Best of
Atheism

2013

The Skeptic's Annotated Bible


Steve Wells - 2013
    I have an entire bookshelf of bibles and biblical commentaries, concordances, appendices, and the like, but the SAB is by far the best tool for biblical research I have ever come across." - Dr. Michael Shermer, Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine and Executive Director of the Skeptics Society"I've been waiting for this book for my entire life! Finally, the Bible with organized notes and critique--pointing out the profane, the craziness, the tribalism, the murder, the incestuous episodes, and the beautiful and the sublime. All in one book!" - Julia Sweeney Writer and performer of "Letting Go of God" and "God Said Ha!" and the book, "If It's Not One Thing, It's Your Mother""The Skeptic's Annotated Bible offers an invaluable presentation of the bible that doesn't hide the cruelties, contradictions, absurdities, misogyny, and everything else that makes the 'Good Book' bad. It is an indispensible resource and the only book I keep on my desk." - Dr. Peter Boghossian, Dept. of Philosophy, Portland State University. Author of: "A Manual for Creating Atheists"

Awkward Moments (Not Found in Your Average) Children's Bible - Volume #1: Illustrating the Bible Like You've Never Seen Before!


Horus Gilgamesh - 2013
    Within hours, the book became the #1 Bestseller in Amazon.com's Humor & Religion category! Combining actual Bible verses with more than 30 whimsical original illustrations, "Awkward Moments" uses humor to encourage people from all walks of life to think, perhaps for the first time, about how the Bible continues to shape our culture.BEWARE - NOT FOR KIDS! This is definitely "not" your average children's Bible! If you thought the bestseller ""Go The F**k To Sleep"" was inappropriate for story-time with kids, you haven't seen anything yet! Leave it to the Bible! "Foreskins Fetishes? Unicorn Murders? Boiled Babies? Messiah, MIA? Selling Daughters? Cannibalism Club? Genetic Breakthroughs? Demonic Bacon? Gagged Women? Jihad Jesus? You bet! And much more!"From the opening forewords by Facebook's own God and acclaimed author David G. McAfee, to the challenging commentaries and interactive games at the end, "Awkward Moments Children's Bible" is much more than an irreverent book for your coffee table! Readers of all faiths will find themselves laughing out loud while being encouraged to think about the Bible in a new way.Let's be honest - there are some things in the Good Book that are just... awkward! There are verses we'd like to forget or that have been changed throughout the centuries. There are many verses you've never heard before in church, let alone seen in your average children's Bible! Not to mention the verses that have been added over the centuries!Most people were raised in the faith chosen by their family. Young children learn a few Bible stories taken out of context and accept them without question. "(On what basis could they possibly question their parents or church leaders?)" After decades of repetition and tradition, it's understandable that we might put our beliefs on auto-pilot and just nod as a pastor repeats the verses and ideas that are already familiar and comfortable to us. It's no wonder that recent studies show an incredible lack of Biblical knowledge among Christians - 55% unable to even name the four Gospels of the New Testament - "the very foundation of Christianity!"The Goal? "Awkward Moments" encourages readers to really understand what is in their Bibles and think for themselves about the context of Biblical teaching. The 32 color illustrations and included commentaries will likely challenge some readers to reflect on how religion continues to shape the lives and culture of future generations. If readers happen to laugh out loud and enjoy the interactive puzzles and games in the mean time - "it's just an added bonus!"

The Mormons


David Fitzgerald - 2013
    Don't miss out on this fun, informative and painstakingly researched historical romp by the highly praised and award-winning author of Nailed: Ten Christian Myths That Show Jesus Never Existed At All. So when the missionaries show up on your doorstep, you'll have plenty to discuss with them... Later days, Saints! The Complete Heretic's Guide to Western Religion. Because Religion isn't just wrong. It's hilarious.

