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Candidate Without a Prayer: An Autobiography of a Jewish Atheist in the Bible Belt
In this deeply revealing and engaging autobiography, Herb Silverman tells his iconoclastic life story. He takes the reader from his childhood as an Orthodox Jew in Philadelphia, where he stopped fasting on Yom Kippur to test God’s existence, to his adult life in the heart of the Bible Belt, where he became a legendary figure within America’s secular activist community and remains one of its most beloved leaders. Never one to shy from controversy, Silverman relates many of his high-profile battles with the Religious Right, including his decision to run for governor of South Carolina to challenge the state’s constitutional provision that prohibited atheists from holding public office. Candidate Without a Prayer offers an intimate portrait of a central player in today’s increasingly heated culture wars.
255 pages, Hardcover
First published March 24, 2012
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March 30, 2012
CANDIDATE WITHOUT A PRAYER: The Autobiography of a Jewish Atheist in the Bible Belt
By Herb Silverman
Forward by Richard Dawkins
Review by Tim Campbell
Print version published by Pitchstone Publishing 2012. E-Book published by American Humanist Press 2012. 252 pages.
First, a word about the E-book format. This is American Humanist Press’s first title to be published as an E-book. It is also coincidentally the first E-book that I have dealt with. I am by nature a traditionalist. I want to have the feel of paper in my hands and the smell of a printed book permeating the air around me! But this is a pretty cool format with a suite of interactive features that made it different and worthwhile. Videos of the author and interviews with the author are a bonus that quite frankly cannot come with the printed version! And between each chapter, there is an interactive Q/A link that allows the reader to join in and contribute to the process! I would read more books published in this format, especially if they included these nifty little “special features”.
“If a man is going to publish his life story, he had best take the precaution of leading an interesting life first. Or at least being a very funny writer or of lacing his pages with wittily unconventional wisdom. Or even of being just an exceptionally nice person. Fortunately, Herb Silverman ticks all these boxes, and more.”
Author and biologist Richard Dawkins sums up this book in that opening paragraph of his foreward to CANDIDATE WITHOUT A PRAYER, by Herb Silverman. If I typed “THE END” now and let it go at that, I would feel like I’ve done my job!
But of course, being loquacious and dealing with a mind filled with constant thoughts, I will write a more detailed review of Herb Silverman’s entertaining, funny, and often profound autobiography. Regardless whether you are atheist or religious, I think that you will enjoy this book and gain insight from Herb’s insights! At least I hope you would!
I really liked this book. Let me be upfront and state for the record that I agree 100% with Herb’s religious views and perhaps 85% of his political views. I am an atheist also (I see no good reason to believe in tribal gods), but I am arguably more aggressive in my approach than Doctor Silverman is, but I sometimes wish that I had the wit and patience to follow his approach. He is much more tolerant of fundamentalists than I am, though perhaps equally contemptuous of fundamentalism.
But the book is Herb Silverman’s life and times, and he is truly an interesting and wonderfully unique human being! His curiosity and his intellect as well as his humanity are all on display here. Foibles as well as accomplishments. He is not perfect; nor is he Satan incarnate!
Perhaps this quote from one of his debates with Christian apologists best sums up Herb’s approach to life as well as his approach to debating or discussing with others: “Pastor Brown generalized the question of whether he was ever tempted to disobey God: “I am sometimes tempted by women to cheat on my wife, but I resist because I know how much it would hurt Jesus.’ In response, I am sometimes tempted by women to cheat on my wife Sharon, but I resist because I know how much it would hurt Sharon.”
This quote also arguably sums up a primary difference between humanism and theism: we believe in the importance of other human beings; they believe that humans exist solely as playthings of their god or gods.
The book is poignant and honest and funny and always interesting.
