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No. Sam Harris' <em>Letter to a Christian Nation</em> summarizes my thoughts on religion.
Since then, he's become a concern troll.
A staunch agnostic, 14+ years sober, well and truly recovered (I hope!), I still cringe a bit when reading or hearing what I perceive of as fawning, almost drooling, holy roller exclamations of love for and fealty toward GOD.
But some of the things I've taken on in the recovery process are (I hope!) open mindedness and tolerance toward religion and religious people. I think that has real value. "Be quick to see where religious people are right." - page 87.
I also find that at the very least, a conception of god is an invaluable tool in recovery and in day to day life.
One little tip I've shared that some have found useful: I've never needed to pin down any precise or definite conception of a god or gods in order to make progress in recovery; simply acknowledging that I am not God, and that some sort of higher power could help with recovery seems to have done the trick. (And my conceptions in this matter vary, mutate, and perhaps evolve continuously.)
https://www.amazon.com/Staying-Sober-Without-God-Alcoholism-ebook/dp/B07MBVCS29 - looks like it could be an interesting book, I'll put it on my list - thanks!
My sponsor and I read books to each other most weeks during our weekly meeting, and so far it's mostly been general service approved, but we're running low on that, so we're kind of thinking one of Sandy Beach's books next, or perhaps the dreaded service manual (lol - I just remember checking it out once in early recovery, my then sponsor and I agreeing "Way, way boring!")
There is also a list of potentially helpful books here: https://aaagnostica.org/literature-3/
Thanks for sharing. Sorry if I pontificated too much above :)
There's a good book which really dives into the deconversion process of a former missionary:
https://www.amazon.com/Why-Believed-Reflections-Former-Missionary-ebook/dp/B003UNLMRY
I read it when I was questioning my own faith (along with reading, Erhman, Price, Crossan, Meier, Sanders, etc.). And, for the record, I'm still a Christian today, but less dogmatic.
The author was raised in a conservative church, and basically was shook when he encountered challenges to what he was taught. He didn't even know these challenges existed! In my view, most churches in the US is doing a poor job of equipping people to face the real, tough questions of the Bible. Too much sheltering and holding people by the hand.
Two big issues I remember from the author's journey:
- The doctrine of most humans being tormented in hell forever
- The lousy science behind creationism
These two issues really make him shake his head at the Bible.
Even with the propaganda that is the Gospels, he still comes off as a cult leader. He demanded people drop everything to follow him, said the world was going to end soon, and got angry with people who asked for healing on several occasions. https://www.amazon.com/Things-Christians-Jesus-Hadnt-Taught-ebook/dp/B09DB27J3K?ref_=d6k_applink_bb_dls&dplnkId=bea43ce4-d927-4356-b425-9c7eb0702998
I'm an agnostic and got sober with AA. Still in AA 4 years later and find it beneficial. I think the most important thing for me was finding my AA "crowd" and a sponsor I could connect with. I also relied on a therapist.
Some meetings I've been to are better than others in different ways, esp WRT how hardcore religiosity can be.
One book I have found helpful in AA is ("Staying Sober Without God: The Practical 12 Steps to Long-Term Recovery from Alcoholism and Addictions)[https://www.amazon.com/Staying-Sober-Without-God-Alcoholism-ebook/dp/B07MBVCS29].
I also enjoy Russell Brand's Books, but they're not for everyone.
Jesus would tell you to read this book: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic-ebook/dp/B08KWN3VKF
I too have struggled with the god concept but have finally through reading a lot of literature have found something that works for me. Read Staying Sober Without God by Jefferey Munn it gave me a new perspective https://www.amazon.com/Staying-Sober-Without-God-Alcoholism-ebook/dp/B07MBVCS29
He was an associate professor from Portland State University who wanted to get fired so he could say he had been cancelled, and when they didn't do it he resigned from his job and still called the faculty too woke to work with last September. Which might also hint at when he had received word that the IDW wanted to set up the university.
He is also a friend of Stefan Molyneux who is a ~~holocaust denier~~ holocaust defender and he wrote the preface to his book while lavishing praise on him as a truth-speaker just because he happens to be an atheist. In short, he's someone who realized he could make more money and have more readers from a career of sanitizing far-right pundits and culture war topics. His career is about brandishing his degree in philosophy and then saying that in his professional opinion extremely reactionary gurus are just rational "philosophers." Just like Sam Harris, he'll then attack liberal critics in the media and label them as hysterical, too woke, or too uncharitable to see the forbidden philosophical truths, and will pontificate a thousand times about the need to earnestly look at and believe in race science or transphobia. Because normalizing bigotry and making fun of scholars and publications that don't agree with his views are Peter's most pressing issues and he uses many tactics to accomplish those goals.
(I'd guess that much of this behavior comes from deep frustration at never having being promoted to a higher position and given more title and respect, because his first book went on an unnecessary rant about how he was denied advancement at his university for unexplained "political reasons.")
This book does have 10 things (more actually) that Christians most definitely ignore in the New Testament, even Jesus himself. It's a quick read, too.
I highly suggest people give Noah Lugen's book a read. It follows the paths that led churches to be a secondary antagonist along with the virus in the last year.
Noah Lugeons of the Scathing Atheist wrote a great book on just how badly the US was fucked by religion wrt the pandemic response. Good read. https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic-ebook/dp/B08KWN3VKF
I recommend D'Souza's book, "What is so great about Christianity." It is brilliant.
