Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2021
Eric Metaxas is the present day Grandmaster for presenting overwhelming and compelling evidence for the death of atheism! If atheism was not previously dead, it certainly is now. If you don't believe me, simply read "Is atheism Dead?" by Eric Metaxas and decide for yourself.
Atheists claim that belief in God is very much like believing in Santa Claus or other fictional characters such as the Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy.
However, the exact opposite is truer. It is atheism that really parallels these fictional characters, not the belief in the Christian God who is revealed in Jesus Christ. The case for Jesus Christ is so incredibly strong that when countless children drop their belief in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, they continue to believe in Jesus Christ for their entire life!
Why don’t these Christians drop their belief in God along with Santa and the Tooth Fairy? It is because Santa, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy do not correspond with reality, whereas the Christian God squares very well with it. That’s a huge difference.
In fact, atheism does not square with reality in any way. And New Atheism is much worse. New Atheism is an attack on the belief in God. What is the nature of this attack?
New Atheism (as promoted by the “Four Horsemen”), is an aggressive branch of atheism. It does not think those who believe in God, should have a voice!
According to New Atheism, people that believe in God are deluded and what they believe is poisonous. And these believers are stupid, ignorant and backward because they have faith in God. Therefore, New Atheism is an attack on cherished freedoms; a very dangerous enterprise if taken seriously.
Even mainstream atheists, are not in agreement with the New Atheism movement. New Atheism is a narrow and radical branch of atheism, which is generally not taken seriously by reasonable people from all walks of life.
In fact, in "IS ATHEISM DEAD?" by Eric Metaxas an enormous amount of scientific and historical evidence is assembled that contradicts atheism and infers our universe having a definite beginning when it was created. Simply put, if you look back in time, there cannot be an infinite (never-ending) series of physical events (or days) or we would never arrive at today. You absolutely need a very first day, to get to today! This is straight-forward common sense. This first physical event (or day) is logically and necessarily caused by an eternal mind that is unimaginably powerful. This pure non-physical Spirit-Mind is what we call “God”.
To believe in atheism you must believe that matter somehow magically came into existence without ANY cause, AND this uncaused matter somehow gave life to itself, AND somehow on its own began to hear, see itself, smell itself, feel itself, think about itself, and eventually became YOU! All from absolutely nothing, to dead matter, to YOU! Now if you really want to spend your life believing THAT, that is your business. But please don’t expect anyone with an ounce of common sense to buy into such a thing. I’m not even sure what to call such silliness. Perhaps we can call it the Pinocchio theory of life!
Pinocchio is a fictional character of course, who was carved into a puppet by a woodworker named Geppetto. As a puppet in a tiny Italian village, Pinocchio dreamed of being a real boy. Incidentally, since Pinocchio told many lies, the term is used to describe people that have a propensity to make up stories that are unrealistic.
Therefore, Pinocchio, Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy seem to reflect atheism, not the belief in God. Can you now see the similarity? With atheism, almost anything you can imagine can pop into existence without a cause! Atheism encompasses a fictional and make-believe world. If an entire universe can pop into existence without a cause, then an elephant could pop into existence right in your living room without a cause. Or you could assemble a stick-girl that dreams about becoming Pinocchio’s girlfriend. That’s how ludicrous it is to have faith in atheism! It takes an enormous amount of faith to believe in atheism!
But why do some (certainly not all) really smart scientists and other smart people profess the “Pinocchio theory of life”? Perhaps it is because they would rather believe anything regardless of how ridiculous it may be, rather than to consider they’ll be judged by a living God. If there is no God, then they can think of themselves as the greatest living beings. They can be the smartest and the best. They replace God with themselves! It really is that simple. That’s atheism in a nutshell.
With that said, let’s take a closer look at Jesus Christ:
Jesus said... "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye may have life." (John 5:39-40)
Jesus said after reading Isaiah 61:1-2... "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." (Luke 4:21)
And after Jesus was raised he said… “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory. And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:25-27)
What is going on here? What is Jesus saying? For one thing, Jesus is explaining that the primary function of Scripture is to tell about him! In other words, you can search Scripture and argue about the meaning, but if you don't come to Jesus for eternal life, you’ve missed the treasure.
Jesus is the true treasure! That is Scripture in a nutshell. Scripture is an old divine treasure map leading right to Jesus.
Who is this treasure named Jesus? Jesus came directly from God, speaks with the authority of God, and although he is fully human, he is also fully God.
Once Jesus came on the scene, Scripture was fulfilled. You follow your treasure map to Jesus to receive eternal life and to love and enjoy the greatest treasure in the universe—our LORD God. Who is our LORD God? God is Father, Son Jesus, and Spirit.
What makes Jesus different from "religion" per se? Religions work hard at telling you what you must do to achieve eternal or a better life. Religion will tell you what you must do to become a good person suitable for Heaven or a better future of some sort. Religions are based on the idea of working your way into Heaven or Paradise or a better eternity of some fashion. In other words, only “good people” as defined by a religion make the cut.
