I dont know where I stand religiously but I just read the "God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins and "God is not Great" by Christopher Hitchens...and I must admit, they are pretty well written and convincing. But, I would like to know some good thiest books to read to get both sides of religion...and suggestions?
2007-11-05 13:42:58 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I know this is the opposite of what you're asking but if you've read such literary pieces as "the God Delusion" I suggest you read "the Selfish Gene" by Dawkins, I just finished it, I thought it was great.
2007-11-05 14:00:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Funny, I was going to suggest C.S. Lewis and then I see the last person suggested him too!
The great thing about him is that he makes such INCREDIBLE observations about God and religion. His writing is amazing and will help you out a lot.
C.S. Lewis says that his work in life was to get people into "a great hall of faith" or something like that. In this great hall, there are many doors (religions, ideas, schools of thought) and that people could decide on those things once they got into the "hall".
He had been an atheist for many years but did a complete 180 later on in life. A funny book he wrote that looked at both sides (sort of like what you're asking for), was "The Screwtape Letters". It's a book of letters written by a "senior demon" to his nephew that is as "junior demon"; Screwtape basically gives ideas (very enlightening) on how to screw up humans.
Another incredible book C.S. Lewis wrote is "Mere Christianity". I think it ought to be the first book you go buy right now...today.
This might not be pertinent to what you're asking, but here's my favorite quote by him:
"Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently, he starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of – throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace."
Pretty darn good stuff.
But there are countless things he said that would deal with the subject you're working on. Check him out.
2007-11-05 22:58:13 · answer #2 · answered by iamtheclerk 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Robert Sokolowski wrote a book called The God of Faith and Reason that is quite good on the topic.
Henri de Lubac wrote a book called The Drama of Atheistic Humanism that is a response to attacks by atheists written by a Catholic philosopher and theologian.
For other titles, check out www.promultis.com. They carry a great selection of books that would offer a reply to these works you mention.
2007-11-05 21:52:29 · answer #3 · answered by Jude & Cristen H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The book written by the prophets of God, the words of God which is called the Holy Bible, Old Testament and the New Testament. Before reading it ask the help of God to let you understand it and one reading is not enough to understand the words of God. Analization of the words is needed because most of the words written therein are parables which are hard to understand without the help and blessings of God.
jtm
2007-11-05 21:54:15 · answer #4 · answered by Jesus M 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
As long as you only want their take on religion.
Those who refuse to accept science ALWAYS do a really bad job whenever they talk about "why scientists are wrong" about science.
Sorry, I don't have any recommendations. The guy who wrote the Narnia series wrote some pro-religion stuff. C.S. Lewis.
2007-11-05 22:22:35 · answer #5 · answered by tehabwa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The King James Bible
by God our heavenly Father
Over 5 billion sold.
2007-11-05 22:00:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The best book I can recommend is 'The Cloud of Unknowing.' It's written by a medieval English monk.
I doubt that it's theist, but it is the absolute best book I have ever read.
2007-11-05 21:56:54 · answer #7 · answered by Chantal G 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist - Geisler and Turek. Very readable, covers a nice broad range of topics in the belief/non-belief realm. Highly recommend it.
2007-11-05 23:44:50 · answer #8 · answered by gm_inla 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How about "Jesus for the non-religious" by bishop Spong, He is a religious person writing about religious things but it's the religious people that have the most trouble with the stuff he talks about
2007-11-05 22:03:42 · answer #9 · answered by chocolateman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bible by far is the best. But if you are looking for something a bit more modern, check out any work by C.S. Lewis. My personal favorites are Mere Christianity, Miracles, and The Screwtape Letters.
2007-11-05 21:50:11 · answer #10 · answered by mlcros 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