From his Jewish childhood in Philadelphia (“My mother’s idea of raising her only child was to make all possible decisions for and about me”) to his college days at Temple University to his current life as Distinguished Professor of Mathematics at the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC (God led me to mathematics and turned me into an atheist”), Herb’s life has been filled with iconoclastic choices and imbued with an ironic, yet scalpel-sharp sense of humor.
Examples:
“The most important lesson I learned was that infinity is a theoretical construct created by humans…if finite man created infinity, perhaps finite man created God and gave him infinite attributes.”
“I made up my mind that whenever future conflicts arose for me between self-respect and respectability, I’d opt for the former.”
“I preferred thinking to speaking.”
“I don’t think that gaining respectability for atheists is the most important issue around. It’s not even the most noteworthy civil rights struggle. If I had a magic wand, I’d probably first wave it to end world hunger.”
“I’m more interested in converting people from apathy to activism than from theism to atheism.”
“Mathematicians, like theologians, are free to make assumptions and construct their own imaginary little worlds based on these assumptions.”
While teaching math at the College of Charleston, Herb became aware of an article in the state constitution (Article 4 Section 2) that prohibited non-believers from running for or holding any public office in the state of South Carolina! Since there is a contradicting clause in the United States Constitution (Article 6 prohibits religious tests as qualification for any public office).
Of course, Herb had to run for governor!
No chance of winning; pretty much no chance of being permitted onto the ballot, but what a great way to challenge an unconstitutional part of a constitution!
When a radio interviewer asked him why he would waste his time on such a frivolous pursuit (as if winning the governorship was at all a personal ambition or an actual goal), Herb replied, “I find it appalling to be ineligible for an office because of my lack of religious beliefs. And to challenge a law that gives credibility to such religious intolerance and bigotry is not frivolous.”
Herb’s foray into South Carolina politics and his eventual realization of a lifelong dream (to become a notary public!) make for several truly entertaining yet frustrating chapters. That in 1990, a Jewish atheist math professor would have to run for governor in order to challenge a theocratic bigotry is itself an obscenity. Worse, large number of South Carolinians failed to see this law as an obscenity.
In 2000, Herb helped to found the Coalition for the Community of Reason (CCR) which then evolved in 2002 into the Secular Coalition for America.
He recently spoke at the Reason Rally in Washington, D.C. the first and largest gathering of atheists, humanists, agnostics, and secularists to be held on the National Mall in front of the Washington Monument. This reviewer was lucky enough to be at this rally and got to hear Herb speak. He is as gentle and wry in person as his writings imply!
For those of us who are not believers in tribal gods, this book resonates with a real love for humanity and a great joy in living life on life’s terms, but with a little twist of a persnickety smile.
You do not have to be an atheist or an agnostic to enjoy and benefit from reading CANDIDATE WITHOUT A PRAYER. In fact, if you are not one of the above, I would beg you to read this book!
By Herb Silverman
Forward by Richard Dawkins
Review by Tim Campbell
Print version published by Pitchstone Publishing 2012. E-Book published by American Humanist Press 2012. 252 pages.
First, a word about the E-book format. This is American Humanist Press’s first title to be published as an E-book. It is also coincidentally the first E-book that I have dealt with. I am by nature a traditionalist. I want to have the feel of paper in my hands and the smell of a printed book permeating the air around me! But this is a pretty cool format with a suite of interactive features that made it different and worthwhile. Videos of the author and interviews with the author are a bonus that quite frankly cannot come with the printed version! And between each chapter, there is an interactive Q/A link that allows the reader to join in and contribute to the process! I would read more books published in this format, especially if they included these nifty little “special features”.
“If a man is going to publish his life story, he had best take the precaution of leading an interesting life first. Or at least being a very funny writer or of lacing his pages with wittily unconventional wisdom. Or even of being just an exceptionally nice person. Fortunately, Herb Silverman ticks all these boxes, and more.”
Author and biologist Richard Dawkins sums up this book in that opening paragraph of his foreward to CANDIDATE WITHOUT A PRAYER, by Herb Silverman. If I typed “THE END” now and let it go at that, I would feel like I’ve done my job!
