The Delusion of Disbelief: Why the New Atheism is a Threat to Your Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness

by David Aikman

The last few years have seen a great assault upon faith in the publishing world, with an influx of books denouncing religious belief. While attacks on faith are not new, what is notable about these books—several of which have hit the bestseller charts—is their contention that belief in God is not only deluded, but dangerous to society.
In The Delusion of Disbelief, former Time senior correspondent and bestselling author David Aikman offers an articulate, reasoned response to four writers at the forefront of today's anti-faith Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, Richard Dawkins, and Christopher Hitchens.
Aikman shines a light on the arguments of these “evangelists of atheism,” skillfully exposing their errors and inconsistencies. He explains what appears to motivate atheists and their followers; encourages Christians to look closely at what they believe; arms readers with powerful arguments in response to critics of faith; and exposes the social problems that atheism has caused throughout the world.
Aikman also takes on one of the most controversial questions of our Can American liberties survive in the absence of widespread belief in God on the part of the nation's people? The answer to that question, says Aikman, is critically important to your future.
The Delusion of Disbelief is a thoughtful, intelligent resource for anyone concerned about the increasingly strident and aggressive new attacks on religious belief. It is the book that every person of faith should read—and give away.

Genres: Christian

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

COMPILED FROM HIS WEB PAGE AND BOOK JACKETS:
David Aikman, former Time magazine Beijing bureau chief, is an author, journalist, and foreign policy consultant. After more than two decades with Time magazine - reporting from more than fifty countries and interviewing world figures such as Boris Yeltson, Billy Graham, Magnuel Noriega, and Mother Teresa -- Aikman became a freelance writer and commentator. He has written for several magazines as well as publishing books.

With special expertise in China, Russia, the Middle East, Mongolia and religious freedom issues worldwide, Dr. Aikman is frequently invited to deliver expert testimony at Congressional hearings and is a popular speaker at conferences, seminars, panels and to academic, church and professional groups at events all over the world.

He lives in Virginia with his family.

Reviews

[Clive · Rating 1 out of 5]

So far this seems to be an attack on Dawkins and Hitchens most explicity, but its surprisingly well written for a "christian" book which is usually unbearable.

[Charlene Mathe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading this book for the second time (2013 and 2018). I really need to read it every year, because the chapters are so rich with information and insights on the moral and cultural foundations on which the freedoms of civilization rest. Centuries of history and human experience were required to develop these foundations; but these foundations have been diminished or discarded in modern times. A free society rests on the virtue of the people; and the virtue of the people is instructed and structured by institutions of faith. The Enlightenment promised a superior virtue based on Reason; but this promise has not materialized. Instead, as churches have emptied out, free nations have gone into astonishing decline. Many books have been published on "the suicide of the West" that document this decline.
Author David Aikman takes up in some detail the philosophies of Christoher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, and Sam Harris--well known apologists for the cult of Reason or scientific materialism. Aikman analyzes the impact of these ideas on cultural and political cohesion.
A 1776 quote from Princeton University President John Witherspoon captures the essence of this book:
"Nothing is more certain than that a general profligacy and corruption of manners make a people ripe for destruction. A good form of government may hold the rotten materials together for some time, but beyond a certain pitch, even the best constitution will be ineffectual, and slavery must ensue."
Liberty, Witherspoon put it again and again, was God's gift to mankind. It had to be nurtured by human virtue. (p.149)

[Jaco Steyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading this book, I am even more convinced of the harmful effects of Christianity. I agree with the author regarding the harm done in the name of secular ideologies such as Marxism-Leninism, but unfortunately he downplays the importance of other factors such as genetics, cultural differences and the economy. Western civilizations accomplished many great things mainly because of genetic and cultural influences - despite the harmful effects of organised Christianity.

[Steve Yohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read. I particularly enjoyed the first half of the book immensely. Early on he gave a very good description of the philosophies of Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris, and Christiopher Hitchens (the Four Hosemen), and points out the weaknesses and contradicions of their belief systems. Definitely recommended to those with an apologetics interest

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

The chapter comparing the American and French Revolutions, and contrasting their faith-based or anti-faith approaches to liberty, was the best of this collection written in response to recent books by Dawkins, Harris and others.

[Charles Kaltwasser · Rating 3 out of 5]

the book is good
but can't see who was instrumental
in the so called Killing Fields of Pol Pot
of Cambodia.
The fact that the US dropped more bombs on Cambodia
than on Europe in world war two is ignored.
Christians need to see things from more vantage points.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

A excellent expose on the fallacy of atheism. Showing the the flaws of each argument that has been made by Atheist about God. What stands out to me is the orderly fashion of God as opposed to the chaos that exist when faith in God is removed.

[Chet Duke · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are dozens of books directed against the New Atheists, so I didn't expect anything groundbreaking in this one. I wish he had been less polemical and presented a more distinctly-positive case for his beliefs. The history was good.

[Jonathan]

None

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. It was an easy read. It addressed many of the inaccuracies in well known atheists' books. It did make some points that I had not gone over before.

[Godwin Du Plessis · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's not really worth anyone outside of the USA to read this. Also it was more of an attack on Dawkins and others and how wrong they are.