Just because there are issues with religions (as there are with all institutions that involve mankind), does not mean there is an issue with Jesus of Nazareth!
In fact, Jesus (while concealing His true identity as God) says there are no “good people” (Ref. Mark 10:18). And that only people that God forgives go to Heaven. Those that are saved by Jesus go to Heaven. Heaven is for the forgiven. That’s a HUGE difference!
Do you see the difference between Jesus and religions? If you want Heaven, you had better want Jesus first! You had better cling to Jesus and love and cherish Him with all your heart. Jesus is the Treasure!
And as Eric Metaxas skillfully explains, there is no plausible case for atheism or New Atheism! Atheism is based on a misunderstanding of reality and a desire to escape accountability. Atheists are guilty of having faith in the very make-believe world they accuse Christians of believing in. New Atheism (a hostile branch of atheism) especially aligns with believing in a Pinocchio-type reality.
It is illuminating that Science, Scripture and Common Sense all point to a beginning of the universe as Eric Metaxas explains. From this we are on solid ground to believe the most reasonable explanation is that a self-existent agent of unimaginable power and intelligence created the universe. That agent is the Christian God. And according to Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Heaven and earth refer to the universe. Notice how sound reasoning and Scripture match up perfectly. There is a beginning of the universe according to Science, Scripture and Common Sense.
Christians base their faith in the remarkable internal and external evidence for Jesus. Belief in Jesus is a very reasonable faith which excludes the world of make-believe and is aligned with reality.
The more we learn about the marvel of Jesus, the more we probe the universe, the more we explore the depths of nature, and the more we learn how to reason with straight-forward common sense, the more we realize that atheism can never represent reality. Therefore, dive into "IS ATHEISM DEAD?", and master the evidence for yourself. It may be one of the most important things you do for yourself in this life!
Remember, Scripture is simply a divine roadmap leading to the reality of Jesus Christ. If you read the Book of John in the New Testament of your Bible you will see that it clearly indicates that Jesus is God, the resurrection, and the life!
Yes Jesus actually said… “I am the resurrection and the life”. (See John 11:25!)
Here are actual words from our Lord Jesus Christ... Please notice what Jesus does and does not say. He says He is the way! He does not say that religion or denominations of religions, or other worldviews (such as atheism or New Atheism) are the way.
Jesus also says that He is the truth! It means that He not only speaks the truth and can be trusted, but that ALL “truth” is manifested from His very being! Obviously if Jesus is truth, atheism is the opposite of truth. It is a lie.
And Jesus says that He is the life! This means that ALL of reality is rooted in Him. Jesus sums up virtually all of reality in a single yet profound statement of TRUTH:
John 14:6:
I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jesus really did say…
I am the resurrection and the life. Do you believe this? (John 11:26)
While reading "IS ATHEISM DEAD?" by Eric Metaxas, you may be compelled to study the following Bible verses to increase your knowledge of God's sovereign will (which is evidence of spectacular on going supernatural fine-tuning):
1. John 6:44...
No man can come to me, except the Father which has sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
2. Proverbs 16:4...
The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
3. Proverbs 16:9...
A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.
4. Proverbs 19:21...
There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.
5. Proverbs 20:24...
Man’s goings are of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way?
6. Proverbs 21:1...
The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
7. Job 42:2...
I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
8. Isaiah 14:24...
The Lord of host hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:
9. Isaiah 14:27...
For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?
10. Isaiah 46:9-10...
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
11. Isaiah 48:3...
I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.
12. Jeremiah 1:5...
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
13. Psalms 139:16...
Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
14. John 3:3...
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
15. John 3:5...
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
16. John 3:27...
John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
17. John 6:39...
And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
18. John 6:45...
It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
19. John 6:64-65...
But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
20. John 8:47...
He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
21. John 10:14...
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
22. John 10:16...
And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
23. John 10:26-29...
But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
24. John 13:18...
I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
25. John 14:6...
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
26. John 15:16...
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
27. John 15:19...
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
28. John 17:2-3...
As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
And this is eternal life, that they might know thee only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
29. John 17:6...
I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
30. John 17:9-12...
I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name; those that thou hast given me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
31. John 17:16...
They are not of this world, even as I am not of this world.
32. Acts 13:48...
And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
33. Romans 8:28-30...
And we know all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
34. 1 Corinthians 12:3...
Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
35. Galatians 1:15-16...
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
36. Ephesians 1:4-5...
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
37. Ephesians 1:11...
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
38. Ephesians 2:8-9...
For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
39. 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14...
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
40. 2 Timothy 1:9....
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
41. 1 Peter 1:20-21...
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
42. 1 Peter 2:2...
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
43. 1 Peter 2:1-5...
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
44. Revelation 17:8...
The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
45. Job 37:16...
Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
46. Psalm 147:5...
Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
47. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7...
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
48. Proverbs 16:33...
The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.
49. Isaiah 45:7...
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.
50. Genesis 6:5...
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
51. John 1:13...
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Mark A. Smith, B.A., M.S.M, author of "JESUS AND THE DEATH OF ATHEISM"
