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Is Belief in God Good, Bad or Irrelevant?: A Professor and a Punk Rocker Discuss Science, Religion, Naturalism Christianity
Greg Graffin is frontman, singer and songwriter for the punk band Bad Religion . He also happens to have a Ph.D. in zoology and wrote his dissertation on evolution, atheism and naturalism. Preston Jones is a history professor at a Christian college and a fan of Bad Religion's music. One day, on a whim, Preston sent Greg an appreciative e-mail. That was the start of an extraordinary correspondence. For several months, Preston and Greg sent e-mails back and forth on big topics like God, religion, knowledge, evil, evolution, biology, destiny and the nature of reality. Preston believes in God; Greg sees insufficient evidence for God's existence. Over the course of their friendly debate, they tackle such cosmic questions Is religion rational or irrational? Does morality require belief in God? Do people only believe in God because they are genetically predisposed toward religion? How do you make sense of suffering in the world? Is this universe all there is? And what does it all matter? In this engaging book, Preston and Greg's actual e-mail correspondence is reproduced, along with bonus materials that provide additional background and context. Each makes his case for why he thinks his worldview is more compelling and explanatory. While they find some places to agree, neither one convinces the other. They can't both be right. So which worldview is more plausible? You decide.
165 pages, Paperback
First published May 18, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
August 16, 2020
Well, that was a delight!
I was pleasantly surprised by how cordial they were with each other throughout.
I guess I expected more animosity given the premise for their exchanges.
Now to get my hands on Greg Graffin's dissertation.
I was pleasantly surprised by how cordial they were with each other throughout.
I guess I expected more animosity given the premise for their exchanges.
Now to get my hands on Greg Graffin's dissertation.
March 6, 2016
If you have read this book, take another look at the cover. Who is the punk rocker and who is the professor?
Answer: the one in the suits in the punk rocker!!
I think in the cover photo, Greg and Preston wanted to mock the readers. To remind them how judgmental, incomplete, and fallacious people are.
If you haven't read this book and you are interested in religion, or evolution, or like me you are interested in both, this is the book for you. On one side there's cool rock star which is very different from mainstream superficial singers. After all, he's got a PhD from Cornell!
On the other side, there is a believer. But not a thick-headed, close-minded priest or imam. He is a historian and a professor. He loves logic and reason.
And in between, there I stand! A mediocre curious agnostic who enjoyed and gathered knowledge by standing in the middle of the arguments.
Answer: the one in the suits in the punk rocker!!
I think in the cover photo, Greg and Preston wanted to mock the readers. To remind them how judgmental, incomplete, and fallacious people are.
If you haven't read this book and you are interested in religion, or evolution, or like me you are interested in both, this is the book for you. On one side there's cool rock star which is very different from mainstream superficial singers. After all, he's got a PhD from Cornell!
On the other side, there is a believer. But not a thick-headed, close-minded priest or imam. He is a historian and a professor. He loves logic and reason.
And in between, there I stand! A mediocre curious agnostic who enjoyed and gathered knowledge by standing in the middle of the arguments.
February 18, 2007
I've seen other point/counter point books on faith/God, but this one surprised me with its readability, depth (not philosophical), and grit. Beautiful editing that does not gloss over feelings, rough edges, etc.
Also, the writers are from different worlds, yet connect well: college history professor (Christian) and punk rock star with PH.D. in Zoology (atheist/naturalist).
Also, the writers are from different worlds, yet connect well: college history professor (Christian) and punk rock star with PH.D. in Zoology (atheist/naturalist).
September 24, 2008
I was impressed by the depth of the conversation. But, while both sides articulated their points of view well, I had a sense of both of them as males from our particular American culture. Otherwise I'd have given it 5 stars. I would find it interesting to hear someone weigh in from a different background and view point. It was almost written as though there are two polarities, Christian and Atheist.