50 Simple Questions for Every Christian


Guy P. Harrison - 2013
    Designed to promote constructive dialogue, Christians will find the book useful as a basis for developing their apologetics, while skeptics will welcome Harrisons probing rational analysis of religious claims.

Atheism for Dummies


Dale McGowan - 2013
    Often wildly misunderstood, atheism is a secular approach to life based on the understanding that reality is an arrangement of physical matter, with no consideration of unverifiable spiritual forces.Atheism For Dummies offers a brief history of atheist philosophy and its evolution, explores it as a historical and cultural movement, covers important historical writings on the subject, and discusses the nature of ethics and morality in the absence of religion.A simple, yet intelligent exploration of an often misunderstood philosophy Explores the differences between explicit and implicit atheism A comprehensive, readable, and thoroughly unbiased resource As the number of atheists worldwide continues to grow, this book offers a broad understanding of the subject for those exploring atheism as an approach to living.

Why Our Children Will Be Atheists


Albert Williams - 2013
    Our Gods and religions are the remains of our ancient rituals and beliefs as we transitioned from a hunter/gatherer society to labor specialization in our first settlements. Man is the product of an unguided evolutionary process from the first basic chemical bondings, in a primordial ocean, to the first cells and later life. The evidence is all around us and we can no longer be in denial. The next 100 years will be monumental in our religious journey as our Gods will faint away, being replaced by a new framework of reason and knowledge. Ever wondered how religion developed and why our Christian, Jewish, Hindu and Muslim religions came to dominate the world. Wanted to know where the Jewish tribes originated from and their first Gods. Why do we have countries of different faith and why is our religion so deeply embedded in our society. But even more telling - will religion exist after the next 100 years. Atheism is growing at an ever increasing rate. The Pew Research Center found that one-in-five U.S. adults do not identify with any religion. The percentage bigger for younger age groups. This book is becoming a best seller. It offers a consize and easy read explanation of our religious past and coming future. The future is here and it will be without our Gods. The last 100 years of religion is here. Readers reviews received "One of the best books that I have read in years. It does an exceptional job of explaining the history of gods, religion,and how we got to where we are today. It provides easy to understand evidence for formation of our universe and evolution. While it presents a hopeful view that religions will fade away as people understand that scientific evidence provides a better answer, it probably won't happen without some effort on our part. One thing is clear--the more people that read this book, the faster it will happen." "This book is a must read for all. It is very informative and very moving. I would especially invite the deeply religious people out there to take a chance on this (although I seriously doubt they will). So I challenge them to read this. If your beliefs are so strong that nothing can change them, then I double dog dare you to read this!!!!" "Why it has taken someone this long to write this book is beyond me. Kudos to Albert. He very concisely sums up the history of our "love affair" with religion and it is not pretty. As someone was wont to say "I look and I look but I do not see any footsteps of god in the sands of time." Most religions expect you to believe all kinds of nonsense on "blind faith" alone. In this age of science and cosmology, where else are we asked to look the other way from something which is patently unreasonable and largely illogical.?"

The Biblical God Doesn't Exist


John Espinoza - 2013
    The underlying premise is untrue, which means that everything that is built upon that premise is also untrue. The staggering amount of time, money, emotional energy and bloodshed expended in the name of something completely fictitious is a crime against humanity. So while there are debates about religion’s place in society, whether the charitable works they do add value, whether they should have tax exemptions and access to power in government, whether the comfort some people seem to derive from their faith is worthwhile and should be left unchallenged, I will focus on one thing: To show that the God of Abraham, from which the three great monotheisms were spawned, does not exist. I have read many books on the subject of gods, religions and belief in the supernatural. I’ve watched many debates on the matter as well, and one particularly vexing issue comes up frequently and leaves me feeling dissatisfied. That issue is the one of disproving the existence of God. Scientists will often stop well short of even making a claim about the existence of God, answering instead that one cannot prove a negative, i.e. we cannot prove that God doesn’t exist. Many debates about the existence of God are often mired down in that esoteric point and the natural progression from there to debates regarding who carries the burden of proof. Arguments are presented and then countered and in the end, people must decide for themselves if they heard anything that impacted their thinking on the subject. I began to think that I could build a compelling argument for the non-existence of God, but I wanted more than just arguments: I wanted proof. What you will find in this book is a combination of both. Part I features arguments supporting my statement that the god of monotheism; the God of Jews, Christians and Muslims featured prominently in the Holy Bible and the Quran, does not actually exist. In Part II of the book, I will use evidence, or more precisely, the lack of evidence where evidence should exist, to show beyond a reasonable doubt that the Biblical God is a mythical figure no more real than Zeus, the King of Gods from Greek Mythology.

