Reading Books Written By Atheists

[naomi24]

Ratter’s thread got me wondering. Many of the atheists here read religious tomes, but who among the religious reads books on the subject of religion written by atheists? If you do, which ones have you read and what were your impressions?

[naomi24]

^ :o)

[nailit]

I find myself sitting on the fence right now. Ive read Sam Harris, Hitchens and Dawkins and have tried (but failed) to get my religious friends to read them, (Ive got a friend who is a retired pastor but he has only ever had a cursory glance at websites involving the above). I recommended him also to read Dan Barker
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Godless-Evangelical-Preacher-Americas-Atheists/dp/1569756775
Needless to say, no joy.
All of the above speak a lot of sense regarding the irrationality of religion (especially the Abrahamic faiths and the Bible) *BUT* I still also read books of a spiritual nature and I cant help thinking, somewhere at the back of my mind, that the 'professional' atheists may have chucked the baby out with the bathwater.
Just my 2 cents worth.

[mibn2cweus]

I believe nailit presents a valid point, raising an important issue with regards to religious belief. We should not immediately jump to the conclusion that there are no aspects of religion which do not provide something of value, if only in the potential for improved understanding which might follow from questioning its precepts. By the same account, neglecting to separate the wheat from the chaff, failing to make the distinction between the good and the bad of it, there is the ever present danger in leaving the bath water un-drained of drowning the baby.

Once again . . . another thread perhaps?