I was raised Christian, attended Christian Schools, but am a skeptic and so my early indoctrination did not stick. My point is that I have heard and had these arguments so much over the years that many aspects of this debate are already worn out for me, or seem irrelevant given my expanded world view. That these two voices piqued my interest at all is a testament to the quality of thinking that went into this book.
I think this review is a work in progress, because without any examples of what I mean it lacks validity.
I was raised Christian, attended Christian Schools, but am a skeptic and so my early indoctrination did not stick. My point is that I have heard and had these arguments so much over the years that many aspects of this debate are already worn out for me, or seem irrelevant given my expanded world view. That these two voices piqued my interest at all is a testament to the quality of thinking that went into this book.
I think this review is a work in progress, because without any examples of what I mean it lacks validity.
July 15, 2009
An intriguing conversation (compiled from emails over the course of a couple years) between Bad Religion's Greg Graffin and his fan (and Christian college professor) Preston Jones. Good points are made on both sides, but Graffin is standing on much more stable ground, as Jones's argument often wanders off in the direction of "faith" rather than fact. "Because I believe it is so" or "because it is written" don't hold much water when theorizing something's validity.
If you're a Bad Religion fan, there are also interesting tidbits in here about things that inpired Greg to write a particular song or lyric, and if you're as big a fan as me, then just spending this much time with Greg's thoughts is a thrill!
If you're a Bad Religion fan, there are also interesting tidbits in here about things that inpired Greg to write a particular song or lyric, and if you're as big a fan as me, then just spending this much time with Greg's thoughts is a thrill!
January 29, 2019
An elementary/middle/high school friend with whom I caught up on Facebook sent me this book. He's not a Christian, though he's interested in religion. He's a big fan of Greg Gaffin, lead singer of the band Bad Religion. Besides being a punk rock singer and songwriter, Gaffin has earned a PhD in zoology from Cornell. Beginning in 2003, Preston Jones, a history professor at a Christian university, started an email dialogue with Gaffin. Many of those emails, from both Jones and Gaffin, comprise this book.
Jones comes across as affable, eager to be friendly to Gaffin and show that not all Christians are fundamentalists. Gaffin seems not to know Christianity well. He claims that Christians have a barbarous history (people have misused the faith to justify violence, but he doesn't acknowledge the devastation that aesthetic regimes of the twentieth century have wrought). He also seems close-minded: "I simply am not interested in learning how modern knowledge can be reconciled with outdated theology" (25). His beliefs are basically scientism, that idea that science gives us true knowledge and other disciples do not. Put another, he seems to buy into scientific positivism, the idea that only empirically-verifiable truths are indeed true. (Note that the statement "only empirically-verifiable truths are true" is not itself empirically verifiable, and therefore it is self-refuting.) In short, Gaffin doesn't have a well-thought-out philosophy of science.
Jones gently pushes back against Gaffin, but he doesn't call him out on his scientism.
I like the format of this book. It's written in a conversational tone, which makes it easy to read. It's interesting. It's lack in depth, but that's not surprising given that the book is a collection of email correspondence.
I hope to have a good conversation about this book with my friend.
Jones comes across as affable, eager to be friendly to Gaffin and show that not all Christians are fundamentalists. Gaffin seems not to know Christianity well. He claims that Christians have a barbarous history (people have misused the faith to justify violence, but he doesn't acknowledge the devastation that aesthetic regimes of the twentieth century have wrought). He also seems close-minded: "I simply am not interested in learning how modern knowledge can be reconciled with outdated theology" (25). His beliefs are basically scientism, that idea that science gives us true knowledge and other disciples do not. Put another, he seems to buy into scientific positivism, the idea that only empirically-verifiable truths are indeed true. (Note that the statement "only empirically-verifiable truths are true" is not itself empirically verifiable, and therefore it is self-refuting.) In short, Gaffin doesn't have a well-thought-out philosophy of science.
Jones gently pushes back against Gaffin, but he doesn't call him out on his scientism.
I like the format of this book. It's written in a conversational tone, which makes it easy to read. It's interesting. It's lack in depth, but that's not surprising given that the book is a collection of email correspondence.
