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?

[Davethedog]

Sandy no its not. Not believing in god is what? Believing in god is what?

I am like every one else. When god pays my mortgage, puts food on my table, ensures my health then i'll believe.

You have to live many years here on earth and while we are here your life is exactly the same as mine. You can be as pious as you wish but the only difference is you waste hours of your life in the vain pursuit of heaven whilst I spend it usefully.

You think your going to heaven but you can't be sure you have picked right so if there is heaven and you have picked wrong, you and I will end up in the same place.

[AB Editor]

Naomi, I will have a look into Harris. I started GiNG partly to see if there was anyone speaking well for/about atheism, I'd recently found the "Angry Atheist Rant" style of comedy purveyed by the likes of Hugh Dennis and Marcus Brigstock frankly... embarrassing.

[naomi24]

Dave, as a result of childhood indoctrination, albeit the ‘comfortable’ version of Christianity, I was rather religious at one time – and now I can hardly believe that I was once highly offended by Monty Python’s quite brilliant ‘Life of Brian’! Thank Zeus for books, eh? – and for the ability to acknowledge indisputable evidence and admit I was wrong!! :o)

There’s no point in asking Keyplus about the ethics of lying. Firstly, he could never comprehend that someone else’s moral code is different to his, and secondly deceiving the infidel is acceptable within Islam. Check it out.

Ed, I don’t know who those people are – but I agree – angry atheism, just like angry religion, can be embarrassing - and is neither positive nor productive.

[RATTER15]

Im sure I can be classed as an "angry Atheist at times" It stems from frustration in my case and I agree that it is neither positive nor productive, but its me!

[AB Editor]

They're staple BBC radio "comedians". Brigstock is passable. The other... not so much.

[naomi24]

Oh, right. Thanks.

[jomifl]

To get away from teasing Sandy and answer the original question, although I am an atheist, I have read a few of Richard Dawkins books but more from an interest in the mechanisms of evolution. I find that his demolitions of religionsbased on belief in god unnecessarily long winded and mostly redundant. The non-existance of god can be successfully argued on one page, the rest although entertaining is not necessary.

[vetuste_ennemi]

I'm a great fan of pugnacious atheists like Hitchens (RIP), Dawkins and the questioner. However, I was disappointed by the poorly written and ranting God Delusion; I remember the same reaction many years ago when I read The Age of Reason. Hitchens' erudition is marvellous, but the subtitle is hyperbolic and neither book would do much to win decent believers over. The one was and the other is excellent when addressing their polemic at the right targets.
I would recommend Hume's Dialogues and The Natural History of Religion to an educated believer and, for that matter, to any atheist who hasn't read them.
I downloaded a taster of a Harris book in which he takes on the task of establishing a scientific (and therefore objective) morality. Tough one that. After the comments here I'll get the whole book and check out Harris on Youtube, too.
Is the Islamic apologia any good, Naomi? Would I enjoy reading it?
Christians/Jews, can you recommend any books which make an intelligent case for your beliefs (whatever variety they may be)?

[naomi24]

Vetuste, well, thank you kind sir, but pugnacious? Moi? The very idea! :o)

//Is the Islamic apologia any good, Naomi? Would I enjoy reading it?//

Well, that depends to a great extent upon the depth of your interest in religion – and, moreover, upon your staying power. If you want to read a book that, among other things, compares, often in flowery and unworldly terms, the (dubious) virtues of Islam to the author’s perceived failings of other religions, then it might be for you. If memory serves, he was raised by agnostic parents and his interest in Islam was initially aroused by people he met. I vividly remember thinking that his decision to become Muslim was made rather rapidly, and I wanted to know more about his fundamental reasons for choosing Islam above any other religion - so that was a bit of a disappointment.

//Christians/Jews, can you recommend any books which make an intelligent case for your beliefs (whatever variety they may be)?//

That’s an excellent question, any answers to which I would welcome. Since, I’m told, these threads are ignored by some, may I suggest you post it separately?

[vetuste_ennemi]

Thanks for your answer, Naomi. Right, I'll give the "why I converted" book a miss. I'm very interested in religion, but want a bit of critical intelligence in its defenders (don't LOL me on that). It is possible to find stuff worth reading: Joad, Chesterton and CS Lewis, for instance.
Shopping about to arrive, fox to feed, cava to open. Have a pleasant evening.

[naomi24]

Vetuste, you’re welcome. Wise choice.

//don't LOL me on that//

Ha ha! It took me ages to find out what LOL means – and I can honestly say I’ve never ‘LOL’ed anyone - even when they've deserved it! :o)

[ludwig]

Vestute. I'm not a christian but I'd recommend 'Mere Christianity' by C.S Lewis as the type of thing you might want. I found it interesting.

[sith123]

ive read richard dawkins. you know what my opinions are so theres no point telling lol ;)

[jomifl]

Sith, did you not understand it?

[naomi24]

Sith, I don't know what your opinions are on the Dawkins books you've read. Which ones have you read?

[vetuste_ennemi]

Thanks, Ludwig. I have read Mere Christianity, but it was a long time ago. I'll re-read it as well as the Screwtape Letters which I recommended to Sandy. Of course Lewis would be rather low church for him.
Not directly to the point of the question, but I'm with those who enjoyed RD's Greatest Show on Earth.

[sith123]

haha, so you think that just because i am a muslim, i do not read other books. The truth is i read them because i am a muslim. as i have said i researched every religion, and that included atheism (even though its not a religion it is a belief).

this just shows stereotypes. As i am a muslim you believe that all i read is the quran? lol, classic. however i have read the god delusion, the selfish gene and also the blind watchmaker.