Is Atheism Dead?

[The Grand Nudger]

Books like that are bulk purchased. Just a bit of info you might need to have to understand religious bestsellers and whether or not anyone actually reads them.

[Ranjr]

The title of the book is christian clickbait.  Those seeking the steady drip of confirmation are beyond the grasp of critical thinking.

[The Grand Nudger]

It's a non starter for them anyway, he rejects old and young earth creationism, and so..even though he himself is a nut who believes that all of science is a massive coverup..that's not nutty enough, for them.

[Jehanne]

What conclusions are they likely to draw?

That Metaxas is a nut?

[Fake Messiah]

One item that I would like to bring to the attention of the OP is that the book Is Atheism Dead? is very highly rated,

Oh well, almost all books are highly rated if we are talking about Amazon. Even books on flat Earth and anti-evolution books have like 4 and a half stars.

[Fake Messiah]

Hearing the theme of this topic I can't help but to reminiscence of Ken Hem describing the death of religion

The large wooden doors shut behind me with a creak and a heavy thud. Outside, the incessant river of life continues to flow as millions of people jam the sidewalks and rush toward red double-decker busses. Beneath the streets, the London Underground moves the masses by the hundreds of thousands—like blood pulsing through the arteries of this vibrant, thriving society.

But inside, I can hear each of my careful footsteps echoing in the dim quiet. I inhale deeply, taking in the aroma of ancient stones and old books. I see rows and rows of ornate pews—seating for more than 3,000—yet I am ushered into the small foyer area where around 30 chairs are set up and where I join a handful of elderly people with their heads bowed. Humbly and faithfully, those beside me say their prayers and listen to a brief message by a man who speaks of hope—but whose tired eyes seem to feel none of it.

It is Sunday. For hundreds of years the faithful have been walking through the heavy wooden doors on this day, at this time, to gather together and share in the timeless rituals of worship, prayer, and proclamation that made this country the bastion of Christendom for centuries. But this morning I realize that I’m part of a funeral. But it is not the funeral of an individual; it is the funeral of an institution. Within months, the older generation will likely disband and the doors of this church will be shut and locked. The candles will never again be lit. The resounding anthem of the great hymns of our spiritual forefathers will never again echo in its passages.

Since 1969, 1,500 churches in England have heard that final thud as their doors were shut after their final service after hundreds of years of active life.
[…]
In other words, if what’s left has some value physically, it is sold or it is preserved. The rest is abandoned or bulldozed. What has become of the buildings worth keeping?

Other former places of worship have been turned into museums, clothing shops, music stores, liquor stores, nightclubs, and tattoo and piercing studios. One is even now used as a Sikh temple, and some have been converted into mosques.

Hundreds of these churches have ended up in the hands of private owners who convert them into offices or renovate them for use as personal homes or cottages.
https://answersingenesis.org/answers/boo...roduction/

So, again, Christians need to agree is religion dying or atheism?

[The Grand Nudger]

The one's fate is tied to the other. Recall, for example, how new atheism as a literary movement arose in 04 while answers in genesis was raising millions in kentucky, the creation studies institute was established in ft lauderdale, and liberty university hosted a creation mega conference. That same year school districts started mandating that creationism be taught as part of biology and within 24 months kitzmiller vs dover would be decided. Just two months after that, a post mortem on the movement began in 06.

What happened to those guys after they seemingly won that public debate? Oh nothing much, they're out there fluffing for scientific racism and complaining about sjws and crt.

[Alan V]

British atheist Chapman Cohen said, “Gods are fragile things; they may be killed by a whiff of science or a dose of common sense.” What is left is a lack of belief in anything so problematic.

Or as “Raving Atheist” Ignots Pistachio wrote, “[All] religions eventually die out.... But atheism will live on regardless of what new religion replaces the old.”

[Pat Mustard]

I noticed today that "Is Atheism Dead?" by Eric Metaxas occupies the top three slots in the Atheism category on Amazon. So the hardcover, Kindle version and audiobook are all outselling every other atheism book. Has anyone read this and have any thoughts? I'm going to pick it up and start working through it. From the table of contents it looks like some recycled arguments from ignorance and old fashioned atheist bashing but it's clearly getting some serious traction. A quick web search didn't turn up any serious rebuttals so I'm wondering if any have been posted.

Pump and dump is a big problem within bookselling. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Metaxas, his publishers and other associates are "buying" thousands of copies of this book which will soon end up remaindered into pound shops. Plus atheism books are a sub-genre of a section of literature that generally doesn't sell well. Doesn't take much cheating to become a bestseller.

