INSIDE THE ATHEIST MIND, by Anthony DeStefano

INSIDE THE ATHEIST MIND, by Anthony DeStefano is nonfiction debunking the myths of the atheist worldview. It is endorsed by prominent Christian leaders and conservative politicians. Because of it's very subject matter, it uses a moral model and makes value judgments. The author spreads his subject matter across 10 chapters. He begins with a disclaimer note, addressed to atheists. After the final chapter, the author includes a bibliography, acknowledgements, an author bio, and end notes listing sources consulted for every chapter. Anthony DeStefano has written many bestselling books, including for children. He has appeared on multiple conservative news and media outlets.

I have just finished this book. It is not addressed to atheists themselves. DeStefano addresses them in the Forward, and that is it. I was unsure who he was addressing specifically. whom he was targeting. He tried to say that he hopes to reach those genuinely searching for the truth found in Christianity and Jesus. It was clear that his worldview is solidly conservative. I was glad that he avoided politics. This author shows how one cannot use science to argue for the existence and reality of God and Christ. For the Bible makes it clear that one can only comprehend or appreciate spiritual matters unless one views them with the faith filter. It is unclear what the purpose of this book is if it is not meant for atheists themselves. To be fair, there are many books addressed to atheists. There are many books about how Christians should approach and witness to atheists. This is an interesting and provocative book. But it is not exactly an apologetics book for believers, either. What exactly is it supposed to do? Am I missing something here? It makes a convincing case against atheism, but for whom and what purpose?

I recommend this book for believers, especially new ones. It will affirms what Christians believe. I do not recommend it for atheists in general. It was not written for them, except for those who are open to another worldview.Br/>
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to give a favorable review of this book.

ONE OF THE FEW by Jason B. Ladd

Jason B. Ladd is a Marine who grew up in a military family. He spent many years as an agnostic/atheist. Now he's a followers of Jesus and specializes in apologetics. His book, ONE OF THE FEW, is part memoir and part apologetics. Ladd starts out his book with a Foreword. The Prologue gives readers the favor of this book and sets the tone for the book. Part One gives the account of Ladd's post. He includes the first eleven chapters in this segment. Ladd continues with Part Two. He continus this section with chapters 12 to 20. Ladd finshes with Part Three. Part Three includes chapters 21 to 27. Each chapter begins with quotes. Each chapter ends with notes. Ladd follows his claters with an Epilogue. He includes Acknowledgements of those who made his book possible. He includes an extended Bibliography and wraps it all up with an Index.

This book isn't light reading. It wasn't meant to be. As I read it online, I had to mark down chapters and secitions as I read them. This book is fairly fast reading. It was what I expected: deep, intellectual, and military. I didn't count on his use of his military experiences as metaphors for what our walks with Christ ought to be. But as the Bible makes it clear that following Jesus is a battleground, I wasn't too surprised. Our foes to battle are sin (our sin natures), the world (the world system and its values), and the devil (he is personal and real). Ladd's theology is, in most aspects, sound. In this book, he stresses God's holiness AND love, His grace AND His justice, His goodness AND His severity. I did take offense at one argument he made concerning the unreached peoples in this world, outside the West (for the most part). Ladd advanced the argument that God knew, ahead of time, who would accept the Gospel and who wouldn't. He asserts that these peoples have never heard the Gospel because God knew that they would reject it. This is how I read what he wrote. He himself wrote that his comment would sound cold and callous. More than that, it condradicts God's expressed desire that none perish but that all come to the knowledge of the truth. I know that the question of "those who have never heard" is a tough argument and that Ladd is trying to address it. For the most part, his theology is sound. It did seem to me that he could have made some of the good points he did, with fewer words. His stats on porn in the Church are sobering but I wasn't surprised. I already have researched this topic. This book is very informative.

I recommend this book for all pastors. The porn stats alone are worth their reading this book. This book is for anyone with an interest in apologetics as Ladd writies this book as an apologist for the Gospel. This book is especially well-suited for military people and their families. Veterans and those who want to get into the military, would also benefit much from this book. It speaks in their language, interest and experience. Atheists and agnostics would do well to read this book. If anything, it would plant seeds in their hearts. This book isn't for those who prefer light reading or who don't read for pleasure.

I received a complimentary ebook copy in .pdf format, directly from the author, in exchange for an honest review. I wasn't asked to give a positive review of this book.

