Book Reviews: God, Gods, Goddesses, Divinity, and Theism
Does God exist? If there is a God, or any gods, what are they like? Did they create the world or humanity? Are they a source for morality? Every year there are a number of new books about gods and belief in gods - what are they are and any of them worth reading? To be honest, most probably aren't - but a few take a rigorous, critical approach to the topic and are worth considering. Read about some of them here (as well as some of the bad ones).
GOD.com: A Deity for the New Millennium
Most of the religions we have today were created thousands of years ago when humans lived very different sorts of lives. Granted, we haven't evolved much biologically in that time, but culturally and socially we have changed a great deal. This may go a long way to explain how and why religion tends to be more a force for violence in the modern world than a force for peace.
Most of the religions we have today were created thousands of years ago when humans lived very different sorts of lives. Granted, we haven't evolved much biologically in that time, but culturally and socially we have changed a great deal. This may go a long way to explain how and why religion tends to be more a force for violence in the modern world than a force for peace.
God Against the Gods: The War Between Montheism & Polytheism
Today the dominant religions in the world are monotheistic: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. At one time, though, the dominant religions in the world were polytheistic and only Hinduism remains to carry on any sort of explicitly polytheistic tradition. How did this dramatic shift occur and what has it meant for western culture?
Today the dominant religions in the world are monotheistic: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. At one time, though, the dominant religions in the world were polytheistic and only Hinduism remains to carry on any sort of explicitly polytheistic tradition. How did this dramatic shift occur and what has it meant for western culture?
The Impossibility of God
Does God exist? There's a great deal of debate on this question and theologians have spent hundreds of years developing many sophisticated (and some not so sophisticated) arguments purporting to prove that their god definitely exists. Nonbelievers have been at work on the matter for far less time, but they have a great deal to show for their efforts.
Does God exist? There's a great deal of debate on this question and theologians have spent hundreds of years developing many sophisticated (and some not so sophisticated) arguments purporting to prove that their god definitely exists. Nonbelievers have been at work on the matter for far less time, but they have a great deal to show for their efforts.
The 'God' Part of the Brain
Does a "God" exist, or is belief in gods actually a function of our brains and biology? If the latter is true, what consequences would this have for our ability to have meaning, purpose and morality in our lives? Is theism simply necessary for human life - a "white lie" of evolution?
Does a "God" exist, or is belief in gods actually a function of our brains and biology? If the latter is true, what consequences would this have for our ability to have meaning, purpose and morality in our lives? Is theism simply necessary for human life - a "white lie" of evolution?
Religion Without God
Among both believers and nonbelievers, there are people who tend to assume that there must exist some essential tension between religion and atheism. For whatever reason, it is simply taken for granted that the two do not and cannot mix. But what if this assumption is wrong? What is atheism is readily compatible with religion?
Among both believers and nonbelievers, there are people who tend to assume that there must exist some essential tension between religion and atheism. For whatever reason, it is simply taken for granted that the two do not and cannot mix. But what if this assumption is wrong? What is atheism is readily compatible with religion?
God's Funeral
Why had most intellectuals and writers in Europe abandoned traditional Christianity by the end of the nineteenth century? Was it a result of industrial and scientific progress? Was it Charles Darwin and his insightful writing on evolution? As A.N. Wilson writes, the sources of this skepticism and disbelief were many and varied.
Why had most intellectuals and writers in Europe abandoned traditional Christianity by the end of the nineteenth century? Was it a result of industrial and scientific progress? Was it Charles Darwin and his insightful writing on evolution? As A.N. Wilson writes, the sources of this skepticism and disbelief were many and varied.
Can We Be Good Without God?
For much of human history, there has been the perception that morality is largely or wholly dependent upon religion. Thus, people have argued that a person simply cannot be good without a religious belief system and, more importantly, a belief in some god. But is this perception accurate?
For much of human history, there has been the perception that morality is largely or wholly dependent upon religion. Thus, people have argued that a person simply cannot be good without a religious belief system and, more importantly, a belief in some god. But is this perception accurate?
Restoring the Goddess: Equal Rites for Modern Women
Is traditional religion inherently patriarchal and hence damaging to women? Is it possible to reconstruct a female-centered religious system? Would such a religion be free of superstition and damaging imagery, making it inherently better than a traditional religion centered on a male god?
Is traditional religion inherently patriarchal and hence damaging to women? Is it possible to reconstruct a female-centered religious system? Would such a religion be free of superstition and damaging imagery, making it inherently better than a traditional religion centered on a male god?
God: A Guide for the Perplexed
Does God exist? If so, what is 'God,' what does God want and how do we know? If not, why do so many people believe anyway? The search for God - or at least the roots of belief in God - is one of the most divisive and perplexing projects in human culture. Is there any hope at it being resolved?
Does God exist? If so, what is 'God,' what does God want and how do we know? If not, why do so many people believe anyway? The search for God - or at least the roots of belief in God - is one of the most divisive and perplexing projects in human culture. Is there any hope at it being resolved?
God: The Oldest Question
Does God exist? Is it reasonable to believe in a god, or is such belief simply an ancient superstition which most people have yet to abandon? These sorts of questions have long been key points of debate in philosophy and culture, and there are always new books attempting to provide definitive answers.
Does God exist? Is it reasonable to believe in a god, or is such belief simply an ancient superstition which most people have yet to abandon? These sorts of questions have long been key points of debate in philosophy and culture, and there are always new books attempting to provide definitive answers.
To Begin Again: Comfort, Strength and Faith in Troubling Times
Tragedy and death are things which enter everyone's life at one point or another - and each of us, whether theist or atheist, will have to find a way to adequately deal with our situation and emotions. How will we do that? Where will we find the strength, courage, and determination which will be required of us?
Tragedy and death are things which enter everyone's life at one point or another - and each of us, whether theist or atheist, will have to find a way to adequately deal with our situation and emotions. How will we do that? Where will we find the strength, courage, and determination which will be required of us?