Download or read book The Atheist s Primer written by Michael Palmer and published by Lutterworth Press. This book was released on 2012-10-08 with total page 171 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Arguing that a 'new atheism', driven largely by Darwinian objections to God's existence, has limited debate to a scientific framework, The Atheist's Primer reinstates the importance of philosophy in the debate about God's existence and in so doing recovers the distinguished philosophical tradition of atheism, which Dawkins and others have obscured. Beginning with the Ancient Greeks and culminating with Hume, Michael Palmer provides the philosophical framework on which scientific objections to theism are hung. He explicates and comments on the thinking behind atheism, discussing issues such as evil, morality, miracles, and the motivations for belief. Although delving deeply into epistemological concerns, emphasising the disheartening limitations of man's capacity for knowledge and our materialist dependencies, Palmer concludes on a positive note arguing - alongside Nietzsche, Marx and Freud and many others - that happiness and personal fulfilment are to be found in the very materialism that religious belief rejects. An eloquent abridgment of his previous work, The Atheist's Creed, which was aimed at the educational market, The Atheist's Primer is written in fluent and concise prose, making it an accessible introduction for the general reader.

Download or read book The Atheist s Primer written by Malcolm Murray and published by Broadview Press. This book was released on 2010-04-06 with total page 277 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Athiest’s Primer is a concise but wide-ranging introduction to a variety of arguments, concepts, and issues pertaining to belief in God. In lucid and engaging prose, Malcom Murray offers a penetrating yet fair-minded critique of the traditional arguments for the existence of God. He then explores a number of other important issues relevant to religious belief, such as the problem of suffering and the relationship between religion and morality, in each case arguing that atheism is preferable to theism. The book will appeal to both students and professionals in the philosophy of religion, as well as general audiences interested in the topic.

Download or read book An Atheist Primer written by Madalyn Murray O'Hair and published by Amer Atheist Press. This book was released on 1978-01-01 with total page 30 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Atheist s Primer written by Michael Palmer and published by Lutterworth Press. This book was released on 2012-10-08 with total page 230 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Arguing that a 'new atheism', driven largely by Darwinian objections to God's existence, has limited debate to a scientific framework, The Atheist's Primer reinstates the importance of philosophy in the debate about God's existence and in so doing recovers the distinguished philosophical tradition of atheism, which Dawkins and others have obscured. Beginning with the Ancient Greeks and culminating with Hume, Michael Palmer provides the philosophical framework on which scientific objections to theism are hung. He explicates and comments on the thinking behind atheism, discussing issues such as evil, morality, miracles, and the motivations for belief. Although delving deeply into epistemological concerns, emphasising the disheartening limitations of man's capacity for knowledge and our materialist dependencies, Palmer concludes on a positive note arguing - alongside Nietzsche, Marx and Freud and many others - that happiness and personal fulfilment are to be found in the very materialism that religious belief rejects. An eloquent abridgment of his previous work, The Atheist's Creed, which was aimed at the educational market, The Atheist's Primer is written in fluent and concise prose, making it an accessible introduction for the general reader."

Download or read book Atheism for Beginners written by Michael Palmer and published by Lutterworth Press. This book was released on 2013-02-28 with total page 235 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'Hurray for Michael Palmer!' is how Michael Martin, the distinguished American philosopher, greeted Palmer's The Atheist's Primer (Lutterworth, 2012). Atheism for Beginners, by providing a 'coursebook for schools and colleges,' differs from its predecessor in being designed specifically for teachers and their students. Yet, although different in focus and format, the intention remains the same: to reinstate the importance of philosophy within the debate about God's existence and to act as a corrective tothe largely Darwinian criticisms levelled against religious belief by Richard Dawkins and the so-called 'new atheists'. So, in Palmer's lively history of atheism, extending from the ancient Greeks to the present day, we meet the enduring philosophical arguments against God and the great literature in which they are expressed. Atheism for Beginners is user-friendly and presumes no special grounding in philosophy. Throughout assistance is given by numerous aids to learning: there are exercises, marginal notes, essay questions, bibliographies and a glossary. Also provided are fourteen short biographies of famous atheists. In these respects Palmer follows the format first presented in his widely-read Moral Problems of 1991, long established as a core text inthe teaching of philosophy. In Atheism for Beginners, Palmer covers the main atheistic arguments, discussing issues such as creation, morality, evil, miracles and the motivations of belief. Particular attention is paid to the work of Hume, Marx, Nietzsche and Freud, with a special chapter devoted to the development of 'disproof atheism'. Atheism is often criticized for being unduly pessimistic: that without God there is nothing to look forward to, no life after death, no final righting of wrongs and no hope of salvation. But this, Palmer argues, is 'a slander against the atheistic outlook'. He concludes, therefore, on a positive note, explaining that happiness and personal fulfilment are to be found in the very materialism that religious belief rejects.

