Syllabus Entry 10

The Christian Delusion

Edited by former Christian apologist John W. Loftus, The Christian Delusion brings together a diverse group of biblical scholars, philosophers, historians, and former believers to examine Christianity from multiple critical perspectives. The book explores the historical reliability of the Bible, the development of Christian doctrine, the problem of miracles, the resurrection, and the psychological and cultural factors that sustain religious belief. At its core is Loftus's "Outsider Test for Faith," which challenges readers to evaluate their own religion with the same skepticism they apply to competing faiths. By combining scholarly analysis with accessible writing, The Christian Delusion offers one of the most comprehensive critiques of Christianity available in a single volume. For its breadth of scholarship, collaborative approach, and powerful invitation to examine faith without special pleading, The Christian Delusion deserves its place as the number ten atheist book.