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The 101+ Book Atheism Library!
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Scott Adams
(of Dilbert Comics)God's Debris
by Scott AdamsThis Month's Treasure!
"A belief in God would demand 100%
obsessive devotion, influencing every
waking moment of this brief life on earth."
-- Scott Adams (God's Debris, pg 28)~ Pick up a copy for a friend! ~
amazon.com
Featured: Pulitzer Prize Winner!
Guns, Germs, and Steel:
The Fates of Human Societies
by Jared Diamond
Hardcoveramazon.com
Hold on to your hats!
Lee Smolin, a professor at the
Center for Gravitational
Physics and Geometry at
Pennsylvania State University,
is about to take you on
The ride of your life!
The Life of the Cosmos
by Lee Smolin~ Pick up a copy for a friend! ~
1. Holy Horrors: An Illustrated History of Religious Murder and Madness, by James A. Haught
"Chronicles the grim spectrum of religious persecution from ancient times to the present."
2. Ken's Guide to the Bible, by Ken Smith
"The world's most complete compendium of the Bible's most embarrassing
passages. With hammerhead precision and pig-iron wit, this compact volume
lays bare all the sex, gore, and lunacy that the Bible has to offer."
amazon.com
The Jesus Mysteries:
Was the 'Original Jesus' a Pagan God?by Timothy Freke, Peter Gandy
Amazon.com
Why the Religious Right Is Wrong:
About Separation of Church & StateRobert Boston, Barry W. Lynn
A journalist's account of how the religious right is using the political
arena to wage war against the governing principle of separation of church and
state to promote their ultraconservative agenda. The dangers of the
Religious Right movement - Rob Boston presents an intelligent, well written
argument against the threat of the Religious Right movement in America. He
traces church-state relations from several hundred years ago to the present day
and confronts the non-seperationists with zeal and passion.3. Who Wrote the New Testament? The Making of Christian Myth, by Burton L. Mack
"I am very selective about books I choose to buy and display; I prefer
those that can really make a difference or illustrate a method or a new
perspective. Mack's book does an excellent job of debunking and
explaining the Christian myth and deserves widespread reading. If
superstition and myth can be recognized and understood as such,
society will be strengthened and enriched.It is like the Emperor's
New Clothes - someone has pointed at the Emperor and written an
accessible and enlightening book on the subject."
The Holy Qur'an: Text,
Translation & CommentaryAbdullah Yusuf Ali (Editor)
4. The Dark Side of Christian History, by Helen Ellerbe
"Over a period of nearly two millennia, the Christian Church has
oppressed and brutalized millions of individuals. Meticulously
researched and courageously written, this book examines the
Church's devastating impact upon human freedom, dignity and
spirituality."
5. Why I Am Not a Christian, and Other Essays on Religion and Related Subjects,
by Bertrand Arthur Russell
"Great book, solid arguments, a challenge to believers. Russell's
easy-to-understand logic dominates the work, presenting an almost
watertight case against contemporary mythology. Christians of the
world beware: this book will change your life forever."
"You find as you look around the world that every single bit of progress in humane feeling, every improvement in the criminal law, every step toward the diminution of war, every step toward better treatment of the colored races, or every mitigation of slavery, every moral progress that there has been in the world, has been consistently opposed by the organized churches of the world. I say quite deliberately that the Christian religion, as organized in its churches, has been and still is the principal enemy of moral progress in the world." -- Bertrand Russell, "Why I'm Not a Christian" Read it here.
Another opinion:
A reader from State College, PA , March 12, 1999:
Poor logic, sophistic arguments. The title of this book should be "Why I Am Not Better Known" since the poor logic and sophistic arguments show only too well why philosophy students skip right over Russell and read more influential authors. Any dogmatist will embrace a well constructed argument against his position, but this is not one.[ED: Bertrand Russell and Alfred Whitehead also wrote the definitive Principia Mathematica]
From
Amazon.com6. Problems of Philosophy, by Bertrand Arthur Russell
"Bertrand Russell at his best. He is discussing different aspects of
philosophy and why you need philosophy. This is a very good starting
point for further philosophical readings. This book is a must in every
human beings bookshelf who are interested in the way we people think."
