Atheist Holy Scriptures

[Kiwi]

The Church of the Holy 'God Delusion' by His Holiness the Reverend Dawkins is often invoked in forum arguments by both camps, but most often by Christians it seems.

It strikes me that people argue over The God Delusion in the same way that people argue over the Bible. Usually one party hasn't even read it, and arguments are based on perceptions rather than reality. It's almost as if The God Delusion is perceived to be Atheist Holy Scripture. Which it's not.

Or is it? I haven't read it yet. Can someone please tell me what the big deal is. Is it the one book every atheist should have on their shelf? Should I buy it and display it proudly even if I don't read all of it?

And if The God Delusion is not Holy Scripture for atheists, what is? What are the foundational texts upon which you base your life and philosophies, if any?

[NH Baritone]

Pragmatics of Human Communication, by Paul Watzlawick has remained a life changing book for me. I haven't re-read it for a while, but perhaps I should. In it Watzlawick describes the inevitability of communication and the way that the verbal component is only a small percentage of the message. One take-away idea: One cannot NOT communicate.

By the way, theists' focus on Dawkins is a bit like focusing on the fuse instead the bomb. Dawkins talks like a scientist. All scientists attack ideas that they consider absurd. Unfortunately religious belief is interwoven into a person's self-concept more completely than string theory ever could be. That's the bomb. Thus an attack on a person's religion will feel personal when that is far from the intention. And so the believer get's defensive and attacks Dawkins, Harris, Dennett, etc.

[JustJim]

All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, by Robert Fulghum, is one of my favorites. I tend to favor the more 'basic' and 'simple' approaches to how I might live my life. I find them generally much deeper and more profound in their applicability to my life. I also really like The Four Agreements, by Miguel Ruiz - for the same reasons.

Jim

[Angela]

I believe that the foundation of a life well-lived is a deep understanding of human nature, most importantly one's self. So any book that increases my understanding of myself and others can be a "foundational text" for me. But if I had to pick one book, it would be Myths to Live By by Joseph Campbell. His insight there is that the value of myth and religion is in their reflection of the depths of the human psyche, illuminating parts of ourselves that might otherwise remain hidden.

[Kiwi]

A book I've been dipping in and out of quite often is The Philosophy Gym by Stephen Law. It's an excellent user friendly intro to some basic philosophical questions. Entertainingly written too.

I'm still interested in what people think of The God Delusion, if you've read it.

[crazylegsmurphy]

http://www.amazon.com/God-Delusion-Rich ... 733&sr=8-1

$10 - $8 New
$5 Used

It's cheap enough that I don't understand why anyone wondering what it's about (or uses it in conversation, but hasn't read it....DT), wouldn't pick up a copy.

[spongebob]

I like How we Believe, by Shermer.

[marcuspnw]

The following are some major "textual" sources of inspiration for me: "The Demon-haunted World" by Carl Sagan, "The Norton Anthology of English Literature", any poem by Shelley, Arnold or A.E. Housman, Shakespeare's plays, and the New Testament. But if you want me to express my feelings of awe and wonder, I must expand this list to include:
other works of art, music, nature and those pictures from the Hubble telescope to name just a few non-textual sources.

[crazylegsmurphy]

"The Demon-haunted World" by Carl Sagan

I JUST ordered that off Amazon...like seriously 3 minutes ago. That and "Trick or Treatment".

[marcuspnw]

"The Demon-haunted World" by Carl Sagan

I JUST ordered that off Amazon...like seriously 3 minutes ago. That and "Trick or Treatment".

Great!! Let me know what you think about it. Maybe, you'll get a topic or two for discussion.
This past September, I checked out the Cosmos series at my library. Just for old times sake.
When I hear that Vangelis theme music, gosh I DO miss that man!

[Kiwi]

It's cheap enough that I don't understand why anyone wondering what it's about (or uses it in conversation, but hasn't read it....DT), wouldn't pick up a copy.

The myth and reputation associated with Dawkins and his little book make it potential dynamite to be seen holding if you're a Christian, I suspect. Not all Christians, obviously. But even for myself, an atheist - it's still too soon for me to turn up at home with a book called The God Delusion, it would be too much for my believing wife at this point. In fact that's the main reason I haven't read it yet.

I like How we Believe, by Shermer.

Looks interesting, think i'll start with this one and work my way up to Dawkins. (Incidentally i've read some of his Unweaving the Rainbow which was excellent.)

[humanguy]

I realize that this could sound pompous or arrogant but I don't have any books like that. I've read the Dawkins book and the Hitchens book and, well, okay, I guess I agree and all that but...

I really want my convictions to be my own, without any back-up so to speak. That is not to say that I knock anyone else for having a book or three of four that works for them, not at all.

The books I have on my shelf are good books, though, at least I think they are. But they're all mostly fiction.

[crazylegsmurphy]

The myth and reputation associated with Dawkins and his little book make it potential dynamite to be seen holding if you're a Christian, I suspect. Not all Christians, obviously. But even for myself, an atheist - it's still too soon for me to turn up at home with a book called The God Delusion, it would be too much for my believing wife at this point. In fact that's the main reason I haven't read it yet.

sounds to me like this book needs to be in your home more than ever. No one should ever be afraid of a book. If you're strong in your convictions then no book should ever make you afraid. It reminds me of this one time, when this little group in a little corner of the world decided certain books were evil. There were some toasty hands that night.

[crazylegsmurphy]

really want my convictions to be my own, without any back-up so to speak. That is not to say that I knock anyone else for having a book or three of four that works for them, not at all.

I don't understand. How do you explore other ideas ? How do you conclude you know how things are if you don't explore the world? Do you not posess critical thinking skills?

[humanguy]

I don't understand. How do you explore other ideas ? How do you conclude you know how things are if you don't explore the world? Do you not posess critical thinking skills?

Come on, murphy. You're really jumping to a lot of conclusions here.

Yes, I do explore the world, I explore other ideas, but I don't ever conclude that I know how things are. Who knows how things are?

Yes, I do possess critical thinking skills. Kind of you to ask.