Holy Unbelievable


P.C. Dixon - 2013
    ---------Is The Bible the source of human morality? Did Noah really build an ark? It is fair to say that PC Dixon is not convinced. ---------Whether you are a believer or not this book offers much food for thought and plenty of amusement.---------'This book is intended to make you think: "That's a good point" and also laugh from time to time. Hopefully simultaneously in many cases.' - PC Dixon

The Great Agnostic: Robert Ingersoll and American Freethought


Susan Jacoby - 2013
    When he died in 1899, even his religious enemies acknowledged that he might have aspired to the U.S. presidency had he been willing to mask his opposition to religion. To the question that retains its controversial power today—was the United States founded as a Christian nation?—Ingersoll answered an emphatic no.In this provocative biography, Susan Jacoby, the author of Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism, restores Ingersoll to his rightful place in an American intellectual tradition extending from Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine to the current generation of  “new atheists.” Jacoby illuminates the ways in which America’s often-denigrated and forgotten secular history encompasses issues, ranging from women’s rights to evolution, as potent and divisive today as they were in Ingersoll’s time. Ingersoll emerges in this portrait as one of the indispensable public figures who keep an alternative version of history alive. He devoted his life to that greatest secular idea of all—liberty of conscience belonging  to the religious and nonreligious alike.

Gods, Demon And Spirits


Abraham Kovoor - 2013
    In it, Dr. Abraham Kovoor, the famed rationalist, continues his relentless crusade against charlatans and miraclemen with greater vigour. It is a scathing exposure of the conning methods employed by pseudo-gods, bogus gurus and assorted fakes to entrap their gullible victims.

Writings of Emma Goldman: Essays on Anarchism, Feminism, Socialism, and Communism


Emma Goldman - 2013
    Includes "Anarchy Defended by Anarchists," "The Tragedy of Women's Emancipation," "Anarchism: What It Really Stands For," "The Psychology of Political Violence," "Patriotism: A Menace to Liberty," "Speech Against Conscription And War," "There Is No Communism In Russia," and "The Individual, Society, And The State."

The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins - Summarized


Skeleton Key Summaries - 2013
    When it was first published, Richard Dawkins’ “The God Delusion” sparked immediate debate from both scientists and theologians alike. For those who are curious about Dawkins’ arguments but have not had time to read his book, this concise summary provides a window into the key insights contained in it. This summary can be read alone or as a companion to the original.

Illogical Atheism: A Comprehensive Response to the Contemporary Freethinker from a Lapsed Agnostic


Bō Jinn - 2013
    Illogical Atheism comprises a comprehensive four-part analysis of the deep-seated philosophical tensions in the New Atheist agenda and serves as one of but a handful of important books seeking to alert the public consciousness toward the propagandist maneuvers of the the Freethinking community's most prominent figureheads. No stone is left unturned as Jinn takes all Four Famed Horsemen to task.