But of course, being loquacious and dealing with a mind filled with constant thoughts, I will write a more detailed review of Herb Silverman’s entertaining, funny, and often profound autobiography. Regardless whether you are atheist or religious, I think that you will enjoy this book and gain insight from Herb’s insights! At least I hope you would!
I really liked this book. Let me be upfront and state for the record that I agree 100% with Herb’s religious views and perhaps 85% of his political views. I am an atheist also (I see no good reason to believe in tribal gods), but I am arguably more aggressive in my approach than Doctor Silverman is, but I sometimes wish that I had the wit and patience to follow his approach. He is much more tolerant of fundamentalists than I am, though perhaps equally contemptuous of fundamentalism.
But the book is Herb Silverman’s life and times, and he is truly an interesting and wonderfully unique human being! His curiosity and his intellect as well as his humanity are all on display here. Foibles as well as accomplishments. He is not perfect; nor is he Satan incarnate!
Perhaps this quote from one of his debates with Christian apologists best sums up Herb’s approach to life as well as his approach to debating or discussing with others: “Pastor Brown generalized the question of whether he was ever tempted to disobey God: “I am sometimes tempted by women to cheat on my wife, but I resist because I know how much it would hurt Jesus.’ In response, I am sometimes tempted by women to cheat on my wife Sharon, but I resist because I know how much it would hurt Sharon.”
This quote also arguably sums up a primary difference between humanism and theism: we believe in the importance of other human beings; they believe that humans exist solely as playthings of their god or gods.
The book is poignant and honest and funny and always interesting.
From his Jewish childhood in Philadelphia (“My mother’s idea of raising her only child was to make all possible decisions for and about me”) to his college days at Temple University to his current life as Distinguished Professor of Mathematics at the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC (God led me to mathematics and turned me into an atheist”), Herb’s life has been filled with iconoclastic choices and imbued with an ironic, yet scalpel-sharp sense of humor.
Examples:
“The most important lesson I learned was that infinity is a theoretical construct created by humans…if finite man created infinity, perhaps finite man created God and gave him infinite attributes.”
“I made up my mind that whenever future conflicts arose for me between self-respect and respectability, I’d opt for the former.”
“I preferred thinking to speaking.”
“I don’t think that gaining respectability for atheists is the most important issue around. It’s not even the most noteworthy civil rights struggle. If I had a magic wand, I’d probably first wave it to end world hunger.”
“I’m more interested in converting people from apathy to activism than from theism to atheism.”
“Mathematicians, like theologians, are free to make assumptions and construct their own imaginary little worlds based on these assumptions.”
While teaching math at the College of Charleston, Herb became aware of an article in the state constitution (Article 4 Section 2) that prohibited non-believers from running for or holding any public office in the state of South Carolina! Since there is a contradicting clause in the United States Constitution (Article 6 prohibits religious tests as qualification for any public office).
Of course, Herb had to run for governor!
No chance of winning; pretty much no chance of being permitted onto the ballot, but what a great way to challenge an unconstitutional part of a constitution!
When a radio interviewer asked him why he would waste his time on such a frivolous pursuit (as if winning the governorship was at all a personal ambition or an actual goal), Herb replied, “I find it appalling to be ineligible for an office because of my lack of religious beliefs. And to challenge a law that gives credibility to such religious intolerance and bigotry is not frivolous.”
Herb’s foray into South Carolina politics and his eventual realization of a lifelong dream (to become a notary public!) make for several truly entertaining yet frustrating chapters. That in 1990, a Jewish atheist math professor would have to run for governor in order to challenge a theocratic bigotry is itself an obscenity. Worse, large number of South Carolinians failed to see this law as an obscenity.
In 2000, Herb helped to found the Coalition for the Community of Reason (CCR) which then evolved in 2002 into the Secular Coalition for America.
