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An Atheist Defends Religion: Why Humanity is Better Off with Religion Than Without It
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Item Description...
Overview
Written from the perspective of an unbeliever. The author asserts that religion provides a combination of psychological, moral, emotional, existential, communal, and even physical health benefits that no other institution can provide. He explains that most rational argument for dismissing atheism is not to be found in the never-eding debate over the existence of God, but in the enduring value of religion itself.
Publishers Description
For centuries, the debate between theism and atheism has been dominated by two positions: hard-core believers fervently committed to their faith in a living God, and militant atheists vehemently driven to repudiate God. The time has come to admit that the debate about the existence of God can never be resolved to either side's satisfaction. But the discussion need not end there. We are still left with the important issue of the value of religion. And this is a debate that religion can win.
An Atheist Defends Religion is a robust response to numerous books by unbelievers - from the perspective of an unbeliever. But unlike other atheists who embrace the rejection of God as an intellectual triumph, author Bruce Sheiman asserts that religion provides a combination of psychological, moral, emotional, existential, communal, and even physical health benefits that no other institution can provide. An Atheist Defends Religion explains that the most rational argument for dismissing atheism is not to be found in the never-ending debate over the existence of God, but in the enduring value of religion itself. |
Item Specifications...
Pages 239
Dimensions: Length: 0.75" Width: 5.75" Height: 8.75"
Weight: 0.65 lbs.
Binding Softcover
Release Date Aug 4, 2009
ISBN 1592578543
EAN 9781592578542
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Availability 7 units.
Availability accurate as of May 30, 2012 03:23.
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Reviews - What do our customers think?
 | Sheiman powerfully explains why faith is reasonable and good Sep 18, 2009 |
"An Atheist Defends Religion" should be read by every believer who must occasionally defend his faith from atheist critics. Sheiman makes a convincing case for the enduring value of religion that's all the more persuasive because it comes from a non-believer. It's a much-needed corrective to the smug, anti-religious bigotry prevalent among cultural elites, which regards religious faith as a force for evil in the world.
That being said, many believers will take issue with Sheiman's implication that religion is easily conformed to the secular society in which it is found - i.e., that modern religion became more open,compassionate, pluralistic, and humanistic largely as a response to Western society's evolution. (Sheiman also cites the opposite example, that religions operating in closed and authoritative societies, such as in the Middle East, have tended to become reactionary, not because of the religions themselves, but because of the political climate in which such religions -- mainly Islam -- are found.).
From a believer's perspective, there's much to like in Sheiman's theory: Religion sheds the blame for much of the evil that men have done in the name of religion throughout history. But there's a trade-off: Religion arguably also loses credit for the "Ascent of Man."
Despite Sheiman's deep respect for religion, it's hard for a believing reader to ignore the fact that he merely considers it a powerful and mostly positive cultural force that influences, and is influenced by, other cultural forces, such as technology and art. He can't be faulted for this -- as a sociologist of religion, he's in the company of such thinkers as Max Weber (and, more recently, Rodney Stark, and the evolutionary psychologist Robert Wright). But a true believer will be unmoved, preferring instead to see the workings of God's Providence in history.
As the Catholic writer Flannery O'Connor said when it was suggested to her that the body and blood of Jesus Christ were not really present in the Eucharist: "If it's just a symbol, the hell with it."
But it would be unreasonable to expect faith-based arguments from an atheist. Instead, believers should be thankful that Sheiman has had the courage to take a clear-eyed look at the effects of religious belief on cultural progress. His book will appeal to a broad range of readers turned off by the "either/or" choice between dogmatic atheism and religious fundamentalism. | | | | Resolving the Science-Religion Conflict Sep 17, 2009 |
Bruce Sheiman seeks to resolve the science-religion conflict by envisioning both disciplines as serving one common purpose: the flourishing of humanity. Sheiman first describes the three dominant understandings of the religion-science debate:
(1) The "Irreconcilable Conflict" model is driven by extremists on both sides of the spectrum; in the minds of extremists, there is little hope for rapprochement; the only way there can be a resolution is in defeat of the other side.