---

One item that I would like to bring to the attention of the OP is that the book Is Atheism Dead? is very highly rated, much higher than, say, The God Delusion.  On a handful of negative reviews are being made about the book. . . Unlike Professor Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion, or Dr. Sam Harris' End of Faith, this book has generated almost no reaction from the atheist community or skeptics at large.  (I subscribe to the American Atheist news letter, and they have not, so far as I know, even commented on the book; I have not heard about it mentioned by anyone, except for here.)  Instead, the people who are reading it are believers, who, like the book's author, Eric Metaxas, subscribe to the principle of "faith seeking understanding". 

This is all true, but it smacks of smugness to let something like this go entirely unchallenged. I detect a general consensus here that the zeitgeist is with the nones so the best plan is to sit back and ignore books and arguments like this. But I think that can be dangerous. I've finished the book now and can see how it would resonate with even those on the fence about their beliefs. There are many grounds for objection. Metaxas misrepresents the science and state of archeology on many occasions. As usual in these types of books, he ignores the best arguments against his positions, favoring the erection of strawmen to create the illusion of easy victories. And his contempt for atheists, whose views he mischaracterizes repeatedly, drips from every page. He even includes a chapter, "Is Atheism Evil?" in which his answer is resoundingly clear. So it's disappointing that there has been a complete lack of response from the atheist community. I get the argument that responding to certain arguments can dignify them and lift them from obscurity. But that's not the case here. This book is not obscure. Within the genre of books of this type, it is a bestseller. And anyone reading it who might be open to persuasion will find nothing out there rebutting it -- only glowing reviews. What conclusions are they likely to draw?

Metaxas' book is not going to stop the march of non-belief. He is simply reciting the same old PRATTs that were long past their sell by date when CS Lewis put them to paper. Remember this type of book is not to convince the heathens, nor even to support the waverers but to reassure the true believers that they are "ZOMG!!!!! WE'R SUPER SPECHUL!!!!!!1!1!111!1!!!"

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

Hearing the theme of this topic I can't help but to reminiscence of Ken Hem describing the death of religion

The large wooden doors shut behind me with a creak and a heavy thud. Outside, the incessant river of life continues to flow as millions of people jam the sidewalks and rush toward red double-decker busses. Beneath the streets, the London Underground moves the masses by the hundreds of thousands—like blood pulsing through the arteries of this vibrant, thriving society.

But inside, I can hear each of my careful footsteps echoing in the dim quiet. I inhale deeply, taking in the aroma of ancient stones and old books. I see rows and rows of ornate pews—seating for more than 3,000—yet I am ushered into the small foyer area where around 30 chairs are set up and where I join a handful of elderly people with their heads bowed. Humbly and faithfully, those beside me say their prayers and listen to a brief message by a man who speaks of hope—but whose tired eyes seem to feel none of it.

It is Sunday. For hundreds of years the faithful have been walking through the heavy wooden doors on this day, at this time, to gather together and share in the timeless rituals of worship, prayer, and proclamation that made this country the bastion of Christendom for centuries. But this morning I realize that I’m part of a funeral. But it is not the funeral of an individual; it is the funeral of an institution. Within months, the older generation will likely disband and the doors of this church will be shut and locked. The candles will never again be lit. The resounding anthem of the great hymns of our spiritual forefathers will never again echo in its passages.

Since 1969, 1,500 churches in England have heard that final thud as their doors were shut after their final service after hundreds of years of active life.
[…]
In other words, if what’s left has some value physically, it is sold or it is preserved. The rest is abandoned or bulldozed. What has become of the buildings worth keeping?

Other former places of worship have been turned into museums, clothing shops, music stores, liquor stores, nightclubs, and tattoo and piercing studios. One is even now used as a Sikh temple, and some have been converted into mosques.

Hundreds of these churches have ended up in the hands of private owners who convert them into offices or renovate them for use as personal homes or cottages.
https://answersingenesis.org/answers/boo...roduction/

So, again, Christians need to agree is religion dying or atheism?

In the 150's and later, South Australia was called "The City Of Churches"*** Pretty much everyone went to church. The Methodist were pretty thick on the ground. It was having many of those killjoy sin positions of authority which led to Adelaideans being a bunch of wowsers. Pubs closed at 6 pm. No trading from 11 Am Saturday. Nothing was open on Sunday and no playing of sport was permitted 

I'm happy to say things have changed. Pubs and clubs are now open 7 days, clubs to 3am or so.  Shops and supermarkets are open 7 days (from 11 am on Sunday) 

Many of the old churches have closed and repurposed. EG as a nightclub, hairdresser or art gallery. It's common for a catholic priest
to now service three of more parishes. (if you'll forgive the expression) In many parishes ,the faithful tend to be geriatrics, with few younger members .

There is strong correlation between religiosity, ignorance and poverty.  Religions grow where people are poor and ignorant and nowhere else. Now I'm not claiming there is necessarily a casual connection, but it's certainly interesting.