I would think no god at all but I wasn't absolutely sure. So understanding the perspective of one who thinks no god at all, meaning no intelligent design at all was very educational for me. I am so glad I did this and I just want to thank you guys for participating because I would never have read it if you didn't say yes to the book challenge.

[Jazzedforhim]

Troop...thanks for sticking with it and for having a willingness to understand. A willingness to understand does not mean agreement. It means being willing to understand another's perspective. You are never threatened by the faith of others, and I've never known you to put people down personally for having such faith.

I really appreciate that kind of integrity.

[bethany]

This book sounds very interesting what is the title?

[Jazzedforhim]

Originally Posted by bethany

This book sounds very interesting what is the title?

It's called "I don't have enough faith to be an atheist" by Normal Geisler
Amazon.com: I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist: Norman L. Geisler, Frank Turek, David Limbaugh: Books