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| the atheist handbook: The Atheist Debater's Handbook B. C. Johnson, 2010-09-09 This handbook is an attempt to offer a concise set of rejoinders for use by atheists in their formal (and informal) debates with theists. Older, more traditional, arguments are included as well as original arguments. The result is a short book, yet one that contains an unrelenting presentation of argument and analysis.For some time now atheists have been in need of firm grounds upon which to base their position. This handbook offers them this foundation. |
| the atheist handbook: The Atheist's Guide to Reality: Enjoying Life Without Illusions Alex Rosenberg, 2011-09-20 The Atheist's Guide to Reality is a book for nonbelievers who embrace the reality-driven life. |
| the atheist handbook: A Manual for Creating Atheists Peter Boghossian, 2014-07-01 For thousands of years, the faithful have honed proselytizing strategies and talked people into believing the truth of one holy book or another. Indeed, the faithful often view converting others as an obligation of their faith—and are trained from an early age to spread their unique brand of religion. The result is a world broken in large part by unquestioned faith. As an urgently needed counter to this tried-and-true tradition of religious evangelism, A Manual for Creating Atheists offers the first-ever guide not for talking people into faith—but for talking them out of it. Peter Boghossian draws on the tools he has developed and used for more than 20 years as a philosopher and educator to teach how to engage the faithful in conversations that will help them value reason and rationality, cast doubt on their religious beliefs, mistrust their faith, abandon superstition and irrationality, and ultimately embrace reason. |
| the atheist handbook: The Answer to the Atheist's Handbook Richard Wurmbrand, 2022-07-28 In this book, Richard Wurmbrand writes a Christian response to the 1967 publication and anti-religious creed The Atheist's Handbook, demonstrating that an atheistic worldview leaves more questions unanswered than it settles. |
| the atheist handbook: The Atheist's Bible Georges Minois, 2022-10-27 A comprehensive biography of the Treatise of the Three Impostors, a controversial nonexistent medieval book. Like a lot of good stories, this one begins with a rumor: in 1239, Pope Gregory IX accused Frederick II, the Holy Roman Emperor, of heresy. Without disclosing evidence of any kind, Gregory announced that Frederick had written a supremely blasphemous book—De tribus impostoribus, or the Treatise of the Three Impostors—in which Frederick denounced Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad as impostors. Of course, Frederick denied the charge, and over the following centuries the story played out across Europe, with libertines, freethinkers, and other “strong minds” seeking a copy of the scandalous text. The fascination persisted until finally, in the eighteenth century, someone brought the purported work into actual existence—in not one but two versions, Latin and French. Although historians have debated the origins and influences of this nonexistent book, there has not been a comprehensive biography of the Treatise of the Three Impostors. In The Atheist’s Bible, the eminent historian Georges Minois tracks the course of the book from its origins in 1239 to its most salient episodes in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, introducing readers to the colorful individuals obsessed with possessing the legendary work—and the equally obsessive passion of those who wanted to punish people who sought it. Minois’s compelling account sheds much-needed light on the power of atheism, the threat of blasphemy, and the persistence of free thought during a time when the outspoken risked being burned at the stake. |
| the atheist handbook: The Atheis's Guide to Christmas Ariane Sherine, 2010 Last year, Guardian journalist Ariane Sherine launched the Atheist Bus Campaign and ended up raising over 150,000 Pounds, enough to place the advert 'There's probably no God. Now stop worring and enjoy your life' on 800 UK buses in Januaray 2009. |
| the atheist handbook: The Portable Atheist Christopher Hitchens, 2007-12-10 Christopher Hitchens's personally curated New York Times bestselling anthology of the most influential and important writings on atheism, including original pieces by Salman Rushdie and Ian McEwan From the #1 New York Times best-selling author of God Is Not Great, a provocative and entertaining guided tour of atheist and agnostic thought through the ages--with never-before-published pieces by Salman Rushdie, Ian McEwan, and Ayaan Hirsi Ali.Christopher Hitchens continues to make the case for a splendidly godless universe in this first-ever gathering of the influential voices--past and present--that have shaped his side of the current (and raging) God/no-god debate. With Hitchens as your erudite and witty guide, you'll be led through a wealth of philosophy, literature, and scientific inquiry, including generous portions of the words of Lucretius, Benedict de Spinoza, Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, Mark Twain, George Eliot, Bertrand Russell, Emma Goldman, H. L. Mencken, Albert Einstein, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, and many others well-known and lesser known. And they're all set in context and commented upon as only Christopher Hitchens--political and literary journalist extraordinaire (Los Angeles Times)--can. Atheist? Believer? Uncertain? No matter: The Portable Atheist will speak to you and engage you every step of the way. |