I hope to have a good conversation about this book with my friend.
November 19, 2008
So awesome. A prof from a Christian college and the lead singer of Bad Religion have a e-mail correspondence where they discuss life, the universe and everything. They agree to disagree a bit but both sides make some valid points.
January 3, 2009
This book was disappointing. I am a fan both of the punk band Bad Religion and of studies in history and religion, so I expected this to be a good read.
Quick capsule review: no new ideas here, no particular insights, same old arguments rehashed in debate form.
The book is essentially a compilation of email correspondence between Bad Religion's singer/lyricist Greg Graffin and a devout Christian/professor of history Preston Jones, who also edited and compiled everything. Jones reported that he has long been a Bad Religion fan, and initiated contact by fan mail. I assume good faith on both parties and I think they were both more or less satisfied with the end product which went to print. I respect their attempt to open up this topic to discussion and to publish their uncensored (I assume) emails. The book set up in a typical college textbook format, with text boxes containing excerpts from Bad Religion songs and the Bible, quotations form notable people or sources, and questions for the reader to consider. That's fine. Also, the cover itself pays homage to Bad Religion (with the eyes covered).
My real issue is that they don't much discuss the issue. Better yet, they never seem to decide exactly what the issues are or where they agree or disagree. The conversations go around in circles, without shedding much more light on a given topic than the first time it comes up. The topics usually follow this basic format: Preston criticizes hypocritical Christians and abuses of authority; Graffin responds with degrading remarks about Christianity and organized religion as a whole; Preston agrees that wrongs have been done in the name of God, and asks for thoughts on an event or writing; Graffin responds with more disparaging comments about religion, and how he cannot make specific arguments about the Bible because he has never read it, but holds it responsible for atrocities committed throughout history in the name of God (what?!); Preston meets halfway, but says that all Christians cannot be judged by fanatics, and furthermore that non-religious people have committed atrocities throughout history as well; Graffin responds with more comments about why religion is especially problematic; etc. etc. That is, of course, not a full account of the book or an entirely fair summation, but I think it captures the feeling. As I said above, there are no new ideas expressed here. If you are totally new to this ancient debate, then maybe you'll get something out of this, but this is more of the same speculation/accusation/misrepresentation that you see in clearance shelf books on this topic.
Furthermore, the tone of the conversation really got to me after about 20 pages. Graffin is often rather aggressive to the point of being hostile to Jones, who seems to try to "meet halfway" or give the benefit of the doubt to Graffin's ideas. Jones continually tries to build an amicable rapport, asking Graffin about the tour and his health, etc.; Graffin lightens up after the first few emails, but from time to time comes back with an aggressive tone, and seems to intentionally distance himself. They keeping awkwardly feeling each other out throughout the book, as though trying to decide where they fall on some professional-fan-friend spectrum. Finally at the end Preston seems to have had enough, or something provokes him to go on this diatribe rehashing all his previous points and making what feels like patiently withheld rebuttals to several of the points that Graffin made throughout the book. I remember reading thinking, "Yeah, I wondered why he didn't say all of this beforehand, and I wonder why he's letting this all out now." It was a departure from his previous tone and style.
Overall, the book is a two-star. Not bad, but not good. At the end I was less impressed in Graffin than I used to be; I got the feeling that all these years he's been on a mission to debase and degrade Christianity and all religion, rather than criticize it in the name of truth and justice. I was also rather interested in Preston, who described his own struggles with fair, and his experiences around the world that let his to wrestle with beliefs, dogmas, and institutions, notably seeing extreme poverty in around the world while in the navy and how his fellow sailors took advantage of it when they could. I respect the amount of self-disclosure they both allowed by publishing their unedited correspondence. I realize it's not their best work, and they might have done better with sit-down meetings and an entirely different format.
Quick capsule review: no new ideas here, no particular insights, same old arguments rehashed in debate form.