7. 2000 Years of Disbelief: Famous People With the Courage to Doubt, by James A. Haught
"The English speaking world rarely acknowledges the many and varied gifts that 'disbelievers' have bestowed upon humanity. Churchmen generally contend that great figures in history, such as America's founders, were conventional believers. But author James A. Haught demonstrates that this just isn't true."
8. The Jesus Legend, by G.A. Wells
"In this forcefully argued book, Wells presents evidence for the thesis that the New Testament writings form a part of a developing legendary tradition concerning the earthly life of Jesus. Wells engages incisively the works of the most ardent critics of the mythicist view of Jesus. . .his critical treatment is nothing less than exemplary."
9. A History of the Arab Peoples, by Albert Hourani
(for an understanding of the origins of Islam)
"Encyclopedic and panoramic in its scope, this fascinating work chronicles the rich spiritual, political, and cultural institutions of Arab history through 13 centuries."
amazon.com
A Natural History of Rape :
Biological Bases of Sexual Coercion
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any information.
10. The Case Against Christianity, by Michael Martin
(logical examination of Christianity by a professional philosopher)
"This book is logically thorough and destroys Christianity on all
important evidential and rational grounds, although I doubt that
any whose faith has been sufficient thus far will be led to de-convert.
It will however expose them to the fact that they have no rational
grounds for their belief."
11. Age of Reason, by Thomas Paine
12. The Dead Sea Scrolls Deception,
by Michael Baigent-Richard Leigh"Through a careful study of the scrolls, historical analysis, and interviews with scholars, the authors establish a view of Christianity that challenges the Church's adamantly defended 'facts'. Investigates why the contents of the earliest biblical manuscripts, found forty years ago, are still being withheld from the general public and studies unpublished materials that provide some startling new views about the early Christians. Not for the theologically faint of heart."
13. Dead Sea Scrolls, The Complete Story, by Dr. Jonathan G. Campbell
"Campbell is particularly good on the Scrolls' historical setting and builds up a convincing picture of the development of different strands of religious thought, belief and practice within second temple period Judaism. If you approach this book without prejudice, as Campbell does the available facts, you will come to understand the origins of modern Judaism and Christianity."
14. The Psychological Origins of the Resurrection Myth, by Jack A. Kent
Reviewer: Edward Tuddenham from London October 29, 1999
"Although Hugh Schoenfield's Passover plot went some way towards explaining the events of Ca. 30 CE and other authors have exposed the huge discrepancies of the gospel accounts there has always been something missing in these revisions; namely an explanation for the core experiences which led to belief in a physical resurrection of Jesus. Jack Kent's book triumphantly fills that gap by showing that the pattern and timing of those first Easter experiences exactly fits the pattern of modern day bereavement hallucinations. Did you know that 50% of the bereaved report some kind of hallucination of the lost loved one? Including all the types of 'appearance reported in the Gospels and Acts. Paul of Tarsus' Damascus road experience was a prototypical conversion reaction. So after 2000 years of an illusion we finally get the real answer. Well done Jack! "
"This groundbreaking volume features revelatory material--available primarily for the first time. These 50 documents cast a startling light on events in Palestine at the dawn of Christianity, alluding not only to doctrines we now recognize as Christian, but also to the precursors of Islam and Jewish Kabbalism."
amazon.com
The Astonishing Hypothesis:
The Scientific Search
for the Soul
by
Francis Crickamazon.com
Godel, Escher, Bach:
An Eternal Golden Braid
by
Douglas R. Hofstadter
16. Holy Blood, Holy Grail, by Michael Baigent, Henry Lincoln, Richard Leigh
"A brilliant read, see how history was changed and manipulated by the church. See how a poor French monk thumbed his nose at the pope, and because he discovered the "real truth". The church was terrified of him. The more you read of this book the more you become disgusted of religion."
