An Infidel Manifesto: Why Sincere Believers Lose Faith

[cre8]

An Infidel Manifesto exposes the reasons why real believers lose faith. Gary Lenaire explores hard questions such as, Why would my merciful God, who loves me so intensely, create others who will die eternally in torment? Or, Why do children suffer while a good God exists? Lenaire answers these questions while revealing contradictions and inconsistencies in the Bible. He discusses the fact that other gospels were excluded from the New Testament; and that the Bible was originally produced by a money-funded vote. The book examines the confusing concept Christian faith. Lenaire discusses the progression of multiple imperfect pagan deities that have been transformed over time into one perfect God. This transformation produced the evangelical fundamentalist idea of a perfect Word of God (the Bible) that is absolutely inerrant. An Infidel Manifesto is a powerful and honest first-hand view of Christianity and its paradoxical influence.

Review:

"Conversion stories are a dime-a-dozen in religious bookstores; deconversion stories--that is, stories about how someone religious changed their mind and gave up their religion--are rare. Gary Lenaire has written a compelling account of how he went from a deeply religious and fully committed Christian to a secular "infidel," or someone without faith in religion. No Christian can accuse Lenaire of not being a true believer, or of dishonesty, or of being tempted by Satan, or any of the other excuses offered when someone leaves the fold. Gary Lenaire is an honest man with integrity and character who left the church because it no longer made rational sense to him. And that is a perfectly legitimate reason. All believers should read this book; if nothing else, they can at least test their faith, but along the way perhaps they will also test their rational capacity to think, surely a good thing to do."

-Michael Shermer, Publisher of Skeptic magazine, monthly columnist for Scientific American, author of Why Darwin Matters.

 

[Jon-Marc]

I personally believe that anyone who turns from God and denies faith in Him NEVER had it in the first place. They only thought they did and were going through the motions. They believe for a while that there is a God, but when the going gets tough, the weak run.

I have been a child of God for 43 years. It hasn't been easy at times with ridicule, rejection and name calling, and I have even backslid at times because of sin. However, I NEVER denied God or that Jesus was my Saviour. I cannot go back to being an unbeliever. I cannot deny Who He is despite being discouraged and not always living in His will. Fortunately, He is longsuffering and forgiving.

 

[dancing queen]

One point, the New Testament was only confirmed with a vote. There is plenty of evidence that it had already been well established/circulated/used as that selection of gospels before the council voted. It is a missconception that it was a vote which decided which books to leave out. All the gospels that didnt end up in the new testament were a good thing anyway, like the gospel of Judas, historically there is no way that was written by The Judas that betrayed Christ. Most of the left out gospels are written by people that didn't actually know Jesus

 

[Drew]

I will propose the following for consideration:

It is easy, and arguably quite reasonable, for someone to fall away from the faith as it is specifically manifested in the world of "fundamentalism". I suggest that there is indeed a "truer" faith - way of understanding God that is much more "correct" than what one gets from fundamentalist culture. Perhaps this fellow Lenaire is reacting to a specific brand of belief - a brand that indeed is full of contradictions.

 

[Gabbylittleangel]

I personally believe that anyone who turns from God and denies faith in Him NEVER had it in the first place.

Hi Jon-marc
Do you believe about Judas Iscariot was never a believer?

 

[MrVersatile48]

Hi all!

I haven't been online for @ 9 days & I'm still feeling quite unwell, so do forgive me for only covering a few points

First, Gabby, I'm sure that the Bible says that Judas was a false disciple, out for his own ends - probably where it said he was a thief

2nd, this public PC can't open the OP link to the book, but the objections to the Christian faith that are quoted are quite common ones, based on false understanding

I'll never forget that, when I told my parents that I'd become an atheist, they said, "What you've rejected isn't the gospel"

The kind of rubbish quoted in the OP comes from what Jesus prophesied would increase more & more as His return draws nearer: false messiahs/ christs/prophets/teachers/brothers - as in Matthew 24

Before my time runs out, I must recommend books like "Questions of Life" by Nicky Gumbel, "Questions On The Christian Faith Answered From The Bible" by Roger Forster & "Evidence That Demands A Verdict" by Josh McDowell - see http://www.ChristianBooks.com - (which may well have an "apologetics" section where you can see others)

Very briefly, "liberal" theology began thru 19th century German Universities starting to award theoklogy degrees for 'originality' instead of truth

True evangelicalism is rock-solid faith in the Solid Rock of the Almighty Creator: taking Him at His Word

"Let God be true & all men liars"

"Similarities" between Luke & Matthew is because they were telling some of the same stories truthfully - it doesn't 'prove' some non-existent 'Q'

It's like the stupid question, "Who made God?"

He is eternal: He had no beginning & will have no end

Back soon, DV

Ian