Best of
Atheism

2015

Faith Versus Fact: Why Science and Religion are Incompatible


Jerry A. Coyne - 2015
    The sheer fact that over half of Americans don't believe in evolution (to say nothing of the number of Congressmen who don't believe in climate change) and the resurgence of religious prejudices and strictures as factors in politics, education, medicine, and social policy make the need for this book urgent.Religion and science compete in many ways to describe reality - they both make "existence claims" about what is real - but they use different tools to meet this goal. In his elegant, provocative, and direct argument, leading evolutionary biologist and bestselling author Jerry Coyne lays out in clear, patient, dispassionate details why the toolkit of science, based on reason and empirical study, is reliable, while that of religion - including faith, dogma and revelation - is unreliable and leads to incorrect, untestable, or conflicting conclusions. Indeed, by relying on faith, religion renders itself incapable of finding truth.

Relax, It's Just God: How and Why to Talk to Your Kids About Religion When You're Not Religious


Wendy Thomas Russell - 2015
    Among other things, "Relax, It's Just God" teaches parents how to avoid indoctrination; communicate openly but kindly with religious relatives; confront and manage “religious baggage” so as to not hand it on to the next generation; talk about death without the familiar comforts of religious imagery; give kids a broad overview of various world religions; and show children how to practice true religious tolerance while also vaccinating them against the intolerance of others.A rapidly growing demographic cohort in America, first-generation nonreligious parents are at the forefront of a major and unprecedented cultural shift. Unable or unwilling to fall back on what they were taught as children, secular parents often find themselves at a loss for how to approach religion with their young children—so they don’t. But, as "Relax, It’s Just God" shows us, silence is not the answer.

Alpha God: The Psychology of Religious Violence and Oppression


Héctor A. García - 2015
    The author, a clinical psychologist, examines religious scriptures, rituals, and canon law, highlighting the many ways in which our evolutionary legacy has shaped the development of religion and continues to profoundly influence its expression. The book focuses on the image of God as the dominant male in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. This traditional God concept is seen as a reflection of the “dominant ape” paradigm so evident in the hierarchical social structures of primates, with whom we have a strong genetic connection.The author describes the main features of male-dominated primate social hierarchies— specifically, the role of the alpha male as the protector of the group; his sexual dominance and use of violence and oppression to attain food, females, and territory; in-group altruism vs. out-group hostility (us vs. them); and displays of dominance and submission to establish roles within the social hierarchy. The parallels between these features of primate society and human religious rituals and concepts make it clear that religion, especially its oppressive and violent tendencies, is rooted in the deep evolutionary past.This incisive analysis goes a long way toward explaining the historic and ongoing violence committed in the name of religion.

Holy Bible: Best God Damned Version: The Books of Moses


Steve Ebling - 2015
    The Books of Moses - Because you know it's nonsense, but were never sure why.The Books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

1000 Lashes: Because I Say What I Think


Raif Badawi - 2015
    His examination of his culture is perceptive and rigorous. Of course he must be saved from the dreadful sentence against him and the appalling conditions of his imprisonment. But he must also be read, so that we understand the struggle within Islam between suffocating orthodoxy and free expression, and make sure we find ourselves on the right side of that struggle.” —Salman RushdieThe pivotal texts of Raif Badawi, the liberal Saudi Arabian blogger arrested for blogging about free speech, and sentenced to 1000 lashes and 10 years in prison on charges related to accusations that he insulted Islam on his blog.Raif Badawi, a Saudi Arabian blogger, shared his thoughts on politics, religion, and liberalism online. He was sentenced to 1,000 lashes, ten years in prison, and a fine of around $315,000. This politically topical polemic gathers together Badawi’s pivotal texts. He expresses his opinions on life in an autocratic-Islamic state under the Sharia and his perception of freedom of expression, human and civil rights, tolerance and the necessary separation of state and religion.