Leaving Your Religion: A Practical Guide To Becoming Non-Religious


James Mulholland - 2013
    Each year over two million adults in the United States decide to no longer identify themselves with a specific religion. In 2012, according to the annual Pew Forum American Religious Identity Survey, over 45 million (20%) of the adults in the United States no longer claimed a religious tradition. For a variety of reasons, many are discovering religion doesn't work for them any longer. Unfortunately, for those becoming post-religious, there is very little being written by them or for them. In this book, James Mulholland - a former Christian minister and author of several best-selling religious books - offers practical advice to those struggling to make the shift from a religious to a non-religious life. Regardless of your religious background, there are common challenges in this transition. Understanding your losses, obstacles and opportunities can ease your pain and speed your development as a post-religious person. Leaving Your Religion guides those leaving a religious tradition through the process of leaving home, walking away and moving forward. When you think about your religious life or your understanding of God, if you struggle with persistent doubts, growing discomfort and feelings of sadness or anger, Leaving Your Religion may be for you. If you're already journeying away from religion, it may be a helpful travel guide. The book provides direction for those on the cusp of leaving, those who've walked away and those who - though they've left their religion - still struggle with sadness or anger. There are questionnaires, reflection questions, exercises, quotes and advice for the journey away from religion. Leaving Your Religion offers a gentle word of encouragement and hope for those seeking to create a non-religious life.

Behind the Myths - the Foundations of Judaism, Christianity and Islam


John Pickard - 2013
    This book adopts a Marxist, that is a materialist, view of human development so it takes as its starting point the idea that gods, angels, miracles and other supernatural phenomena do not exist in the real world and therefore cannot be taken as explanations for the origin and rise of these faiths. It looks instead at the material conditions at appropriate periods in antiquity and the social and economic forces that were at work, to outline the real foundations of these three doctrines. In doing so, it challenges the historicity of key figures like Moses, Jesus and Mohammed.This is a unique book which draws on the research, knowledge and expertise of hundreds of historians, archaeologists and scholars to create a new synthesis that is both coherent and completely based on a materialist world outlook. It is a book written by an unbeliever for other unbelievers, as a contribution to a discussion among atheists and secularists as to the real origins of the so-called Abramic faiths. It will be a revelatory read, even to those already firmly of an atheist or secularist persuasion, underpinning their non-religious views and it will provide a valuable resource for all those who might be coming to question the hold that organised religion has had on human society.

Crucifying America: the unholy alliance between the Christian Right and Wall Street


C.J. Werleman - 2013
    With the backing of hundreds of millions of dollars in corporate money, the Christian Right has become the main strain of the Republican Party. This pro-corporate religious driven agenda is transforming America's secular state into a tyrannical plutocratic sponsored theocracy. This unholy alliance has ushered in economic policies that have not only destroyed the middle class, but also allowed corporations to eliminate labor protection laws; destroy public education; repeal public safety nets; and pollute the environment, while allowing the Christian Right to mount crusades against science, gays, immigrants, Muslims, women, atheists, and secularists. For atheists and progressives, this book is an inoculation shot against the drug of gradualism.

The Statistical Theory of Everything: It Explains Everything and is Never Wrong


I.M. Probulos - 2013
    It is assumed that you don’t base your worldview and morality on superstition, the supernatural or any deity. It is not for the "spiritual but not religious" as it takes a very deterministic and reductionist perspective on the human condition. It is not meant to convert the faithful. For those who doubt their faith or have recently lost it, If you do not believe the universe or a personal deity loves you and is concerned with your daily affairs this book could help you prosper and enjoy life more. This concept is not to be confused with Stephen Hawking’s The Theory of Everything (2007), a unified theory that includes quantum mechanics and the fundamental interactions of nature: gravitation, strong interaction, weak interaction, and electromagnetism. That’s very interesting, but another subject altogether. Again, this Theory is not about physics. The Statistical Theory of Everything (STE) presents a novel and useful thought process to help you manage and thrive in a world of science, reason and rationality. It is excerpted and expanded from my book the 12 Unthinkable Horrors of Human Existence. Think of the STE as a thought experiment. It is related to a concept called “statistical theology” discussed in a short article in Skeptical Inquirer (2001) by noted science-fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke. It offers a unique worldview that without free will, fate, agenticity, patternicity, the supernatural and a personal God. This would be a great concept to discuss during a Freethought Alliance or Secular Humanist study group. I don’t expect universal agreement and encourage debate. Does it have merit? Does it help you deal with a capricious and uncaring universe that is indifferent to your well-being? How do you explain why bad things happen to good people? How do you explain the "miraculous" survivor out of 100? How do you explain great suffering, misery and natural disaster? Personally I think this concept provides those who lack faith, with great optimism, hope, and purpose. Please read the Kindle sample first and the Table of Contents to see if this concept is something that interests you before you purchase the book. If you enjoy the book and feel it was worthwhile please share it with your friends and feel free to review it. Amazon Reviews are the lifeblood of Kindle authors. May you find yourself at the very right of the Statistical Theory of Everything line for love, health, and happiness. I.M. Probulos