| the atheist handbook: The Atheist's Handbook & Bible: A Complete Study of What All Atheists Believe, Profess, and Practice Christopher Allen, 2019-05-29 The Atheist's Handbook & Bible: A Complete Study of What All Atheists Believe, Profess, and Practice is an answer to so many religious people's ideas of what Atheism is all about. With well over 100 blank pages one might start to get the idea. |
| the atheist handbook: The Atheist Handbook to the Old Testament Volume Two Joshua Bowen, 2022-07-30 Following from the popular Volume 1, The Atheist Handbook to the Old Testament: Volume 2, takes up the challenge of providing a clear and useful guide to those wanting a better understanding of the Old Testament, including its cultural and historical background, as well as discussions on contentious topics like violence and genocide, and whether the Exodus was a real historical event. Volume 2 also covers the narrative of the Old Testament from the conquest to the divided monarchy, and a brief history of Egypt to help situate the biblical text within agreed historical events. This book provides: * clear and straightforward explanations to complex topics * direct engagement with hot-button Old Testament issues * specific arguments to help you in a debate or discussion Whether you are looking to debate problematic Old Testament issues on social media or have a relaxed, meaningful discussion with a family member over coffee, The Atheist Handbook to the Old Testament is an indispensable resource for you. Praise for The Atheist Handbook to the Old Testament, Volume Two: The chapters detailing the conquest of Canaan and the Exodus from Egypt accurately summarize the current state of our knowledge and beliefs, and are written in an accessible and understandable way, making them an excellent resource for people who are interested in learning more about how the biblical narrative relates to our knowledge of ancient history. I would not hesitate to assign both chapters to my own students. Dr. Eric H. Cline, Professor of Classics, History, and Anthropology and Director, GWU Capitol Archaeological Institute, The George Washington University Joshua Bowen’s The Atheist Handbook to the Old Testament Volume Two will appeal to atheists and those of faith alike for its insightful examination of Scripture’s most problematic passages. Bowen’s approach to the topic is refreshing, for he encourages a respectful debate between atheists and believers over the historicity of the biblical narratives. In this book, Bowen presents an authoritative critique of Scripture’s historical and ethical claims based on the best and most recent scholarship, with a particular focus on textual and archaeological discoveries. He convincingly shows why a civil society cannot base its ethics on the ancient biblical texts. Kenneth Atkinson, Professor of History, University of Northern Iowa Dr. Bowen deftly distills Old Testament studies into a format accessible to those of us without a doctorate in the field. His book both tells and dismantles biblical stories, provides critical background and context, and helps us to enter discussions better informed and more prepared. It's essential reading. Seth Andrews, Host of The Thinking Atheist podcast, author of Confessions of a Former Fox News Christian, and Christianity Made Me Talk Like an Idiot. |
| the atheist handbook: The Atheist's Handbook , 1959 |
| the atheist handbook: Religion for Atheists Alain De Botton, 2012-03-06 From the author of The Architecture of Happiness, a deeply moving meditation on how we can still benefit, without believing, from the wisdom, the beauty, and the consolatory power that religion has to offer. Alain de Botton was brought up in a committedly atheistic household, and though he was powerfully swayed by his parents' views, he underwent, in his mid-twenties, a crisis of faithlessness. His feelings of doubt about atheism had their origins in listening to Bach's cantatas, were further developed in the presence of certain Bellini Madonnas, and became overwhelming with an introduction to Zen architecture. However, it was not until his father's death -- buried under a Hebrew headstone in a Jewish cemetery because he had intriguingly omitted to make more secular arrangements -- that Alain began to face the full degree of his ambivalence regarding the views of religion that he had dutifully accepted. Why are we presented with the curious choice between either committing to peculiar concepts about immaterial deities or letting go entirely of a host of consoling, subtle and effective rituals and practices for which there is no equivalent in secular society? Why do we bristle at the mention of the word morality? Flee from the idea that art should be uplifting, or have an ethical purpose? Why don't we build temples? What mechanisms do we have for expressing gratitude? The challenge that de Botton addresses in his book: how to separate ideas and practices from the religious institutions that have laid claim to them. In Religion for Atheists is an argument to free our soul-related needs from the particular influence of religions, even if it is, paradoxically, the study of religion that will allow us to rediscover and rearticulate those needs. |