The book is essentially a compilation of email correspondence between Bad Religion's singer/lyricist Greg Graffin and a devout Christian/professor of history Preston Jones, who also edited and compiled everything. Jones reported that he has long been a Bad Religion fan, and initiated contact by fan mail. I assume good faith on both parties and I think they were both more or less satisfied with the end product which went to print. I respect their attempt to open up this topic to discussion and to publish their uncensored (I assume) emails. The book set up in a typical college textbook format, with text boxes containing excerpts from Bad Religion songs and the Bible, quotations form notable people or sources, and questions for the reader to consider. That's fine. Also, the cover itself pays homage to Bad Religion (with the eyes covered).
My real issue is that they don't much discuss the issue. Better yet, they never seem to decide exactly what the issues are or where they agree or disagree. The conversations go around in circles, without shedding much more light on a given topic than the first time it comes up. The topics usually follow this basic format: Preston criticizes hypocritical Christians and abuses of authority; Graffin responds with degrading remarks about Christianity and organized religion as a whole; Preston agrees that wrongs have been done in the name of God, and asks for thoughts on an event or writing; Graffin responds with more disparaging comments about religion, and how he cannot make specific arguments about the Bible because he has never read it, but holds it responsible for atrocities committed throughout history in the name of God (what?!); Preston meets halfway, but says that all Christians cannot be judged by fanatics, and furthermore that non-religious people have committed atrocities throughout history as well; Graffin responds with more comments about why religion is especially problematic; etc. etc. That is, of course, not a full account of the book or an entirely fair summation, but I think it captures the feeling. As I said above, there are no new ideas expressed here. If you are totally new to this ancient debate, then maybe you'll get something out of this, but this is more of the same speculation/accusation/misrepresentation that you see in clearance shelf books on this topic.
Furthermore, the tone of the conversation really got to me after about 20 pages. Graffin is often rather aggressive to the point of being hostile to Jones, who seems to try to "meet halfway" or give the benefit of the doubt to Graffin's ideas. Jones continually tries to build an amicable rapport, asking Graffin about the tour and his health, etc.; Graffin lightens up after the first few emails, but from time to time comes back with an aggressive tone, and seems to intentionally distance himself. They keeping awkwardly feeling each other out throughout the book, as though trying to decide where they fall on some professional-fan-friend spectrum. Finally at the end Preston seems to have had enough, or something provokes him to go on this diatribe rehashing all his previous points and making what feels like patiently withheld rebuttals to several of the points that Graffin made throughout the book. I remember reading thinking, "Yeah, I wondered why he didn't say all of this beforehand, and I wonder why he's letting this all out now." It was a departure from his previous tone and style.
Overall, the book is a two-star. Not bad, but not good. At the end I was less impressed in Graffin than I used to be; I got the feeling that all these years he's been on a mission to debase and degrade Christianity and all religion, rather than criticize it in the name of truth and justice. I was also rather interested in Preston, who described his own struggles with fair, and his experiences around the world that let his to wrestle with beliefs, dogmas, and institutions, notably seeing extreme poverty in around the world while in the navy and how his fellow sailors took advantage of it when they could. I respect the amount of self-disclosure they both allowed by publishing their unedited correspondence. I realize it's not their best work, and they might have done better with sit-down meetings and an entirely different format.
July 31, 2020
A quick but worthwhile read!
Religious belief and secular naturalism come head to head via a friendly correspondance between two unlikely pen pals and, perhaps most interestingly, there is no clear winner in this debate. Both sides argue poignantly and eloquently while keeping their debate productive and positive. A very enjoyable and thought provoking read!
Religious belief and secular naturalism come head to head via a friendly correspondance between two unlikely pen pals and, perhaps most interestingly, there is no clear winner in this debate. Both sides argue poignantly and eloquently while keeping their debate productive and positive. A very enjoyable and thought provoking read!
