Louis Markos, who teaches at Houston Baptist University, has reflected on atheism and found it wanting. In Atheism on Trial: Refuting the Modern Arguments Against God, he examines atheists' arguments against the existence of God. Drawing from ancient writers, he shows that modern-day atheists have nothing new under the sun to add to the debate.


Readers of Christian apologetics will be on familiar ground with Markos. He covers the naturalistic and moral arguments for God, the problem of pain, the question of the watchmaker. In succinct chapters and lucid, laypersons' language, he challenges his readers to think more deeply about religious and deistic claims. His approach is not dogmatic at all, but well-reasoned and reflective.


As an evangelical Christian myself, I was nodding along with him. His discussions took me back to my days as a philosophy major at a Christian university. Markos's treatments are understandably brief, but offer enough food for thought and references for readers who want to pursue other sources. Interested Christians will feel justifiably affirmed in their beliefs. Even the most hardened secular thinker will have to admit that Christian faith and theism are, at the very least, not delusional, fantastic beliefs. But whether an atheist would read this and be swayed, only time--and a great deal of prayer--will tell.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

This is a fascinating exploration of religion and atheism, I enjoyed reading the sections about the author’s personal life alongside the arguments against atheism.

Well written and easy for a layperson to understand. Complex issues broken down into concise and meaningful arguments. Recommended!

“For all his so-called scientific objectivity, Einstein did not want the universe to have a beginning, did not want it to be contigent upon a power or force or reality outside of itself.” (Kindle Location 654)

Wow! Louis is not only amazing in his depth and breadth of reading, but the ability he has to apply this knowledge and articulate logical and relatable argument for his thesis is fantastic.

Louis outlines the centuries old argument of order and design versus chaos and chance. Divided into four key areas – the nature of the Universe; the Nature of Knowledge; the Nature of God and the Nature of Man – Louis provides the facts enabling the reader to challenge common culture and thinking and their own personal beliefs. In the end we all have to choose – belief in order and design and its subsequent moral accountability or the alternate view of self-sufficiency and deny the facts that align with this theory – a disordered and chaotic world.

Highlighted is the concept that disbelief in an argument, regardless of its antiquity, does not disprove the argument.

We are self-protective and will choose to not believe something that we do not want to agree with, which may confront or convict us in some way, even when the proof is presented to us.

I only wish I had the time and the capacity to completely absorb and retain the wisdom he has to disclose. Not only does Louis provide current application, he explores the historical accounts, quoting from Greek and Roman myths and great scientists and philosophers from many eras that span more than 2000 years. In this way he challenges and dispels what is commonly viewed as new and reveals its true historical origin.

I love this book! It is so well-written and easy to understand. The author does an excellent job of explaining pretty complex concepts easily and clearly. I think it can be very difficult at times for readers to find apologetic books that are easy to understand and not dreadfully boring. I was very impressed with the way this book defended the position of Christianity.