17. The Messianic Legacy, by Michael Baigent, Henry Lincoln, Richard Leigh
"Don't read it if you have a weak stomach or your not able to think for yourself other than what the priesthood tells you. It's another eye-opener!!! The authors further dissect elements of the life and times of Jesus and go on to discuss the development of the schism between Jesus's followers lead by his family members and the group of so-called "christians" lead by Paul. The method of these historians is breathtaking in its scope and elegance."
"The author has shown how easily religions' votaries were ensnared, deceived, and mentally bound in a labyrinth of falsehood and error. The history of the origin of one religion will, with slight alterations, serve to describe them all. Their claim to credence rests on the exhibition of miracles which are a violation of the laws of nature. If religions were founded on the demonstrated truths of science, there would be no mystery, no supernaturalism, no miracles, no skepticism, no false religion. We would have only verified truths and demonstrated facts for the basis of our belief."
amazon.com
Prejudices : A Selectionamazon.com
Treatise on the Godsamazon.com
The Vintage Menckenamazon.com
Mencken Chrestomathyamazon.com
American Language
19. Pagan and Christian Creeds: Their Origin and Meaning, by Edward Carpenter
" A very level-headed approach, doesn't go after Christianity to attack it,
merely compares and contrasts it with the Pagan world and explores
similarities and hidden meanings still present in the religion today.
Incredible implications."
"This scholarly but accessible book details the way in which a deep mistrust of pleasure, and therefore women, came to be a defining characteristic of the Christian church. Focusing particularly on Roman Catholicism, Ranke- Heinemann shows that marginalization of women and sexual repression are not inherent in Catholic belief, but have taken center stage over centuries of interpretation by celibate men."
21. The Great Infidels, by Robert Green Ingersoll
"The master orator eloquently eulogizes a few of the world's greatest
freethinkers (Bruno, Voltaire, Paine, etc.). He boldly states what their
honest and courageous minds endowed to humanity. He also dispenses
with the clergy who so ravenously attack the character of these brilliant
lovers of Liberty and Reason."
22. Atheism: The Case Against God, by George H. Smith
"I find it hard to imagine that an open-minded theist could read this book
without coming away with serious doubts about the validity of the concept
of a god. While scholarly, it remains approachable in its disassembly of the
validity of faith, revelation, and the standard attributes of supreme
beings. A must for any infidel's bookshelf, and a great challenge to theists who are
open-minded enough to read opposing viewpoints."
23. The Big Domino in the Sky and Other Atheistic Tales, by Michael Martin
"Incorporating material from his acclaimed technical works, Michael Martin
demonstrates that well-reasoned skeptical positions don't need to be
presented in dry, philosophical prose. Instead, this defense of atheism is written in
the form of science fiction, historical fiction, and fantasy that will arouse,
provoke, and inspire the reader. The stories reveal the fallacies of traditional
arguments for the existence of God and the improbability of God's existence given the
evil in the universe."
24. Atheism: A Philosophical Justification, by Michael Martin
"Thousands of philosophers--from the ancient Greeks to modernthinkers--have defended atheism, but none more comprehensively than
Martin. . . . Atheists should read it to bolster their creed, and theists
should read it to test their faith against the deadly force of Martin's
attack."
25. A History of God: The 4000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam,
by Karen Armstrong
"Superb kaleidoscopic history of religion, from an English nun-turned-scholar.
Armstrong was a nun in the early 1960's but left her convent in 1969 as part of
the great wave that defected from religious life at that time. Although her faith
grew progressively weaker, her fascination with religion didn't abate, and, even
as a nonbeliever, she continues to pursue theological studies. Here, her basic
message is that religion is highly pragmatic. We shall see that it is far more
important for a particular idea of God to work than for it to be logically or
scientifically sound.''
