On the Nature of the Universe
Lucretius

So you are a little weary of reading Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, and such? Take a break with Lucretius—not an atheist, strictly speaking, but a first-century B.C. materialist forerunner of Dawkins & Co.

Nausea
Jean-Paul Sartre

For bright young Christians who are engaging the atheist boomlet of 2007 and for whom existentialism is merely one of many isms in the last century's garbage dump, it would be instructive to read this novel, first published in French in 1938.

Without God, Without Creed: The Origins of Unbelief in America
James C. Turner

There's a Catholic argument that blames the Reformation for the rise of atheism. Aha! That's where the trouble started. Turner offers a subtler version, showing how developments within Christendom prepared the ground.

Crisis of Doubt: Honest Faith in Nineteenth-Century England
Timothy Larsen

Larsen tells the fascinating story of Victorians who renounced their faith, campaigned vigorously for atheism—in print and on the speaker's platform—and then reconverted to Christianity.

Philosophers Without Gods: Meditations on Atheism and the Secular Life
Louise M. Antony, ed.

This Atheists R Us compilation differs markedly in tone from Hitchens and Dawkins. Excellent fare for Christian small groups whose members are genuinely interested in the arguments raised by atheists.

Copyright © 2007 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related elsewhere:

See our books section for more reviews and articles.

Other Christianity Today articles on atheists and religion include:

"Is Christianity Good for the World?" | Christopher Hitchens and Douglas Wilson debate. (May 8, 2007)

The New Intolerance | Fear mongering among elite atheists is not a pretty sight. A Christianity Today editorial (January 25, 2007)

The Twilight of Atheism | Why this once exciting and 'liberating' philosophy failed to capture the world's imagination. (March 2005)

Pledging to Fight | Atheist says battle over 'under God' has just begun. (August 1, 2004)

Forced by Logic | It took philosophy and a friend to convince this atheist (June 1, 2003)

Russian Intellectuals Try to Revive Atheism | The Moscow Society of Atheists says its ideology has fallen out of fashion (January 1, 2001)

The Know-Nothing Party | How should Christians respond to ill-informed attacks? (Books & Culture, February 5, 2007)

The Trials of Being Agnostic | A conversation with skeptic Wendy Kaminer. (Books & Culture, January 1, 2000)

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An odd choice of literature, considering most of your readers believe atheism is the only rational outlook: http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/3158/christianitypollux5.png

Russell, The poll wasn't just the results of ChristianityToday readers; it was posted on other websites, and most of the voters were not regular visitors of this website. Here's a post about the results: http://books.elliottback.com/archives/2007/05/21/christianity-todays-atheism-poll/

Thank you! I look forward to adding these to my reading list.

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