Skeptics Books

The book title is Josh, not John. That is an Amazon blooper.

I have not read the book but I would be more open-minded toward it if first off you had the author's name right whom you are rebuking. It's JOSH not John.

I gotta admit, trying to follow the geneology and general timetables of this book is a daunting task for someone looking for some "light" reading. But the book is presented in a fashion that allows the more casual reader to digest the point of each short chapter then move on. For the more inquisitive, (more energetic, or perhaps disgusted christian), references are numerous. Have at it! The book accomplishes what I would assume to be it's intent. In my eyes, it's a fairly simple and well thought out, well researched review of an atheist's perspective of christianity. It raises some points that any true Christian should begin to question. And these were not mentioned in my catechism days. Who wrote "The Lord's Prayer" anyway?

This book was written as a reply to Josh McDowell's book "Evidence that Demands a Verdict." McDowell is a Christian apologist who writes primarily for teenagers. If McDowell's book is for "kids," then Ledo's is for "kidders." I don't want to be too hard on Ledo because his light-hearted intent is clearly stated at the beginning of the book. McDowell's book is clearly not very scholarly, and Ledo responds in the same vein. The two books both share the unfortunate quality of religious bias and intransigence. Neither will allow the other side a micron must less an inch in the debate about theism. Although Ledo makes some very good points, these are offset by wild claims (Jesus never existed, he was a woman, a homosexual, etc.) that damage the valid points that he makes. Another problem is the way that he references his source material. At the end of each chapter there is simply a list of source materials used with no indication of which source corroborates which claim must less pagination. Anyone wanting to verify his claims or seek further information is out of luck.

Bottom line: if you are a confirmed atheist you will like the book. If you are a confirmed theist you will hate (and dismiss) the book. If you are interested in an unbiased presentation of the arguments for and against theism, you've come to the wrong place.