MSI Press Blog

  This week's book back story features How to Argue with an Atheist by TL Brink. from the editor -- TL Brink is a professor beloved by his students, winning best professor awards. With a profession based on logic and fact-finding (and at the same time a Christian), TL found a new way to talk to atheists (and he had many students who fell into that group) that differed from the traditional emotional and mystical approach: through logic. His book is a tour-de-force clearly based on countless successful conversations with atheist students. Through his book, he hoped to reach a larger audience. I believe he has. Purchase the paperback 25% discount with coupon code FF25 at the MSI Press webstore . For more posts about Jeremy and his book, click  HERE . Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face Book , and  Instagram .   Interested in publishing with MSI Press LLC? Check out information on  how to submit a proposal . Interested in receiving a free copy

  From the publisher --  The story behind How to Argue with an Atheist   by TL Brink -  Professor Brink, a popular professor at a southern California university, sent me a query out of the blue. I had never met him. But, his proposal was intriguing in that it provided a counterbalance to a book we had published earlier, Blest Atheist (Mahlou). The previous book had provided argumentation through experienced emotion. Professor Brink offered a parallel, leading to the same conclusion, through logical argumentation. Interestingly, I never got to know the popular professor as well as most of our authors because there were no snafus. (Yes, most books have a snafu here or there.) Copyediting was quick; he had provided clean copy, well organized, well written, well edited, something that warms the cockles of every editor's heart. Of several proposed cover designs, he actually liked the one shown here without modification.  What a breeze! The book was produced in what seemed like a flash.

  excerpt from How to Argue with an Atheist (Brink) -  STEP #1: I affirm that people are values-centered.   STUDENT: Dr. Brink? Do you remember me? I came by last week and we talked about religion.   BRINK: Of course, but as I said last time, to give you the entire answer as to why I am religious or why you should be religious is not something that we should attempt all at once. We need to approach this topic one step at a time.   STUDENT: So, where do we start?   BRINK: My first point is that humans are values-oriented beings. They seek values, uphold values, and when they are not oriented by values, they fall into alienation.   STUDENT: That sounds like Chapter 13 on social psychology.   BRINK: My, you have read ahead in your psychology textbook.   STUDENT:  So, what's the next point?   BRINK: Don't be so quick to agree with me. If we have not fully established step #1, then we do not have a good footing for the next step. We need to break down step #1 into several sub-step

  Excerpt from How to Argue with an Atheist available online and from msipress.com/shop INTRODUCTION: Arguing in Circles               It is not how long the book is, but how long the book sticks in the mind of the reader.  My contention is sure to be controversial: atheism is an addiction. According to the national opinion polls, between two and twenty percent of American adults identify themselves as atheists (depending upon how the question is phrased). The fact that there are so many millions of atheists (or so few, if you look at it proportionately) says nothing about the existence of God, but only about human nature.               I am going to suggest a broader, more sweeping definition of atheism: behaving as if God does not exist . Since the time of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, all of us have, at least on occasion, behaved in this way. In that sense, we are all recovering atheists.               One afternoon at the beginning of the semester, a student came by my offic

  MSI Press has published a number of how-to books in a variety of areas. Written by experts who are also practitioners, these books have won multiple awards. Check them out: How to Argue with an Atheist How to Be a Good Mommy When You're Sick How to Get Happy and Stay That Way How to Improve Your Foreign Language Immediately   How to Live from Your Heart How to Stay Calm in Chaos

  Crafton Hills College published a very nice profile of Dr. Brink on his 30th anniversary of teaching psychology at the college. In part, the profile reads " Psychology itself is a tough course to tackle, but Brink said he enjoys the subject because it is “at the center of everything” and opens a lot of doors to students thinking about entering the fields of social work, nursing or, perhaps, politics." You can read the whole profile HERE . For more posts about Dr. Birnk and his book, How To Argue with an Atheist, click HERE .

  STEP #3. ACCEPT THE LIMITS OF SCIENCE STUDENT: Dr. Brink? BRINK: Yes, oh come on in for our weekly conversation. STUDENT: I don't think I'll come in. I just stopped by to say thank you for all the time you have given me, but I don't think I'll be coming bac k. BRINK: I have enjoyed our conversations. But I thought that we would have a few more before I was done giving you my complete answer. STUDENT: I am sure that you have more to say, but I think that I got enough. I don't really disagree with anything you have said so far. I really thought about what we said last time about the limits of reason, and I do agree with that, and that it all comes down to making a decision, a commitment, and I have made my decision. I am going to stay with science, not just for my major and career, but my view of the world, evolution and all. BRINK: Well do come in and grant me a conversation about science. STUDENT: OK, I guess that I do have the time. BRINK: Tell me w