Jump to content

Godless (Barker book)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Godless: How an Evangelical Preacher Became One of America's Leading Atheists is a book which was written by Dan Barker in 2008,[1] in which he describes his deconversion from being a preacher to becoming an atheist.[2]: 106 

The book is divided into four sections. The first section provides the story of Barker's deconversion from an evangelical minister to an atheist. Sections Two and Three contain arguments against the existence of God.[3] Section Four describes some of his work with the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

Reception

[edit]

Gregg Ten of Biola University noted that "as a 'fascinating memoir' the book is a success" but that the second and third sections were mostly unoriginal and underdeveloped, but still comprehensive in breadth.[3] Jason Rosenhouse regarded the book as giving an "impressively lucid, and very readable, treatment" of the issues surrounding cosmological arguments.[4]: 227  Atheist writer Betty Brogaard wrote "his honesty about how he gradually separated himself from religious superstition is not only refreshing but inspiring".[5]: 143 

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Ellison, Garret (October 8, 2011). "Minister-turned-atheist speaks to packed room at Women's City Club". Michigan Live. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  2. ^ Warner, Rob (2010). Secularization and its discontents. London: Continuum. ISBN 9781441155436.
  3. ^ a b Elshof, Gregg Ten (1 December 2009). "Godless: How an Evangelical Preacher Became One of America's Leading Atheists By Dan Barker". Religious Studies Review. 35 (4): 237. doi:10.1111/j.1748-0922.2009.01381_3.x.
  4. ^ Rosenhouse, Jason (2012-04-10). Among the creationists : dispatches from the anti-evolution front line. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199744633.
  5. ^ Brogaard, Betty (2010). The homemade atheist : a former Evangelical woman's freethought [sic] journey to happiness. Berkeley, CA: Ulysses Press. ISBN 9781569757840.