'God Haters' topic of new book by former Tennessee Temple student

Stack of colorful books and cup on wooden table.
Stack of colorful books and cup on wooden table.
photo Stack of colorful books and cup on wooden table.

If you go

› What: Don Boys signing copies of “The God Haters.”› When: 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21.› Where: Hamilton Place Barnes and Noble.› Information: 893-0186.

Don Boys is pushing back.

Setting his feet and squaring his shoulders, he's aligning himself against such internationally known names as Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, folks that have been dubbed by some as the "New Atheists" but whom Boys calls "the God Haters."

A Catoosa County-based author and former student at Tennessee Temple College in Chattanooga, Boys says these New Atheists are trying to destroy America and using erroneous information, outright lies and bad science to debunk the idea that God exists.

He is fighting back with his recently published book, "The God Haters: Angry Atheists, Shallow Scholars, Silly Scientists, Pagan Preachers, and Embattled Evolutionists Declare War Against Christians!"

Boys, a former state representative in Indiana, answered a few questions about the book, which is available online and in local bookstores.

Q: You've said you wrote the book in response to what you call an attack by "New Atheists who are trying to remake America in their own image." How do you define a New Atheist?

A: The New Atheists have defined themselves. They are far more militant than the "old" atheists whom I have found to be kind, academic and willing to discuss differences - usually. The self-styled "New Atheists" represented by Richard Dawkins, Chris Hitchens (deceased), Sam Harris and Daniel Dennett are identified by the media as the "Four Horsemen of New Atheism." There is even a comic book published about the "Four Horsemen of Atheism." They call themselves the "Brights," meaning the rest of us are dims.

Q: Can you give some examples of the attacks you are talking about?

A: All the New Atheists clearly teach in their books and interviews that it should be considered "child abuse" for any parent or preacher to teach a child about hell or an exclusive way of salvation. No sane person can defend that. And if it ever becomes law through a radical left legislator or an off-the-rails judge then blood will run in our streets. No dedicated preacher will go along with that, and no Christian parent will agree to obey such an outrageous law.

One New Atheist I quote said that parents have no more right to teach children about hell than they have a right to knock out their teeth. Another said that such parents need to be "caged."

Q: Do you see this as a new problem for Christians and, if so, why is it happening now?

A: Well, even militant atheists such as Robert Ingersoll in the 1800s also believed teaching the Bible to children was child abuse, but he was almost a lone voice in a very Christian, Bible-oriented America so the threat was impossible to perceive as an imminent danger. We are living in a different America now. Such a possibility may now be a probability because we have become a secularized nation.

Q: In your opinion, what can or should Christians do in response to the attacks as you see them?

A: I believe pastors have failed to teach their congregations that it is not enough to live right, attend church, tithe and serve Christ, but they also must defend the faith in their sphere of influence. Even most pastors are cowed from speaking boldly in defense of the faith for fear of losing the golden calf of tax exemption.

Moreover, I teach in my book and in Christian Apologetic Conferences that no one should ever obey such a law but should resist any takeover of home or church. There is First Amendment problem and a New Testament problem here and Christians will go to jail rather than comply. There is also a threat to all the media since the same law that protects the church and home also protects them.

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