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Why We Are Atheists
Udo Schuklenk, Russell Blackford
ISBN: 9781405190466
Format: Paperback
Publisher:John Wiley and Sons Ltd
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* A thought-provoking collection of original essays that address personal disbelief in a higher power* Features a truly international cast of professionals in the fields of academia, science, literature, media and politics, ranging from public intellectuals such as Peter Singer, Susan Blackmore, and A.C.
50 Voices of Disbelief: Why We Are Atheists presents a collection of original essays drawn from an international group of prominent voices in the fields of academia, science, literature, media and politics who offer carefully considered statements of why they are atheists. * Features a truly international cast of contributors, ranging from public intellectuals such as Peter Singer, Susan Blackmore, and A.C. Grayling, novelists, such as Joe Haldeman, and heavyweight philosophers of religion, including Graham Oppy and Michael Tooley* Contributions range from rigorous philosophical arguments to highly personal, even whimsical, accounts of how each of these notable thinkers have come to reject religion in their lives* Likely to have broad appeal given the current public fascination with religious issues and the reception of such books as The God Delusion and The End of Faith
| ISBN | 1405190469 | | Pages | 360 | | ISBN13 | 9781405190466
(What's this?) | | Weight (grammes) | 530 | | Publisher | John Wiley and Sons Ltd | | Published in | Chicester | | Imprint | Wiley-Blackwell (an imprint of John Wiley & Sons Ltd) | | Height (mm) | 229 | | Format | Paperback | | Width (mm) | 154 | | Publication date | 02 Oct 2009 | | Spine width (mm) | 20 | | DEWEY | 211.80922 | | Academic level | Professional / Scholarly | | DEWEY edition | DC22 | |
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| Introduction | | Now More Important than Ever - Voices of Reason by Russell Blackford and Udo Schuklenk | | 1 | | | | Unbelievable! by Russell Blackford | | 5 | | | | My "Bye Bull" Story by Margaret Downey | | 10 | | | | How Benevolent Is God? - An Argument from Suffering to Atheism by Nicholas Everitt | | 16 | | | | A Deal-Breaker by Ophelia Benson | | 23 | | | | Why Am I a Nonbeliever? - I Wonder ... by J. L. Schellenberg | | 28 | | | | Wicked or Dead? Reflections on the Moral Character and Existential Status of God by John Harris | | 33 | | | | Religious Belief and Self-Deception by Adele Mercier | | 41 | | | | The Coming of Disbelief by J. J. C. Smart | | 48 | | | | What I Believe by Graham Oppy | | 50 | | | | Too Good to Be True, Too Obscure to Explain: The Cognitive Shortcomings of Belief in God by Thomas W. Clark | | 57 | | | | How to Think About God: Theism, Atheism, and Science by Michael Shermer | | 65 | | | | A Magician Looks at Religion by James Randi | | 78 | | | | Confessions of a Kindergarten Leper by Emma Tom | | 82 | | | | Beyond Disbelief by Philip Kitcher | | 86 | | | | An Ambivalent Nonbelief by Taner Edis | | 97 | | | | Why Not? by Sean M. Carroll | | 105 | | | | Godless Cosmology by Victor J. Stenger | | 112 | | | | Unanswered Prayers by Christine Overall | | 118 | | | | Beyond Faith and Opinion by Damien Broderick | | 123 | | | | Could It Be Pretty Obvious There's No God? by Stephen Law | | 129 | | | | Atheist, Obviously by Julian Baggini | | 139 | | | | Why I am Not a Believer by A. C. Grayling | | 145 | | | | Evil and Me by Gregory Benford | | 157 | | | More... | | |
"The international cast of contributors includes many well-known names, from a diversity of fields-notably philosophy (about a third of the writers are philosophers) science, journalism, politics and science fiction. By no means do they agree on everything, but the unifying themes of rejection of conventional religions and acceptance of secular humanism shine through brightly. A descriptive list of contributors and an excellent index complement the essays, many of which are accompanied by useful endnotes and references." (Quadrant, September 2010) "It was mostly fascinating reading, in particular, those articles that abstained from using dull polemics and cynicism. Some of the articles-most notably from Nicholas Everitt, Thomas W. Clark, Michael Shermer, Peter Tatchell, Michael Tooley, and Udo Schuklenk-can indeed be used in undergraduate courses concerned with the existence of God in philosophy, ethics, and theology. I recommend this volume especially for all those who need to grasp a general and easy introduction into atheistic reasoning." (Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, 2010) "I recommend this volume especially for all those who need to grasp a general and easy introduction into atheistic reasoning." (Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, 2010)“The essays in this book reveal a great concern for our human plight, a concern that is the equal of religious impulses; they raise a richness of issues that are too often ignored, including the ultimate fear of the theists that perhaps in time it may well be possible to settle the question of God's existence. The fifty voices in this book have spoken out with more than a small amount of courage. What emerges from thinking about these essays is a realization of what human reason is up against, within ourselves." (Free Inquiry, August/September 2010) "Good writing and clear thinking don't always go hand in hand. It's a pleasure, then, to find both in a recent book about going it alone -- no deus ex machina for us, please -- titled 50 Voices of Disbelief: Why We Are Atheists. In one volume, edited by Russell Blackford and Udo Schuklenk, you'll find idiosyncratic essays by a range of atheists from science fiction authors and philosophers to scientists and activists." (Psychology Today, Creating in Flow Blog, May 2010) "Many of the pieces in this book are full of superior contempt for the intellectual inadequacy of theism. Tatchell is forthright in his criticism of religion, but he never sneers. The essays in this book are all clearly argued, and will reassure the already faithful that they are neither daft nor deluded." (Church Times, April 2010) "The contemporary relevance,and timeliness of this book is unsurpassed. It is ... an account of various well known non-believers [and] personal viewpoints, directed at a popular audience. Very approachable at all levels, containing a wide range of stories, anecdotes and personal statements about why each of the authors considers themselves to be a non believer. Overall, this book is well suited for a mainstream audience, interested in questioning the power that religion holds over our lives. It [also] has good references ... which will also serve to guide the reader if further information is wanted. Thus, I recommend this book to anyone (regardless of their views concerning religion) interested in understanding why different people hold certain views concerning religion." (Metapsychology, April 2010) "By turns witty, serious, engaging and information, it is always human and deeply honest, and immensely rewarding to read." (Times Higher Education Supplement, December 2009) "Carefully considered statements … .Contributions range from rigorous philosophical arguments to highly personal, even whimsical, accounts of how each of these notable thinkers have come to reject religion in their lives. Likely to have broad appeal." (Australian Atheist, November 2009) "I am strong
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