26. Asimov's Guide to the Bible: The Old and New Testaments/Two Volumes in One,
by Isaac Asimov
"If you are really interested in a critical and accurate review of the mostmisused book in history, the bible, the work and writing of Asimov, in
these volumes as well as in his other science materials is a must. If you
fear a challenge or need the comfort of myth, legend and superstition,
don't read this book, or Sagan, they may make you think."
27. Critiques of God: Making the Case Against Belief in God, by Peter A. Angeles (Editor)
"Peter Angeles sets out to assemble an anthology--"of value to undergraduatephilosophy classes as well as to the general public" --that presents the
case against God."
28. Who Wrote the Bible?, by Richard Elliott Friedman
"Focusing on Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy,Friedman draws upon biblical and archaeological evidence to make a
convincing argument for the identities of their authors."
29. Leaving the Fold, by Marlene, Ph.D. Winell
"As a former fundamentalist, I have worked over the past ten years withindividuals and small groups focusing on recovery from religious dysfunction
and addiction. Although there are several other excellent resources on this
topic, Winell's book is essential for understanding how Christian funda-
mentalism and conventional Christian religion can foster dependency in
its adherents."
30. Leaving the Fold: Testimonies of Former Fundamentalists,
by Edward T. Babinski (Editor)
"This riveting new collection offers testimonies of former fundamentalistswho became disillusioned with their churches and left. Presenting more than two
dozen personal journeys, this book gives a clear picture of what attracts a
person to the fundamentalist faith and what can drive believers away from
their religion."
31. Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist, by Dan Barker
"About half of the book is Barker's story of his conversion anddeconversion. The other half are a collection of essays Barker has put together about
biblical errancy, his TV appearances and debates, and his experiences in the Atheist
community. A modern classic of freethought literature."
"Discusses learning right from wrong, stressing such aspects as the
difference between rules and principles and the importance of an individual's rights."
33. Maybe Yes, Maybe No: A Guide for Young Skeptics, by Dan Barker,
Brian Strassburg (Illustrator)
"Excellent non-pushy kid's introduction to skepticism. I read this book tomy kids, ages 8 and 10, and they absolutely loved it. One took it to bed
that night to re-read and the other took it to school the next day. I've never
seen such a strong positive reaction to a book from them. Yes, it's simplistic,
but it's a kid's book; it has to be. As a parent, what i liked the most
about it is the gentle manner in which difficult questions are introduced. We had
to pause many times for thoughtful discussion. Kudos to Mr. Barker for
an excellent book encouraging children to question the world around them
and to try to apply scientific methods to understand it."
34. How Do You Know It's True? Discovering the Difference Between Science and Superstition,
by Hyman Ruchlis, Hy Ruchlis
"Far and away the best of the best of new releases for teaching critical
thinking to young people. Actually, this is for anybody, young or old,
who still has a tendency to flirt with any form of superstition or
fairy-tale thinking or is curious why other people do so."
35. Why I Am an Agnostic and Other Essays (The Freethought Library),
by Clarence Darrow
"The renowned lawyer Clarence Darrow (1857-1938) was also an impassioneddefender of intellectual freedom, individual liberties, and social
injustice. In these wide-ranging essays, Darrow attacks beliefs in the inerrancy of the Bible,
the immortality of the soul, miracles, and heaven as being completely at odds
with human experience and science."
36. God and Evil: An Introduction to the Issues, by Michael Peterson
"This concise survey examines the problem of evil in the context of thephilosophy of religion. The main problem of evil consists in reconciling
belief in a just and loving God with evil and suffering in the world."
37. Nonbelief & Evil: Two Arguments for the Nonexistence of God,
by Theodore M. Drange
"Drange's book, with more clarity and meticulous attention to detail thanperhaps any other on the subject, demolishes traditional beliefs with two
simple arguments. The existence of nonbelief (in God) and evil (premature
death and suffering), as Drange persuasively demonstrates, may very well
constitute an insurmountable challenge to theists, especially evangelical
Christians."