| the atheist handbook: The Atheist Handbook to the Old Testament Joshua Aaron Bowen, 2021-05-24 The Old Testament is a fierce battleground for atheists and Christian apologists, with each side accusing the other of taking challenging and troubling passages out of context. In this handbook, Joshua Bowen not only provides the background to the Old Testament and the ancient Near East, but engages with hotly contested topics like slavery, failed prophecy, and the authorship of debated Old Testament books. This book provides: -clear and straightforward explanations to complex topics -direct engagement with hot-button Old Testament issues -specific arguments to help you in a debate or discussion. Whether you are looking to debate problematic Old Testament issues on social media or have a relaxed, meaningful discussion with a family member over coffee, The Atheist Handbook to the Old Testament is an indispensable resource for you. |
| the atheist handbook: The Atheist's Bible: Diderot's 'Éléments de physiologie' Caroline Warman, 2020-11-16 ‘Love is harder to explain than hunger, for a piece of fruit does not feel the desire to be eaten’: Denis Diderot’s Éléments de physiologie presents a world in flux, turning on the relationship between man, matter and mind. In this late work, Diderot delves playfully into the relationship between bodily sensation, emotion and perception, and asks his readers what it means to be human in the absence of a soul. The Atheist’s Bible challenges prevailing scholarly views on Diderot’s Éléments, asserting its contemporary philosophical importance, and prompting its readers to inspect more closely this little-known and little-studied work. In this timely volume, Warman establishes the place of Diderot’s Éléments in the trajectory of materialist theories of nature and the mind stretching back to Epicurus and Lucretius, and explores the fascinating reasons behind scholarly neglect of this seminal work. In turn, Warman outlines the hitherto unacknowledged dissemination and reception of Diderot’s Éléments, demonstrating how Diderot’s Éléments was circulated in manuscript-form as early as the 1790s, thus showing how the text came to influence the next generations of materialist thinkers. This book is accompanied by a digital edition of Jacques-André Naigeon’s Mémoires historiques et philosophiques sur la vie et les ouvrages de Denis Diderot (1823), a work which, Warman argues, represents the first publication of Diderot’s Éléments, long before its official publication date of 1875. The Atheist’s Bible constitutes a major contribution to the field of Diderot studies, and will be of further interest to scholars and students of materialist natural philosophy in the Age of Enlightenment and beyond. |
| the atheist handbook: The Oxford Handbook of Atheism Stephen Bullivant, Michael Ruse, 2013-11 This handbook is a pioneering edited volume, exploring atheism - understood in the broad sense of 'an absence of belief in the existence of a God or gods' - in its historical and contemporary expressions. It probes the varied manifestations and implications of unbelief from an array of disciplinary perspectives and in a range of global contexts. |
| the atheist handbook: The Atheist's Bible Companion to the New Testament Mike Davis, 2009-10-30 There is no other Bible commentary like The Atheist's Bible Companion to the New Testament. It is the only comprehensive reference guide to contradictions in the Christian scriptures, and will appeal to the growing number of religious skeptics who want to shore up their debating arsenal against the Christian fundamentalists. |
| the atheist handbook: Common Sense Recovery Adam N, 2015-01 This book does something remarkable by describing how human behavior and recovery from alcoholism, once commonly understood in religious terms in AA, are now better understood in a secular fashion. Common Sense Recovery: An Atheist's Guide to Alcoholics Anonymous presents the key elements of recovery from alcoholism - some of which are detailed in the 12 Steps - in a refreshing and non-religious manner and is helpful to atheists, agnostics and everyone else in recovery in the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. |
| the atheist handbook: The Little Book of Atheist Spirituality André Comte-Sponville, 2007 Poses an argument for living a spiritual life that is not dependent on religion, explaining that an acceptance of philosophical spiritual traditions and values does not require practitioners to embrace the existence of a higher order. |
| the atheist handbook: The Answer to The Atheist's Handbook Richard Wurmbrand, 1975 |
| the atheist handbook: Handbook of Spirituality and Worldview in Clinical Practice Allan M. Josephson, John R. Peteet, 2008-05-20 This refreshing new work is a practical overview of religious and spiritual issues in psychiatric assessment and treatment. Eleven distinguished contributors assert that everyone has a worldview and that these religious and spiritual variables can be collaborative partners of science, bringing critical insight to assessment and healing to treatment. Unlike other works in this field, which focus primarily on spiritual experience, this clearly written volume focuses on the cognitive aspects of belief -- and how personal worldview affects the behavior of both patient and clinician. Informative case vignettes and discussions illustrate how assessment, formulation, and treatment principles can be incorporated within different worldviews, including practical clinical information on major faith traditions and on atheist and agnostic worldviews. The book's four main sections give concise yet comprehensive coverage of varying aspects of worldview: Conceptual Foundation -- The Introduction explains