Book Review

DUE	March 2, 2011
VALUE	30% of the term mark
OBJECTIVE	To offer a critical response to one of the recently published books dealing with atheism
LENGTH	3 - 5 pages (computer print-out, double-spaced, 12-point font)
SCOPE and APPROACH	Select any book from the LIST below. In the review include the following components: ● The objective(s) of the author(s) in writing the book: what does the author(s) propose to achieve? ● A brief overview of the contents of the book or main contentions of the author(s): What is being advanced? What is of interest or significance? ● The relation, if any, to Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion : Does book add to Dawkins, by way of clarification or justification? Is it in support of Dawkins or critical of his views? ● A critical response to the book overall or to some particular views and their argumentation: Do any of the views express a misrepresentation? Imply some questionable assumptions? Is the argumentation in support of proposed views defensible? Problematic? ● A proper reference to the book under review and to any other resources that may have been used.
ASSESSMENT	The Book Review will be assessed using the following criteria: ● Elements of style that include spelling, diction, grammar, documentation ● Clarity in presenting claims and views ● Cogency in presenting argumentation or justifications ● Critical response that shows your stand towards the book – overall or in part – and that defends it as best you can.
FURTHER HELP	Sample references and suggestions on developing a critical, philosophical approach are available on eClass under RESOURCES and in What is Philosophy?
LIST OF BOOKS for REVIEW With some exceptions, all of the following books are less than 200 pages in length. Some are available on-line through the University Library; others have been placed on one-week reserve in St. Joseph’s College Library. Most of them are also inexpensive paperbacks available for purchase from Chapters-Indigo (in store or on-line). About Atheism Baggini, Julian. Atheism, A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003. Walters, Kerry. Atheism. A Guide for the Perplexed. New York NY: Continuum, 2010. Critical Discussions Beattie, Tina. The New Atheists, The Twilight of Reason and the War on Religion. Maryknoll NY: Orbis Books, 2007. Craig, William Lane, and Walter Sinnott-Armstrong. God? A Debate Between a Christian and an Atheist [electronic resource.] Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 2004. Crean O.P., Thomas. God is No Delusion. A Refutation of Richard Dawkins . San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2007. Ferguson, David. Faith and Its Critics: A Conversation [electronic resource]. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 2009. Hahn, Scott, and Benjamin Wiker. Answering the New Atheism. Dismantling Dawkin's Case Against God. Steubenville OH: Emmaus Road, 2008. Haught, John F. God and the New Atheism: A Critical Response to Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens. Louisville KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2008. Johnson, Philip E., and John Mark Reynolds. Against All Gods: What's Right and Wrong About the New Atheism. Downers Grove IL: IVP Books, 2010. Markham, Ian S. Against Atheism. Why Dawkins, Hitchens, and Harris Are Fundamentally Wrong. Malden MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010. McGrath, Alister E., and Joanna Collicutt McGrath. The Dawkins Delusion? Atheist Fundamentalism and the Denial of the Divine. Downers Grove IL: InterVarsity Press, 2007. Some Further Options (not on reserve and more than 200 pages in length) Berlinski, David. The Devil's Delusion. Atheism and Its Scientific Pretensions . 2nd ed. New York: Basic Books, 2009. Feser, Edward. The Last Superstition. A Refutation of the New Atheism . South Bend IN: St. Augustine Press, 2008. Murray, Malcolm. The Atheist's Primer. Peterborough ON: Broadview Press, 2010. Reitman, Eric. Is God a Delusion? A Reply to Religion's Cultured Despisers . Malden MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009. Stenger, Victor J. The New Atheism. Taking a Stand for Science and Reason . Amherst NY: Prometheus Books, 2009.