Description
Book SynopsisThe easy way to understand atheism and secular philosophy For people seeking a non-religious philosophy of life, as well as believers with atheist friends, Atheism For Dummies offers an intelligent exploration of the historical and moral case for atheism.
Table of ContentsIntroduction 1
Part I: Understanding What Atheism Is 7
Chapter 1: Meeting Atheism 9
Chapter 2: Unweaving the Rainbow of Disbelief 19
Chapter 3: Recognizing What Atheists Do and Don’t Believe — and Why 37
Part II: Following Atheism through the Ages 63
Chapter 4: Finding Atheism in the Ancient World 65
Chapter 5: Going Medieval 79
Chapter 6: Enlightening Strikes 91
Chapter 7: Opening a Golden Age of Freethought 107
Chapter 8: Growing Up in the Tumultuous 20th Century 121
Chapter 9: Voicing a New Atheism, and a New Humanism, for the 21st Century 145
Part III: Reading the Great Works of Atheism 169
Chapter 10: Uncovering Lost, Secret, Censored, and Forbidden Works 171
Chapter 11: Sampling Important Works: Deep Thoughts, Big Thinkers 183
Chapter 12: Laughing in Disbelief: Challenging the Divine with Humor 203
Chapter 13: Reawakening Passionate Disbelief: Key Works of the 21st Century 217
Part IV: Living a Full Life without Belief in God 233
Chapter 14: Getting Personal with Atheism Today 235
Chapter 15: Being Good with or without God 253
Chapter 16 : Seeing the World Naturally 275
Chapter 17: Being an Atheist in a Religious World 291
Chapter 18: Getting the Best of Religion and Leaving the Rest 311
Part V: The Part of Tens 327
Chapter 19: Ten Surprising Things about Atheists and Other Nonbelievers 329
Chapter 20: Ten (Plus One) Famous People You May Not Know are Nonbelievers 335
Chapter 21: Ten Fun and Easy Ways to Explore Atheism 343
Index 351