He recently spoke at the Reason Rally in Washington, D.C. the first and largest gathering of atheists, humanists, agnostics, and secularists to be held on the National Mall in front of the Washington Monument. This reviewer was lucky enough to be at this rally and got to hear Herb speak. He is as gentle and wry in person as his writings imply!
For those of us who are not believers in tribal gods, this book resonates with a real love for humanity and a great joy in living life on life’s terms, but with a little twist of a persnickety smile.
You do not have to be an atheist or an agnostic to enjoy and benefit from reading CANDIDATE WITHOUT A PRAYER. In fact, if you are not one of the above, I would beg you to read this book!
May 18, 2014
A fun though slight autobiography of Herb Silverman, mathematician and prominent American atheist. Silverman recounts his Jewish upbringing, his career as a mathematics professor, and his late conversion from an apathetic to activist voice for atheism.
Some of the most entertaining parts of the book involve his upbringing in a Jewish family, one which frowned on too much fraternization with gentiles and which certainly would not condone marriage outside the faith. Silverman ended up disappointing his parents on both counts. Though nothing particualry profound happened to him as he grew up in his average blue collar jewish family, he developed an above average interest in both mathematics and in gently, but humorously challenging the norms he was expected to adhere too. Even as he entered academia he refused to conform too much, although he did it with such good grace and humor those he challenged couldn’t bring themselves to sever their relationships with him.
He realized at a very early age he was an atheist. Like many who begin digging into the faith in which they were raised, Silverman soon realized what he was being taught did not hold up when subjected to the scrutiny of reason. However, while he enjoyed his non-conformity on other areas, he maintained a kind of apathetic atheism, neither hiding it nor wearing it on his sleeve. It wasn’t until he had landed at the institution where he would spend most of his academic career – The College of Charleston – that he began to rebel against some of the institutional prejudice that existed against non-believers.
In 1990 he was persuaded to run for Governor of South Carolina primarily as a protest against a state law that prohibited anyone from holding public office who did not profess belief in a supreme being. Despite being clearly unconstitutional, violating both article 6 and the 1st amendment, no Republican politicians in the state, including Governor Caroll Campbell, would speak against it. On the contrary, they defended the law. Eventually, due to unethical political pressure Silverman was removed from the ballot before his challenge made it to court. By the time it did the court refused to rule arguing he no longer had standing.There was one more office he could pursue however.
The law preventing non-believers from holding public office also included Notary Publics, applications for which were routinely approved. Silverman paid his $25 expecting the state to tacitly admit the law was unconstitutional by approving his application. When Governor Campbell rejected the application, Silverman with the help of the ACLU eventually got the law declared unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court and the law was invalidated.
From that time forward Silverman increased his activism, eventually speaking on the subject, debating prominent theists, and helping to form the Secular Coalition for America.
What is fascinating about Silverman is that he seems to have a way to disarm those who disagree with him, with his humor and his genuine interest in the views of others. He is not afraid to disagree, but he is never disagreeable which I think increases the persuasiveness of his message.
The book is not perfect. He seems to take great pleasure in discussing every aspect of his sex life, which started slow but eventually picked up steam. A little too much discussion for my taste. Though his recollections of the many debates he has engaged in are very entertaining I find it a bit hard to believe he outclassed his opponents as much as he describes. In fact I watched a couple of these and though he is certainly most persuasive on the facts, his debating style was sometimes not up to the challenge. And near the end it devolves from autobiography to lesson plan, first on how to deal with non-believers, and then on the beauty of mathematics (interesting but out of place).
Overall a very easy and entertaining read…definitely recommended.