the significance of worldview and its context in the development of psychiatry; reviews misunderstandings about spirituality and worldview and how they can be resolved in contemporary practice; and discusses Freud's significant influence on psychiatry's approach to religion and spirituality. Clinical Foundations -- Three chapters review how clinicians can integrate spiritual and religious perspectives in the basic clinical processes of assessment (gathering a religious or spiritual history); diagnosis and case formulation (including religious and spiritual factors); and treatment (including a review of ethical issues). Patients and Their Traditions -- Six chapters discuss Catholic and Protestant Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Jews, and secularists (atheists and agnostics), including a brief history, clinical implications of core beliefs, and variations of therapeutic encounters (both where patient and clinician share the same faith and where they do not) for each faith tradition. Worldview and Culture -- A concluding chapter reviews issues of a global culture where faiths once rarely encountered in North America are increasingly seen in clinical practice. This well-organized text sheds much-needed light on an area too often obscure to many clinicians, fostering a balanced integration of religion and spirituality in mental health training and practice. Bridging several disciplines in a novel way, this thought-provoking volume will find a diverse audience among mental health care students, educators, and professionals everywhere who seek to better integrate the religious and spiritual aspects of their patients' lives into assessment and treatment. |
| the atheist handbook: In Freedom We Trust Edward M. Buckner, Michael E. Buckner, 2012-12-11 Opponents attack the president of the United States for not being a real Christian. Bitter arguments erupt over whether the United States is or should be a Christian nation. Sound familiar? These contentious issues are not just recent developments but were also the topics of fierce debate in the late eighteenth century. Like President Obama today, President Thomas Jefferson had to contend with accusations that his religious convictions were questionable. Against complaints that the writers of the Constitution did not invoke God, John Adams replied, It will never be pretended that any persons employed in that service had interviews with the gods. This book covers these and other related issues from the two-centuries-long debate over religion and secularism in America. Taking an unabashedly atheistic point of view, the father-and-son authors argue that everyone--from evangelical Christian to ardent atheist--needs a secular America and separation of church and state. They examine the decidedly unchristian roots of the Fourth of July, the important difference between tolerance and toleration, the misleading confusions related to the difference between public and governmental, the value of secular schooling, the erroneous contention that atheism is equivalent to immorality and therefore dangerous, and a host of other contemporary and historical topics. With a list of key dates related to the history of secular America, notes, bibliography, and glossary, In Freedom We Trust offers important facts and arguments for secular humanists and anyone with an interest in freedom of conscience. |
| the atheist handbook: The Christian Atheist Craig Groeschel, 2010-04-06 Are you putting your whole faith in God but still living as if everything is up to you? You may believe in God, attend church, and generally treat people with kindness…but are you living as if God doesn't exist? Have you surrendered to God completely, living every day depending upon the Holy Spirit? Pastor and bestselling author Craig Groeschel will lead you on a personal journey toward an authentic, God-honoring life. This honest, hard-hitting, and eye-opening look into the ways people believe in God but live as if he doesn't exist is a classic of discipleship training. Groeschel's personal journey will help you break down your own barriers between simple belief and a more intentional faith. This book will help you: Let go of the shame of your past and know that you’re forgiven. Embrace Christ’s profound love for you. Believe in the power of prayer. Give up control when life doesn't seem fair. Trust God with all your anxious thoughts, heartache, struggles, and pain. From the author of Winning the War in Your Mind, The Christian Atheist is a rallying cry to get honest with God, shed the self-sufficiency and the hypocrisy, and live a life that truly brings glory to Christ. |
| the atheist handbook: The Cambridge History of Atheism Michael Ruse, 2021-09-16 The two-volume Cambridge History of Atheism offers an authoritative and up to date account of a subject of contemporary interest. Comprised of sixty essays by an international team of scholars, this History is comprehensive in scope. The essays are written from a variety of disciplinary perspectives, including religious studies, philosophy, sociology, and classics. Offering a global overview of the subject, from antiquity to the present, the volumes examine the phenomenon of unbelief in the context of Christian, Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu, and Jewish societies. They explore atheism and the early modern Scientific Revolution, as well as the development of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution and its continuing implications. The History also includes general survey essays on the impact of scepticism, agnosticism and atheism, as well as contemporary assessments of thinking. Providing essential information on the nature and history of atheism, The Cambridge History of Atheism will be indispensable for both scholarship and teaching, at all levels. |
