Reviews (112)

Dawkins doesn't believe in God. So what?
This book just tells us what we already know: atheists like Richard Dawkins don't believe in God! So what?
Misunderstanding of Hindu Deities
I will only comment on the attempt by Richard Dawkins to make Hindu dharma a polytheistic religion. Presumably he thinks the existence of numerous Deities show that Hindu dharma is polytheistic. What he does not realize is that polytheism/monotheism are western categories. Hindu Darshanas (Darsana means points of view and is translated as philosophy by western translators) are classified principally as Advaita (NOT TWO), Vishistadvaita (Qualified unity) and Dvaita (Two). Advaita says that only the Ultimate Reality, Brahman, exists. Vishistadvaita says that Brahman is the sum of God,living creatures and the world (hence it is called Qualified One) . Dvaita says that God and the world with its living creature are eternally different (hence it is called the TWO system).
A message from the Middle World
There is a challenge in reviewing a book of this sort - being "objective".Customers want reviewers to stand aside from prejudices when they assess an item's value as a purchase.It's a stance nearly impossible with this book - few people are indifferent to their perceived gods.
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Subjects:  1. Atheism    2. General    3. God    4. Irreligion    5. Religion    6. Religion - Socialissues    7. Religion - World Religions    8. Spirituality - General    9. Religion / General   

Reviews (116)

A welcome antidote to the rising tide of ignorance and superstition
David Mills' "Atheist Universe" is a lucid presentation of the rationalist viewpoint on the nature of our world and how it can be explained without resorting to mysticism and unprovable assertions about a Supreme Being.In it, Mills carefully lays out the reasons why we needn't assume the existence of a God (or gods) to understand natural phenomena, and demolishes numerous assertions and teachings of religious and spiritualist propagandists.
Basic scientific evidence, but a bit uneven
It's actually extremely amazing that a book like this would be written in the 21 stcentury. The scientific credibility of the Bible and religious interpretations of the natural world have been completely discredited since the middle of the 19th century and well before that for many. It hardly seems necessary to rehash and debunk Christian beliefs concerning the age of the universe, planetary motion, evolution, the evidence of miracles, intelligent design, etc. For those who need these arguments to prop up newly found doubt, here they are.
Brilliant
This is simply the best book I've read regarding atheism in the past twenty years.As a former evangelist and seminary graduate, I found this book to be a simple, yet profound, clarification and summarization of the issues that need to be honestly addressed by all believers and truth-seekers today.We've now had the benefit of centuries of scientific data, and it's time that we deal with those data forthrightly and avoid the mistakes of our forefathers.For them it may have been more permissible to misunderstand the science, but for us today it can only be a brazen and embarrassingly oafish recalcitrance that would cause us to ignore the facts at hand.David exposes the truth and addresses the data in a manner in which there can be no misunderstanding, or refutation, of what to the honest truth-seeker has to be obvious, and no longer controversial.The facts are in, and David pulls all the salient data together in a brilliantly written exposition.There are other books that are more technical, but none that are more lucid, succinct, contemporary, and saturated with the intellectual response that we must provide to the facts. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Atheism    2. Religion    3. Religion - World Religions    4. Religion, Politics & State    5. Sociology Of Religion    6. U.S. - Contemporary Politics    7. Religion / Atheism    8. Religion: general    9. USA   

Reviews (209)

Sad Story But Inevitable Outcome (new review)
It is sad to hear that a 19 year old priest that gave his all just one day realised it was all in vain. One who chooses to be a priest should be convinced before he begins that God exists and that he knows God otherwise what happened to Barker is going to happen to anyone. Barker's case should be a test case, only ordain priests that are certain about their faith and are not going to loose it later down the track. Not everyone can be a priest, it takes faith, it takes a change of life, it takes commitment, it means that when you're put to the test as Barker was you don't fold. You can believe in vain the bible makes this very clear and Barker knows it all too well!
Clear, concise reasoning
Dan Barker provides clear and concise reasoning in refuting the bible's claims, as well as claims that a god exists.A must have for anyone doubting religion, as well as for those who have overly religious relatives.

