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The Irrational Atheist: Dissecting the Unholy Trinity of Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens
by
The Irrational Atheist is not a book about God, but about those who seek to replace Him. In this devastating critique of the anti-theistic arguments of Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, Daniel Dennett, and Michel Onfray, Day skillfully demonstrates to even the most skeptical reader that the New Atheists are no champions of Reason, but rather abandon Reason
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Hardcover, 305 pages
Published
March 11th 2008
by BenBella Books
(first published February 1st 2008)
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Start your review of The Irrational Atheist: Dissecting the Unholy Trinity of Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens
Mar 22, 2008
Alyssa
rated it
did not like it
Recommends it for:
anyone who wants a good laugh
Shelves:
non-fiction,
religious-issues
This guy says things like "the Christian God, the god towards whom Dawkins directs the great majority of his attacks, makes no broad claims to omniscience". His "logic" is all very loose. A lot of the book seems to assume that people are idiots,and they must be if he's smarter than them, which he also seems to assume- he's in mensa, after all. He seems to make fun or scoff at people who never graduated high school a lot, but then he also implies that educational degrees are no more than "pieces
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For the most part, Day attempts to show the factual errors in many of the claims made by the new atheists. He succeeds.
This doesn't do much for me. I'm not saying that this is wrong, in principle. But it doesn't move the discussion where it needs to go, in my opinion. Rather than looking at the statistics of, say, how many wars have been caused by religion, one can simply point out that even if this were true the Bible claims that men are sinners and will do evil things. So, to point out that me ...more
This doesn't do much for me. I'm not saying that this is wrong, in principle. But it doesn't move the discussion where it needs to go, in my opinion. Rather than looking at the statistics of, say, how many wars have been caused by religion, one can simply point out that even if this were true the Bible claims that men are sinners and will do evil things. So, to point out that me ...more
I loved this book. Vox lays out the case that science, instead of religion, is responsible for the most destruction on this planet; all the while showing facts and statistics to back it up. He dices through Hitchens, Harris, and Dawkins with ease, sparing Dennett and his beard. Pick this book up ASAP and check his blog out also.
Vox Day doesn't even attempt to prove the existence of God, but he does prove that Dawkins is a total asshat. The Irrational Atheist is a thought provoking read for skeptics and believers alike.
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Video game blogger turned theology academic, enough said.
This book is simply extraordinary: Compelling, arch but not snarky, and delightfully readable.
If one can know a man by the enemies he makes, the 1-star reviews (and how poorly they're written) sing lustily the praises of Vox. ...more
If one can know a man by the enemies he makes, the 1-star reviews (and how poorly they're written) sing lustily the praises of Vox. ...more
Couldn´t even finish. POS.
Claiming to use logic to dissect your opponents' arguments -- only to then expect the reader to accept your claim of deity as a premise is rather insulting.
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If someone feels moved to go to great lengths to tell you that they're a genius -- they're probably not. A membership in Mensa does not bestow wisdom either.
I concur that Dawkins is an arrogant jerk, but so is Vox Day, and he has rather less to show for. I find Christian dominionism as attractive as the equivalent Islamic version -- thanks, but no thanks to arguments that claim some inherent superiority elevating Christians over anyone else. This book is wholly self-indulgent, and argues in bad ...more
I concur that Dawkins is an arrogant jerk, but so is Vox Day, and he has rather less to show for. I find Christian dominionism as attractive as the equivalent Islamic version -- thanks, but no thanks to arguments that claim some inherent superiority elevating Christians over anyone else. This book is wholly self-indulgent, and argues in bad ...more
Now that was fun. (and a bit nasty!)
I enjoyed every second of the ridicule towards Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens. I've been tolerating their (for entertainment only) abuse for a decade now - it's great to see someone throw it back in their faces. These people really are idiots and horrible scholars, and Vox Day just helped us to see exactly how.
I'm still not fully sure what exactly Vox believes as far as Biblical Christianity goes. He tends to lean in the correct directi ...more
I enjoyed every second of the ridicule towards Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens. I've been tolerating their (for entertainment only) abuse for a decade now - it's great to see someone throw it back in their faces. These people really are idiots and horrible scholars, and Vox Day just helped us to see exactly how.
I'm still not fully sure what exactly Vox believes as far as Biblical Christianity goes. He tends to lean in the correct directi ...more
"Vox Day" is the absolute stupidest pseudonym I have ever heard in my life. Oh, well, whatever, I guess I can't blame a guy whose real name is "Theodore Beale" for changing his name in order to sound cool and hip. (No offense to any normal person out there named "Theodore" or "Beale".)
