Atheist Literature

[naomi24]

Do any of the religious people here ever read books written by atheist authors such as Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris? If ‘yes’, what have you read and what are your thoughts - and if ‘no’ why not?

[Khandro]

Yes, I've read a lot of them, the latest being 'God is Not Great' by (recently departed) Christopher Hitchens. I agree with most of what he said about the iniquities inherent in most religions, he dwells though entirely on the negative aspects without visiting the good. His premise that it is possible to lead an exemplary life without religion is to my way of thinking, beyond doubt.

[keyplus90]

Yes, I read The God Delusion and did not impress me at all.

[naomi24]

Why Keyplus? What did you think was wrong with it?

[birdie1971]

^ The title perhaps?

[birdie1971]

Or maybe the rationality of the arguments contained within it?

[naomi24]

Birdie, Perhaps the first, but I doubt it's the second. Some time ago Keyplus and I agreed to read a book each - he ‘The God Delusion’ by Richard Dawkins, and I ‘Islam and the Destiny of Man’ by Gai Eaton, which we subsequently discussed. I kept my end of the bargain – but I strongly suspect he didn’t keep his.

[naomi24]

Khandro, //he dwells though entirely on the negative aspects without visiting the good.//

Perhaps that's because the negative aspects of organised religion are destructive and the positive aspects can be achieved without it.

[ll_billym]

In my opinion The God Delusion is not a good 'first' book to give to a believer. Although for me personally it is one of my favourite books of all time and was the book that solidified my lack of respect for religion I was already 90% there anyway. It starts off very dry and is certainly not written to try and engage believers and slowly lead them down the path of enlightenment, it is very scathing and will quickly alienate people who are not really interested in what he has to say.

On a related topic, although I think Dawkins is one of the top minds in debating religion and showing it for what it is and he has a wealth of facts and counter-arguments, he is not very 'likeable' and I think that somebody with better empathy would be better off making first contact and getting a believer to actually try and understand the other view.

Anyway, I do not have a better suggestion for a 'first' book as I haven't read any - I don't need to :) - but just saying that IMO The God Delusion wouldn't be the best.

Good question Naomi!

[boxtops]

I'll read them, so I can see both sides of the discussion.

[sandyRoe]

Faith and reason are uneasy bedfellows. If I was to read anything by an atheist author it might stir up disturbing and conflicting thoughts. It is better for me that I read little other than the bible and let myself be guided by what I find there.

[scowie]

Ah, so you are an athiest after all sandyRoe. Only an athiest who mocks religion would write such a thing.

I think Dawkin's latest book "The Greatest Show On Earth" would make for a better "first book" actually. I get the impression it's more "teachy" and less "preachy" :-)

[jomifl]

Well that's Sandy's christmas book list sorted..

[naomi24]

Il-billym, I actually think ‘Letter to a Christian Nation’ by Sam Harris is a better first book for believers seeking to understand atheism to read. It’s an extremely short book – a follow up to his ‘The End of Faith’ - but it’s very much to the point – and despite its title, Sam Harris says his ‘letter’ applies to people of all faiths – and it does. ‘The God Delusion’ became the one that Keyplus agreed to tackle only because it was under discussion here at the time.

[sandyRoe]

I wish people wouldn't read between the lines of what I write. There's enough material in the NT to keep me in reading matter for some time.

[Davethedog]

Scowie on what basis do you think religion is mocked? Just because you don't agree with something, stating it doesn't mean you are mocking it.

Sandy does that mean your faith isn't as strong as you would want?

[sandyRoe]

Scowie, The mockers of religion you'd find in here aren't usually as subtle as that.

Davethedog, Which of us hasn't had a crisis of faith at one time or another?

[naomi24]

scowie, //I get the impression it's more "teachy" and less "preachy"//

An impression? Does that mean you've read both books - or that you've just been told about them?

[jomifl]

Sandy, is it (NT) so boring that you are reading it very slowly or is it so good that you are re-reading it again and again. That said, if you understood it the first time why read it again and if you didn't understand it what is your faith based on.
Dave, I think Sandy lost his faith long ago but is in denial. He just needs a helping hand to remove the scales from his eyes, see the error of his ways and cut the surly bonds that tie him to that benighted domain that is religion.

[naomi24]

Sandy, //Which of us hasn't had a crisis of faith at one time or another?//

Why think of it as a crisis? Considered rationally, it's a blessed(?) release from a life of bondage - and something to celebrate! ;o)

[jomifl]

3 cheers for the new atheist Sandy, it could only happen on answerbank, welcome!