The book suggests that rather than mocking religions, agnostics and atheists should instead steal from them because theyre packed with good ideas on how we might live and arrange our societies. Enter your email address below and we will send you your username. But despite its fictional trappings, the book seems more like a class on maintaining a. Add to that the fact that atheism has often been punishable by imprisonment or death, and you can see why atheists in certain times and places tend to whisper.
So hes created a global secular community the school of life. Recorded at tedglobal 2011, july 2011, in edinburgh, scotland. He suggests that rather than mocking religion, agnostics and atheists should instead steal from itbecause the worlds religions are packed with good ideas on how we might live and arrange. Yet he argues religions have important things to teach the secular world. Religion for atheists suggests that rather than mocking religion, agnostics and atheists should instead steal from itbecause the worlds religions are packed with good ideas on how we might live and arrange our societies.
He explains why wisdom and ritual shouldnt be reserved just for believers. What if religions are neither all true nor all nonsense. If a secular concept of the religious institution is to function it needs to have a. And even though he never wears his atheism on his sleeve, in one of those books the consolations of philosophy nod towards boethius he did slip the armband on.
His books discuss various contemporary subjects and themes, emphasizing philosophys relevance to everyday life. The boring debate between fundamentalist believers and nonbelievers is finally moved on by alain s book religion for atheists, which argues that the supernatural claims of religion are of course entirely false and yet that religions still have some very important things to teach the secular world. Hes written a book religion for atheists explaining ways in which atheists should look to religion for some solutions to contemporary ills. Request permission export citation add to favorites track citation. What aspects of religion should atheists respectfully adopt. Atheists who pick it up may find themselves undergoing a crisis of faithlessness. Religions serve two central needswhich secular society has not been able to solve with any particular skillthe need for community and the need for consolation in the face of lifes ills.
Religion in general and the majority religion in particular tend to call the shots and write the histories, especially prior to the late 18th century. If a secular concept of the religious institution is to function it needs to have a metaphysical anchor and pointer. Community, for example, is an extraordinary powerful theme within religion. Publication date 2012 topics atheists, religious life publisher pantheon books. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The boring debate between fundamentalist believers and nonbelievers is finally moved on by alains book. He published essays in love 1993, which went on to sell two million copies. I like his writing style and the breadth of his knowledge, and i like his unique insight into our culture he is what contemporary philosophy should be, a. A users manual, the course of love and the school of life among many others. This cradleatheist is dissatisfied with popular dismissals of religion, and hes giving voice to a new way. Religion for atheists a nonbeliever s guide to the uses of religion hamish hamilton 2012 notes by alison morgan march 2012 i enjoyed it. Other bestsellers include how proust can change your life 1997, status anxiety 2004.
It argues that while supernatural claims made by religion are false, some aspects of religion are still useful and can be applied in secular life and society. The capacity to connect imaginatively with the sufferings and. What if religions are neither all true or all nonsense. Religion for atheists begins and ends with the idea that secular society needs its own institutions that give space and support to our inner life.
The boring debate between fundamentalist believers and nonbelievers is finally moved on by alains book religion for atheists, which argues that the supernatural claims of religion are of course entirely false and yet that religions still have some very important things to teach the secular world. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading religion for atheists. A nonbelievers guide to the uses of religion vintage international. Religion for atheists suggests that rather than mocking religion, agnostics and atheists should instead steal from itbecause the worlds religions are packed with. These days politics and culture have more modest aims. Religion for atheists isbn 9780307379108 pdf epub alain. Religion for atheists download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. This is not a book for readers who are curious about the nature of metaphysics or the merits of faith. Few people nowadays are embarrassed by the question whether they believe in.