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Atheism Remix: A Christian Confronts the New Atheists | 
 enlarge | Authors: R. Albert Mohler, Jr.
Publisher: Crossway Books
Category: Book
List Price: $15.99
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Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 84963
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 112
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5.4 x 0.5
ISBN: 1433504979
Dewey Decimal Number: 261.21
EAN: 9781433504976
ASIN: 1433504979
Publication Date: July 31, 2008
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Product Description
A leading Christian intellectual explores the newest strain of atheism, its foremost thinkers, the cultural conditions that have bred it, and how Christians should respond. Something has changed in American culture. What for years was a little-regarded belief system—atheism—has now gained a large, and increasing, national hearing through the writings of “new atheists” such as Dawkins, Dennett, Harris, and Hitchens. Wanting to both inform and equip serious-minded Christians regarding this cultural shift, R. Albert Mohler Jr. explores the environment that has bred the “new atheism” while also introducing readers to the movement’s four leading thinkers and the contours of their arguments. Mohler—deemed “the reigning intellectual of the evangelical movement in the US” by Time magazine—then uses this foundation to pinpoint eight major distinctives that make the new atheism new, and to discuss the future of Christianity in relationship to it. At school and in the community, Christians are sure to encounter people who have been shaped by this strain of atheism. Here is keen insight that any believer can use to understand and challenge the new atheists. “Thoughtful and insightful, this readable work illuminates for scholars, pastors, and students alike the key issues that must be addressed in order to engage the thinking of Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens, and others. I applaud Albert Mohler for his clarity and conviction in helping us understand that biblical theism is the only true alternative to the New Atheism. I gladly recommend this book!”
David S. Dockery, President, Union University “Instead of becoming just one more voice in the rising debate between Christians and the New Atheists, Dr. Mohler has chosen to provide us with masterful coverage of the dominant writers on both sides. I know of no other introduction to this crucial debate that is as comprehensive and clear in such brief compass. Mohler tells us what’s going on, shows us how much depends on the outcome of this titanic cultural shift, and provides guidance to the resources Christians need to challenge the New Atheism root and branch.”
D. A. Carson, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School “The New Atheism needs a clear-headed, straightforward analysis. Atheism Remix does this, and does it well. Al Mohler is clear and concise in his critique, and the readability of this book makes it accessible to a wide audience. This is a fine introduction and overview of the self-proclaimed ?Four Horsemen’ of atheism. They are examined and exposed for the vacuous arguments they offer.”
Daniel Akin, President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
Short. Concise. Thought Provoking November 6, 2008
In his recent book, Mohler documents and reacts to four of today's most prominent and evangelistic atheists. The new atheists, Dawkins, Dennett, Harris, and Hitchens. Or, as Mohler likes to call them, "the four horsemen of the new atheism".
Mohler himself is the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville Kentucky. He also hosts a self-titled national radio program. He is the author of the recent book Culture Shift, and is one of my favorite bloggers, writing mostly about culture issues.
Mohler's style of writing is easy to read. Like something you'd find in a commentary section of a newspaper. The content is compelling, but the language and structure is not overwhelming. It should be an easy read for most and a breeze for heavy readers.
Remix is short. Surprisingly short. 108 pages, spread over four chapters, sliced into about six chapter subsets (again, why'd it take two months to finish?). But length doesn't necessarily mean much. Mohler says quite a lot in a little bit of space.
This New Atheism is unprecedented, as Mohler sees it. Unlike atheism movements in the past, it's popular. Mohler sites how long these proponent's books have taken residence on best seller stands. He also addresses the distinct lack of moral grieving over the loss of something previously seen as beautiful: faith. There's quite a lot more to say. That's why Mohler wrote a book.
The subtitle is "a Christian confronts the New Atheists", but the subtitle is misleading. When I first received the book from Amazon, I was disappointed at the size. I thought to myself, "really? this dude is effectively going to go up against four of the most outspoken members of the atheist movement in just over a hundred pages?". Well, he doesn't. In fact, he doesn't even try to. The final chapter of the book makes clear that this text was not written to confront them, or even their followers. It's written for Christians, living in a culture that's shifting as a result of this emerging "New Atheism".
And for us, he writes convincingly, with conviction.
Dr. Mohler does an excellent job of bringing together information. Much of the pages are made up of discussing other opponents attacks on the New Atheists. I find this reads with a refreshing humility. It gives us the sweetest points of popular rebuttal but also lends to an argument that feels much larger that is actually contained in the book.
Mohler saves the biggest chunk of his own opinion for the final chapter (which is also typical of his blog), titled "New Atheism and the Future of Christianity". In it he gives Christians an encouragement not to shrink from the discussion but to read, study, learn and pray.
Overall, I recommend this book to most all Christians. If you're unfamiliar with this new movement, this will serve as an excellent introduction. If you're already pretty well informed, this will be an easy read and an important reminder. It's certainly no waste of time.
Informative, but Mistitled October 17, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This short book (108 pages) is an informative guide to the challenge of the New Atheists and their challenge to Christian theism. Mohler targets the "four horsemen of the New Atheism" - Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennet, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens.
Chapter one briefly surveys the history of atheism and situates the new atheism within secularism.