| the atheist handbook: The Atheist's Handbook , 1961 |
| the atheist handbook: Can a Scientist Believe in Miracles? Ian Hutchinson, 2018-09-11 Plasma physicist Ian Hutchinson has been asked hundreds of questions about faith and science. Is God’s existence a scientific question? Is the Bible consistent with the modern scientific understanding of the universe? Are there scientific reasons to believe in God? In this comprehensive volume, Hutchinson answers a full range of inquiries with sound scientific insights and measured Christian perspective. |
| the atheist handbook: Waking Up Sam Harris, 2015-06-16 Spirituality.The search for happiness --Religion, East and West --Mindfulness --The truth of suffering --Enlightenment --The mystery of consciousness.The mind divided --Structure and function --Are our minds already split? --Conscious and unconscious processing in the brain --Consciousness is what matters --The riddle of the self.What are we calling I? --Consciousness without self --Lost in thought --The challenge of studying the self --Penetrating the illusion --Meditation.Gradual versus sudden realization --Dzogchen: taking the goal as the path --Having no head --The paradox of acceptance --Gurus, death, drugs, and other puzzles.Mind on the brink of death --The spiritual uses of pharmacology. |
| the atheist handbook: Varieties of Atheism in Science Elaine Howard Ecklund, David R. Johnson, 2021 Why study atheism among scientists? -- Tried and found wanting : how atheist scientists explain religious transitions -- I am not like Richard: modernist atheist scientists -- Ties that bind : culturally religious atheists -- Spiritual atheist scientists -- What atheist scientists think about science -- How atheist scientists approach meaning and morality -- From rhetoric to reality : why religious believers should give atheist scientists a chance. |
| the atheist handbook: The Atheist Witch's Guide to Energy Anna Mist, 2019-01-13 Learn about different kinds of energy and how to use them in your magical craft as an atheist witch! |
| the atheist handbook: An Atheist Manifesto Joseph Lewis, 2021-04-25 In 'An Atheist Manifesto,' Joseph Lewis delivers a compelling critique of religious dogma and a fervent defense of atheism. Written in a persuasive and articulate style, the book draws upon philosophical reasoning, historical analysis, and personal reflection to dismantle the foundation of supernatural beliefs. Lewis situates his work within the broader context of early 20th-century secular thought, where burgeoning scientific discoveries and the Enlightenment's rationalist ideas challenged traditional religious narratives. With an incisive examination of the moral implications of faith, he articulates a vision for a society grounded in reason and empirical truth. Joseph Lewis, a prominent figure in the American secular movement, was deeply influenced by his experiences of religious intolerance and the rise of anti-religious sentiment in his time. His advocacy for civil liberties and free thought paved the way for this manifesto, as he sought to articulate a cohesive critique of religion in response to its pervasive influence on society. Through his writing and public speaking, Lewis became a champion for atheism, using his platform to promote rational discourse and humanistic values. Recommended for anyone grappling with questions of faith or exploring the intersections between morality and atheism, 'An Atheist Manifesto' stands as a pivotal work that challenges readers to reconsider the role of religion in their lives. Lewis's thought-provoking arguments and eloquent prose make this book an essential addition to the library of both skeptics and those of faith seeking a deeper understanding of the rationale behind atheistic beliefs. |
| the atheist handbook: The Resurrection MS Pearce Jonathan, 2021-03-12 The Resurrection story is integral to the Christian faith; its truth has been crucial for Christians since the inception of the belief system. But did the events reported in the Christian Bible actually happen? How do the claims made by the authors look in light of careful historical analysis? Are the Gospel claims internally coherent? Do Christian believers have justification in believing the chapter and verse of this most famous of miraculous stories? Jonathan MS Pearce looks at all of the problems with the Easter story in the same way he analysed the Nativity accounts in the sister book The Nativity: A Critical Examination. This later book is a diligent examination of the Easter story, the claims, the likelihood of truth, and what may have been the original events that inspired the biblical writers and believers to write and believe what they did. And still do. Historical, philosophical, and biblical exegetical analysis are woven together to form a terminal case against the accuracy, and ultimately truth, of the Easter story. [I]f you want to take such a belief seriously, read this thoroughly documented terminal case against the resurrection based on the latest research! This is the only book you'll need. Pearce is your expert guide on all the essential issues. - John W. Loftus, author, and editor of The Case against Miracles Jonathan MS Pearce puts the resurrection genie back in the bottle (and the body back in the grave). If you are digging for truth, this book is a goldmine! - Dan Barker, author of Godless No rational and honest scholar of religion or theologian who asserts that the resurrection of Jesus was an actual event would be able to do so without addressing the compelling counterarguments presented by Jonathan Pearce's The Resurrection.... Pearce offers a masterful analysis of the central miracle of Christianity, Jesus's purported return from death.... All of this makes it difficult to refute...that the entire narrative upon which the Christian faith is anchored is a fiction contrived by others long after the purported date of the crucifixion... - Dr. H. Sidky, Professor of Anthropology, Miami University, and author of Religion, Supernaturalism, the Paranormal and Pseudoscience: An Anthropological Critique This book is the definitive starting point for anyone intent on questioning or defending the resurrection of Jesus. Introductory and aimed at a broad audience, but thoroughly researched, all the key works are here cited and arguments addressed, and with sound reasoning. If this book cannot be answered, belief in the resurrection cannot be defended. - Dr. Richard Carrier, author of Jesus from Outer Space: What the Earliest Christians Really Believed about Christ. This is a detailed, clear, and very readable survey of the evidence for the Resurrection, and it makes an overwhelming case for the conclusion that the Resurrection did not happen. It's an extraordinary fact that so many smart, educated people have managed to convince themselves that the historical case for the Resurrection is strong, when it is, patently, ludicrously weak. - Dr. Stephen Law, author of Believing Bullshit: How Not to Get Sucked into an Intellectual Black Hole For too long, Christian evangelists have been able to get away with the outrageous claim that the resurrection of Jesus is one of the 'best-attested facts in history'. In this erudite and highly readable account, Jonathan MS Pearce demonstrates with devastating logic and clarity why this claim should be rejected. - David Warden, Chairman of Dorset Humanists and Honorary Member of Humanists UK. |
| the atheist handbook: An Atheists Unofficial Guide to AA - for Newcomers Vince Hawkins, 2011-10-28 Self-help book aimed at expanding the people helped by Alcoholics Anonymous by keeping those on board who would otherwise be put off by the god stuff. It is suggested everyone should buy Everyone's an Addict or As Vince Sees It, the book with the blue cover, but no more than one of Vince's accompanying handbooks - which are this one with a yellow cover, An Atheists Unofficial Guide to AA; and Twelve Steps to Self-improvement (to accompany any program) with the pink cover; or Secular AA, the latest, more advanced edition encouraging alcoholics to construct their own individual programs, with an orange cover. |
| the atheist handbook: Godless Dan Barker, 2008-09-01 One man shares the story of his transformation from evangelical Christian to atheist and examines the train of thought that brought him there. After almost twenty years of evangelical preaching, missionizing, and Christian songwriting, Dan Barker “threw out the bathwater and discovered that there is no baby.” In Godless, Barker describes the intellectual and psychological path he followed in moving from fundamentalism to freethought. Godless includes sections on biblical morality, the historicity of Jesus, biblical contradictions, the unbelievable resurrection, and much more. It is an arsenal for skeptics and a direct challenge to believers. Along the way, Barker relates the positive benefit readers will experience from learning to trust in reason and human kindness instead of living in fear of false judgment and moral condemnation. Advance Praise for Godless “Valuable in the human story are the reflections of intelligent and ethical people who listen to the voice of reason and who allow it to vanquish bigotry and superstition. This book is a classic example.” —Christopher Hitchens, author of God is Not Great “The most eloquent witness of internal delusion that I know—a triumphantly smiling refugee from the zany, surreal world of American fundamentalist Protestantism—is Dan Barker.” —Richard Dawkins, author of The God Delusion “Godless was a revelation to me. I don’t think anyone can match the (devastating!) clarity, intensity, and honesty which Dan Barker brings to the journey—faith to reason, childhood to growing up, fantasy to reality, intoxication to sobriety.” —Oliver Sacks, author of Musicophilia “In Godless, Barker recounts his journey from evangelical preacher to atheist activist, and along the way explains precisely why it is not only okay to be an atheist, it is something in which to be proud.” —Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic Magazine “Godless is a fascinating memoir and a handbook for debunking theism. But most of all, it is a moving testimonial to one man’s emotional and intellectual rigor in acclaiming critical thinking.” —Robert Sapolsky author of Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers |
| the atheist handbook: God, No! Penn Jillette, 2012-06-05 The outspoken half of magic duo Penn & Teller presents an atheist reinterpretation of the Ten Commandments, discussing why doubt, skepticism, and wonder should be celebrated and offering humorous stories from his own experiences. |
