Atheist Awakening is a groundbreaking study of the growth and revitalization of the atheist movement in the U.S. Through in-depth interviews and observation of atheist gatherings, the authors find that much of this "awakening" has come about as atheists have engaged in new forms of activism and community-building. The book portrays a new atheism-one that has revised strategies to wage a powerful defensive and offensive battle against their ideological and political antagonists.
Atheism: Atheist Organizations and Activism What are the main beliefs of atheism? Why secular humanism can do what atheism can't. what is the difference between an atheist and secular humanism? This study shows how their judiciary battles ensured the clarification and galvanization of the First Amendment's Establish Clause, how they challenged the Protestant domination of government institutions, and helped to reveal a schism within Protestant churches between progressive and conservative factions.
The clash between atheism and religion has become the defining battle of the 21st century. Books on and about atheism retain high profile and popularity, and atheist movements on both sides of the Atlantic capture headlines with high-profile campaigns and adverts. However, very little has been written on the history of atheism, and this book fills that conspicuous gap. Instead of treating atheism just as a philosophical or scientific idea about the non-existence of God, Atheists: The Origin of the Species places the movement in its proper social and political context. Because atheism in Europe developed in reaction to the Christianity that dominated the continent's intellectual, social and political life, it adopted, adapted and reacted against its institutions as well as its ideas. Accordingly, the history of atheism is as much about social and political movements as it is scientific or philosophical ideas. This is the story not only of Hobbes, Hume, and Darwin, but also of Thomas Aitkenhead hung for blasphemous atheism, Percy Shelley expelled for adolescent atheism, and the Marquis de Sade imprisoned for libertine atheism; of the French revolutionary Terror and the Soviet League of the Militant Godless; of the rise of the US Religious Right and of Islamic terrorism. Looking at atheism in its full sociopolitical context helps explain why it has looked so very different in different countries. It also explains why there has been a recent upsurge in atheism, particularly in Britain and the US, where religion has unexpectedly come to play such a significant role in political affairs. This leads us to a somewhat paradoxical conclusion: we should expect to hear more about atheism in the future for the simple reason that God is back.
This is a book that could change your life ... and death. What would happen if an atheist visited the afterlife? Once an atheist, now a clairvoyant medium. Follow one man's extreme transformation in this multifaceted memoir, which brings you through a life filled with trauma, death, denial, personal development, paranormal experiences, mediumship, spiritual gifts, true love, and triumph in his ultimate search for enlightenment. From atheist to clairvoyant medium; Ray Catania's The Atheist and The Afterlife is the first book in the Awakening series. This is a book that can change your life and death, or at the very least, the way you envision both to be. Follow along one man's extreme transformation from a complete non- believing atheist to the undeniable confirmation of an afterlife. The book includes the details of his experiencing death firsthand in which he describes his death as the best day of his life. This event sparked a journey spanning many years of researching the science of life, death, the afterlife, energy, consciousness, Quantum Physics, and pursuing the development of his 6th sense. A skill that he says anyone can develop and utilize for their own personal wellbeing. You will read along in real time as these paranormal events took place, including speaking with the dead. Each story is taken directly from Ray's personal journal and written with humility, sarcasm, and humor. Although the subject matter may be quite serious and a little gritty at times, it is the author's wish that those who can relate to having these traumatic experiences, learn that regardless of your past nothing can stop you from achieving your goals in the future and accomplishing everything you set out to do. By tapping into the universal collective consciousness structure, all can be yours for the asking. This book takes you from the very beginning of this realization and through the events that transpired for him to learn and accept the laws of the universe and the fact that they were undeniably real. This book is not simply about becoming a medium. Although that aspect of the book certainly adds some comic relief, it is about the pursuit of happiness, love, and enlightenment when the odds are stacked against you having any of that. We wish you peace, love, and light, throughout your journey. Based on real-life accounts of the author. This book contains sensitive subject matter that may not be suitable for all ages and contains a list of triggers that you should review before reading this book.
Does Buddhism require faith? Can an atheist or agnostic follow the Buddha’s teachings without believing in reincarnation or organized religion? This is one man’s confession. In his classic Buddhism Without Beliefs, Stephen Batchelor offered a profound, secular approach to the teachings of the Buddha that struck an emotional chord with Western readers. Now, with the same brilliance and boldness of thought, he paints a groundbreaking portrait of the historical Buddha—told from the author’s unique perspective as a former Buddhist monk and modern seeker. Drawing from the original Pali Canon, the seminal collection of Buddhist discourses compiled after the Buddha’s death by his followers, Batchelor shows us the Buddha as a flesh-and-blood man who looked at life in a radically new way. Batchelor also reveals the everyday challenges and doubts of his own devotional journey—from meeting the Dalai Lama in India, to training as a Zen monk in Korea, to finding his path as a lay teacher of Buddhism living in France. Both controversial and deeply personal, Stephen Batchelor’s refreshingly doctrine-free, life-informed account is essential reading for anyone interested in Buddhism.