God, the Church, Autism, and Other People With Disabilities

     Yesterday, I read two articles that bothered me and I know that they also bothered many other people; I also commented on both of them. Both articles discuss autism and faith in God, or the lack of it, and spirituality. One article is titled, "Autism May Diminish Belief in God" and the other is titled, "Are Atheists More Autistic Than Believers?" The very titles suggest that people with autism are inherently less spiritual than others and have less capacity for God, than other people in the population. What is are the authors' explanations for their findings? The writers cite the well-known finding that "theory of mind," the ability to comprehend the feelings and thoughts of other people, is deficient in autism and at the root of so many autistic social difficulties. The writers tell us that the parts of the brain that are involved in appreciating and contemplating God as a Person with thoughts and feelings, are "theory of mind" traits. This "theory of mind" and the involved parts that enable us to see ourselves in relationship with God, are damaged by autism, reason the authors. The conclusion of all this? Autism means a reduced capacity for God and faith.
     The first article, "Autism Diminishes Belief in God," focuses on the supposed reduced capacity for God that autistic people have. Their conclusions are based on asking people with autism and those with traits of autism who are not diagnosed, questions about God, spirituality and faith. The writer bases his findings on what his subjects said in the surveys and the more autistic trait, the more the answers leaned toward diminished belief in God. The second article, "Are Atheists More Autistic Than Believers?" focuses on the supposed autistic traits of many atheists, asking whether many of them many have a form of high-functioning autism. These would include Asperger's Syndrome and Pervasive Development Syndrome--Not Otherwise Specified (PDD--NOS). Many who count themselves as atheists are no doubt offended at the suggestion that they may be considered to have traits of autism, but what is far more of a concern, even offense, to me, is the notion that atheism and autism are being compared in this fasion and the suggestion that autistic people are more likely to be atheists. What should be taken away from articles such as this?
     Let me answer this question with another question. If autism hinders faith in God and spirituality, who bears much of the responsibility for this? I suggest that much of this is because congregations and people of faith, have not known how or have not tried to learn how to welcome people with autism and many other disabilities, especially invisible ones) into their congregational life. What does feeling and being welcomed into the Church (the community of the people of God) have to do with faith in God? I suggest that it has to do everything with it! It is a serious matter when people feel chronically unwelcomed by the Church! It can harm them spiritually.When individuals, autistic or not, or families don't feel welcomed into the Church or a congregation, they rarely stay. And when individuals, autistic or not, or families feel shunned or not accepted by the people of God, they are going to find it easier to feel shunned or not accepted by God Himself. Let's face it, God is invisible and His people are all we can see. Being human, though we know that God is perfect and His people are imperfect, it is all too easy to confuse God with His people. And when autistic people (who are often  challenged in "theory of mind" and higher-order thinking skills) feel unwelcome in the Church, they will be even more likely to question and to doubt God. Why? It is so much easier to believe the message being sent out by the perceived (or actual) rejection of God's people, than it is to believe in the unseen God, His love and His assurance that His favor toward us is not based on what other people think or feel about us.
     Let me cite my own experience with this issue in my adulthood. When my our family became members in the Church and in a local congregation, I soon became uncomfortable there. The members themselves were nice, pleasant, respectable people, many being young professionals and these were typical "church people" with traditional, family values. But this came as rather of a "culture shock" to me, as I had spent much of my youth and early adults years with diverse people, and people with various learning, behavioral and physical disabilities. And I was used to them. But in congregations we visited or became members of, I saw much less diversity. Very few people had disabilities with the exception of more severe ones where the need was obvious and where they were much more likely to be welcomed. Yes, I'm sure that there were more than a few members (as in son many congregations) who had invisible disabilities and feared "coming out of the closet" with them because of possible stigma.
      I'm not blaming the members (or even the leadership) of any such congregation, as I'm sure so many may not have been exposed to the disability community and may often not know about any disabilities, especially the more complex, easily misunderstood and invisible ones. In this setting of people who were not much like so many I had known and grown up with, I became acutely aware of my differences and my background, which I knew were not "normal." I did my best to "stay in the closet" and when anyone asked me anything personal where I might have to share those "unsafe" subjects, I would clam up. And yet, judging from the reactions of others and even from what I heard from my spouse, people still sensed that "something was up" with me. I felt like a misfit and not accepted. And it wasn't that I didn't become involved so I could make a contribution. I did. Still, this did little to ease my feelings of not being welcomed. And, even today, though I know better, my natural tendency is to confuse God, Whom I cannot see, with His people, whom I could see. I tend to wrestle with doubts about my relationship with God; after all, if I have so often "struck out" with His people, what does this say about my relationship with Him? What does it say about my own faith and "spirituality" if I don't feel welcomed by His people?
     And I'm not speaking only for myself here. I know that many other people, autistic or not, disabled or not, have not felt welcome in congregations. I'm positive that this happens with people with disabilities much more often and who have often not felt welcomed in the Church. In the case of those with physical disabilities, welcoming them requires that the Church make their premises accessible: ramps for those unable to walk without difficulty, sign language interpreters for deaf people who use sign language, the allowance of service dogs for those who use them for various disabilities, and I can add more and I'm sure some of you can. And congregations can create a supportive environment where people with invisible disabilities will feel less afraid to "come out of the closet" with their unseen differences and will find that they will not be judged but will be accepted. But I know that many congregations, especially large ones, feel that it is a churchgoer's or member's responsibility to reach out, get involved and make a contribution and that, as a by-product, they will be included and accepted. There is truth to this, that all of us, disabled or autistic or without disabilities, should reach out and seek to contribute to out congregations. However, in the case of people with disabilities, obvious or invisible, more support and often accommodations are needed for most to feel and be welcomed into the Church.
     I know that providing physical accommodations needed by so many with visible disabilities, often costs money or may be seen as inconveniencing others, such as allowing service dogs or other service animals. And in the case of invisible disabilities, especially the complex, more easily misunderstood ones, congregations will need to take time and effort to educate themselves about these. Yes, I recognize that, unfair as it may be, those of us in the disability community and with these conditions, will probably have to lead the way in this, advocating for ourselves and for so many others.
     Getting back to the topic of autism and faith in God, I can't help but but believe that much of this perceived "reduced capacity for God" and even comparisons with atheists, says something also about how autistic people have often not felt welcomed in the Church. I recognize that the Church often does not feel equipped to deal with a complex neurological condition like autism and so often don't know how to welcome autistic people. And since autism means a different way of thinking and different wiring, the Church needs to find out how to make God real to autistic people according to their different wiring. There are no easy answers to this, obviously. But I think that when the Church will try to reach out to autistic people, we may see more come to our local churches and want to know our God. The writers of these two articles seem to be boxing God in, suggesting that He is not able to reveal Himself and make Himself real to those with different wiring or thinking. These articles insult God as much as they do autistic people. Is God limited by the way someone is wired? Didn't He make the brain in the first place? Who is the Creator of those with disabilities, including autism? And doesn't His call to "go into all the world" with His message include those with autism and other disabilities?
     Is the Church listening?