| the atheist handbook: Seeing through Christianity Bill Zuersher, 2014-06-20 The only book you'll ever need to read about Christianity. This remarkable book provides a critical overview of Christian beliefs and the evidence for them. Where did these beliefs come from? Are there good reasons to believe Christianity is true? Bill Zuersher clearly explains each of Christianity's major beliefs. He then proceeds to demonstrate significant difficulties with each of them. The book tackles these beliefs in a logical order, beginning with the problems at the root of virtually all religions, suffering and death, and culminating in their supposed resolution through Jesus. Mr. Zuersher also examines the evidence for Christianity, namely religious writings and the historical fact of the early Jesus movement. He makes the case that this evidence does not support the religion's claims and he provides naturalistic alternative explanations for how its core beliefs arose. In these pages we see the coalescence of Jewish and Zoroastrian religious ideas with those of Greek philosophy and mystery cults, to form the belief system we recognize as Christianity today. The result, Mr. Zuersher argues, is not revealed truth, but rather a human patchwork which contains unwarranted assumptions and logical flaws, all founded upon questionable evidence. Entertaining throughout, it is must-reading for skeptics, apologists, and anyone interested the world's largest religion or the culture wars behind today's politics -- an invaluable resource for students and teachers, writers and debaters. |
| the atheist handbook: The Consolations of Philosophy Alain De Botton, 2013-01-23 From the author of How Proust Can Change Your Life, a delightful, truly consoling work that proves that philosophy can be a supreme source of help for our most painful everyday problems. Perhaps only Alain de Botton could uncover practical wisdom in the writings of some of the greatest thinkers of all time. But uncover he does, and the result is an unexpected book of both solace and humor. Dividing his work into six sections -- each highlighting a different psychic ailment and the appropriate philosopher -- de Botton offers consolation for unpopularity from Socrates, for not having enough money from Epicurus, for frustration from Seneca, for inadequacy from Montaigne, and for a broken heart from Schopenhauer (the darkest of thinkers and yet, paradoxically, the most cheering). Consolation for envy -- and, of course, the final word on consolation -- comes from Nietzsche: Not everything which makes us feel better is good for us. This wonderfully engaging book will, however, make us feel better in a good way, with equal measures of wit and wisdom. |
| the atheist handbook: Ten Things Christians Wish Jesus Hadn't Taught David Madison, 2021-10-26 This is a book about ten of the most significant uncomfortable teachings of Jesus. These are teachings that Christians don't like to think or talk about. They are clear imperatives from Jesus that are, for the most part, ignored by the majority of believers. |
| the atheist handbook: I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist Norman L. Geisler, Frank Turek, 2021-05-17 To some, the concept of having faith in a higher power or a set of religious beliefs is nonsensical. Indeed, many view religion in general, and Christianity in particular, as unfounded and unreasonable. Norman Geisler and Frank Turek argue, however, that Christianity is not only more reasonable than all other belief systems, but is indeed more rational than unbelief itself. With conviction and clear thinking, Geisler and Turek guide readers through some of the traditional, tested arguments for the existence of a creator God. They move into an examination of the source of morality and the reliability of the New Testament accounts concerning Jesus. The final section of the book deals with a detailed investigation of the claims of Christ. This volume will be an interesting read for those skeptical about Christianity, as well as a helpful resource for Christians seeking to articulate a more sophisticated defense of their faith. |
| the atheist handbook: Answering Atheism Trent Horn, 2013-09-01 Today's New Atheists don't just deny God's existence (as the old atheists did) - they consider it their duty to scorn and ridicule religious belief. We don't need new answers for this aggressive modern strain of unbelief: We need a new approach. In Answering Atheism, Trent Horn responds with a fresh and useful resource for the God debate, based on reason, common sense, and more importantly, a charitable approach that respects atheists' sincerity and good will, making this book suitable not just for believers but for skeptics and seekers too. Meticulously researched, and street-tested in Horn's work as a pro-God apologist, it tackles all the major issues of the debate, including: -Reconciling human evil and suffering with the existence of a loving, all-powerful God -Whether the empirical sciences have eliminated the need for God, or in fact point to him -How atheists usually deny moral laws (and thus a moral lawgiver) in theory |
| the atheist handbook: What is Atheism? Douglas E. Krueger, 1998 No Marketing Blurb |
| the atheist handbook: Holy Bible (NIV) Various Authors,, 2008-09-02 The NIV is the world's best-selling modern translation, with over 150 million copies in print since its first full publication in 1978. This highly accurate and smooth-reading version of the Bible in modern English has the largest library of printed and electronic support material of any modern translation. |
what is spirituality, anyway? - Religion and Spirituality -Christianity ...