No Meek Messiah: Christianity's Lies, Laws, and Legacy


Michael Paulkovich - 2013
    Many think they have; they are exposed to certain parts on Sundays, even being dedicated attendees of weekly Bible Study. But most are completely unaware, for instance, that the New Testament traces the parenthood of Jesus to mythical Adam and Eve. According to the anonymous author of Luke, a mere seventy-five generations separate "Adam"--and the beginning of the universe--from the birth of Jesus some 2,000 years ago. Devout churchgoers are certainly not taught of the racist, violent, immoral, and juvenile beliefs of Jesus. How many true Christians are aware Jesus refused to heal non-Hebrews; that the NT praises genocide; and that Jesus accused people of thought crimes? Most Christians think that only the Old Testament condones killing of disobedient children, strangely unaware that Jesus agrees with this immoral parenting perspective. The "virgin mother" claim in the Bible was simply ancient pre-Christian forgery. Christianity is demonstrably mostly a gaggle of plagiarisms gathered from many prior myths. Christian monks burned books for centuries, and most popes forbade reading books--including the Bible. Tens of millions of innocent men, women, and children were murdered by Christians, all in the name of saintly Jesus. And Jesus was no wise teacher, no meek Messiah

What Are You Without God?: How to Discredit Religious Thought and Rebuild Your Identity


Christopher Krzeminski - 2013
    Some have been led to believe that believing in a god is the only way to be happy, others fear that the fabric of society would fray and tear without widespread deference to religion, and still others have chosen to believe because they did not realize that there was ever even an alternative. This book articulates the "None of the Above" alternative to the multiple-choice question of gods and religion. Beginning with a systematic deconstruction and demolition of religious thought as unreliable, imprecise, and unproven, the discussion then turns to rebuilding one's identity once he has relinquished the concept that gods are anything more than an idea. Leading the reader through the process and techniques of rebuilding his intellect, emotions, morals, and meaning, What Are You Without God? refuses to destroy religious thought without providing a definite alternative, namely, to be a human being with the fleeting chance to give effect to his desires and emotions before he closes his eyes for good.

Traveler's Guide to Apostasy


Ex Preacher - 2013
    The validity of your faith is under attack. You are desperately hoping that the questions, doubts and fears you have is just God testing you or Satan trying to deceive you. It’s not. The voice of reason, the voice of truth is growing louder and louder with every passing minute. You try to drown out this voice with research and soul searching. It’s not working. Day by day, your doubts bring you closer to the realization that everything you have believed, everything you thought to be true is a lie. New questions now plague your thoughts. Your journey has just begun This mini-book was written by an Ex-Preacher with more than 15 years service in Charismatic / Pentecostal Churches. After a ten year soul-searching journey, he finally came to the conclusion that there is no personal God. The journey from Faith to Apostasy is not easy. It is much like the journey of grief; filled with surprising emotions that can overwhelm us. What begins as initial searching for truth may end up being a fight for mental survival and emotional stability. This book is a positive, uplifting and practical guide to help you not only survive, but arrive safely at your destination; whole and complete, ready to face the World without God!

