Religion for AtheistsReligion for Atheists

What if religions are neither all true nor all nonsense? The long-running and often boring debate between fundamentalist believers and non-believers is finally moved forward by Alain de Botton’s inspiring new book, which boldly argues that the supernatural claims of religion are entirely false—but that it still has some very important things to teach the secular world.

Religion for Atheists suggests that rather than mocking religion, agnostics and atheists should instead steal from it—because the world’s religions are packed with good ideas on how we might live and arrange our societies. Blending deep respect with total impiety, de Botton (a non-believer himself) proposes that we look to religion for insights into how to, among other concerns, build a sense of community, make our relationships last, overcome feelings of envy and inadequacy, inspire travel and reconnect with the natural world.

For too long non-believers have faced a stark choice between either swallowing some peculiar doctrines or doing away with a range of consoling and beautiful rituals and ideas. At last, inReligion for Atheists, Alain de Botton has fashioned a far more interesting and truly helpful alternative.

What if religions are neither all true nor all nonsense? The long-running and often boring debate between believers and non-believers is finally moved forward by Alain de Botton's inspiring book, which boldly argues that the supernatural claims of religion are entirely false--but that it still has some very important things to teach the secular world. Religion for Atheists suggests that rather than mocking religion, agnostics and atheists should instead steal from it--because the world's religions are packed with good ideas on how we might live and arrange our societies. Blending deep respect with total impiety, de Botton (a non-believer himself) proposes that we look to religion for insights into how to, among other concerns, build a sense of community,make our relationships last, overcome feelings of envy and inadequacy, inspire travel and reconnect with the natural world.--From publisher description.
Alain de Botton, an author and lecturer of philosophy and society, argues that atheists and agnostics should spend less time mocking r eligion and more time trying to understand how it cultivates wisdom, compassion, a sense of community, and reverence for life. Rather than apologizing for religion, de Botton wants to underscore those concepts and practices that religions have invented that are of interest and use to secularists concerned with civil society, justice, and mental and bodily suffering. He focuses on Christianity, and to a lesser extent on Judaism and Buddhism, and Europe dominates his worldly reference. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
An atheist's provocative argument for how everyone can benefit from the wisdom and power of religion regardless of beliefs explains how the secular world can glean insights from religious stories about how to live, structure societies and achieve a greater appreciation for culture.
Argues that everyone can benefit from the wisdom and power of religion regardless of beliefs and explains how the secular world can glean insights from religious stories about how to live, structure societies, and achieve a greater appreciation for culture.