Atheism : a philosophical justification /

Martin (Boston University), author of several books including The Legal Philosophy of H.L.A. Hart: A Critical Appraisal (CH, Oct'87), follows the lead of Bertrand Russell's Why I Am not a Christian and Other Essays on Religion and Related Subjects (1957). Martin's net is much more broadly cast than Russell's to provide a comprehensive defense of atheism that pulls together criticisms scattered throughout atheistic literature. Clearly and systematically, Martin defends negative atheism, the absence of belief in god or gods, by attacking the major classical and contemporary arguments for God's existence, including the ontological, cosmological, and teleological arguments; arguments from religious experience and miracles; the most important minor and beneficial arguments; and belief in God based on faith or fundamental beliefs. In his justification of positive atheism, belief that there is no god or gods, Martin discusses the incoherence of the concept of God, offers a teleological argument for God's nonexistence, and presents arguments from evil and refutations of theodicies. Martin contends that atheism need not entail deterioration of morals, decline of religion and church attendance, or loss of religious tolerance and freedom. To his major arguments, he appends definitions of atheism and contrasts atheism with other movements. Martin employs inductive arguments throughout and invites contemporary philosophers of religion to attempt to undermine reasons and arguments produced by atheists in order to make theistics secure. Advanced undergraduates and up. -D. A. Haney, Marywood College