Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
232nd out of 1,336 books
—
4,914 voters
Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist
by
Dan Barker
Tells Dan Barker's dramatic story of conversion from fundamentalist minister to atheist, after 19 years of preaching the Gospel. Presents arguments for atheism and godless morality.
Hardcover, 392 pages
Published
May 1st 2006
by Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc.
(first published 1992)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
577)
Simply put, Dan Barker shows what a scam religion is. He methodically points out discrepancies, untruths, and how a person can lead a much more fulfilling life when free of religion.
LOL. Get real. This book gets no stars.
I debated Barker on the Infidel Guy radio show in the summer of '06. I went through this book with a fine-toothed comb. I can't even get started on a review. You can purchase that debate here for 98 cents. (That site isn't my own, and I make no money from it. That's just the only place where I know that the link is available.)
I debated Barker on the Infidel Guy radio show in the summer of '06. I went through this book with a fine-toothed comb. I can't even get started on a review. You can purchase that debate here for 98 cents. (That site isn't my own, and I make no money from it. That's just the only place where I know that the link is available.)
1 like · like · see review
view all 3 comments
Baker's position seems to be that the Bible is so a-historical, so out of line with reality, that he can hardly believe he ever believed in it. Where there certainly is a point where believing that what the Bible says is true requires faith, Barker doesn't get within eight miles of it. He argues that Jesus never existed, and that crucifixion didn't exist at the time Jesus was supposedly around, either, which latter puts him way outside of generally accepted history, whether secular, Jewish, or C...more
Barker adds an interesting perspective (that of a former Evangelical minister) to the mix, but not a whole lot else. Most of the logical and empirical arguments have been presented more forcefully and clearly by Russel, Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens, although Barker does present some interesting internal biblical contradictions to share with your believer friends. My major problem, though, was the lazy editing: the book in mainly a collection of Barker's essays from Freethought Today over a numb...more
I was really interested in reading this book and a bit disappointed when I did. I was expecting an autobiography, and I did get that for the first quarter of the book. Most of it is a series of essays that have been republished that explain his thoughts on rejecting Christianity. And they're categorized by subject.
I thought it would have been more interesting to see a detailed progression of how one "loses faith in faith" but did not come away with that.
I also wish he would have focused more on...more
I thought it would have been more interesting to see a detailed progression of how one "loses faith in faith" but did not come away with that.
I also wish he would have focused more on...more
This book would have been good if it was a coherently organized testimony of one religious man's gradual deconversion, but it is a repetitive collage of previously published nontracts and articles with a little bit of original material mixed in. The book should have been half as long. I did like, however, the perspective of someone who had previously been a Christian and then gradually had a realization that it was all myth, fantasy, and the emotion a psychological phenomenon.
Dan Barker is co-founder of the Freedom From Religion Foundation and former evangelical preacher. Like John Loftus, his arguements gain a bit of power as they come from the 'inside-out.' Barker introduces himself on the FFRF podcastr as "your friendly neighborhood atheist" and he is a calm voice for the side of rationalism.
An interesting and thought-provoking story about how a preacher loses his faith in God, turned atheist. Contains the typical atheist arguments and also atheistic songs, albeit I found the story about going from preacher to atheist the best part of the book.
Despite the somewhat cheesy title and cover, I found this to be a very moving and thoughtful book. One of my favorite chapters is available online: Dear Theologian -- a letter from God inquiring as to his own nature.
insanely interesting story about a man who was born into Christianity, became a Preacher, and then slowly lost his faith. Now debates believers as an atheist. mind-blowing.
Dec 06, 2010
David Melbie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Christians & Atheists
Recommended to David by:
Richard Dawkins
The first one that went into my "Atheist Tool Belt." I refer to it often! One of my first perks of membership in Freedom From Religion Foundation http://ffrf.org
Have been reading lots of stories of former Christians. I like this one the best so far. I am on a very similar path as him.
controversial, but very interesting read
You want to know me? Read Dan Barker
This book is a bit disjointed being a series of articles for Freethought Today along with some added chapters although it contains some really good material. Some themes are lightly covered but nevertheless there is plenty of material here for those who are involved in debating this subject. The recollected conversations, poems and songs are most entertaining. Dan has managed to present his life journey, thoughts and ideas in a fun, thought provoking and easily readable way. Recommended
I borrowed this from the library but I think I am going to invest in a copy of my own as this is eminently highlightable.
While there were some things even as a hardcore atheist I found myself disagreeing with for the most part I found excellent information that further solidified my atheism. It was also nice to read about someone who lost their faith and the crisis of conscience they went through, the backlash from christian friends. I related to alot of the things he said.
While there were some things even as a hardcore atheist I found myself disagreeing with for the most part I found excellent information that further solidified my atheism. It was also nice to read about someone who lost their faith and the crisis of conscience they went through, the backlash from christian friends. I related to alot of the things he said.
Oct 29, 2008
Charlie George
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Agnostics, rationalists, and truth-seekers
Shelves:
religion
Very solid, accessible, engaging, personable book. It is rare to find all these qualities in a treatise on atheism, so I recommend it with high marks.
Mr. Barker is to me a luminary of rationalism, and therefore a valiant champion of a brighter future in which we, as a species, take responsibility for our own actions, misdeeds, and limitless potential.
Mr. Barker is to me a luminary of rationalism, and therefore a valiant champion of a brighter future in which we, as a species, take responsibility for our own actions, misdeeds, and limitless potential.
Thought I'd read a book from the other side. It was interesting, I always like to try to understand people who think differently from me. Many of his arguments seem emotional and from someone who didn't pay attention in Sunday School. I understand he has improved his skills since writing the book, but this is basically the work of a bitter man.
More personable than Hitchens but less entertaining than Dawkins, Barker nevertheless preaches to the choir: as Jonathan Swift famously said, "You cannot reason a man out of a position that he did not reason himself into in the first place." Moderately interesting, but not nearly as convincing as he thinks.
It's only an partly an autobiography for a few chapters. I think Dan would have done a better job if it were entirely so.
The rest is made up of tracts and re-hashed articles.
Well useful ammo for the atheists at the very least.
The rest is made up of tracts and re-hashed articles.
Well useful ammo for the atheists at the very least.
Barker speaks to my struggle with faith in this book, especially lying in the tent, looking up and realizing he is alone. That took my breath away. The second half is a retread of his articles which I had already read.
Read chapters from this book online and really liked it. Great story of a guy who went from staunch believer, to total non-believer. Good read. I'm hoping to own it one day.
Very insightful! I have been atheist for quite a few years now, and reading that made me open my eyes even more...
Parallels Godless in many respects but includes some extra essays and tidbits. Good reading.
May 23, 2013
Jelena
marked it as to-read
May 21, 2013
Christina Pereira
marked it as to-read
May 19, 2013
Joe Sampson
marked it as to-read
May 17, 2013
Daniel
marked it as to-read
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“Faith is a cop-out. If the only way you can accept an assertion is by faith, then you are conceding that it can't be taken on its own merits. It is intellectual bankruptcy.”
—
21 people liked it
“I have something to say to the religionist who feels atheists never say anything positive: You are an intelligent human being. Your life is valuable for its own sake. You are not second-class in the universe, deriving meaning and purpose from some other mind. You are not inherently evil—you are inherently human, possessing the positive rational potential to help make this a world of morality, peace and joy. Trust yourself.”
—
18 people liked it
More quotes…