The Story of God: A Biblical Comedy about Love [and Hate]


Chris Matheson - 2015
    But no one has ever fully explored why God might be such a figure of contrasts. Nor has anyone ever satisfactorily explained what guides his relationship not just with angels, the devil, and his son, but also with all of creation. Might he be completely misunderstood, a mystery even to himself? Might his behavior and actions toward humankind tell us much more about him than it does about us? Enter the mind of the creator of the universe, travel with him through the heavenly highs and hellish lows of his story, from Genesis to Revelation, to better understand his burdensome journey: being God isn’t easy. After hearing his story—at times troubling and tragic but always hilarious in its absurdity and divine in its comedy—you’ll never look at a miracle or catastrophe—or at our place in the universe, or God’s—the same way again.

Fighting God: An Atheist Manifesto for a Religious World


David Silverman - 2015
    In his book, Silverman-a walking, talking atheist billboard known for his appearances on Fox News-discusses the effectiveness, ethics and impact of the in-your-face-atheist who refuses to be silent.Silverman argues that religion is more than just wrong: it is malevolent and does not deserve our respect. It is our duty to be outspoken and do what we can to bring religion down. Examining the mentality, methods and issues facing the firebrand atheist, Silverman presents an overwhelming argument for firebrand atheism and reveals:- All religion is cafeteria religion and almost all agnostics are atheists.- American society grants religion a privileged status, despite the intentions of the Founding Fathers.- Christian politicians have adversely (and un-Constitutionally) affected our society with regard to science, health, women's rights, and gay rights.- The notion of "atheist Jews" is a lie forced on us by religion.- It is not "Islamophobia" to observe dangerous teachings and disproportionate violence in Islam.- Atheists are slowly but surely winning the battle.Fighting God is a provocative, unapologetic book that takes religion to task and will give inspiration to non-believers and serve as the ultimate answer to apologists.

The Belief Book


David G. McAfee - 2015
    McAfee, an author who studies religions, teamed up with writer and illustrator Chuck Harrison to create The Belief Book.No matter how old or how young you are, this easy-to-read book can help you learn more about religions and gods and beliefs in general. It will also teach you about something called The Scientific Method, which is how we learn new things about the world!By the time you're done reading you will know the answers to some of life's biggest questions, but more importantly you will see why your questions, and all questions for that matter, are so important. This book is the first in a series of books all about belief, gods, and religion.The fully illustrated and interactive Belief Book is for readers and thinkers of all ages, including kids and kids at heart.

What is Humanism? How do you live without a god? And Other Big Questions for Kids


Michael Rosen - 2015
    It will look at how humanists mark the milestones of birth, marriage and death. How do people without belief in God live moral and fulfilled lives, with respect for humankind and the universe? A thought-provoking approach will encourage readers to think about the big questions for themselves.The book will include contributions from a number of prominent humanists, such as Stephen Fry, Camila Batmanghelidjh, Philip Pullman, Jim Al-Khalili, Natalie Haynes and Shappi Khorsandi, who will explain their own philosophy and tell us what is important to them.

Where's Your God Now?


Casper Rigsby - 2015
    From Pascal's Wager, to issues of gender equality and identity, as well as the pervasive misogyny inherent in religion, these essays hit at the heart of some of the biggest problems with religion and the god hypothesis. These essays also give a good look into the atheist worldview and how atheists approach many of these issues. While atheism itself is simply a lack of belief in god, this position can also greatly affect how one thinks about everything from issues of social injustice to education. Within these essays this worldview and mindset becomes clear, and we see how a lack of belief in both god and Holy doctrine can shape one's viewpoint.

The Soul Fallacy: What Science Shows We Gain from Letting Go of Our Soul Beliefs


Julien Musolino - 2015
    In sharp contrast, the current scientific consensus rejects the traditional soul, although this conclusion is rarely discussed publicly. In this book, a cognitive scientist breaks the taboo and explains why modern science leads to this controversial conclusion. In doing so, the book reveals the truly astonishing scope and power of scientific inquiry, drawing on ideas from biology, psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, and the physical sciences. Much more than chronicling the demise of the traditional soul, the book explores where soul beliefs come from, why they are so widespread culturally and historically, how cognitive science offers a naturalistic alternative to religious conceptions of mind, and how postulating the existence of a soul amounts to making a scientific claim.Although the new scientific view of personhood departs radically from traditional religious conceptions, the author shows that a coherent, meaningful, and sensitive appreciation of what it means to be human remains intact. He argues that we do not lose anything by letting go of our soul beliefs and that we even have something to gain. Throughout, the book takes a passionate stand for science and reason. It also offers a timely rejoinder to recent claims that science supports the existence of the soul and the afterlife.