October 15, 2008
I'm not really into blogs, but I have a feeling this book is like a blog in print. It is the largely unedited e-mail conversation between Preston Jones, a professor at a Christian college, and Greg Graffin, a PhD biologist who is also the lead singer/songwriter for Bad Religion, a punk rock group. Greg takes the position that most Christians are unintelligent and uninformed. He says that no one is qualified to discuss the existence of God unless she knows a lot about biology. He believes that man and his actions are completely determined by evolution. He does not believe in free will. Preston states that he does not believe that one can disprove God's existence and to say that he does not exist also takes a kind of faith. Neither changes the other's mind, at least during the course of the book, but they do continue an e-mail conversation, showing that they think enough of the other's point of view to continue the conversation.
This book is meant to be discussed. Study notes are given at the end to facilitate a discussion. I believe this book would be more valuable if it were discussed in a group of Christians and atheists who were able to discuss the topics with civility.
This book is meant to be discussed. Study notes are given at the end to facilitate a discussion. I believe this book would be more valuable if it were discussed in a group of Christians and atheists who were able to discuss the topics with civility.
December 3, 2010
I fing this book to frankly be an eye-opener. While reading this research project, I realized things about my own world view. Greg Graffin designed his questionnaire to pick to brains of even the most complex. My brain was easily challenged by this book.
Greg Graffin has set out on a mission to see what the world in general thinks about the compatibility, or lack thereof, of the theory of evolution and religion. In order to do this, he's created a questionnaire with questions that don't reveal their own revealing nature, yet expose the views of the majority of the highly esteemed thinkers of the world. Graffin is looking to see how the opinions of our time differ from the years past, and we see that as science advances, belief in a religious faith is slowly fading.
While I read this book, I realized how little I know of my own opinions. When trying to answer some of the questions posed myself, I often found multiple answers to fit my belief.
Being a legendary punk-rocker, some don't know how highly educated Graffin is. For the ambition of knowledge and insight of the reader, this book earns four stars from me. I found this to be a difficult read, because the ideas were often new to me, and hard to follow.
Greg Graffin has set out on a mission to see what the world in general thinks about the compatibility, or lack thereof, of the theory of evolution and religion. In order to do this, he's created a questionnaire with questions that don't reveal their own revealing nature, yet expose the views of the majority of the highly esteemed thinkers of the world. Graffin is looking to see how the opinions of our time differ from the years past, and we see that as science advances, belief in a religious faith is slowly fading.
While I read this book, I realized how little I know of my own opinions. When trying to answer some of the questions posed myself, I often found multiple answers to fit my belief.
Being a legendary punk-rocker, some don't know how highly educated Graffin is. For the ambition of knowledge and insight of the reader, this book earns four stars from me. I found this to be a difficult read, because the ideas were often new to me, and hard to follow.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2020
I liked the different perspectives of the two professors. However, as a recent graduate student and now as a M.D, I couldn't help but notice the faulty, biased, and mostly irrelevant associations made by one of the two professors. As I took notes, it was clear that readers are encouraged to notice these things and come up with their opinion about religion. Also, the book doesn't specifically talk about religion being "good" or "bad". As a matter of fact, good and bad is never defined. Instead, religion is seen from a naturalist perspective and a traditional Christian perspective. Naturally (no pun intended) the hard-science evidence leans towards the scientific field, whereas emotions and faith favor the latter. All in all, a good quick read and a nice way to see inside the mind of punk legend Dr. Graffin.
January 31, 2016
In a sense, there isn't much to say about this book. It's just a conversation between two people on opposite ends of the religious spectrum. That's why I enjoyed it so much, though. Even coming from very different conclusions, they take each other's arguments seriously and value the other's input. It's a civil, meaningful discussion that shows how, often, people actually agree on a lot more than we realize if we can drop the inflammatory rhetoric and actually listen to each other, and we can all learn from one another. I think it's a testament to the fairness of the conversation that I, a devout Christian, borrowed it from my friend who is agnostic/irreligious, and both of us very much enjoyed it.
July 29, 2007
Theologian Preston Jones edited and published a book of correspondence between himself and punk rocker/naturalist/PhD Greg Graffin about God, religion, naturalism, and science.
