Any atheists/skeptics out there encouraged by recent books criticising religion?

Question

..and new organisations such as the Brights? etc.. just musing...

Jugling, I've read all those and more,- thanks!

Yes, I had the same reservations about the Brights - seems too exclusive and elitist, and I'm not a joiner!
(or a plumber!)

Answer 1

Sort of, in the sense that I personally loved, for example, Dawkins 'God Delusion' and was pleasantly surprised that it became a best seller. However, despite the fact that the good Professor once again writes with such eloquence and lucidity that it makes me jealous, I do fear that such books are, so to speak, preaching to the choir! That is, there may be intelligent, open minded people who read them and get the point, but they will make no impact on the hoards of close-minded 'I wuz inteliguntly deeesigned by the baby jesus' brigade, who unfortunately seem to have a staggering amount of influence, especially in the US. Such people are faith-led and impervious to logic, argument or proof!
I was interested in the Brights movement at first, but I have serious doubts now. I am uncomfortable at the thought of being part of any 'movement', and I think that the sort of people 'Bright' is trying to describe are by nature independently minded, so trying to organise them would be like herding cats! Although I initially liked the concept of Bright as a meme, I think we should just work to empower the word Atheist.

Answer 2

There is nothing new in books criticising religion. It has been happening for a very long time.
It is just part of an agenda, which was prophesied in the Bible.
In fact I would be very surprised if there were no recent books criticising religion. It would be wise to take them all with a pinch of salt.

There are signs that atheists are pretty worried at the moment by a decline in belief in evolution and a rise in I.D. and Creationism.
Hence the recent, anti-religious rants by the militant, atheist Richard Dawkins.
After having such a stranglehold on the scientific establishment for so long they are obviously very narked that other scientific viewpoints are now being heard.

Answer 3

Runyon G. Vincent - Why I Left The Ministry and Became An Atheist

Richard Dawkins - Religion's Mis-Guided Missiles

Richard Dawkins - Viruses of the Mind

Joseph Lewis - An Atheist Manifesto

Richard Dawkins - The Improbability of God

George H. Smith - The Case Against God

Richard Dawkins - The Blind Watchmaker


If you would like one, email me.

Answer 4

I loved the God Delusion.

The first parts of it were like reading a synopsis of all the atheist vs. theist dialogue from Answers put into articulate form. That's necessary to preface the rest of the book, but to people like us who discuss these things a lot, it was a bit redundant. The further into the book, the better it gets.

I have not read Letter to a Christian Nation yet, but I plan to.

I don't like the term "Brights". To me, it sounds arrogant and implies, "We are smarter than you are".

Answer 5

No, I haven't read any of the new books criticising religion (I don't need to, I already thing most religion is a silly concept) and I am sceptical of new organisations.

Answer 6

I'm not so encouraged by recent books, as books simply contain ideas. What does encourage me is seeing footage from Professor Dawkins' recent speaking tour. His question and answer sessions are entertaining and thoughtful, and the good professor has a very honest and meaningful (not to mention easily understood) manner of speaking.

Answer 7

I'm not an atheist, but I am encouraged that rational thinking is slowly beginning to take over superstitious religious insanity. I'm not an atheist because I "re-defined" what I meant by "God" - from the supernatural to the natural universe. Even if the universe is entirely natural its still a miracle, and I doubt any of us could create the universe.

Answer 8

Here is some peanut butter and cereal (that's the new temp. replacement, very good actually)

Answer 9

eternal quest for God by julio savi