Recommended reading from an Atheist

[Celebrindal]

I will try to get more recommendations up in the original post today.

Other than that, I just wanted to say I finished reading Shermer's Why Darwin Matters, and I thought it was a really good read. I was never bored with it, and finished it pretty quickly. Everything he says is to the point and makes very good arguments. A+ will read again.

Also, about the Quotable Atheist book. Although there are a lot of nice quotes of people from various centuries, I feel let down that there wasn't enough quotes of people of the opposite side, really showing their ignorance. Again I point out that the author's little shots against theists is really fucking annoying and acts like he's some highschool jock, poking fun at the nerds. The cover material gets damaged pretty quick, too. and the cover itself tears easily. I keep a handful of books in my gym bag, which I take everywhere, and this is the only book I had that has been damaged.

[Tea on tuesday]

Have you read Shermer's Why People Believe Weird Things? I was very disappointed with it. He writes well and cleanly, but I came away feeling that a lot more could have been addressed.

[Grumath]

Originally Posted by Tea on tuesday

Have you read Shermer's Why People Believe Weird Things? I was very disappointed with it. He writes well and cleanly, but I came away feeling that a lot more could have been addressed.

Thats disappointing I really liked the presentations and whatnot I have seen from him... I was thinking about picking that one up, but I have heard this from a few people now... Ah well

[Celebrindal]

I browsed through some of "Why People Believe Weird Things" at the bookstore and I just really couldn't get into it. I didn't like the format of the book, and I also didn't feel like a lot was addressed.

Does anyone have any recommended literature on the Witch Hunts, both in Europe and in Salem? I found this, but it's $40... Maybe I'll get a library card and check it out.

[Jabberwhacky]

Lots I want to address in this thread, but that'll have to wait till a time when I'm more tired/caffeinated. However, as a little aside, if anyone here has an "in" with Danish television, you should keep a lookout for a program dealing with atheism in America. A little over a month ago, there was a two-person television crew (host/cameraman) in my classroom, filming for a show they are doing for the public access channel in Denmark. This is relevant because one of their interviewees was Sam Harris. Another was Tom Carlson, a religious studies professor at UCSB. I'm certainly going to be trying to find it, but if anyone else happens to come across it, be sure to share the wealth! Carlson is a very learned dude, and it's interesting that he's the counter-point to Harris, since he's not even pro-religion, per se.

[Celebrindal]

I updated the original post with a little bit better formatting and added another book to the list.

This weekend I went to Barnes & Noble and purchased Phantoms in the Brain by V.S. Ramachandran and The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins.

For those of you who haven't already done so, please look at my Science Video Thread. It's been pushed to the back, but there are quite a number of good videos in there. Just skip past the talk about religion. I believe I have a video of Ramachandran up there. (one being a lecture in the Beyond Belief conference and another directly lecturing about his book.)

Also, I picked up the Vol.13 no.1, 2007 of Skeptic Magazine. The issue is in tribute to Carl Sagan, who died 10 years ago. It's a wonderful read and I recommend everyone grab it while they can.

[Celebrindal]

Added The Complete Works of Charles Darwin to the front page. It's all of his writings, online.

[Castigator]

Originally Posted by Celebrindal

Added The Complete Works of Charles Darwin to the front page. It's all of his writings, online.

Just that Darwin wasn't much of an Atheist - at least not when writing "On the Origins of Species" - despite of what all those Creationism-Loonies on their quest for an easy enemy might say.

[Suineg]

Originally Posted by Screamfeeder

The bible tells me that my girlfriend is going to hell because she will not cover her head or shave it.

The bible tells me that it's cool to give my daughter over to some rapists and then cut her up and send her body parts all over the fucking place.

Clipped for space and sanity....

Read past the Old Testament someday and realize that the laws set down for the Jews in the old times were there for a few reasons:

A.) To set them apart from everyone else as different
B.) To show their devotion (nothing they do is near as weird as the things that the Eqyptians and other cultures did in fact it is quite benign)
C.) Was all abolished the second Christ died and the curtains were rent asunder in the temple. Read the New Testament for further explanation in cut and dry verbage.

[Suineg]

Originally Posted by Castigator

Just that Darwin wasn't much of an Atheist - at least not when writing "On the Origins of Species" - despite of what all those Creationism-Loonies on their quest for an easy enemy might say.

You are correct and most really learned Christians will agree that Darwin stated nothing wrong in his Origin of the Species and they will agree that micro-evolution happens every second of the day.

Darwin was not an atheist and it brings high doubts when a self proclaimed atheist hasn't even taken the time to learn that.

[Tea on tuesday]

edit: Fuck it.

[Grumath]

Jesus and the New Testament defend the Old Testament and its laws more often than contradict them.

Jesus in Mark 7:10 "For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death"

Jesus on the Old Testament in Matthew 5:19-20
"5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."

So just by saying the things you have about the Old Testament, Jesus sees you as least in the kingdom of heaven. Roh Roh.

and again in 2 Timothy 3

"3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."

So if the Bible (Old and New Testament) is the word of God, and God is all seeing, all knowing, and perfect, so must be the things he wrote. That or the Bible isn't written by God and people are following 2000 year old fiction.

[Suineg]

Originally Posted by Grumath

Jesus and the New Testament defend the Old Testament and its laws more often than contradict them.

Jesus in Mark 7:10 "For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death"

Jesus on the Old Testament in Matthew 5:19-20
"5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."

So just by saying the things you have about the Old Testament, Jesus sees you as least in the kingdom of heaven. Roh Roh.

and again in 2 Timothy 3

"3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."

So if the Bible (Old and New Testament) is the word of God, and God is all seeing, all knowing, and perfect, so must be the things he wrote. That or the Bible isn't written by God and people are following 2000 year old fiction.

Once again read after his death (which was the "last sacrifice" under the old law) which made the law unnecessary and read the letters written by Paul and Peter.

[Celebrindal]

Read the title again, boys. Recommended reading FROM an Atheist(edit to clarify: From meaning me). The reason I've posted Darwin was because I remember reading in another thread about wanting to learn about evolution. Having to be able to read Darwin's works for free is a cool thing.

This thread will also contain books about science.

[Taranatar]

Originally Posted by Suineg

Once again read after his death (which was the "last sacrifice" under the old law) which made the law unnecessary and read the letters written by Paul and Peter.

Unfortunately you can't expect people to understand it, essentially, because they refuse to.