Download or read book An Atheist Primer written by Madalyn M. O'Hair and published by . This book was released on 1987 with total page 30 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book A Primer on God written by Jerome Jacob Rappoport and published by AuthorHouse. This book was released on 2019-12-11 with total page 274 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: OVERVIEW All volumes of The Equilibrium Texts are primers. Their only objective is to prime the pump; not fill the bucket. That’s the reader’s challenge and responsibility. This volume on GOD is the culmination of fifty years of reflection, introspection and experience that brought about this treatise concerning God. It is the author’s concentration on the subject of religion that was brought about by three non-eventful interactions that led him to develop The Equilibrium Texts in general and this volume on GOD in particular. The first was his mother’s unclear and unfulfilling answer to the question, “What’s the purpose of religion?” Her response was, “It’s a way of life.” The second was his English teacher’s snide remark in response to his assigned written philosophy about God, “My, aren’t you being superior to judge!” And the third was from a Catholic Navy chaplain in response to two questions, “Do you believe that God is a being?” He answered, No! “Then why did you deliver a sermon as if He was?” His response was, “Because, it’s the only form of language that some people understand.” It was due to these three semi-related encounters that stimulated the endeavor to discern what significance the concept of God held. This work leads from God, to G-d, to GOD; the culmination of the search for GOD’s cosmological meaning.

Download or read book The Atheist s Creed written by Michael Palmer and published by Lutterworth Press. This book was released on 2010-10-29 with total page 357 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In The Atheist's Creed a prominent and widely-read contemporary philosopher, Dr Michael Palmer, presents the most comprehensive anthology of the major philosophical arguments for atheism now before the public. While the so-called 'new atheism' of RichardDawkins and others has attracted considerable publicity, it is these philosophical arguments that have down the ages provided the principal landmarks in the unfolding and increasingly widespread belief that no God exists. Using a combination of extracts,detailed introductions, biographies and extensive bibliographies, the author guides the reader through the history of atheism, from the time of the early Greeks down to the present day. In this analysis particular attention is given to the writings of Hume, Nietzsche, Marx and Freud. The Atheist's Creed requires no specialist knowledge of philosophy. Each chapter is structured around a single theme and the various authors coordinated to allow the full force of the particular atheistic argument to emerge.The result is a compelling and powerful assessment of the case for atheism, which will be essential and fascinating reading for student and non-student alike and for all those concerned with the fundamental question: whether or not there is a God.

Download or read book A Is for Atheist written by Andrew Sneddon and published by Pitchstone Publishing (US&CA). This book was released on 2016-03-15 with total page 269 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Atheists may be among the fastest growing &“religious&” demographics in the world, but they are also perhaps the most misunderstood. To begin, atheists have no identifying marks, no defining habits, no obvious symbols, for all that unites them, essentially, is an absence of belief. As a result, many religious believers may not even realize they know atheists, whether as neighbors, friends, or coworkers. In addition, most major religions warn against the faithless and preach distrust of nonbelievers. This creates not only ignorance about what it's like to be an atheist, but also fear about the very idea of atheism. Organized like an encyclopedia, this book aims to rectify this widespread distrust and suspicion with basic understanding. Each entry, written in clear, concise language, covers a specific topic or question related to being an atheist, making this the perfect primer for anyone curious about or interested in atheism—whether to learn more about why someone might become an atheist, how someone creates meaning and purpose as an atheist, and what life is like as an atheist.