Apocalypse and the Millennium in the American Civil War Era


Ben Wright - 2013
    The concept of God's Providence and of millennialism--Christian anticipations of the end of the world--dominated religious thought in the nineteenth century. During the tumultuous years immediately prior to, during, and after the war, these ideas took on a greater importance as Americans struggled with the unprecedented destruction and promise of the period.Scholars of religion, literary critics, and especially historians have acknowledged the presence of apocalyptic thought in the era, but until now, few studies have taken the topic as their central focus or examined it from the antebellum period through Reconstruction. By doing so, the essays in Apocalypse and the Millennium in the American Civil War Era highlight the diverse ways in which beliefs about the end times influenced nineteenth-century American lives, including reform culture, the search for meaning amid the trials of war, and the social transformation wrought by emancipation. Millennial zeal infused the labor of reformers and explained their successes and failures as progress toward an imminent Kingdom of God. Men and women in the North and South looked to Providence to explain the causes and consequences of both victory and defeat, and Americans, black and white, experienced the shock waves of emancipation as either a long-prophesied jubilee or a vengeful punishment. Religion fostered division as well as union, the essays suggest, but while the nation tore itself apart and tentatively stitched itself back together, Americans continued looking to divine intervention to make meaning of the national apocalypse.Contributors: Edward J. Blum, Ryan Cordell, Zachary W. Dresser, Jennifer Graber, Matthew Harper, Charles F. Irons, Joseph Moore, Robert K. Nelson, Scott Nesbit, Jason Phillips, Nina Reid-Maroney, Ben Wright

The Friendly Atheist: Thoughts on the Role of Religion in Politics and Media


Hemant Mehta - 2013
    Inevitably, students ask: "If I just study this packet, will I be prepared for the exam?" I sigh. I stare at them. I give them the response every teacher knows by heart: No, of course the packet isn't enough. You should go through your notes, your homework, and the textbook. You should redo the examples we did in class and try more practice problems from the book. The study guide is only a summary of the big ideas from the semester. If you really want to understand the subject, you have to go much more in depth.In a sense, this book is a study guide for the things I've written about over the past several years. My name is Hemant Mehta, and I began FriendlyAtheist.com in 2006 (before I began teaching high school) in order to talk about a topic I was incredibly passionate about—religion.Not necessarily to convince people that God didn't exist, but to talk about the issues that mattered now that we were Godless. What you see in this book is a compilation of posts discussing the subjects I have written the most about. They are reprinted here, with minimal editing, to offer a glimpse into my world and to show you the concerns I've had as an American atheist.That means talking about atheists who fight for their (and, in many respects, our) rights, responding to people who smear us just because we're not religious, and making people aware of the way atheists are viewed by the majority of Americans (hint: we're not very popular).That means talking about politics and social issues (in particular: the fight for equal rights for the LGBT community), since those are the major issues in our country where rational thinking, free from religious tradition, is needed but seldom found.That means talking about the obstacles that young atheists have to deal with on a regular basis. Their challenges are so different than the ones we face in the "real world," yet their courage inspires all of us. To be a vocal atheist is never easy, and there are students promoting rational thinking on campus while keeping their administrators in check. They do this despite risking their social capital. At the same time, when those students are not around to act as watchdogs, we must do it for them and shine a spotlight on illegal intrusions of religion into our public schools.Are these the only issues that matter to atheists? No, but they are the issues that have taken up the bulk of my writing in the years since I began covering atheism-related news. If you want to get a fuller picture of what atheists are talking about, what our activism involves, and what our future looks like, no single writer can do that for you, just as no single study guide will prepare you for a final exam.

