Synopses & Reviews
Despite the recent ferocious public debate about belief, the concept most central to the discussionGodfrequently remains vaguely and obscurely described. Are those engaged in these arguments even talking about the same thing? In a wide-ranging response to this confusion, esteemed scholar David Bentley Hart pursues a clarification of how the word God” functions in the worlds great theistic faiths.
Ranging broadly across Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Vedantic and Bhaktic Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism, Hart explores how these great intellectual traditions treat humanitys knowledge of the divine mysteries. Constructing his argument around three principal metaphysical moments”being, consciousness, and blissthe author demonstrates an essential continuity between our fundamental experience of reality and the ultimate reality to which that experience inevitably points.
Thoroughly dismissing such blatant misconceptions as the deists' concept of God, as well as the fundamentalist view of the Bible as an objective historical record, Hart provides a welcome antidote to simplistic manifestoes. In doing so, he plumbs the depths of humanitys experience of the world as powerful evidence for the reality of God and captures the beauty and poetry of traditional reflection upon the divine.
Review
Praise for Atheist Delusions:
"Anyone interested in taking the debate about God to the next level should read and reflect on Harts spirited brief on behalf of Christian truth."—Damon Linker, New Republic
Francesca Murphy
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“[A] major work by one of the most learned, forceful, and witty Christian theologians currently writing.”—
First Things First Things
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“David Hart can always be relied on to offer a perspective on Christian faith that is both profound and unexpected. In this masterpiece of quiet intellectual and spiritual passion, he magnificently sets the record straight as to what sort of God Christians believe in and why.”—Rowan Williams, University of Cambridge
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“David Harts new book is nothing less than astounding. He is liberal, conservative, radical, theological, philosophical, and historical all at the same time - that is his genius. There is no American writing on religion as intelligently, bravely, and originally as Hart.”—Conor Cunningham, University of Nottingham
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“David Bentley Harts new book is a feast- stylish and substantial. Bringing together Sanskritic analyses of Gods being with Latin and Greek and Arabic ones, this is a considerable achievement by one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary theology.”—Paul J. Griffiths, Duke Divinity School
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“Writing at a high philosophical level with a sharp sense of humor, Hart argues for an ecumenical Theism. Devastatingly accurate, imaginative, and immensely readable, this is David Bentley Harts best book”—Francesca Murphy, University of Notre Dame
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“With impressive erudition and polemical panache, David Hart smites hip and thigh the peddlers of a ‘new atheism that recycles hoary arguments from the past. His grim assessment of our cultural moment challenges the hope that ‘the Christian revolution could happen again.”—Richard John Neuhaus, former editor in chief of First Things Damon Linker
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"Magnificent . . . a book unlike anything done in recent times and one that only Hart could write."—Robert Louis Wilken
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“Bracing and eloquent . . . fans of Harts winsome prose will not be disappointed . . . a fine work.”—Edward T. Oakes, S.J., National Review
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“Stunning . . . bracing and bold . . . For provoking deep thought about the profoundest human questions, and for taking an intelligent stand in defense of faith . . . Hart deserves the gratitude of a large and appreciative audience.”—Damon Linker, The Week
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“My modest New Year's wish for 2014, then, is that atheists who care about honest argument - and about maybe actually getting somewhere in these otherwise mind-numbingly circular debates - might consider reading just one book by a theologian, David Bentley Hart's The Experience of God. . .They should read it because Hart marshals powerful historical evidence and philosophical argument to suggest that atheists - if they want to attack the opposition's strongest case - badly need to up their game.”—Oliver Burkeman, The Guardian Damon Linker - The Week
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“Impressive”—David Gibson, Religion News Service Oliver Burkeman - The Guardian
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“Hart marshals powerful historical evidence and philosophical argument to suggest that atheists—if they want to attack the opposition's strongest case—badly need to up their game.”—Oliver Burkeman, The Guardian
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“Hart . . . recalls believers of all faiths to the best of their traditions, challenges unbelievers to examine their own metaphysical presuppositions, and does these with tremendous gusto. . . . A necessary book.”—Michael Robbins, Commonweal
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“A thoroughly entertaining and engaging read. Its difficult to convey to those who are unacquainted with Harts writing the sheer exuberance of his prose and the bite to his wit.”—Ryan Marr, Catholic Books Review
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“A classic of Christian apologetics”—Francesca Aran Murphy, First Things
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‘. . .there is something evangelical about this study: it is at once both the most valuable discussion of the doctrine of God to have appeared for decades, and a witty, often mordant, defence of Christian belief. . .The Experience of God is still an outstanding addition to the literature on God, not least for its survey of so many of the world’s great faiths. It is also a fine piece of work of Christian apologetics, and a major contribution to debate on science and religion.’—Andrew Davison, Times Literary Supplement
Synopsis
From one of the most revered scholars of religion, an incisive explanation of how the word “God” functions in the worlds great faiths
About the Author
Praise for David Bentley Harts
Atheist Delusions
[A] major work by one of the most learned, forceful, and witty Christian theologians currently writing.” First Things
With impressive erudition and polemical panache, David Hart smites hip and thigh the peddlers of a new atheism that recycles hoary arguments from the past. His grim assessment of our cultural moment challenges the hope that the Christian revolution could happen again.”Richard John Neuhaus
Hart has the gifts of a good advocate. He writes with clarity and force, and he drives his points home again and again. He exposes his opponents errors of fact or logic with ruthless precision.” Anthony Kenny, Times Literary Supplement
[This book] takes no prisoners in its response to fashionable criticisms of Christianity.”Dr. Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury, Church Times
Atheist Delusions will be remembered as Harts breakout book. His contributions to such journals as First Things have long marked him as a rising public intellectual. . . . Harts work is now likely to come to the attention of a wider audience. And not a moment too soon."William J. Portier, Commonweal