38. What Is Atheism? A Short Introduction, by Douglas E. Krueger
"This book is extremely well written, easy to understand and makes a great
companion book for Atheists and theists alike. Unsure what Atheism is?
Douglas' book will explain it in concise and easy to read terms but he
doesn't 'dumb it down'. I can't say enough good things about this book
other than to say Buy it, read it, absorb it, live it!"
39. Divine Hiddeness and Human Reason (Cornell Studies in the Philosophy of Religion),
by J.L. Schellenberg
"In this clearly written and tightly argued book, J. L. Schellenbergaddresses a fundamental yet neglected religious problem. If there is a God, he asks,
why is his existence not more obvious? Traditionally, theists have claimed that
God is hidden in order to account for the fact that the evidence of his
existence is as weak as it is. Schellenberg maintains that, given the understanding of
God's moral character to which theists are committed, this claim runs into serious
difficulty."
40. Arguing for Atheism: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion,
by Robin Le Poidevin
"The arguments are accessible to the non-philosopher, all terminology iscarefully explained when introduced. this book is rewarding for the
intellectual exercise provided by the rigorous logic and for the insights that deep
analysis of personally significant beliefs can reveal. You do not have to be an
Atheist to enjoy this concise and fair set of arguments in defense of Atheism and of
embracing religion as useful fiction."
41. The Godless Constitution: The Case Against Religious Correctness,
by Isaac Kramnick, R. Laurence Moore, Laurence Moore (Contributor)
"Concise Defense of the Separation of Church and State - This bookexamines American History to discover the original intent of the First
Amendment. America is not, nor has it ever been an instrument for
religion. It was purposely founded on secular ideals to avoid the
oppression which all to often plagued governments where church
and state were not separated. The American form of government is
founded on ideals which were formulated in the mind of man."
Carl Sagen's Baloney Detection Kit...
42. Why the Religious Right Is Wrong About Separation of Church & State,
by Rob Boston, Robert Boston, Barry W. Lynn (Introduction)
"A journalist's account of how the religious right is using the political
arena to wage war against the governing principle of separation of church and
state to promote their ultraconservative agenda. The dangers of the
Religious Right movement - Rob Boston presents an intelligent, well written argument
against the threat of the Religious Right movement in America. He traces
church-state relations from several hundred years ago to the present day
and confronts the non-seperationists with zeal and passion."
"Despite televangelist Pat Robertson's high ranking in the powerful
Christian Coalition, many Americans are unaware of his extreme political views or his
goals for the United States. This book examines the role Robertson plays in
contemporary politics and his efforts to influence American society through
his various political organizations, businesses, and broadcast empire."
44. Eternal Hostility: The Struggle Between Theocracy and Democracy, by Frederick Clarkson
"What is behind the violence against abortion clinics, attacks on gays and
lesbians and the growing power of the religious right? Frederick Clarkson
makes it clear that beyond the bombers and assassins who sometimes make
news, is a growing, if not well understood, movement that encompasses Pat
Robertson's Christian Coalition, the Unification Church of Sun Myung Moon
and the Promise Keepers--the lead agency of the so-called Christian men's
movement.