A must have for rational thought
I love this book and think anyone who doesn't just follow should read as well as own. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Atheism    2. Faith    3. Philosophy / Religious    4. Religion    5. Religion - Christian Life    6. Religion / Atheism    7. Christianity    8. Controversial works    9. Free thought    10. Humanism    11. Philosophy    12. Religious   

Reviews (14)

As good for reference as for reading straight through...
I have a couple of habits loathed by purist bibliophiles--dog-earing pages and highlighting/annotating passages. This is one of those rare books in which the dog-earing ends up being virtually useless for review because it was a rare page that didn't have some thought or reference making a folded corner ostensibly worthwhile.
System philosophy, missed oportunity
At last, I'm finding time to sit down and write a review of Richard Carrier's Sense and Goodness Without God. As I mentioned, further parts may follow; this part is focused on general quality over the specific ideas.
simply amazing
What a cogent and complete discussion of naturalism, from philosophy to science. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Atheism    2. General    3. Philosophy   

Reviews (241)

nicely played
I would appreciate it if people would report on the books, and not on their personal opinions of those without theism. this was one of the most readable and enjoyable books I've read on the matter, and caused a turning point in my lack of believe when it caused me to realize that I had no need to be on the defensive, that it was not my job to validate anything, but rather the job of the people with a positive belief. Nothing I could type would cover it as well as Lawrence Louis' review, and I highly recommend scrolling down to read it. this was a book I would have gladly payed more for.

You can save time and Just Click NO below, if you wish
There is something instantly recognizable about certain kinds of debaters - something about the eyes, the constantly-present smirk, the readiness to cry, "Oh, yeah?"
Covered Most of the Bases
This is a good book that covers most of the bases and gives a lot of valid reasons why religion and god or gods are falsehoods. Smith also gives some of the history of the philosophy of Reason.
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Subjects:  1. Atheism    2. Christianity    3. Christianity - History - General    4. Controversial literature    5. Religion - Socialissues    6. Agnosticism & atheism   

Reviews (7)

Etz Hayim Commentary
I am extremely satisfied with this commentary, as I am a Torah student, and this adds to the volume of material I require for such study, especially with the fact that it is the latest in Conservative theology.

quick notes about the mini edition
-i like the cover stock, paper stock, and binding on the small edition. as long as you're somewhere in the middle it can stay open on your desk without you having to push on it, and the texture is a neat simulation of the leather original.
Etz Hayim
I consider this to be one of the finest torah translations and commentaries written. It is a pity that the travel edition font is so small as to be unreadable without a magnifier It would have been far better to see it produced in two volumes in a larger more readable font size. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Atheism    2. Bible    3. Bible - Study - Old Testament    4. Bible.    5. Commentaries    6. Conservative Judaism    7. Customs and practices    8. Haftarot    9. Judaism    10. Judaism - Sacred Writings    11. O.T    12. O.T.    13. Pentateuch    14. Religion    15. Religion - Judaism    16. Biblical concordances & commentaries    17. Books of the New Testament   

Reviews (16)

Hoped for more...
I have enjoyed Fox's other work (namely Pagans and Christians), but this was perhaps one of the worst critical works on the Bible.Fox's alleged discrepencies are so "already been there" that I wonder if he took the time to read any of the leading works on the subject (for instance Gleason Archer's works).
The UN-researched Version
I have never written a review of a book that I did not read, but I must admit that I started this book but gave up on page 198. Therefore, my review is of only the first half of the book. Important questioning
The first time I picked up Robin Lane Fox's 'The Unauthorised Version: Truth and Fiction in the Bible', I was intrigued. While this was hardly the first time I had heard the historical information of the bible questioned in terms of accuracy or even plausibility, it was I believe the first time I had ever heard the word fiction applied in a serious way (the title, no less!) to consideration of the bible. Read more

Subjects:  1. Atheism    2. Bible    3. Bible Commentary    4. Controversial literature    5. Evidences, authority, etc    6. Religion    7. Biblical concordances & commentaries    8. Religion / General   

Subjects:  1. Atheism    2. General    3. Religion    4. Religion - World Religions    5. Agnosticism & atheism    6. Religion / General   

Reviews (4)

A manual for humanistic Judaism
A simple, straight forward presentation of Humanistic Judaism, with cultural and historical informtion about Jewish customs and holidays. It is especially useful in sorting out what's worth keeping, and what's not, for those who don't believe in god but want to stay Jewish.

Like I said before -- Jewshness is BOTH culture and religion
I'm giving this book five stars, NOT because I agree with its theology (I most certainly do NOT - I myself am a religious Jew) but because it is well-written and thought provoking in its own genre.Judith Seid is a "cultural Jew," that is, a Jew who relates to the history, music, art, customs and traditions of Judaism in a secular way, but who does not believe in God or "the religion."Her book explores non-theistic ways that cultural Jews can connect with their heritage. (Isaac Asimov would have loved this book -- he was just such a cultural Jew.)
A fascinating perspective on secular Judaism
"God-Optional Judaism," by Judith Seid, is an intriguing book that offers an answer to the question: Do you have to believe in God to be a practicing Jew? Seid says "No."Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Atheism    3. Humanistic Judaism    4. Judaism    5. Judaism - General    6. Judaism - Rituals & Practice    7. Religion    8. Religion - Judaism    9. Secularism    10. Religion / Judaism / General   

Reviews (18)

