Atheists cannot live consistently with their worldview because it contradicts what we know about the world. That is just one of the key principles in the new book by Nancy Pearcey, Finding Truth: 5 Principles for Unmasking Secularism, and other God Substitutes. She develops five principles from Romans 1 that provide a guidebook on how to evaluate other worldviews while also making a convincing case for Christianity.

One of the stories she tells in her book and told on my radio program comes from Rodney Brooks. He is professor emeritus at MIT and is author of the book, Flesh and Machines. He writes that a human being is nothing but a machine—a “big bag of skin full of biomolecules” interacting by the laws of physics and chemistry.

We might add that it is difficult to see people that way. But Rodney Brooks goes on to add that: “when I look at my children, I can, when I force myself, . . . see that they are machines.”

But is that how he treats his children? Of course not! He admits, “That is not how I treat them . . . I interact with them on an entirely different level. They have my unconditional love, the furthest one might be able to get from rational analysis.” Nancy Pearcey says that his worldview sticks out of his box.

How does he reconcile such a heart-wrenching cognitive dissonance? Actually, he really doesn’t even try. Brooks ends by saying, “I maintain two sets of inconsistent beliefs.” He (like so many other atheists, materialists or secularists) lives with an inconsistent set of beliefs because their worldview does not correspond with reality.

Nancy Pearcey’s book treats us to many of these “secular leaps of faith.” She talks about “free loading atheists” that steal ideals and principles from Christianity to prop up their beliefs and arguments. And she explains why worldviews commit suicide.

Her book will help you understand the world and hone your skills as you defend the Christian faith.