This book was thought provoking. It was easy to read quickly, but also left me feeling that I need to take more time with it on a future re-read and really contemplate the questions it arose more carefully. I truly enjoyed the insights and questions raised in the book. I also now want to read Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh and Wonderful Life by Stephen Jay Gould, both highly recommended during Preston and Graffin's conversation.
This book was thought provoking. It was easy to read quickly, but also left me feeling that I need to take more time with it on a future re-read and really contemplate the questions it arose more carefully. I truly enjoyed the insights and questions raised in the book. I also now want to read Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh and Wonderful Life by Stephen Jay Gould, both highly recommended during Preston and Graffin's conversation.
November 27, 2010
This book is a collection of emails. Meh. Love Bad Religion. Great band. Sort of a kick that it turns out the lead singer/song writer has been carrying on a correspondence with a Christian historian for years. Sort of a kick to read the sort of in depth emails I have had exchanged with people over the years being exchanged by two guys with PhDs, one of which is also a punk rock singer I adore. But, as so often happens, even with me, they're talking past each other. One believes in god. One believes that religion is a dangerously childish relic. Know which side I'm on. Someone thought it would be a good idea to put study questions in. Wacky.
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May 5, 2015A collection of correspondence between a Christian college professor and punk rock naturalist with a Ph.D, Nothing ground-breaking argument-wise, but that is not the purpose of this book at all. The purpose is to highlight a conversation by two people holding wildly opposing worldviews yet can still have a friendly and entertaining debate. The highlights are where they consider together a piece of fan mail or talk about Brideshead Revisited. Got to add that to my reading/watching list.
I highly enjoy reading this as both a Christian and a fan of Bad Religion, especially of some of Graffin's lyrics which cut through cultural Christianity and calls for repentance. My second read-through
I highly enjoy reading this as both a Christian and a fan of Bad Religion, especially of some of Graffin's lyrics which cut through cultural Christianity and calls for repentance. My second read-through
March 19, 2015
I thought that the book was good at the beginning and there were good points and well spoken arguments on both sides. I love Bad Religion and that is what made me pick up the book to begin with . I was impressed with the depth that they both went on their conversations with each other regarding religion and christianity. The book was done tastefully and intelligently, so they could have arguments with out bashing each others believes, and have an understanding of why they believe in what they both do.
It just got to be a little redundant and could have ended a few pages earlier with the same result. I did find myself getting a little bored towards the last chapter.
It just got to be a little redundant and could have ended a few pages earlier with the same result. I did find myself getting a little bored towards the last chapter.
March 1, 2019
Actually two professors but never mind.
New Atheism peaked when I was about 16, the peak age for insufferable overconfidence. So credit to my dumbass teenage self for picking this, an adversarial collaboration that heard out the Christian. In fact, the Christian is the editor, and gives himself the final word. (I probably only read it cos I'm a massive BR fanboy, though.)
It's nothing special - neither Jones nor Graffin are very original at apologetics / unapologetics (compared to say Lane Craig or Hitchens or Dennett).
Eh. I haven't thought about religion in years, and thank god for that.
New Atheism peaked when I was about 16, the peak age for insufferable overconfidence. So credit to my dumbass teenage self for picking this, an adversarial collaboration that heard out the Christian. In fact, the Christian is the editor, and gives himself the final word. (I probably only read it cos I'm a massive BR fanboy, though.)
It's nothing special - neither Jones nor Graffin are very original at apologetics / unapologetics (compared to say Lane Craig or Hitchens or Dennett).
Eh. I haven't thought about religion in years, and thank god for that.
April 12, 2013
I don't know if, going back to read it again, I'd credit it as much. But I do know that, at the time, it opened me up to a lot. I was already an atheist, and it introduced me to some more weighty metaphysical substance behind that. Moreover, it introduced me to the idea of enjoyable, respectful discourse... Not only with Christians, but just generally with "those I don't agree with". I credit it as part of the reason I have healthy friendships with certain people, whom a militant atheism would have kept me from befriending.
