From Washington to Rome to Tehran, religion is a public matter, and secular values - personal autonomy, toleration, separation of religion and state, and freedom of conscience - are attacked on all sides and defended by few. This title calls for a bold rethinking of the nature of conscience and its role in public life.
Examines the relationship between sciences and religious non-belief. This book offers a history of science and philosophical doubt, and describes those theories in contemporary science that challenge spiritual views by favouring a naturalistic conception of the world.
In contrast to atheism, which asserts that God does not exist, agnosticism holds that reason and the best scientific evidence do not allow one to reach a decisive conclusion regarding the existence of God. This work includes selections of some of the pioneering discussions of agnosticism.
What is it like to grow up in a house with no religion? What kind of experiences does someone have when one is not a believer and yet comes into contact with religion? The author recounts her mishaps and misadventures with religion from childhood into her adult years. It describes her struggle to find out what kind of "something" she really is.
Despite the prevalence of religious belief in the United States, a growing minority of US adults identify with no religion whatsoever. This work addresses the secular segment of American society to give voice to honest doubts about religious beliefs. It makes clear the many scientific, philosophical, and ethical difficulties that plague religion.
A comprehensive reference work on the history, beliefs, and thinking of America's growing minority: those who live without religion. It describes and explains various aspects of atheism, agnosticism, secular humanism, secularism, and religious scepticism. It includes topics such as morality without religion, unbelief and sexual values, and more.
According to polls, almost all Americans believe in God. So atheists naturally stand out as dissident nay-sayers, especially when challenging the use of "God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, or the display of religious symbols in public places. This book provides the scientific study of active atheists.
Dealing with atheism, agnosticism, and religious belief, this paperback edition develops an integrated approach to the discussion of what it means to be an atheist. In chapters such as: How is Atheism to be Characterised?; Does God Exist?; and The Primacy of Philosophical Theology, it defends atheism in a way that answers the concerns.