6 days ago · No follower of Christ would see an atheist posting in a forum as aggressive. Your as much of a victim of the organized religion as the believers who go every Sunday, pay 10% and …
Is religion about TRUTH or RESULTS? - City-Data.com
May 25, 2025 · So that's 'results. And the theist subterfuge of pointing to atheist dictatorships, never mind pretending the theist ones are Actually atheist - in order to blacken secularism, …
Who created you? - Religion and Spirituality -Christianity, …
May 22, 2025 · There was an atheist speaker who announced a conversion, but there was some suspicion she was a theist plant. Of course there are many don't care atheists who were …
"Evidence" for theism and atheism - Blog - City-Data Forum
May 28, 2025 · What if an atheist held her beliefs on precisely the same basis – atheist parents and teachers, a sense the Bible is silly, no sense of a Holy Spirit, no prayers that have been …
Is religion about TRUTH or RESULTS? - City-Data.com
Jun 4, 2025 · Anti -religion is about Truth - yes. It is based on science and logic, in essence, which is why religion half the time denies science and demonises it, and the other half of the …
How did god come into existence? - Religion and Spirituality ...
May 25, 2025 · An atheist's life may be objectively indistinguishable from a believer's, but their orientations will be very different. When a baby dies, a believer thinks X has occurred. An …
Is religion about TRUTH or RESULTS? (Jesus Christ, religions, …
May 27, 2025 · An atheist says, "I do not believe a deity exists." The statements are logically the same. If either party goes beyond this and claims more than mere belief, and further claims the …
When evidence of life is found on Mars, then what? Throws all …
May 28, 2025 · For every Galileo Galilei who is the father of observational astronomy, who advanced classical physics and the scientific method, there is an atheist scientist who makes …
Who created you? - Religion and Spirituality -Christianity, …
That does seem to be true, and I have no problem with it in the abstract. What strikes me is that those you call the anti-religionists use exactly the same non sequiturs, fallacies and flat …
Isn't belief or unbelief a purely individual matter? - Religion and ...
May 29, 2025 · Thing is, It can't be denied that Mystical revelations, like man made religions, and indeed that other flavor of the month atheist - stumper - NDEs, all differ and thus look like the …
what is spirituality, anyway? - Religion and Spirituality -Christianity ...
6 days ago · No follower of Christ would see an atheist posting in a forum as aggressive. Your as much of a victim of the organized religion as the believers who go every Sunday, pay 10% and …
Is religion about TRUTH or RESULTS? - City-Data.com
May 25, 2025 · So that's 'results. And the theist subterfuge of pointing to atheist dictatorships, never mind pretending the theist ones are Actually atheist - in order to blacken secularism, …
Who created you? - Religion and Spirituality -Christianity, Judaism ...
May 22, 2025 · There was an atheist speaker who announced a conversion, but there was some suspicion she was a theist plant. Of course there are many don't care atheists who were …
"Evidence" for theism and atheism - Blog - City-Data Forum
May 28, 2025 · What if an atheist held her beliefs on precisely the same basis – atheist parents and teachers, a sense the Bible is silly, no sense of a Holy Spirit, no prayers that have been …
Is religion about TRUTH or RESULTS? - City-Data.com
Jun 4, 2025 · Anti -religion is about Truth - yes. It is based on science and logic, in essence, which is why religion half the time denies science and demonises it, and the other half of the …
How did god come into existence? - Religion and Spirituality ...
May 25, 2025 · An atheist's life may be objectively indistinguishable from a believer's, but their orientations will be very different. When a baby dies, a believer thinks X has occurred. An …
Is religion about TRUTH or RESULTS? (Jesus Christ, religions, …
May 27, 2025 · An atheist says, "I do not believe a deity exists." The statements are logically the same. If either party goes beyond this and claims more than mere belief, and further claims …
When evidence of life is found on Mars, then what? Throws all …
May 28, 2025 · For every Galileo Galilei who is the father of observational astronomy, who advanced classical physics and the scientific method, there is an atheist scientist who makes …
Who created you? - Religion and Spirituality -Christianity, Judaism ...
That does seem to be true, and I have no problem with it in the abstract. What strikes me is that those you call the anti-religionists use exactly the same non sequiturs, fallacies and flat …
Isn't belief or unbelief a purely individual matter? - Religion and ...
May 29, 2025 · Thing is, It can't be denied that Mystical revelations, like man made religions, and indeed that other flavor of the month atheist - stumper - NDEs, all differ and thus look like the …
