Book by Al Mohler

Review by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Atheism typically is a topic that makes many people uncomfortable, especially upon encountering people who are apt to identify themselves as atheists. The term comes with the stigma of someone who is not afraid to battle in an intellectual argument, including those who lay claim to the name Christian. Frequent conversations that start with non-Christians and Christians can easily lead to a heated debate that never leads to clarity, and worse, never gets to the Gospel. Christians can be fearful at times to engage with an atheist who seems to be convinced in their mind that what they believe is true, and what you believe is not only false, but dumb.

Enter Atheism Remix: A Christian Confronts the New Atheists by Albert Mohler. This book originated as a series of lectures given at Dallas Theological Seminary earlier this year to address what might be seen as a new dawn for those who call themselves atheists. Interest in the news and media have given a large platform for writers to expound their own ideas about how the world came to be and why belief in God is not only irrational, but harmful. Among those addressed by Mohler are four men conveniently labeled the “Four Horsemen of the New Atheist Apocalypse”—Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens. Each of these men has written works that address their atheistic views for the general public, to reach more people in their pursuit to convince the masses that atheism is the only rational view to take.

Mohler first describes how atheism developed in history, from the rise of Enlightenment thought to belief in human reason as capable of deriving knowledge without revelation, to the many skeptical views of Nietzsche, Marx, Darwin, and Freud to cast doubt upon religion in general and the Christian faith in particular. This has led to an independence of thought and “freedom” that spiraled now to the rejection of certainty in what is now known as postmodernism. The New Atheism differs from the atheism of old in that their tolerance of Christian theism has obliterated, calling Christians to leave their “nonsensical” way of life and to cease abusing their children by teaching them Christian dogma. There is a lack of respect for those with whom they differ on their belief about God. Expressing 8 different ways the New Atheism differs from the old, he then discusses a couple of varied responses Christians have had to these attacks on the Christian faith, notably that of Alistair McGrath and Alvin Plantinga, especially in response to Dawkins’ popular (and most recent) book, The God Delusion.

The analysis of each of these men’s works draws out many helpful observations, chief of which is this: their dogged persistence in naturalism as their starting presupposition. It is this sinful view of God and His Word that must be put on display as what it truly is: defiant rebellion against Our maker. Although the book weighs in at close to 100 pages, there is much to commend Dr. Mohler. He presents the main arguments from the leading atheists of today and also the responses that have been given by leading defenders of the faith, while calling us as Christians, believers in the One true God of Scripture, to be aware of the culture that we live in, where books about atheism head bestseller lists, and where many people are becoming more vocal about their views of Christ and everything He lived on earth to die for. Are we prepared to give a clear and defensible response to those who oppose the God who created them; to respond to their many attacks against God Himself and lovingly show them to be sinful creatures in need of a Savior? May we be prepared to truly give an answer to everyone who asks us to give the reason for the hope that is within us, always with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).