The Bad Jesus: The Ethics of New Testament Ethics


Hector Avalos - 2015
    Writers on New Testament ethics generally view Jesus as the paradigm of human standards and behaviour. But since the historical Jesus was a human being, must he not have had flaws, like everyone else?The notion of a flawless human Jesus is a paradoxical oddity in New Testament ethics. According to Avalos, it shows that New Testament ethics is still primarily an apologetic enterprise despite its claim to rest on critical and historical scholarship.The Bad Jesus is a powerful and challenging study, presenting detailed case studies of fundamental ethical principles enunciated or practised by Jesus but antithetical to what would be widely deemed ‘acceptable’ or ‘good’ today. Such topics include Jesus’ supposedly innovative teachings on love, along with his views on hate, violence, imperialism, animal rights, environmental ethics, Judaism, women, disabled persons and biblical hermeneutics.After closely examining arguments offered by those unwilling to find any fault with the Jesus depicted in the Gospels, Avalos concludes that current treatments of New Testament ethics are permeated by a religiocentric, ethnocentric and imperialistic orientation. But if it is to be a credible historical and critical discipline in modern academia, New Testament ethics needs to discover both a Good and a Bad Jesus.

Opening Minds: The Secret World of Manipulation, Undue Influence and Brainwashing


Jon Atack - 2015
    Throughout history, people have been unwittingly influenced to act against their own better interests. But today, more sophisticated forms of influence have been devised, posing a significant threat to a free and open society. It is persuasion so sinister and subtle that it can derail critical thinking and overwhelm even the most intelligent of people, reducing them into unthinking compliance. Manipulation, undue influence and brainwashing, or whatever one chooses to call such exploitive persuasion, challenges the very notion of human rights. The use of it by unscrupulous cults, totalitarian groups and abusive individuals is growing at an alarming rate. Yet, undue influence remains a well-kept secret in the media and for the general public. This book will show how the human mind is cajoled into submitting to unethical, uninvited external influence.

There's a Hula Girl on my Dashboard: How I Left Faith Behind and Embraced Life


Logospilgrim - 2015
    I didn't suffer from any metaphysical disease. I was a living, mortal, fragile, complex sentient being, and that was fine. I could make my own decisions. I could think for myself. I had my own voice." In There's a Hula Girl on my Dashboard: How I Left Faith Behind and Embraced Life, writer, lecturer, and maverick Logospilgrim candidly shares the remarkable and passionate journey that took her from religious belief to secular humanism.

Wrestling with God: Stories of Doubt and Faith


Barbara Falconer Newhall - 2015
    The result is Wrestling with God: Stories of Doubt and Faith, which details her years-long search for the Divine in the lives of radically diverse Americans - from a fundamentalist Christian activist to a progressive Muslim leader to a Hindu classical dancer.In Wrestling with God, Newhall presents the deeply personal stories of a score of Americans encountered on her journey - believers, skeptics, contemplatives, activists. She also reports on the progress of her own rocky spiritual journey and how ultimately she arrives at a place of surrender to the universe's enduring mystery.Wrestling with God includes a foreword by Don Lattin, who covered the religion beat for the San Francisco Chronicle and is the author of Distilled Spirits and The Harvard Psychedelic Club.Among the storytellers of Wrestling with God are:* An atheist who conducts an experiment on God* A Buddhist who embarks upon a 650-mile bowing pilgrimage* A World War II veteran who survives a forced march across Germany* A Nobel laureate--Charles H. Townes--who develops the maser and laser* A Congregationalist minister who questions God's goodness

The Bible Is Mythology


Travis Haan - 2015
    Instead my studies led me kicking and screaming to the conclusion that the Bible is mythology. This book is a collection of essays detailing how I came to the conclusion that the Bible is mythology and Christianity does more harm than good in the world.

Is the Atheist My Neighbor?: Rethinking Christian Attitudes toward Atheism


Randal Rauser - 2015
    For the last three centuries Christians have widely assumed that atheism is always a result of a rebellious, sinful rejection of God. According to this view, at some level atheists really do know there is a God, but they sinfully suppress this knowledge because they want to live independently of God. But what if that is not correct? What if some folks are atheists not because they're sinful and foolish but because they've thought hard, they've looked carefully, and they have simply not found God? What if the common Christian assumptions about atheism are little more than an indefensible prejudice? What if the atheist really is our neighbor?

Mexican Exodus: Emigrants, Exiles, and Refugees of the Cristero War


Julia G. Young - 2015
    Bearing aloft the banners of Christ the King and the Virgin of Guadalupe, they equipped themselves not only with guns, but also scapulars, rosaries, prayers, and religious visions. These soldiers were called cristeros, and the war they fought, which would continue until the mid-1930s, is known as la cristiada, or the Cristero war. The most intense fighting occurred in Mexico's west-central states: Jalisco, Guanajuato, and Michoacan. For this reason, scholars have generally regarded the war as a regional event, albeit one with national implications. Using previously unexamined archival materials from both Mexico and the United States, Julia Young investigates the intersections between Mexico's Cristero War and Mexican migration to the United States during the late 1920s. In doing so, she reframes the war as a transnational conflict, and underscores the deep religious devotion that informed the political affiliations of Mexican emigrants. Mexican Exodus traces the formation, actions, and ideologies of the Cristero diaspora, a network of tens of thousands of Mexican emigrants, exiles, and refugees across the United States who supported the Catholic uprising from beyond the border--countering a longstanding belief that Mexicans "lost" their religion once they reached the supposedly more modern, secular culture of the United States. This group participated in the conflict in a variety of ways; they took part in religious ceremonies and spectacles, organized political demonstrations and marches, formed associations and organizations, and planned strategic collaboration with religious and political leaders in order to generate public sympathy for their cause. A few of them even launched militant efforts that included arms smuggling, military recruitment, espionage, and armed border revolts. Ultimately, the Cristero diaspora aimed to overturn the anticlerical government and reform the Mexican Constitution of 1917. Although they were unable to achieve these political goals, Young argues, these emigrants - and the war itself - would have a profound and enduring resonance for Mexican emigrant community formation, political affiliations, and religious devotion throughout subsequent decades, and up to the present day."

Blind Faith Vaccine


Mark W. Gura - 2015
    Gura's book will assist you in making informed decisions about your beliefs." - JD Stockman, Apistevist-Antitheist-Humanist.Because religion affects almost every aspect of our lives, our religious beliefs deserve careful consideration. Yet it is obvious that our beliefs are heavily influenced by our different cultures and environments, so much so that there is often little room left for unbiased reflection. Most people in the Middle East are Muslim; in India, Hindu, and in the Americas, Christian. If you had grown up in Pakistan, you would probably have become a Muslim, just as you would probably have become Christian had you been born in Alabama. If so, where is the free will in that? Does the happenstance of your birthplace so determine your outlook that you become like your neighbors?Some of our beliefs were passed down from generation to generation without proper consideration of the available alternatives. Advances in communication technology are now giving us access to different cultural traditions, as well as to the latest scientific discoveries, and are challenging paradigms that were at one time exempt from scrutiny. At the same time, the amount and variety of new information that we are now receiving can be overwhelming. Paradoxically, this often seems to make traditional beliefs more appealing, since they offer shelter from the difficulties of deliberately choosing among less well known alternatives. The Blind Faith Virus Vaccine offers a solution to this paradox by classifying all religions and systems of thought into three simple possibilities, making it easier to choose a direction in life. It shows new connections between Secular Buddhism and Atheism, paganism, the Abrahamic religions and Hinduism, and it helps challenge, demystify and falsify faith-based ideas that are accepted mostly because of religious faith.