Atheists: Can anyone suggest a good book on Atheism?

Question

I'm stuck between "The God delusion" and "God is not great: How religion poisons everything". I've heard the first one is pretty good. I don't know much about either author.

Suggestions are appreciated. Suggestions other than the two titles listed are also appreciated.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Start with "The God Delusion."
Then "God Is Not Great"

Other good ones:
"Letter to a Christian Nation" & "The End of Fath" by Sam Harris
"Fear, Faith, Fact, Fantasy", by John A. Henderson
"The Impossibility of God" Martin & Monnier
"Why Atheism?" & "Atheism: The Case Against God" George Smith

Answer 2

LOL!! How can a book that is clearly against religion and God, be a book about atheism? You are asking for a book about atheism, but yet you point out the two most popular atheist books, which as you said says is about religion poisons everything. That sounds like an opinion book to me.

If you want a good book about atheism read a book by a theist or ex-atheist. Because they at least will attempt to explain what atheism really is. Most atheist books are about why they think religion and god sucks.

Edit:
Try " The twilight of atheism"

Answer 3

I have the highest regard for Dawkins, but I don't think The God Delusion is particularly brilliant. Though it is streets ahead of some responses, for example the two Alister McGrath responses that I have read, that re-pose some of the questions that Dawkins poses, but don't answer them.

Actually, if you have the time to read Dawkins' The Ancestor's Tale that gives such a compelling understanding of the enormous wealth of investigation and facts that atheism kind-of follows. It makes a God, at least a God of the current major religion's kind, look absurd and the so called sacred books (despite containing lots of words of wisdom) just pathetic as the word of God.
Dawkins in the Ancestor's Tale corrected the idea I formerly had that science says we are descended from apes. He explained how we can measure time backwards an enormous distance by overlapping verifiable markers, writing, tree rings, carbon dating (and he explains how that works), geological layers. And he distinguishes human lineage from geneology (in the sense of genes). And the explanation for certain characteristics of species and species formation is very convincing.
A highly coherent, and believable story. Unlike the muddle that is the New or Old Testaments, or other Books.

Answer 4

I think that would depend on what kind of book you want to read. If you want a book that just "bashes" religion, I think you can find those all over the place. However, since atheism is not a religion and simply non-belief in a god-like entity, I would suggest a science book. The book that relieved me of doubts was " A Brief History of Time " by Stephen Hawking.

Answer 5

The fact is, Atheism is an abstract term, like that of God, and it cannot be proven. It is not possible to prove that God does not exist, in other words. The only reason one would have for attaching to a belief in the term Atheism is fear of the Unknown existing within oneself.

Ones subtle anxiety [which means rarely discerned] is so high that one is driven to attach to some external thing so as to convert ones anxiety [subtle MIND-level emotional energy] into thinking... and in the case of Atheism, upon this term itself. The label, as it were becomes ones god. And the more anxiety ones MIND registers the more "thinking" about ones god Atheism one does.

To read about that which cannot be proven is a waste of time. May I suggest spending this time reading about agnosticism... or words from those who are confused or not fully convinced about God?

Peace

Answer 6

Actually... before you go to either of those, I'd suggest "Atheism: The Case Against God" by George H. Smith.

Then I'd go with "god is not Great" by Hitchens, and THEN to "The God Delusion" by Dawkins.

There are also many online essays that you could read free of charge. I'd suggest "How to Defend Atheism": http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/george_smith/defending.html

and "The Argument from Theological Noncognitivism": http://www.strongatheism.net/library/atheology/argument_from_noncognitivism/

Answer 7

Being and Nothingness- Jean Paul Sartre: Explains the consequences of an atheistic position in reality, very good read.

The Rebel- Albert Camus: Explains the hopelessness of one's cause in life.

Anything by Nietzsche (Zarathustra and The Antichrist): Ranging from "God is Dead" to etc.

Why I am not a Christian- Bertrand Russell: Good arguments can be found in this book.

Answer 8

The Bible is the best pro-Atheist book.
It's like that song, "Things That Make You Go Hmmmm...?"

I have not read "The God Delusion" yet, but I'm on the list at the library. Apparently there's a lot of people interested in facts, or that book wouldn't be checked out so frequently.

Answer 9

I have been a non-believer for well over three quarters of a century , and have never read any books on Atheism . I am an avid reader , but I don't require books or study in order to not be superstitious .

Answer 10

Being that Atheism is a word that is mind boggling crazy...there is no such thing as an adoctor....why an Atheist? Anyway....being an Atheist is easy and simple...you don't need a book....believe in no religion and try to just be happy and enjoy the only life you got....if that's what you believe.