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Divinity of Doubt: The God Question

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Having a philosophical background, I found this book to be one of the most intelligible books I've ever read on the subject of God's existence - namely, God as described by the three major monotheistic religions. Bugliosi raises the fundamental questions concerning the plausibility and/or necessity of such a God's existence, backed by an astounding list of references from the Old and New Testaments as to why such questions ought to be asked, furthermore pointing out inconsistencies and contradictions among these references. Although he lacks in his refutation of atheism, he makes a convincing case against the three monotheistic religions by positing such deep questions, while pointing out fatal flaws within his vast number of Biblical references, and this makes for a credible book. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Vincent Bugliosi makes a pitch for agnosticism; unfortunately he fails.

Much of the book is a bashing of Christianity so if you are looking for that then you have come to the right place.

He also takes aim at atheists in particular Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens but he really doesn't wound them. He thinks that the new atheists have failed in their attempts to prove that god does not exist. (Interestingly, he comes across even more arrogant than the self-assured atheists he criticizes.)

Bugliosi wants us to know that we cannot know if god exists. Therefore both theists and atheists are wrong, and agnosticism is the way to go.

But I have a problem with agnosticism. I would guess that most theists would admit that they cannot prove god exists and certainly most atheists (this one for sure) would admit that there is nothing to prove that god doesn't exist. That makes all of us to some degree (large or small) agnostics. However, having knowledge about god's existence is not what distinguishes atheists from theists.

I am an atheist not because I KNOW god doesn't exist. I am an atheist because I think it highly unlikely that there is a god and that IF there is a creator god, then it is not the personal god that most religious people feel the need to worship or pray to or believe in. I live my life as if there isn't a god. I have friends who think otherwise.

Bugliosi is an atheist if there ever was one. He does not believe there is a god and he actually ends the book with a silly scenario in which he would like to see god get called out to prove he exists.

As a prosecutor, Bugliosi,wants the case to be made beyond a reasonable doubt. It won't happen and he can't make it happen.

People, like Bugliosi, can make the case that we don't know and therefore claim agnosticism as the way to go. But if you don't know that god exists then you are unlikely to be living the life of a believer. Just be honest and call yourself an atheist.