An Atheist and a Christian Walk into a Bar

October 10, 2016
Theology professor Rouser and YouTube personality Schieber offer complex, rigorous arguments that will challenge the thinking of believers and atheists alike. Through one long conversation presented in transcript form—complete with digressions and calls for clarification—the duo avoids the simplistic attacks or hasty reasoning found in many polemical works. Although Rauser speaks from a Christian perspective, the authors focus on a more inclusive classical theism: the notion that an omniscient, omnipotent, benevolent God exists. They argue about whether testimony is valid evidence, what the major theological disagreements between religions suggest, what the creator’s seeming hostility to the universe means, whether the neat mathematical pattern of the universe proves intentional design, and how to best explain the problem of human suffering. The dialogue format lends authenticity but can become tedious, especially when either author cracks a joke. Though at times the philosophical talk gets thick, Rouser and Schieber are generally adept at unpacking concepts for nonexpert readers. They never reach consensus, but their model of listening to and respectfully challenging each other provides a refreshing, hospitable break from heavy-handed demonization and overly simplified apologetics.

October 15, 2016
In this 21st-century take on the long-standing tradition of philosophical dialogue, two intellectuals battle it out in the arena of ideas and witticisms.Unfortunately for readers, the resulting conversation is a rather unappealing combination of sophomoric jokes and theoretical conundrums. The work is neither insightful enough to engage those interested in the theoretical arguments behind theism and atheism, nor is it accessible enough to appeal to a broader audience. That's not to say Rauser (Historical Theology/Taylor Seminary; Is the Atheist My Neighbor?: Rethinking Christian Attitudes Toward Atheism, 2015, etc.) and Schieber, an atheist lecturer and YouTube contributor, don't cover weighty topics. Among those is "massive theological disagreement"--if God exists, why are ideas about his nature so thoroughly varied? Elsewhere, the question arises of why God would have created a universe that is almost entirely inhospitable toward the few sentient beings meant to worship him. Do the beauty and perfection of mathematics lead one to believe in a creating God, or is this simply a fortunate reality of existence? What does evolution teach us about the existence or nonexistence of God? Rauser and Schieber go back and forth with these and other topics but offer few conclusions. Their subject matter, however, is riddled with jokes, puns, and other attempts at humor and levity, which, if minimized, would have the desired effect of removing the loaded problem of "argument" from this age-old discussion. However, the authors take it too far. After countless lines like, "I feel sick that my slick shtick doesn't stick," or, "since the reader can't see me, let the record reflect that my eyebrows are rising in incredulity," readers will simply feel patronized. A good idea derailed for the sake of entertainment. Readers interested in this topic should turn to Gary Gutting's Talking God: Philosophers on Belief (2016).

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