Atheism

Atheism is often considered to be a negative, dark, and pessimistic belief which is characterized by a rejection of values and purpose and a fierce opposition to religion. Atheism: A Very Short Introduction sets out to dispel the myths that surround atheism and show how a life without religious belief can be positive, meaningful, and moral. It also confronts the failure of officially atheist states in the Twentieth Century. The book presents an intellectual case for atheism that rests as much upon positive arguments for its truth as on negative arguments against religion.

This unique anthology assembles the best writings on atheism, agnosticism, and skepticism by some of the world's great thinkers past and present. Includes essays by Bertrand Russell, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and more.

Discusses agnosticism, skepticism, secular humanism & the burden of proof; the nature of religious experience; problems in proofs of God's existence; the ethics of Jesus; sex & guilt; Christian values in American society; religion & culture; the lure of "afterlife"; concepts of heaven, hell, & original sin; fearing death; hedonism & stoicism; sex without God; tolerance; atheism, ethics, & the pursuit of happiness; the sacred & the profane; the impact of Paul, Aquinas, Luther, & Calvin & the assault on reason. The modern revival of reason, skepticism, atheism, & secular humanism ensures that hope remains for a future without the constraints of dogmatic doctrine & religious tyranny. Why Atheism? is an accessible guide to living a positive life without a supreme being.

Leading scholars critically evaluate belief in God, the arguments for God's existence, the validity of mystical experience, and the importance of the God concept for the development of morality and meaning in life.

An enlightening history of deism, skepticism, and atheism from the 18th to 20th centuries.

Naturalism Without Foundations is informal, lively, and widely accessible throughout, yet at the same time it considers in depth and carefully a cluster of issues central to contemporary philosophical and social scientific investigation while utilizing methods and conceptualizations at the very cutting edge of philosophical investigation.

"... a complex and extremely well-argued work..". -- Library Journal

This criticism of theism, especially monotheism, questions the assumption that rejecting God means rejecting religion. Drawing on Western philosophical critiques of religion and non-theistic Eastern religions, Ray Billington shows how a religion without God could work.The concept of religion without God has informed not only the theories of Nietzsche, Kant and Spinoza, but also expressions of belief in Indian and Chinese religions-Hinduism, Theravada Buddhism Zen and Taoism. Concluding with a look at the "the future of faith," this is a wide ranging and lucidly-written look at what it means to "have faith" and how this is distinct from religious belief.Ray Billington is an experienced and respected author on Eastern religion and philosophy. His books include Understanding Eastern Philospophy , Living Philosophy and East of Existentialism , all published by Routledge. He also writes occasional journalism most notably as a contributor to The Guardian's 'Face to Faith' column. An ex-Methodist minister and onetime chaplain with the SAS, he has now retired from his post as Principal Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of the West of England.

Jeremy Bentham was an ardent secularist convinced that society could be sustained without the support of religious institutions or beliefs. This book illustrates the nature, extent, and depth of Bentham's concern with religion, from his Oxford days of first doubts through the middle years of quiet unbelief to the zealous atheism and secularism of his later life. Crimmins provides an interpretation of Bentham's thought in which his religious views are shown to be integral: on the one hand, intimately associated with the metaphysical, epistemological, and psychological principles which gave shape to his system as a whole, and, on the other, central to the development of his entirely secular view of society.

The question of whether or not God exists is endlessly fascinating and profoundly important. Now two articulate spokesmen--one a Christian, the other an atheist--duel over God's existence in a lively and illuminating battle of ideas. In God?, William Lane Craig and Walter Sinnott-Armstrong bring to the printed page two debates they held before live audiences, preserving all the wit, clarity, and immediacy of their public exchanges. With none of the opaque discourse of academic logicians and divinity-school theologians, the authors make claims and comebacks that cut with precision. Their arguments are sharp and humorous, as each philosopher strikes quickly to the heart of his opponent's case. For example, Craig claims that we must believe in God to explain objective moral values, such as why rape is wrong. Sinnott-Armstrong responds that what makes rape wrong is the harm to victims of rape, so rape is immoral even if there is no God. From arguments about the nature of infinity and the Big Bang, to religious experience and divine action, to the resurrection of Jesus and the problem of evil, the authors treat us to a remarkable display of intelligence and insight--a truly thought-provoking exploration of a classic issue that remains relevant to contemporary life.