October 3, 2014
This book is a decent and entertaining enough read, however if you are looking for any real resolve of conclusion, you won't find it here. This book reads more like emails from a fan to a celebrity, which at its core is what the book really is. Anyone looking for some deep and challenges between a believer and non-believer should look elsewhere. If you are, as I was, looking to see inside the mind of Greg Graffin, you will get a good glimpse, just don't go into this expecting to be blown away. Entertaining quick read? Yes. Enjoyable? Yes. Deep and life challenging? No.
March 20, 2008
I have mixed feels about this book. In my internal dialog, I found myself negating both Graffin and Preston's arguments which surprised me. Besides my obvious issues with religion, I have issues with Graffin's biology is destiny view. That is my knee-jerk reaction and I think I have much reading to do before a full judgment is rendered.
Regardless, it was an interesting read and I now have a list of books on naturalism to read.
Regardless, it was an interesting read and I now have a list of books on naturalism to read.
June 16, 2010
There wasn't much mind-blowing information in this book for a person who has been raised religiously and educated similarly. It was interesting to be a fly-on-the-wall for the conversations between these two doctorate-holding thinkers. I DO like that no conclusion was drawn for either side. I suppose this could be used as a good reference for deeper research into any of the topics that are raised, because some significant authors are mentioned. Overall, meh - I wouldn't really recommend it.
November 12, 2010
A fairly entertaining read, but didn't go into enough depth on pretty much every topic. I thought that Greg's analysis were typically more detailed and interesting. I would have liked to have seen a 'real' theologian discussing this with him rather than a history professor. I think someone that studied theology formally could have made better arguments and wasted less of Greg's time. Anyway, it was fairly entertaining, but definitely not much incite gained...
December 16, 2010
I felt like the correspondence between the two authors was a bit interesting, but a little circular. Reading this book was like sitting at a really boring party and listening to two people respectfully disagree with each other for a few hours. Preston seemed a little bit too into BR, and tended to gush a little bit. I felt like his responses to Greg's emails were weak, while Greg's emails seemed a bit pointless. definitely not a bad read, but not one I would recommend.
January 6, 2008
Didn't finish this book. It was interesting--a well-edited email conversation between a very intelligent Christian (a history prof) and a very intelligent agnostic (a zoology Ph.D. and singer). If you're deeply interested in these issues I think you'll find it amusing and informative. However, I wasn't getting enough new insights to continue reading more than the first third or so.
November 9, 2010
The book is just email correspondence between Graffin and a Christian university professor. It's interesting at points but it could have been better. It's tough to judge emails between two people as you would a book but it does have some low points. I do think it's worth the read though and has quite a few interesting conversations between the two.
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July 28, 2011I think that the leader of a 30 year old band that called itself BAD RELIGION probably has some pretty complete thoughts about atheism, naturalism and the like - not to mention the fact that he has a PhD in Evolutionary Biology! This is a fast fun read, with a lot of good food for thought. Albeit some of it is over my head. SINISTER ROUGE - COMING BACK FOR MORE!!!
July 13, 2012
This book won't wow you with its philosophical depth, but it is a interesting peek into the interactions of two well educated men and a case study on how two people from very different backgrounds, often talking past one another, can maintain a civil discourse and even learn from one another. It is very readable and captured my attention enough for me to finish it in two days.
March 29, 2013
Absolutely fantastic. The give and take between the Graffin and Preston is witty, insightful and thought provoking. I am an avid fan of Greg Graffin's books as well as Bad Religion's music and the views they espouse. This book gives the chance to see these ideas in a give-and-get format. I would write much more were I not on a maddening Kindle touchscreen keyboard
HIGHLY RECOMMEND !
HIGHLY RECOMMEND !
January 24, 2008
I am really enjoying these e-mail conversations between a Christian and an Athiest... As someone who participates in lots of e-mail conversations about religion and philosophy, it's fun to read someone elses.
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