Astonishingly, given the somewhat deceptive (or perhaps inept) marketing of the book, this was Hart's best book to date, which is saying something monumental. What neither the title, nor the jacket cover, nor even the blurb reviews reveal is that the book is primarily a relentless attack on the superstitions and credulous fideisms of materialism. Over and against this decrepit and impoverished philosophy of reality, and in response to its inept attempts to demystify the world, Hart turns to the common theistic metaphysical deposit of tradition for the soothing and compelling antidote.

In the mystery of being, in the mystery of consciousness, and in the manner that they blissfully coinhere as a surfeit of physical reality, the Supernatural, the Absolute, the Good, Beauty, God is immediately present to us in every moment. Yet we dull and numb ourselves to this in innumerable ways, but especially through the barbarisms of the 'mechanical philosophy' that we have inherited from the 'Enlightenment'.

As for the attempts of naturalism to sweep away such an obvious reality, Hart is insistent all such attempts are pitifully incoherent and suffer massive -- probably insuperable -- explanatory deficiencies. While the traditional metaphysical arguments for God, arguing from contingency, for example, are comparatively sublime with scarcely any of the objections lodged against them being worth serious consideration.

Stay tuned for a more complete review, but I can't recommend this highly enough. ( )

Orthodox theologian and philosopher David Bentley Hart describes the rational for theistic belief. This a romp through metaphysics and ontology, the philosophy and science of consciousness and the human pursuit of happiness (bliss). While this isn't purely 'apologetic' work, it is written against the dominant narrative of scientific materialism (or 'physicalism'). Bentley also eschews the reductionist tendencies of some in the inteligent design camp. This is written broadly theistic, so to include other faith traditions, and Hart borrows terms and ideas from Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam.

Hart argues well and I think he disposes some of the shallow arguments from the so-called New Athiests as overly simplistic. He also demonstrates there is good thinking done by theists, and there are resources at our disposal. However, there does seem to be a bit of an uppity tone to the book. Hart is used to being the smartest guy in the room, so perhaps it can't be helped, but I understand why some may be put off by it. ( )

Insufferable-- mostly due to the author's smug stiltedness. ( )