Download or read book A Companion to Atheism and Philosophy written by Graham Oppy and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2019-03-22 with total page 716 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: PROSE 2020 Single Volume Reference Finalist! Philosophers throughout history have debated the existence of gods, but it is only in recent years that the absence of such a belief has become a significant topic of philosophical analysis, in particular for philosophers of religion. Although it is difficult to trace the historical contours of atheism as the lack of belief in a higher power, the reasoned, reflective, and thoughtful rejection of theism has become commonplace in many modern intellectual circles, including academic philosophy where disciplinary data indicates that a large majority of philosophers self-identify as atheists. As the first book of its kind to bring together a collection of writing on the philosophical aspects of atheism both historical and contemporary, the Companion to Atheism and Philosophy stages an explicit, constructive, and comprehensive conversation between philosophy and atheism to examine the ways in which atheist thought intersects with ideas and positions from a variety of philosophical and theological sub-disciplines. The Companion begins by addressing the foundational questions and lingering controversies which underpin philosophical thought about atheism, exploring the implications of major developments in the history of philosophy for the modern atheistic worldview. Divided into eight distinct sections, essays consider a range of thinkers who were widely believed to have been atheists—including David Hume, Mary Wollstonecraft, Karl Marx, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton—and survey different kinds of objections to theism and atheism, including logical, evidential, normative, and prudential. Later chapters trace the relationship between atheism and metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and political philosophy oriented around topics such as pragmatism, postmodernism, freedom, education, violence, and happiness. Deftly curated and thoughtfully composed, A Companion to Atheism and Philosophy is the most ambitious and authoritative account of philosophical thinking on atheism available, and is a first-rate resource for academics, professionals, and students of philosophy, religious studies, and theology.

Download or read book Atheist Universe written by David Mills and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2006-08-04 with total page 281 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Using logic, common sense, philosophy, ethics, history, and science, the author rebuts every argument that claims to “prove” the existence of God. IS THERE REALLY A GOD? OR DOES GOD EXIST ONLY IN OUR HEADS? IS THE BIBLE TRULY GOD’S WORD? OR IS IT A JUMBLE OF FANCIFUL MYTHS? Atheist Universe details why God is unnecessary to explain the universe’s diversity, organization and beauty. Using simple, straightforward logic, this book rebuts every argument that claims to “prove” God’s existence. A comprehensive primer for countering today’s religious dogma, Atheist Universe addresses all the historical and scientific questions, including: •What is atheism, and why is it so misunderstood? •If God is a myth, then how did the universe appear? •Without God, is there an objective “right” and “wrong”? •What is the meaning of life without God? •Is there evidence of Jesus’s miracles and resurrection? •Can atheists explain “near death” experiences and medical miracles? •Can science and the Bible realistically be reconciled? •What is the behind-the-scenes relationship between politics and religion? “An admirable work.” —Richard Dawkins “David’s work will be very useful for anyone combating harmful religious beliefs. Honest, frank, and right to the point!”—Albert Ellis, Ph.D., father of modern psychotherapy, author of A Guide to Rational Living

Download or read book The Atheist Handbook to the Old Testament written by Joshua Aaron Bowen and published by . This book was released on 2021-05-24 with total page 430 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Old Testament is a fierce battleground for atheists and Christian apologists, with each side accusing the other of taking challenging and troubling passages out of context. In this handbook, Joshua Bowen not only provides the background to the Old Testament and the ancient Near East, but engages with hotly contested topics like slavery, failed prophecy, and the authorship of debated Old Testament books. This book provides: -clear and straightforward explanations to complex topics -direct engagement with hot-button Old Testament issues -specific arguments to help you in a debate or discussion. Whether you are looking to debate problematic Old Testament issues on social media or have a relaxed, meaningful discussion with a family member over coffee, The Atheist Handbook to the Old Testament is an indispensable resource for you.