“Illuminating.” —Phil Zuckerman, author of Living the Secular Life If the First Amendment protects the separation of church and state, why have atheists had to fight for their rights? In this valuable work, R. Laurence Moore and Isaac Kramnick reveal the fascinating history of atheism in America and the legal challenges to federal and state laws that made atheists second-class citizens.
Spirituality.The search for happiness --Religion, East and West --Mindfulness --The truth of suffering --Enlightenment --The mystery of consciousness.The mind divided --Structure and function --Are our minds already split? --Conscious and unconscious processing in the brain --Consciousness is what matters --The riddle of the self.What are we calling "I"? --Consciousness without self --Lost in thought --The challenge of studying the self --Penetrating the illusion --Meditation.Gradual versus sudden realization --Dzogchen: taking the goal as the path --Having no head --The paradox of acceptance --Gurus, death, drugs, and other puzzles.Mind on the brink of death --The spiritual uses of pharmacology.
In this study of new atheism and religious fundamentalism, this book advances two provocative - and surprising - arguments. Liam Jerrold Fraser argues that atheism and Protestant fundamentalism in Britain and America share a common historical origin in the English Reformation, and the crisis of authority inaugurated by the Reformers. This common origin generated two presuppositions crucial for both movements: a literalist understanding of scripture, and a disruptive understanding of divine activity in nature. Through an analysis of contemporary new atheist and Protestant fundamentalist texts, Fraser shows that these presuppositions continue to structure both groups, and support a range of shared biblical, scientific, and theological beliefs. Their common historical and intellectual structure ensures that new atheism and Protestant fundamentalism - while on the surface irreconcilably opposed - share a secret sympathy with one another, yet one which leaves them unstable, inconsistent, and unsustainable.
This is a true story that could change your life ... and death. What would happen if an atheist visited the afterlife? A spiritual awakening like no other. *Winner of the Gold Medal in Readers’ Views, Reader Choice Awards 2022/2023 Best Classics - Religion/Spirituality *Winner of the Bronze Medal in Readers’ Favorite, International Book Awards 2022 Best Non-Fiction Spiritual/Supernatural *Named to the Top 100 Best Notable Indie Books of 2022 by Shelf Unbound *Named a Semi-Finalist in the 2022 Publishers Weekly, BookLife Prize Awards Follow one man's lifelong, extreme, transformation in this multifaceted memoir, which brings you through a life filled with trauma, death, denial, personal development, paranormal experiences, mediumship, spiritual gifts, true love, and triumph in his ultimate search for enlightenment. Embark on a journey as he transforms from an unswerving atheist into one who is certain of an afterlife. The book includes the details of his experiencing death firsthand (NDE) in which he describes his death as the best day of his life. This event sparked a journey spanning many years of researching the science of life, death, the afterlife, energy, consciousness, quantum physics, and pursuing the development of his intuitive abilities. A skill that he says anyone can develop and utilize for their own personal wellbeing. As each paranormal event unfolds, you will be able to follow them in real time. Each story is taken directly from Ray's personal journal and written with humility, sarcasm, and humor. Although the subject matter may be quite serious and a little gritty at times, it is the author's wish that, those who can relate to having these types of traumatic experiences, learn that regardless of your past, nothing can stop you from achieving your goals in the future and accomplishing everything you set out to do. This book takes you from the very beginning of this realization and through the events that transpired, for him to learn and accept the laws of the universe, and the fact that they were undeniably real. Although the book discusses metaphysical and paranormal activity, this story at its core is about the pursuit of happiness, love, and enlightenment when the odds are stacked against you, of having any of that. We wish you peace, love, and light throughout your journey. Based on real-life accounts of the author. -This book contains sensitive subject matter that may not be suitable for all ages and contains a list of triggers that you should review before reading this book. -The books in the "Awakening Series" by Limitless Publications, authored by Ray Catania, are not intended to be Religious in any way, nor do they support or denounce any forms of organized religion, overall.
Faithful Catholic priest become atheist psychologist shows how he himself shucked and how the reader can enjoy shucking childhood prejudices and superstitions to thrill to rational friendliness in our pluralistic planetary society. This book could have been titled “The Book of Tolerance.” The psychologist author recognizes that each of us learned a lot of traditions and beliefs when too young to evaluate them. Such prejudices are very deeply ingrained into the subconscious. Therefore they are often most difficult to overcome even in adult years and with further experience and education. (Dr. Uhl was already in his 30s when he finally got free; many people never get free.) Each of us grows up and learns to analyze and think critically at different speeds. Even in the same family one sibling may remain highly opinionated and prejudiced, stuck in the past, while another thoughtfully unlearns childhood myths and becomes a broadminded adult. Therefore, tolerance of such differing rates of learning and unlearning is necessary for civilized peace good friendships in a pluralistic society. Such patient understanding is less difficult when one follows the new Golden Rule: Treat others as you would reasonably want and expect them to treat you if your roles were reversed. The thrilling details of an exciting journey with our planetary neighbors are clearly laid out in the little book, Leap of Honesty – Priest to Atheist. A generous sprinkling of earthy humor richly seasons this revolutionary book for enjoyable spiritual nourishment. Previously published as Out of God’s Closet and Imagine No Superstition.