Chapter two is the most helpful chapter of the book; it discusses New Atheism's assault on Theism by giving thumbnail sketches of the "four horsemen,"then pointing out eight common features of their assault on theism: (1) The New Atheism is marked by an unprecedented new boldness; (2) There is a clear and specific rejection of the Christian God of the Bible; (3) The New Atheists explicitly reject Jesus Christ; (4) The New Atheism is specifically grounded in scientific argument; (5) The New Atheism is new in its refusal to tolerate moderate and liberal forms of belief; (6) The New Atheism attacks toleration; (7) The New Atheists have begun to question the right of parents to inculcate belief in their own children; and (8) The New Atheists argue that religion itself must be eliminated to preserve human freedom.
Chapters three and four discuss the defense of theism poised against by the New Atheists by various theologians and philosophers, including Alistair McGrath, Alvin Plantiga, Tina Beattie, and John F. Haught. While agreeing with some points of their arguments (especially McGrath and Plantiga), Mohler's primary criticism is that these responses represent various levels of accomodation. In contrast, Mohler argues that "Evangelical Christians simply cannot surrender biblical authority, propositional revelation, and biblical theism in order to meet the various challenges presented to us in the twenty-first century" (102). There are only two alternatives, atheism or biblical, Christian theism.
Unfortunately, this book does not itself present an argument for biblical theism. The book doesn't deliver on its subtitle, "a Christian confronts the New Atheists," for there isn't much confrontation with, and no detailed argumentation against, the New Atheists. That was disappointing. Readers who want thoughtful engagement with the New Atheists will have go elsewhere. (I'd suggest Timothy Keller's The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism.)
That said, the second chapter of this book made it worth reading for me. I appreciated the review and summary of the various NA books.
A Survey of the Chatter Surrounding New Atheism October 9, 2008
Al Mohler is no stranger to those within evangelicalism. The Southern Seminary President has been a voice of consistently clear and faithful biblical articulation throughout recent years. Thankfully his influence is expanding through his radio show, website and various appearances on television and in the paper. The fact that Dr Mohler is now beginning to crank out books is met with thankfulness from many corners. In my view he just needs to keep reading, writing and talking; he is a blessing to the church and a light to the world.
Atheism Remix is based on the W.H. Griffith Thomas Lectures Mohler delivered at Dallas Theological Seminary early in 2008. The book is a small hardback (112 pages) and is easily digested.
The book is broken into four sections that basically identify how we got to this new atheism, what its proponents are doing, what the answer to them is and where we are going.
You may be wondering, "What is the new Atheism?"
There are four men who prominently play into this "New" Atheism. They are referred to by some as "The Four Horsemen of the New Atheist Apocalypse". They are Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens. Mohler aims to help us to become "at least conversant with these men and what they are about" (p.39).
Specifically Mohler identifies 8 characteristics of the New Atheism:
It is marked by unprecedented boldness.
There is clear and specific rejection of the Christian God of the Bible.
There is a explicit rejection of Jesus Christ (particularly his restrictivism).
It is grounded specifically in scientific argument.
It relentlessly attacks toleration.
There is a consistent ethical questioning of the rights of parents to inculcate their beliefs to their own children.
They believe that religion itself must be eliminated in order to preserve human freedom.
The strength of the book is Mohler's ability to distill oceans of information from the various and sundry books on both sides of the issue and present it in a bite-sized format.
In the chapter that defends theism Mohler relies largely on Oxford Theologian Alister McGrath and Alvin Plantinga, a professor of philosophy at Notre Dame. The defense that Mohler gives amounts to more quotes from these men and some moderate interaction with them.
I would have liked to hear more from Dr Mohler himself on this. He did a great job bringing helpful material to the table, but at the end of the day, it was not his. This would not have been a disappointment for me had the subtitle of the book not been, "A Christian confronts the New Atheists". I think a more appropriate and accurate sub-title would have been, "A survey of the chatter surrounding the New Atheists". But regardless of subtitle, this book is a thoughtful and helpful introduction into the debate that continues to intensify. Mohler's research and clarity are a worthwhile read for all who desire to become familiar with the issues.
The book closes with Mohler resetting the coordinates of "ground zero" in this debate: a personal, supernatural, self-disclosing, authoritative, and exclusive God. It is here that Christians must most certainly and fervently "know whom we have believed".
 Disappointed September 2, 2008
14 out of 17 found this review helpful
I cannot say for certain what I expected from Dr. Mohler's book. However, I will say I was disappointed to learn that the lecture series was really only a history of atheism and not comments related to the current trend in atheism. If you are a student of apologetics and need a historical background and trends for atheism, than this book may be a decent addition to your studies. Otherwise, your money might be better spent elsewhere.
The sub-title says "A Christian confronts the new Atheists." If that's the case, the publishers left those lectures out of the book.
 Instead of a requiem, there is a celebration! August 27, 2008
3 out of 6 found this review helpful
Atheism Remix is a high quality book on the subject of the New Atheism. Dr. Mohler expertly traces the rise of the modern Atheism. He discusses the four horsemen of the New Atheism - Dawkins, Dennet, Harris and Hitchens - giving more attention to Dawkins than the others. The New Atheism, unlike past versions of the philosophy, is not mournful and dirge-like, but celebratory and bold. Dr. Mohler does not provide a defense of theism as much as he calls for Christians to be educated on the New Atheism and to think biblically about it, its effect on our culture and how we should think about it and respond to it. The book is straightforward, readable, complete and fairly short. I would recommend this book to anyone curious about the subject or in a position of teaching in a church or family.
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