(2) The "Mutual Respect" model, offered by S.J. Gould, says that science and religion occupy separate "magisteria" or domains; Sheiman says this paradigm is inadequate because it still holds that the two disciplines are intrinsically incompatible.
(3) The "Integration" model, offered by religious scientists like Francis Collins ("The Language of God"), brings the two disciplines together by subsuming all of science under one Divine Creator, which obviously does not satisfy unbelievers.
According to Sheiman, the most constructive way to understand science and religion is in their "Shared Vision of Humanism," wherein both disciplines are dedicated to the advancement of the human enterprise. Like religion, science is devoted to the alleviation of human suffering and the perfection of humankind. And like science, religion promises the collective progression of humanity. Sheiman asserts that the time has come to affirm the vital importance of science and religion to humanity and to the planet.
| | | | Clear, Concise, and Compelling Sep 16, 2009 |
As a writer of book reviews for a mainstream Christian publication, I enthusiastically recommend Sheiman's book--even though he is an atheist. He makes no arguments for atheism. Rather, he candidly acknowledges he wants to believe in God "because, on balance, religion provides a combination of psychological, emotional, moral, communal, existential, and even physical-health benefits that no other institution can replicate." He backs these claims up with a clear and through analysis of hundreds of published studies. While arguments in best-selling books by other atheists recite and exaggerate negative behaviors by religious people, Sheiman discredits those arguments with verifiable facts, not visceral feelings.
From my perspective as a retired lawyer (and former atheist), I believe Sheiman has proved his case that "the world is a better place because people believe God exists."
Among Sheiman's many interesting observations, he draws a distinction in the book's Introduction between what "consumers of religion experience (meaning, values, purpose) and what producers of religion offer (organization, doctrine, scripture)." He points out that most critics of religion emphasize the latter to the exclusion of the former. As a consequence, such atheists seem incapable of seeing the many documented benefits of believing in God.
| | | | Sheiman Redefines the God Debate Sep 13, 2009 |
Bruce Sheiman's book is lucid, learned, and illuminating. He makes a subtle but important distinction. While new book after new book comes out defending God (the most recent: Karen Armstrong's The Case for God), each of these writers misses the point. Despite the intellectual firepower of such luminaries as Armstrong, Alister McGrath and Keith Ward, the God question can never be resolved in a way that satisfies both sides. Sheiman recognizes this and calls it "The Great Debate Stalemate." He picks up where all the others leave off.
Though an atheist, he is an enlightened one who believes that the world is a better place because people believe God exists. He affirms the enormous value of religion in contemporary society, irrespective of the God question.
Wide-ranging, detailed, well researched, meticulously argued and beautifully written, Sheiman presents a definitive analysis of the role of religious belief and transcendence in our history and our life. It brings a new understanding to the complex relationship between human existence and the transcendent nature of God. "An Atheist Defends Religion" should be required reading for anyone who claims to be a believer, an agnostic or an atheist.
| | | | Wonderful perspective, comforting and inspirational Sep 11, 2009 |
Sheiman's objective is to demonstrate that the world of science and
reason by itself is sorely lacking in value and meaning. Religion may
be predicated on scientific falsity, but its meaning is real. He shows
that religion offers believers communal, psychological, emotional and
existential rewards. The last is especially important. Sheiman makes
the case that humans have a need for that which transcends the material
world of mortality, temporality, and limitation. And while science
takes us part of the way there (medical science gives us a qualified
"immortality"; computer science gives us a qualified "omniscience"; and
the physical sciences give us a qualified "omnipotence"), it cannot
give us true transcendence as religion does. Sheiman's arguments make
even a hard-core atheist begin to respect religion. It did for me. | | | Write your own review about An Atheist Defends Religion: Why Humanity is Better Off with Religion Than Without It
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