Download or read book Born Believers written by Justin L. Barrett and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2012-03-20 with total page 305 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Infants have a lot to make sense of in the world: Why does the sun shine and night fall; why do some objects move in response to words, while others won’t budge; who is it that looks over them and cares for them? How the developing brain grapples with these and other questions leads children, across cultures, to naturally develop a belief in a divine power of remarkably consistent traits––a god that is a powerful creator, knowing, immortal, and good—explains noted developmental psychologist and anthropologist Justin L. Barrett in this enlightening and provocative book. In short, we are all born believers. Belief begins in the brain. Under the sway of powerful internal and external influences, children understand their environments by imagining at least one creative and intelligent agent, a grand creator and controller that brings order and purpose to the world. Further, these beliefs in unseen super beings help organize children’s intuitions about morality and surprising life events, making life meaningful. Summarizing scientific experiments conducted with children across the globe, Professor Barrett illustrates the ways human beings have come to develop complex belief systems about God’s omniscience, the afterlife, and the immortality of deities. He shows how the science of childhood religiosity reveals, across humanity, a “natural religion,” the organization of those beliefs that humans gravitate to organically, and how it underlies all of the world’s major religions, uniting them under one common source. For believers and nonbelievers alike, Barrett offers a compelling argument for the human instinct for religion, as he guides all parents in how to effectively encourage children in developing a healthy constellation of beliefs about the world around them.

Download or read book Atheism The Basics written by Graham Oppy and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2018-10-03 with total page 173 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Atheism: The Basics is a concise and engaging introduction to belief in the non-existence of deities. Atheism has long fascinated people but debate around this controversial position may seem daunting. In this lively and lucid book, Graham Oppy addresses the following important questions: • What does it mean to be an atheist? • What is the difference between atheism, agnosticism, theism and innocence? • How has atheism been distributed over time and place? • What does science tell us about atheism? • Are there good reasons to be an atheist? • Are there good reasons not to be an atheist? • What do we mean by ‘new atheism'? With a glossary of key terms and suggestions for further reading throughout, the book considers key philosophical arguments around atheism, making this an ideal starting point for anyone seeking a full introduction to the arguments between those who hold atheistic beliefs and those who do not.

Download or read book Early Christian Literature Primers The apostolic fathers and the apologists of the second century 2 The fathers of the third century 3 The post Nicene Greek fathers 4 The post Nicene Latin fathers written by George Anson Jackson and published by . This book was released on 1879 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Saint the Atheist written by Joseph S. Catalano and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2021-02-16 with total page 175 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It is hard to think of two philosophers less alike than St. Thomas Aquinas and Jean-Paul Sartre. Aquinas, a thirteenth-century Dominican friar, and Sartre, a twentieth-century philosopher and atheist, are separated by both time and religious beliefs. Yet, for philosopher Joseph S. Catalano, the two are worth bringing together for their shared concern with a fundamental issue: the uniqueness of each individual person and how this uniqueness relates to our mutual dependence on each other. When viewed in the context of one another, Sartre broadens and deepens Aquinas’s outlook, updating it for our present planetary and social needs. Both thinkers, as Catalano shows, bring us closer to the reality that surrounds us, and both are centrally concerned with the place of the human within a temporal realm and what stance we should take on our own freedom to act and live within that realm. Catalano shows how freedom, for Sartre, is embodied, and that this freedom further illuminates Aquinas’s notion of consciousness. ? Compact and open to readers of varying backgrounds, this book represents Catalano’s efforts to bring a lifetime of work on Sartre into an accessible consideration of philosophical questions by placing him in conversation with Aquinas, and it serves as a primer on key ideas of both philosophers. By bringing together these two figures, Catalano offers a fruitful space for thinking through some of the central questions about faith, conscience, freedom, and the meaning of life.

Download or read book The Atheist Debater s Handbook written by B. C. Johnson and published by Prometheus Books. This book was released on 2010-09-09 with total page 136 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This handbook is an attempt to offer a concise set of rejoinders for use by atheists in their formal (and informal) debates with theists. Older, more traditional, arguments are included as well as original arguments. The result is a short book, yet one that contains an unrelenting presentation of argument and analysis.For some time now atheists have been in need of firm grounds upon which to base their position. This handbook offers them this foundation.