"Philosophers without gods"

[YankeyMCC]

: meditations on Atheism and the secular life / Louise M. Antony, editor.

http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780195173079-0

Anyone else read this? I'm just finishing it up now, I'd not heard of this book and just happened to see it in my local Library and picked it up. It is divided into two broad sections, the first focusing more on the personal stories of atheists (all the contributors are professors of philosophy or related fields) the second is more focused on the philosophical debate atheism vs theism.

I'm really enjoying it and I'm using it as a guideline for some discussions/lessons with my son. We don't go to church so I try and spend at least an hour with him on the weekends talking about logic, critical thinking, ethics, trying my best to bring what I've learned into age appropriate and interesting discussions for him.

And along those lines this is one of those books, particularly the first section which doesn't rely on knowledge of philosophers or theories most people with no more than an American High School education wouldn't be familiar with, that might be good to share with family and friends who are having trouble understanding/accepting my atheism. I think the question or idea has been discussed here before but I'd like to ask it again.

Has anyone tried this approach, sharing a book or article or essays with others and if so which ones and with what success?

[Rhiannon12866]

1. Sounds like a very useful book; I'll have to look for it. Thanks!

I went to summer camp when I was a kid. It was a great place, swimming, riding, and I spent six summers there. They would have a "non-denominational" (their words) kind of "service" on Sundays, but it was more like a meet-up than anything religious. When it was my cabin's turn to lead the meeting, our theme for the week was "friendship." We read poems, played music, and I remember that I read Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech. At 12 or 13, I had little understanding of the history or the movement, but I knew it was profound and important. That kind of "religious service" was okay with me... :hi: