Atheist books recommendation please - Religion, God, and Theology

Two Plus Two Forums Other Topics Religion, God, and Theology

Atheist books recommendation please

Post Reply Subscribe

...

01-06-2011 , 08:24 AM

St.Mcflounder

grinder

Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 619

Recently I have read "The God Delusion" and "God is Not Great." I think that they have many valid points in the view of religion: but there seemly extreme hostility and some of there other arguments really lose me on the point they are making.

I am not sure who said it regarding Hitchens and Dawkins but it was along the lines of, "their tolerance for all people can be very intolerable"

What atheists books do you guys recommend?

Quote

01-06-2011 , 11:03 AM

Vael

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 6,377

J. L. Mackie's "The Miracle of Theism: Arguments For and Against the Existence of God".

I haven't read it myself but I only hear good things about it.

Edit: If you check out the table of contents on amazon, you'll see that it covers just about everything.

Last edited by Vael; 01-06-2011 at 11:10 AM.

Quote

01-06-2011 , 11:11 AM

Deorum

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 7,271

Losing Faith in Faith by Dan Barker is about his conversion from preacher to atheist as a result of his investigating the reasons he was a theist in the first place.

Quote

01-07-2011 , 02:37 AM

Howard Beale

Formerly red

Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 22,190

A very readable collection of intelligent viewpoints.

Quote

01-07-2011 , 03:03 AM

pricegrabber

journeyman

Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 347

Why I Became An Atheist by John W. Loftus. Examines religion from the perspective of a former Christian minister. Alot of the book critiques the idea of the Judeo-Christian God, but there is still plenty of material about the existence of God. Much like Deorum's recommendation

Quote

01-07-2011 , 05:09 AM

iamunLUCKY

grinder

Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 470

Holy Bible

Quote

01-07-2011 , 05:13 AM

BrokeDonk

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 3,514

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamunLUCKY

Holy Bible

definitely. reading that will make you an atheist for sure.

Quote

01-07-2011 , 07:59 AM

sljons91

centurion

Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 160

Sam Harris - The End of Faith

He's alot more "tolerable" I guess you could say.

Reading The Greatest Show on Earth by Dawkins now. It's not exactly an 'atheist' book but worth reading imo

Quote

01-07-2011 , 11:25 AM

tame_deuces

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 17,817

"Atheist books"

Somehow that makes me cringe.

Quote

01-07-2011 , 11:48 AM

#10

armin4

newbie

Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 27

"In Gods We Trust: The Evolutionary Landscape of Religion" by Scott Atran

Not very easy to read because it is quite scientific, nevertheless, a very interesting view on religion.

Quote

01-07-2011 , 12:10 PM

#11

i said top top

banned

Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 78

Op, just unlearn everything you were ever taught by other people, then you will be the same as when you were a little kid, a blank slate with a mind so pure, so much closer to truth and reality then it ever was in your entire life.

Bottom line, you want to unlearn all the bullcrap you were ever taught, only then will you break free of the shackles of your mind.

You want a book to read? Emptiness Dancing by Adyashanti

Quote

01-07-2011 , 01:00 PM

#12

gskowal

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 3,521

try these...

50 Voices of Disbelief Why We Are Atheists
Letter to a Christian Nation - Sam Harris

Quote

01-07-2011 , 05:25 PM

#13

Borg7

old hand

Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,333

Anything by R. Dawkins or C. Hitchens....and obv the Bible.

Quote

01-07-2011 , 06:38 PM

#14

Turn Prophet

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 11,558

Unless you really like preaching to the choir, I don't know that you will find "atheist books" all that stimulating. The biggest exception to this is Breaking the Spell by Daniel Dennett, which is an atheistic search for an explanation for religion, but it's not just a polemic.

Personally, I'd look more into books about religion to help you understand them. I'd start with Karen Armstrong and Reza Aslan.

Quote

01-07-2011 , 08:04 PM

#15

bunny

will feast on your soul

Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 11,219

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turn Prophet

I'd second Daniel dennett. I reckon you'll get more out of philosophers rather than passionate anti-theists from other fields (unless you're looking for testimonials or some such). Dawkins and the others often attack the weakest formulations of theistic arguments. A philosopher will be more likely to attack the strongest (making the critique more valuable).

Quote

01-07-2011 , 08:11 PM

#16

rizeagainst

banned

Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,179

Quote:

Originally Posted by St.Mcflounder

This and it's not even close. You can also listen to the audiobook.

Quote

01-07-2011 , 08:13 PM

#17

rizeagainst

banned

Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,179

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunny

Dawkins and the others often attack the weakest formulations of theistic arguments.

Sorry, what's an example of a strong theistic argument? Serious post.

Quote

01-07-2011 , 08:29 PM

#18

bunny

will feast on your soul

Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 11,219

Quote:

Originally Posted by rizeagainst

Sorry, what's an example of a strong theistic argument? Serious post.

Strong formulation, not strong argument. I don't think there are any strong arguments in that I think a rational skeptic should be an atheist.

What I was referring to was an author (dawkins in particular) presenting a theistic argument to refute then demolishing it via an attack on the logical structure when the same argument can be constructed more carefully in a valid way. A philosopher will find (or should try to, anyway) the best available formulation of the various theistic arguments and refute those.

EDIT: I can try to dig out an example if you like. Hopefully it's clear what I mean though?

Quote

01-07-2011 , 08:33 PM

#19

rizeagainst

banned

Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,179

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunny

Strong formulation, not strong argument. I don't think there are any strong arguments in that I think a rational skeptic should be an atheist.

How in the world are you a theist then? I've always wanted to get into detailed discussions with you about why exactly you are a theist. Or are you a deist? Do you mind creating a new thread so we can talk about this?

It is just baffling to me, how I can agree with you on almost everything you say and yet we are on opposite sides.

Quote

01-07-2011 , 09:53 PM

#20

bunny

will feast on your soul

Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 11,219

Quote:

Originally Posted by rizeagainst

It's a little rambling, I'm afraid. My attention is somewhat split, atm...

FWIW, we're on 'the same side' in that we think rationality is important. We just disagree on our conclusion as to whether I personally have sufficient evidence to rationally believe in a God. We agree that you have no reason to believe in God.

Quote

Post Reply Subscribe

...