Dot, Dot, Dot: Infinity Plus God Equals Folly


James A. Lindsay - 2013
    But this is James A. Lindsay’s point. These two ideas are thought, mere concepts. Lindsay shows in a concise and readable manner that infinity is an abstraction, and shows that, in all likelihood, so is God, particularly if he has infinite properties.This book is about math. It is about God. It is about stressing the importance of not confusing these two ideas with reality. Never the twain shall meet.“A short and engaging read on the meeting of two huge ideas, infinity and God, that leaves us seeing both as abstract notions that may have nothing to do with reality. Honest and accessible, Dot, Dot, Dot is a great little book to stretch your thinking.” - Peter Boghossian, author of A Manual for Creating Atheists"Timely, important and very readable, this book pulls the rug from under theists’ feet." - Jonathan MS Pearce,The Little Book of Unholy Questions“Read this to avoid making any more cardinal sins and learn how much math is an amazing human endeavor.” - Aaron Adair, PhD, The Star of Bethlehem: A Skeptical View

Birth Control, Insurance Coverage, and the Religious Right


A.F. Alexander - 2013
    Go beyond the noise and be informed on the motivations and repercussions of the anti birth control coverage crusade. This work is timely with valuable information and insight for today's men and women. No matter what side you find yourself on with this issue, you owe it to yourself to read this short treatise.Available in print and ebook.

The Atheist Bible


Michael Leamy - 2013
    On his way he examines some fundamental aspects of our culture, coming to conclusions that are sometimes surprising.An eye opening book that gives morality back to humanity, and a chance to understand atheism in a new, positive light.Michael Leamy has created an atheist work for the rest of us. Humanity is returned to the front of the line and our gods, all of our gods, are examined and reminded of their place. The Atheist Bible is both a warning and a celebration - a metaphor for what we are, and what we should try to become.

The Oxford Handbook of Atheism


Stephen Bullivant - 2013
    This so-called New Atheism is arguably the most striking development in western socio-religious culture of the past decade or more. As such, it has spurred fertile (and often heated) discussions both within, and between, a diverse range of disciplines. Yet atheism, and the New Atheism, are by no means co-extensive. Interesting though it indeed is, the New Atheism is a single, historically and culturally specific manifestation of positive atheism (the that there is/are no God/s), which is itself but one form of a far deeper, broader, and more significant global phenomenon.The Oxford Handbook of Atheism 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 all the richness and diversity of its historical and contemporary expressions. Bringing together an international team of established and emerging scholars, it probes the varied manifestations and implications of unbelief from an array of disciplinary perspectives (philosophy, history, sociology, anthropology, demography, psychology, natural sciences, gender and sexuality studies, literary criticism, film studies, musicology) and in a range of global contexts (Western Europe, North America, post-communist Europe, the Islamic world, Japan, India). Both surveying and synthesizing previous work, and presenting the major fruits of innovative recent research, the handbook is set to be a landmark text for the study of atheism.

The God Confusion: Why Nobody Knows the Answer to the Ultimate Question


Gary Cox - 2013
    It does not evangelize for God and religion or, indeed, for atheism, secularism and science. Instead, it explores in a witty yet objective and balanced way the idea of God and the strengths and weaknesses of the standard arguments for his existence. Gary Cox shows that the philosophical reasoning at the heart of these arguments is logically incapable of moving beyond speculation to any kind of proof. The only credible philosophical position is therefore agnosticism. The God Confusion defends science generally and the theory of evolution in particular. It argues that if religion is not to appear increasingly outdated and ridiculous in the eyes of free-thinking, educated people, it must accommodate science and accept that science has replaced the old God of the gaps as an explanation of natural phenomena.Concluding that God may or may not exist, on the grounds that science, philosophy and theology are inherently incapable of proving or disproving his existence, The God Confusion acknowledges that religious faith based on a deliberate commitment to live as though there is a moral God is a coherent notion and a worthwhile, even prudent enterprise. At the same time, it rejects the idea of inner certainty as mere wishful thinking, arguing that it is not a coherent basis for belief and is simply bad faith.