This book is stuffed full of stupidity. Mr. Vox Day (chuckle) fancies himself a genius (he really does), and you can clearly see this from the way he thinks his ridiculous arguments are completely correct. Sigh... ...more
This book is stuffed full of stupidity. Mr. Vox Day (chuckle) fancies himself a genius (he really does), and you can clearly see this from the way he thinks his ridiculous arguments are completely correct. Sigh... ...more
Other reviewers leaving negative remarks and low ratings have little substance to offer by way of disagreement. Perhaps they have not actually read the book or considered its arguments, which are logical, sound, historical, factual, and compelling.
Vox turns the New Atheists' arguments around, showing that not only are their claims false, but they are counterfactual and often unscientific. Further, much of their claims are ahistorical, revealing their unscholarly handling of history, religion, o ...more
Vox turns the New Atheists' arguments around, showing that not only are their claims false, but they are counterfactual and often unscientific. Further, much of their claims are ahistorical, revealing their unscholarly handling of history, religion, o ...more
Vox Day is very specifically NOT making a case for Christianity. He is setting about to examine, dissect, and ultimately disprove claims made by prominent Atheists, using only history, logic, and reason as his tools. In this he succeeds very well; The Irrational Atheist is a stimulating work which provides an intellectual challenge to understand, even to the Christian.
Vox is an outspoken Christian; and although he holds some beliefs that I don't really see as biblical, he nevertheless is an extr ...more
Vox is an outspoken Christian; and although he holds some beliefs that I don't really see as biblical, he nevertheless is an extr ...more
This book is painful if you have have secluded yourself in an atheist social group. He destroys so many atheist myths. Its a short easy read and well backed up. But if you are looking for a Christian apologetic, this book is not really that. We are talking an anti new atheist book here. And it just kills them. Look at the ratings most the guys one staring this book have not even read it.
This book will explain to you all the flaws in most of the common atheist arguments, by examining in detail the arguments used by three of the most famous contemporary atheists. And flawed they are. For all the other arguments, you will have no trouble doing it yourself by following the same kind of reasoning that is shown on this book.
Excellent! Pokes all kind of holes in what passes for reason from Dawkins and other frauds like him.
Outstanding use of classic logic and reason to dismantle prominent atheists illogical reasoning.
I made it to chapter 4. I really gave it my best. I Just finished reading all of the Four Horsemen books, and I found this book lying around at my parent's house, so I thought, why not?
Vox Day (a pen name, which means "Voice of God" in Latin) is an alt-right nutjob. He writes in the preface that this book isn't in any way a defense of religion. Instead, it's a book entirely about destroying the arguments of Harris, Dawkins, Hitchens, and sometimes Dennett when it's convenient.
Basically, he takes ...more
Vox Day (a pen name, which means "Voice of God" in Latin) is an alt-right nutjob. He writes in the preface that this book isn't in any way a defense of religion. Instead, it's a book entirely about destroying the arguments of Harris, Dawkins, Hitchens, and sometimes Dennett when it's convenient.
Basically, he takes ...more
Very good, provided logical and philosophical arguments against atheism rather than the general apologetics which rely on historical records and such.
Jul 08, 2008
Jerrod
rated it
really liked it
Recommends it for:
Anyone
Shelves:
religion-spirituality
food for thought if you take the facts of the book that are presented. Although this book is more of a rebuttal to the 'unholy trinity' than a dialog to the readers, which makes it a different read.
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Mar 30, 2016
Adam Simmons
rated it
did not like it
Recommends it for:
Christians Looking for Ad-Hominem Attacks Against Atheists
I'm not much in the habit of writing reviews for books, but in this case, I feel obligated to spare any potential reader the evening or week (depending on time available and reading speed) that might be wasted in reading this one.
Before beginning my review, I would like to note that I do not define myself as an atheist, theist, or agnostic because of the ridiculous connotations with which they are often associated. In fact, I think labels of this sort lead to unnecessary disputes and hasty conde ...more
Before beginning my review, I would like to note that I do not define myself as an atheist, theist, or agnostic because of the ridiculous connotations with which they are often associated. In fact, I think labels of this sort lead to unnecessary disputes and hasty conde ...more
Devastating critique of the leading advocates of Atheism in our day: the "unholy trinity" of Dawkins, Harris and Hitchens, with chapters as well on Daniel Dennett and Michael Onfray. The author takes apart their arguments, but only engages in minimal apologetics of his own. Is religion really the chief cause for conflict and war in the world? Are the "unbelieving" blue states really doing better in crime, prosperity, and health? Can Reason really provide ethical guidance? Is being raised religio
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8.5/10.
