The God Debates

Reviews / Votes

"I do, however, think that the book will enable readers to enterinto debates about God in a fully rational way, and with anawareness of the complexities of theistic arguments. It is one forstudents of the philosophy of religion to study, and they will doso with profit." (Church Times, 20 May 2011) "The book reminds us, also, of how many of the current debatesabout God at best beg the question and at worst take the form ofranting dogmatism." (Network, 2011) "As a philosophy instructor (who frequently teaches philosophyof religion), I find Shook's book to be comprehensive in itscoverage. The theological arguments, as well as theatheological responses to them, are presented in accessible terms,and analyzed perspicuously." (Metapsychology, February2011) "The God Debates is a clear, accessible, up-to-date accountof philosophical wrangles about the existence of God. Shookre-organises the arguments in an interesting way ... [and]takes on more esoteric arguments such as the claim thatwe must presuppose the existence of God if we are to engage inreasoning and scientific inquiry. In all, this is a lucid, concise,up-to-date, yet comprehensive account of intellectual debatesabout the existence of God. It is easy enough to be used bysenior high school students, and could certainly be useful inundergraduate courses in philosophy of religion."(Metamagician and the Hellfire Club, October 2010)John Shook, author of The God Debates, will discusseffective ways for nonbelievers to engage believers over that veryquestion: "Does a god exist?" Maybe it's not the old, familiararguments themselves, but new strategies and tactics that make theatheist message get heard and produce results." (Science in theCity, February 2011)"If you've been puzzled by the complexity of the recent debates forand against God, this is the place to start. Shook lays out thequestions, controversies, and schools of thought with amazingclarity, gradually building his case for a "staunchly naturalisticyet faithfully ethical humanism" ... Clear and blunt, with a lighttouch of irony." --Philip Clayton, author of In Quest of Freedomand the Oxford Handbook of Religion and Science "Knowing for sure is not necessarily a virtue. By mappingscriptural, intellectual, and mystical theologies as well asnaturalistic ethical worldviews, John Shook helps us to understandthe rich range of human ideas and arguments, and hence ourselvesand our neighbours. Shook invites us all to become winners when hewrites in the preface "real winners are those who think about thequestions, reflect on proposed answers, and come up with newquestions." A most interesting and valuable book." --Willem B. Drees, professor of philosophy of religion,Leiden University; editor of Zygon: Journal of Religion andScience; author of Religion and Science in Context: A Guideto the Debates