This Idiot's review of an Idiot's Book
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Jewish History and Culture is a must read for anyone who is even remotely interested in the Jewish culture or knows a Jewish person. This books takes you into the history and culture of Jewish people. It explores what it really means to be Jewish, why we are who we are, and how you can better understand us.
Only OK
I did not find this book to be as comprehensive as I would have liked. For instance, the only holidays he really explains are Purim, Hanukkah, and Yom Ha-Shoah. He mentions Yom Kippur only in passing; considering it is the most important Jewish holiday, I think merited much more explanation. There was no mention of Rosh Hashanah. I did find the coincidences of tragedy falling on Tisha B'Av interesting -- I definitely did not know that so many devastating events, from the destruction of both Temples to the expulsion of Jews from Spain all occurred on the same day. Rabbi Blech's notion that it is a message from God certainly seems plausible.
Complete Idiot's Guide to Jewish History and Culture
I found this book a very simplistic, condescending work. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Atheism    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History Of Judaism    5. Jewish - General    6. Jews    7. Judaism    8. Religion    9. Cultural studies    10. History of specific racial & ethnic groups    11. Jewish studies    12. Religion / Judaism / General   

Reviews (5)

A Patriot, A Republican of Integrity
What I realized from this book is that my ancestors, who where were life long Republicans, have no relationship to the Republicans of today.Ingersoll represents the party of Lincoln, Grant, and TR.
Interesting but no more
If you are interested in his work and thoughts and not very interested in his personal characteristics and when he did what this book is probably not for you. Thoroughly researched though.

The best Ingersoll Biography
The best (albeit the ONLY) biography I've ever read on Ingersoll. Anyone with more than just a pssing interest in RGI should read this. Not too long, but long enough to introduce this great man to those of us who will never have the pleasure of meeting him in the flesh. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1833-1899    2. Agnostics    3. Atheists    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography / Lawyers & Judges    6. Free thought    7. Ingersoll, Robert Green,    8. Lawyers    9. Orators    10. Religion / Atheism    11. United States   

Subjects:  1. Atheism    2. Ethics    3. History & Surveys - General    4. Metaphysics    5. Naturalism    6. Philosophy    7. Political science    8. Speculative Philosophy    9. Agnosticism & atheism   

Reviews (10)

An Incomplete Presentation of the Facts
Many differences between Christianity and the religions that the author has studied are not mentioned in this book, and even further, some of the religious accounts that the author talks about are disputed.
Jackson can only go as far as he knows, just as anyone else
The reason why so many so-called pagans have similar stories about a Egyptian base story is because influence travels fast.This was definitely the result of certain African groups who were part of the Egyptian-Nubian expansions, preferably the Dravidians, (A Nubian Group) who settled in India, Asia, and the middle east, that was later occupied by Asians and Indo-Euro's who gradually invaded the settled places of the Dravidians for different reasons.Through out African history, Africans, especially the Egyptian-Nubians allowed Euro-Asians and Indo-Euro's to study in Egypt, as did the Dravidian-Nubians.At later times the Asiatic-Euro-Indo's grew in large numbers and turned into conquerers as this was a more suitable means for pastoral expansion via the constant migration of nomadic counterparts who decided to become farmers and needed the land of the Dravidians, and, for other reasons, such as racist segregation, which existed in India way before it did in Europe.Truthfully people will adopt other people's ideas be it for assimilation reasons to survive under some larger groups onesided views or because new concepts can have a socio-political promise to strengthen ones society through the order of a influentual neighbor.It is not hard to trace Taoism back to Egypt and Africa as a whole, just as it is not hard to see the story of Zoroastrianism being the result of the Persian conquest of Egypt which went back and forth in who was victorious and who influenced who.Just as it is not hard to see that the whole story of christ through out antiquity was the result of influence, not a prophetic phenomenon that took place in isolation with different societies.At any given time it has been evident of different societies to syncretize someone elses beliefs and practices with there own, so, what Mr. Jackson presents should be of no alarm just as the view of everyone coming from a common ancestor from Africa, and not from a multi-human-evolution view, which there is no concrete evidence for.There are better books than this one that will give a clear picture of paganism-christianity from Egyptian philosophy.I recommend for any seeker, the work of "Muata Ashby" who does a better job of explainig how christianity came to be from antiquity to the modern day practices.buy "African Origins 1,2,3 and "The Mystical Journey From Jesus To Christ." all by Dr. Muata A. Ashby.