Vox Day brings his well-trained wit and an incisive logical analysis to the statements of the New Atheologians. He shows that, contrary to their statements (inevitably made without any look at the evidence, contrary to their professed love of "science" and the "evidence"), religion does not poison everything, although history teaches us that atheism certainly does. The Spanish Inquisition only managed to kill 9 people per year, whereas Communist regimes, who are professedly atheistic, hav ...more
Vox Day brings his well-trained wit and an incisive logical analysis to the statements of the New Atheologians. He shows that, contrary to their statements (inevitably made without any look at the evidence, contrary to their professed love of "science" and the "evidence"), religion does not poison everything, although history teaches us that atheism certainly does. The Spanish Inquisition only managed to kill 9 people per year, whereas Communist regimes, who are professedly atheistic, hav ...more
Vox Day succeeds and fails. He succeeds in refuting many fallicious and factually incorrect arguments made by prominent atheists.
But he fails to do this without coming across as an arrogant jerk on the same scale as Dawkins. Rather than stick to the logic, arguments and facts like he says he means to, he gets personal on a very regular basis. He evidently enjoys pointing out that Dawkins has had more wives than children, that Hitchens probably drinks too much, and that Michael Onfray is French.
H ...more
But he fails to do this without coming across as an arrogant jerk on the same scale as Dawkins. Rather than stick to the logic, arguments and facts like he says he means to, he gets personal on a very regular basis. He evidently enjoys pointing out that Dawkins has had more wives than children, that Hitchens probably drinks too much, and that Michael Onfray is French.
H ...more
I have mixed feelings about his book. On one hand I am finally glad that someone wrote a book that didn't deal specifically with promoting christian belief some much as poke holes in arguments that atheist have been leveling against religion. And not only poking holes but doing it with the arrogance and pomp that is close to that of Christopher Hitchens.
On the whole the book makes good points and makes arguments that the opposition will need to deal with. But sometimes I think the author is so ...more
On the whole the book makes good points and makes arguments that the opposition will need to deal with. But sometimes I think the author is so ...more
Got this book for free download when Vox first put it on his website years ago as a free pdf. Was deployed to Afghanistan at the time, and read it over a couple of days. I've re-read it twice since and had my 15 year old read it also. Brilliant is all I can say. Vox is one of the best when it comes to rational arguments. He is honest, but brutal. Not a good book if you are a Churchian, but a great book if you want to defend the existence of God. Every Christian should have their teenager read it
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A thought provoking examination of the arguments of atheist thought. One of the first books I have read from this author, it displays a remarkable depth of thought and understanding of logic. One may wonder at times if atheists just don't understand Christianity, or any theistic perspective for that matter. This book lays waste to such a conciliatory opinion by revealing the movement’s bankruptcy of both integrity and, as the book title declares, rational argument.
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Interesting counterpoints to Dawkins, Harris and Hitchens. Eye opening to see that no matter what they say, the atheist authors have agendas they want to push and will distort the truth to further them.
It's a narrowly targeted book, intended to show some self-proclaimed champions of reason are neither consistently logical, nor sufficiently educated, in their attacks on theism and Christianity.
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I really like this book. I like the way Day carefully analyzes and takes apart the unargued assumptions of the famous atheists he talks about. Unfortunately, he makes a few unargued assumptions of his own.
For example, 37% of the way through the book, he writes "there is no such thing as Islamic fascism. Islamic fascism does not exist and it never has existed, either as a political ideology or as a practical system of government. The concept is a meaningless term of propaganda used primarily by A ...more
For example, 37% of the way through the book, he writes "there is no such thing as Islamic fascism. Islamic fascism does not exist and it never has existed, either as a political ideology or as a practical system of government. The concept is a meaningless term of propaganda used primarily by A ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Theolog...: Chatting with Atheists. | 15 | 27 | Apr 24, 2016 05:46PM | |
| Failed at having a Civil Discourse | 1 | 29 | Sep 10, 2011 11:31AM |
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Theodore Beale does much of his writing under the pseudonym Vox Day. Three-time Hugo Award nominee Vox Day writes epic fantasy as well as non-fiction about religion, philosophy, and economics. His literary focus is military realism, historical verisimilitude, and plausible characters who represent the full spectrum of human behavior. He is a professional game designer who speaks four languages an
...more
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