THE GODLESS DELUSION
A Catholic Challenge to Modern Atheism
By Patrick Madrid and Kenneth Hensley
Our Sunday Visitor, 2010
255 pages, $14.95
To order: osv.com
(800) 348-2440
Contemporary Catholics are often without any defense against the argumentative qualities of the progressive atheists that are proliferating in American society.
When asked to defend precepts and doctrinal facets of Catholicism, the average faithful Catholic is unfortunately not always well-armed to repel the secular arguments against God, faith and Catholicism.
Thankfully, The Godless Delusion, A Catholic Challenge to Modern Atheism by Patrick Madrid and Kenneth Hensley provides a logical and rational point of reference for Catholic apologetics, based on traditional Catholic appreciations of natural law, reason and logic and a great presentation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church as the guide.
The book begins the discussion of Catholic defense by highlighting the flaws in the secular view of modern cosmology. Namely, the opposing worldviews of atheism and Catholicism and how political, social and economic factors have contributed to the demise of one (spiritual) worldview in favor of the more popular and favorite secular view of humanistic naturalism. While most people who expound the naturalist worldview don’t even realize the precepts they maintain, The Godless Delusion makes careful and critical observations on the erroneous points of the naturalist view of the world.
Most importantly, as I read this book, I was taken by the very well-written and keenly viewed perspective by the authors that the global society has lost a real and true understanding of the notions of right and wrong in favor of individual interpretations of morality.
Catholic readers will appreciate the manner in which this book utilizes the logic and reason made famous by the Catholic scholastic tradition and applies this methodology to the modern world. Atheism, secularism, humanism and even nihilism are all components of the New Age interpretations of the role of religion in modern secular society. Thankfully, through the use of reason and science, Catholic principles are defended in a manner even the most timid Catholic might apply to their rhetoric against secular atheists.
This book is a welcome addition to my Catholic apologetics bookshelf.
Register correspondent Hugh McNichol writes from Wilmington, Delaware.
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Why aren’t we armed by our pastors and bishops? Also, I think that the term “apologetic” carries negative connotations. I don’t apologize for my faith and beliefs when I’m asked to explain them. If “apologetics” is a translation from Latin (I think I read somewhere that it is), then it’s a poor translation, one that may be more harmful to the task at hand than helpful. I don’t want someone to apologize for my faith, I want them to explain and when necessary defend, but not apologize.
I look forward to getting this “real soon,” Patrick seems such a fervent yet gentle apologist on the radio, I imagine his writing will be splendid!
How sad that a Book like this one - “The Godless Delusion” - would not be available at our Catholic Bookshop here in Nairobi, Kenya at the Holy Family Minor Basilica. And I would not even be able to order it Online. I hope in future Postings, some quotations from this Book would be expounded for us. I also agree with Rick Reed. The Title Apologetics sounds very negative. Definitely I do not apologize for my Catholic Faith and when one challenges me on my Faith I very eloquently, convincingly and proudly defend it with everything I have. By the Grace of God, I grew up in a very staunch Catholic Family. My Father was a Teacher, a Catechist, a Church Lay Leader and a Pillar of the Catholic Faith and he ensured we grew up with very sound grounding of our Catholic Faith.
Also having been taught by Catholic Nuns and Priests in Primary and High Schools, the Schools’ Curriculum ensured that by the time we finished our 12th year in School, we were fully grounded in Scriptures, The Catholic Teachings on Dogma, Theology, Spirituality and the Magisterium, such that up to this day - at 72 - I am able to defend my Faith and convince anyone on why we are proud to be Catholics and Members of the Mystical Body of Christ, the One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. So let us find another Title for the Defenders of the Catholic Faith and stop using the negative one of apologists.
I KNOW this is going to be a GREAT book. Who but Patrick Madrid can pull this together?? He has been gifted by the Holy Spirit to bring the Church back together.. and now his book speaking to ATHIESTS?? Wow… what a treasure! I’ve already recommended it to family in Seattle. I just hope they read it. If they do… then, welcome back! ;)
Get this book! It approaches and dare i say “attacks” atheism without ever having to directly mention/prove God’s existence. Basically by showing the errors of atheism without trying to prove that God exists you essentially force the atheist to question “If atheism is filled with flaws and is wrong….then what else is there? Could God really exist?”
Great book and I highly recommended to anyone looking for a way to address modern atheism. It’s become an invaluable source in my Apologetic arsenal.
The world is challenging, and as Catholics we need to know (even put of love) what the Catholic Church teaches. Sometimes is just a lack of formation that we do not know what to think an we confused everything. I hope real Catholics learn how to defend our faith in a world of Atheistic-born thoughts…
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