Daylight Atheism > Book Update

Book Update

I've finished the third chapter of my book, which deals with the argument from evil and draws on my Ebon Musings essay "All Possible Worlds". As before, any regular commenter who's interested in reading the chapter and offering feedback is welcome to do so. E-mail me or leave a comment if interested.

I'd like to stress something here: This offer is open to regular commenters, not just to people who read my site. I'd like to foster a strong community of atheists and freethinkers on this site, and this offer is intended as a reward and as thanks for people who've put in the time and effort to helping me achieve that goal. Being a regular commenter doesn't mean you have to comment on every post - but I want to at least know who you are and what you think! If you're not yet a commenter, it's never too late to become one.

13 Comments

Good way to bribe the regulars. However, I wonder if you wouldn't be better off convincing all readers that they are sinners and that the path to salvation lies in commenting regularly on your blog. For some strange reason, I think this would work rather well.

Comment by: vjack | June 7, 2007, 6:19 am

Thanks for the update Adam. I know I'm one of the many who are anxious to read your book when it's finished.

On another note, Hitchen's "god is not Great" is now #1 on the NY times bestseller list!

Comment by: Freeyourmind | June 7, 2007, 7:06 am

I do humbly submit my interest in reading and returning comments on your book chapter, should I be deemed a sufficiently regular commenter to deserve the honour :)

Comment by: Lynet | June 7, 2007, 11:02 am

Good way to bribe the regulars. However, I wonder if you wouldn't be better off convincing all readers that they are sinners and that the path to salvation lies in commenting regularly on your blog. For some strange reason, I think this would work rather well.

On the contrary, it would be like pitching Avon samples in a stereotypical sports bar.

Comment by: Alex Weaver | June 7, 2007, 3:47 pm

I'm extremely interested in reading your book. If it's anything like the essasys on the Atheism Pages, I'm sure it'll be great. However, I don't think I could be counted as a regular commenter yet, so I guess I'd better start commenting.

Comment by: XanderG | June 8, 2007, 1:28 am

I would like to be a regular commenter and get a preview of the book chapters, but most of the time I'm so thoroughly impressed with your posts that I have nothing at all to add. I wouldn't do a good job of providing feedback for the book either.

I'll just be happy to read it when you're done.

Comment by: King Aardvark | June 8, 2007, 11:36 am

Although I think I've been a regular commenter, at least, for the past 5 months (almost as long as I've been an official atheist), I'll wait it out and simply read the completed work in the bookstore...uh, er, I mean BUY a copy like any normal person. :)
I don't feel I'm qualified to comment on the topic, yet. I haven't read anyone else: Dawkins, Hitchens, Harris, etc. In fact, if you get published soon, you may be the first Atheist writer/author that I read!

Comment by: Polly | June 8, 2007, 12:34 pm

Adam,
When you are done, I want an autographed copy. I will keep it on display in my library. You are a gifted writer and are fighting the good fight against impossible odds.

Comment by: Jeff T. | June 8, 2007, 6:29 pm

Adam, I'd like to read and comment. I'm a professor of English and writing at a Community College on the East Coast and my MA is in philosophy, so I might be able to give you some useful feedback.

Comment by: Ric | June 9, 2007, 7:24 am

I've only been familiar with your site for a few days, so I'm not sure if this is the right place to discuss what I'm about to say. If not, please direct me to a more appropriate place.

My husband thinks it's a bad idea to debate with you guys because we come from two totally different backgrounds of thought- I believe that God exists and that the Bible is totally true and you do not. Therefore, you will not convice me of anything and I will not convice you of anything.

Nevertheless, I can't help but ask the following questions- I don't really want to get in a huge discussion over this either, but we'll see what happens. In your essay above, you give the following:

Assumption (1): God exists.
Assumption (1a): God is all-knowing.
Assumption (1b): God is all-powerful.
Assumption (1c): God is perfectly loving.
Assumption (1d): Any being that did not possess all three of the above properties would not be God.

How did you come to the conclusion that God only has these three qualities, or that these three are the ultimate? I can think of his holiness and justice that would slightly alter the equation.

I do not say this to be offensive, but is seems like you have built up 'your idea' of what God is or who He should be and then proved how he cannot be (rather than taking all he has revealed Himself to be in the Bible) .

Again- this is where the fundamental differences come into play. I believe that God HAS revealed himself in the Bible, so if you don't take the Bible at face value- as it says it is- the Word of God, then it will be hard for me to 'argue' anything with you. I have come to the understanding that without God telling us about himself, through the Bible, we really wouldn't be able to know much about him. So again, I ask, since you don't believe in the Bible- where do you get your idea of what the 'perfect God' should be like?

Comment by: Mollie | June 9, 2007, 12:41 pm

This isn't the appropriate thread, but I'll create an open thread to discuss this issue.

Comment by: Ebonmuse | June 9, 2007, 1:33 pm

ok- thanks

Comment by: Mollie | June 9, 2007, 3:34 pm

This is only my second or third comment, but you may remember me from an email I sent you earlier. I still haven't finished reading all the essays, but I definetely still intent to keep what I promised, and I sure wouldn't mind taking a peek at your chapters too. :)

Comment by: Petrucio | June 10, 2007, 10:59 pm