This is (Outside CS Lewis) the best apologetics book I have ever read.
What's So Great About Christianity by Dinesh D'Souza
From Amazon:
*Why Christianity explains what modern science tells us about the universe and our origins--that matter was created out of nothing, that light preceded the sun--better than atheism does
*How Christianity created the framework for modern science, so that Christianity and science are not irreconcilable, but science and atheism might be
*Why the alleged sins of Christianity--the Crusades, the Inquisition, the Galileo affair ("an atheist's fable")--are vastly overblown
*Why atheist regimes are responsible for the greatest mass murders of history
*Why evolution does not threaten Christian belief, but actually supports the "argument from design"
*Why atheists fear the Big Bang theory and the "anthropic principle" of the universe, which are keystones of modern astronomy and physics
*How Christianity explains consciousness and free will, which atheists have to deny
*Why ultimately you can't have Western civilization--and all we value from it--without the Christianity that gave it birth.
Hello there,
Boredom can be a huge motivator to look for distractions. We have a VERY hard time living with our own thoughts. An exercise I often recommend is to sit in quiet contemplation to listen to one's own thoughts. Most cannot deal with it and seek distractions (like you pointed out).
In fact, my second book is entirely about this. In Vol 2 - Your Duality Within: A Study of Your Two Distinct and Opposing Internal Voices I get the reader in touch with the two voices within (The primitive animal mind and the rational intelligent consciousness) to be able to understand their thoughts and navigate their inner dialogue.
I believe this will be a big source of consternation fo many in isolation, who are not used to living with their own thoughts for too long without distractions and could potentially lead to many mental afflictions and illnesses, or make underlying ones worse.
This is why, to help with the Pandemic, I have made the second book of the series Stoicism for a Better Life free for the next four days (Amazon only lets me do this for four days at a time, and again only once every month). So please grab a copy and pass on the information to as many people as you can, especially those who you coach with addiction. I want to get this book into as many peoples' hands as possible, so as to help as many people as possible.
Thank you
Anderson
Hello there,
You hit the nail on the head. This is absolutely right and this is a topic I cover extensively in my teachings. We have a VERY hard time living with our own thoughts. An exercise I often recommend is to sit in quiet contemplation to listen to one's own thoughts. Most cannot deal with it and seek distractions (like you pointed out).
In fact, my second book is entirely about this. InVol 2 - Your Duality Within: A Study of Your Two Distinct and Opposing Internal Voices I get the reader in touch with the two voices within (The primitive animal mind and the rational intelligent consciousness) to be able to understand their thoughts and navigate their inner dialogue.
I believe this will be a big source of consternation fo many in isolation, who are not used to living with their own thoughts for too long without distractions and could potentially lead to many mental afflictions and illnesses, or make underlying ones worse.
This is why, to help with the Pandemic, I have made the second book of the series Stoicism for a Better Life free for the next four days (Amazon only lets me do this for four days at a time, and again only once every month). So please grab a copy and pass on the information to as many people as you can, especially those who you coach with addiction. I want to get this book into as many peoples' hands as possible, so as to help as many people as possible.
Thank you
Anderson
It's not theoretical physics. Go learn what metaphysics really means. You're using a word without knowing what it means, and worse, trying to argue about it.
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Superstition-Refutation-New-Atheism-ebook/dp/B00D40EGCQ
Recommended reading for you. It will answer both questions. Good luck.
Those who say there you can't find God intellecutally are wrong to an extent - we can prove the existence of (a) God through reason, as Dr. Edward Feser explains in his book <em>The Last Superstition: A Refutation of the New Atheism</em>. Of course, arriving at believing that Christ died for our sins is another issue and one that requires more faith, in the sense that men like St. Thomas Aquinas viewed the term. Nevertheless it is a good read and I strongly recommend it to any atheist willing to confront their beliefs.
The book Why I Believed: Reflections of a Former Missionary might help.
The author has a gentle but honest approach.
You're onto something that few people remember these days - the absolute outrageousness of the Christian claim. It's not that we get eternity with donuts and coffee if we do what God wants; it's that He wants us, personally, so much that He died for us.
It's like being on death row for the murder of the president's son and wife; and just before they pull the switch you get not only a pardon, but a reprieve, and an invitation to live as the president's adopted son.
It's too good; so the only way we can dare to believe is because God Himself told us so.
You might be interested in the book The Last Superstition as it lays out some of the philosophical points that should be considered. Pascal's wager is also worth contemplating.
Read Sam Harris, especially Letter to a Christian Nation. That nicely covers the huge shortfallings of christianity as a "good" religion.
Why I Believed: Reflections of a former missionary is only a dollar on Amazon, and has a ton of content. It's a little more personal, and also more gentle and sincere toward Christians. Trusting Doubt is also good.
I recommend Why I Believed: Reflections of a Former Missionary. It documents the process of someone who was way more Christian than I ever was coming to grips with his increasing doubts. I like it because it is very sympathetic to the believer's position, I felt like he 'got me'. While I like Dawkins and the other suggestions, they are writing from another planet.
My other under-suggested favorite is Atheism And The Case Against Christ.
I'll definitely have to check that out, as well as those the AHA provides. I haven't finished this yet, but what I have read is really interesting. Plus the Kindle edition is only 99 cents :] http://www.amazon.com/Why-Believed-Reflections-Missionary-ebook/dp/B003UNLMRY/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317054630&sr=1-2