45. Not by Politics Alone: The Enduring Influence of the Christian Right, by Sara Diamond
"The Christian right is many things. Its a political coalition with strong
ties to and influence on the Republican Party, but its also a subculture
that provides, as she puts it, ``a safe haven when political success is not
forthcoming. Through the media, church and community organizations,
and other avenues, the right creates a strong ideology. The ideology
propagates the notion that this is a persecuted group battling immoral
enemies (e.g., abortion doctors, gay employees) in an eternal struggle
between good and evil. In such a context, momentary political travails
are of little consequence."
amazon.com
The Jesus Puzzle. Did Christianity Begin with a Mythical Christ? :
Challenging the Existence of an Historical Jesus
by Earl J. DohertyREADER REVIEWS
I've read three shelves worth of books on Christian apologetics and the quest for the historical Jesus. I can save you a lot of time. All you
really need is this one...From reviews posted on Amazon.com: By far the best "historical" Jesus
book...(Perry Willis from Arlington, VA, USA)
46. Wrath of Angels: The American Abortion War, by Jim Risen, Judy Thomas, James Risen
"Wrath of Angels is hard-hitting, objective, scary. From governmental
agencies more concerned about their egos than solving clinic bombings,
to the terrorist praising God in prayer and song while driving from a
clinic she just torched, it is not only scary; it is sickening. Whether
Catholic or fundamentalist, from the left or the right, blockades or
bombings or shootings, these are people who believe they have some
message from God to deny women the ability to make personal, medical
decisions about their reproductive lives. Each part of the story is told in
a way that gives readers the opportunity to make up their own minds and
judge for themselves the appropriateness of these actions."
47. The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements, by Eric Hoffer
"As we try to make sense of our world, it helps to explore the wisdom of
people like Eric Hoffer. Known as the longshoreman philosopher, Hoffer
had virtually no formal education, yet his awareness of the human condition
was exceptional. In 1951 his first book, The True Believer was published.
Subtitled Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements, it offers insights
still helpful today. Here are just a few of Eric Hoffer's observations:
'The less justified a man is in claiming excellence for his own self, the
more ready he is to claim all excellence for his nation, his religion, his
race or his holy cause.'
'A man is likely to mind his own business when it is worth minding.
When it is not, he takes his mind off his own meaningless affairs by
minding other people's business.'"
48. Deceptions and Myths of the Bible, by Lloyd M. Graham
A "must read" for every seeker of the truth. Lloyd Graham, whoever he
is, has made me a non-believer! After reading "The History of the World",
I started seeking information of the historical validity of Christ, and have
came to the conclusion, as Mr. Graham demonstrates, there just isn't any.
I would like to see more from this author, but, there may be no need for
it!"
49. Steve Allen on the Bible, Religion, and Morality, by Steve Allen, Martin Gardner
"This is an excellent layperson analysis of the Holy Bible. Steve Allen
makes no pretension to biblical scholarship. Indeed, must one have such
credentials to understand and appreciate the alleged word of God? I think not and
neither does Allen as he rips through dozens of topics revealing the blatant flaws
and fallacies of the "good book". He does stop to smell the proverbial flowers,
which are the few and far between edifying passages. I must say that it is
truly incredible that those of the Western culture either do not see or do not
know how much of the Holy Bible is not well suited to children's bedtime
stories."
50. More Steve Allen on the Bible, Religion, & Morality/Book II, by Steve Allen
"Steve Allen is the rarest of treasures-a comic genius and a deeply profound
thinker. As Allen says in this book, and in its prequel, many of us have
been guilty of reading the Bible for years without truly considering the impact
of the moral values it expounds. Written in a "dictionary topical" style, most
readers will not likely read it cover to cover in one sitting (though I
did) .
Those who take the time to read its contents, however, will be unable to
avoid rethinking and reconsidering their long-held assumptions concerning
the teachings of scripture and its impact on Western culture's view of
morality."
amazon.com
Godel, Escher, Bach:
An Eternal Golden Braid
by
Douglas R. Hofstadter
amazon.com
Encyclopedia of Gods : Over 2,500 Deities of the World
amazon.com
Best of Robert Ingersollamazon.com
The Encyclopedia of Biblical Errancyamazon.com
Carlin
on Campus
( LINK )amazon.com
Carlin - Doin'
It Again
(LINK )
MORE... Library of Atheism Books...
Carl Sagen's Baloney Detection Kit...
Monty
Python's
Monty
Python's
