+ Christian Book Reviews +

Book Review: Who’s the Loser Now?

May 18th, 2010 at 07:28pm Albert McIlhenny

The Loser Letters: A Comic Tale of Life, Death, and Atheism – Mary Eberstadt Ignatius Press (March 2010) Topic: Atheism Summary: A fictional account of letters written from an admirer of the New Atheists to her “heroes.” Rating:

The last few years or so have seen the media center a great deal of attention to the “New Atheists” movement who, while often quite articulate and even brilliant in their own fields of expertise, have proven themselves to be little more than inept when dealing with issues of religion, philosophy, and the intellectual history of Western civilization. A number of books now serve as the backlash to the boorishness of Dawkins and his cronies and take them to task for their distortions and general lack of sophistication when dealing with what could be called the “big questions.” Most are straightforward refutations and challenges to their recent public views. However, sometimes a more humorous look can be the best weapon against an inflated ego.

Mary Eberstadt’s attack against the pretensions of the New Atheists that falls into the latter category. In The Loser Letters, she uses the fictional A. F. Christian (presumably A Former Christian) as the foil in a series of letters written to her new “heroes” where they are encouraged in their rebellion against God (whom she declares to be a loser). While lauding the motives of those seeking to spread the atheist creed, A. F. gives advice on how to reach a younger audience and chides them for drawing attention to the uncomfortable fact of religious contributions to society. In this appeal, the general vacuousness of the New Atheist bluster becomes all the more apparent.

The evaluation of the atheist predicament will be clear to many who have spent time exchanging views with those who appeal to a supposed rationality. In the “advice” of their self-proclaimed “bff,” the soft underbelly of the New Atheism is revealed: most do not leave theism out of rational persuading but simply drift away and use the atheist mantras as an excuse. Along the way, there are points that are just hilarious in a very biting manner and this book will undoubtedly leave many atheists fuming and may theists laughing.

Sometimes satire that can expose a false idea quicker than philosophical analysis – particularly when the satire corresponds to everyday experience. Mary Eberstadt’s The Loser Letters is a definite winner in this regard and may expose the fallacies of New Atheist reasoning much better than any theological tome ever could.

Entry Filed under: Atheism