Just the facts jack!
Apparentlly Louis didnt understand this book.Christianity is the result of greeks and Romans making there own belief system by modifying the Black Egyptian concepts, indeed the Greeks and Romans were pagan being that they distorted a system that was already complete to its followers.So, it is anyones opinion of who is a pagan or not, christianity has no more validation of being the truth than ppl who worship a frog as a god.Indeed, Louis, there was a established uncorrupted religion before the christendom, it is exactly what this author speaks of, duh! so since the whole christian doctrine, (concepts and events) comes from Egytian doctrine and history you figure out who is the teacher and the student. (pun intended)Just as Mr. Jackson showed and proved, there were civilized ppl before a so called jesus christ, and just as Anubis said, Egyptians taught that existence came from a Monotheistic source but you could not know this source by any other means but its neter(made visible Truth), meaning its actions of manifesting, which is why all human beings are gods because they are the manifested neter or neteru along with all other visible things that are experienced relatively.It would help most who critique ones work if they leave their bias opinion and emotions to the side to view a different point of view which is equipted with more facts than faith or fear of a sovereign god. For the record what is called god is not a thingbut subjective consciousness only what is created can be a thing because a thing is what is objectified (created), for, no one can see consciousness, you know you are because of awareness of beiing, which is consciousness, therefore, should not be viewed as something that is known to a seperate entity indeed this way of viewing existence is self defeating and laughable at best.The whole view of consciousness in the brain is no different than a human in a space suit to experience a different reality without air, and yet humans know that they exist prior and beyond the space suit and so the same is known for the conscious and brain connection, indeed, consciousness and conscious experience are not the same reality, one created and controls the development of the other, this is why Egyptians taught that everyone is god. What are you made of?, dirt, blood, water, neuron pulses, blah blah blah, these ingredient are created things which come from god so therefore are all space particles are god just as humans are.Without intentionality there can be no experiences, all worlds and beliefs comes from consciousness( all encompassing GOD), which cannot come from anything, in order for things to be created there has to already exist an intelligent source but I wouldnt call this the christian god since that concept for most is distorted and incomplete and defames the Egyptian concepts and perception of Maat which taught that all things come from the same source including human beings.When humans speak of a god they are speaking about a subject which is the (thing) but not the actual experience of (what is) through perception rather than ignorant concecption. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Atheism    2. Religion    3. Religion - World Religions   

Reviews (16)

No surprise, God was not found.
This is worth reading, but more slowly than regular nonfiction.Neither Dr. Stenger nor science found a deity of any sort, and this is not surprising.Unlike many current writers, this author argues "the case of god" from the area of his expertise.This is why the book reads so well, and why it is an excellent choice for serious reading.
I'm laughing...but amazed,anyway,at Stenger's leaps
"Has Science Found God?" by Victor Stenger
keep your minds open
This guy did the best an atheist can but I suggest anyone reading keep their minds open and read alternative views eg: the wonder of the world by varghese. Although brave attempts are made to explain for eg why there is something rather than nothing you would find upon further study an eternal non intelligence is as unexplainable as an eternal intelligence as the ultimate source of anything. Even so there are many many things about reality you would find as you look deeper from alternative views that require that the ultimate source of everything be intelligent. By the way can Mr Stenger create anything that somehow just occured ultimately without cause which is what you must believe if you are an atheist? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Atheism    2. General    3. Philosophy & Social Aspects    4. Psychology of Religion    5. Religion    6. Religion & Science    7. Religion And Science    8. Science    9. Science/Mathematics    10. Christianity    11. Science: General Issues   

Reviews (6)

Thought-provoking ...
A thought-provoking book for those who wish to look long and deliberately at their everday American (or modern western) life. Is there a living, personal, and triune God in its midst? What David Wells did in three books (No Place for Truth, God in the Wastleand, Losing our Virtue), Gay does in one. (By the way, don't pay attention to the four stars; the fifth is only for literary masterpieces.)
An Outstanding work of Christian Scholarship
This is one of the best and most insightful (and dare I say important?) books I have ever read. It's clarity, depth of insight and profundity have few equals in contemporary scholarship. I am reminded, reading this book, of the first time I ever read Francis Schaeffer's "How Should We Then Live?" This book is equally profound in its insight and implications, but is a much better work of applied scholarship than that one is.

Subjects:  1. Atheism    2. Christianity - Christian Life - General    3. Christianity - General    4. Christianity - Theology - General    5. Christianity and culture    6. Philosophy Of Christianity    7. Religion    8. Religion - Theology    9. Secularism    10. Sociology of Religion    11. Agnosticism & atheism    12. Christianity    13. Philosophy of religion   

Reviews (3)

More aptly titled "Why I Am an Atheist"
I agree with the first reviewer here, but I'd like to add why I was disappointed by this book.If I could have read it in a book store, I would never have bought it.Understand that I was looking for a book that would confirm that I am an agnostic, neither a theist nor an atheist, and therefore expected arguments of why I should believe in God as well as why I should not.
A Functional Conversation Piece
Clarence Darrow, defendant at the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trail, expounds upon his beliefs toward the end of his life.