Some of the most entertaining parts of the book involve his upbringing in a Jewish family, one which frowned on too much fraternization with gentiles and which certainly would not condone marriage outside the faith. Silverman ended up disappointing his parents on both counts. Though nothing particualry profound happened to him as he grew up in his average blue collar jewish family, he developed an above average interest in both mathematics and in gently, but humorously challenging the norms he was expected to adhere too. Even as he entered academia he refused to conform too much, although he did it with such good grace and humor those he challenged couldn’t bring themselves to sever their relationships with him.
He realized at a very early age he was an atheist. Like many who begin digging into the faith in which they were raised, Silverman soon realized what he was being taught did not hold up when subjected to the scrutiny of reason. However, while he enjoyed his non-conformity on other areas, he maintained a kind of apathetic atheism, neither hiding it nor wearing it on his sleeve. It wasn’t until he had landed at the institution where he would spend most of his academic career – The College of Charleston – that he began to rebel against some of the institutional prejudice that existed against non-believers.
In 1990 he was persuaded to run for Governor of South Carolina primarily as a protest against a state law that prohibited anyone from holding public office who did not profess belief in a supreme being. Despite being clearly unconstitutional, violating both article 6 and the 1st amendment, no Republican politicians in the state, including Governor Caroll Campbell, would speak against it. On the contrary, they defended the law. Eventually, due to unethical political pressure Silverman was removed from the ballot before his challenge made it to court. By the time it did the court refused to rule arguing he no longer had standing.There was one more office he could pursue however.
The law preventing non-believers from holding public office also included Notary Publics, applications for which were routinely approved. Silverman paid his $25 expecting the state to tacitly admit the law was unconstitutional by approving his application. When Governor Campbell rejected the application, Silverman with the help of the ACLU eventually got the law declared unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court and the law was invalidated.
From that time forward Silverman increased his activism, eventually speaking on the subject, debating prominent theists, and helping to form the Secular Coalition for America.
What is fascinating about Silverman is that he seems to have a way to disarm those who disagree with him, with his humor and his genuine interest in the views of others. He is not afraid to disagree, but he is never disagreeable which I think increases the persuasiveness of his message.
The book is not perfect. He seems to take great pleasure in discussing every aspect of his sex life, which started slow but eventually picked up steam. A little too much discussion for my taste. Though his recollections of the many debates he has engaged in are very entertaining I find it a bit hard to believe he outclassed his opponents as much as he describes. In fact I watched a couple of these and though he is certainly most persuasive on the facts, his debating style was sometimes not up to the challenge. And near the end it devolves from autobiography to lesson plan, first on how to deal with non-believers, and then on the beauty of mathematics (interesting but out of place).
Overall a very easy and entertaining read…definitely recommended.
July 8, 2012
Herb Silverman is a retired math professor and atheist activist living in Charleston, SC. My parents read about him in the local newspaper and over the years have sent me clippings of his adventures. Being a Yankee Jewish atheist in Charleston is no easy feat—it helps to be funny—and this pedestrian autobiography is full of witty tales of little outrages to common sense and decency he encounters in the South. Challenging SC law, he runs for governor since it is illegal for atheists to serve in public office. The reaction to his non-belief is unbelievable—threats, ignorant comments, teapot tempests at the College of Charleston. Silverman’s atheism is less nasty than Hitchens or Dawkins’ contemptuous tones and the stories of his debates with fundamentalists and Christian philosophers are interesting. At times even his amusing comments about theism get condescending and sophomoric, but I imagine this easy book will be useful for Southerners totally clueless about religion and its critics.
November 16, 2012
Herb Silverman is founder and president of Secular Coalition For American and, as the book's subtitle says, he is a Jewish Atheist in the Bible Belt. This is his autobiography.
Silverman talks about his childhood, family, and education in a humorous, often self-deprecating, manner. He continues this entertaining style throughout the book as he describes his professional teaching career as a math professor, unwitting introduction into political activism, and his philosophies on introducing these subjects to the public.
The thing I most appreciate about this book as that it is a unique look at atheism. Most books on the subject focus on philosophical arguments. Silverman, however, humanizes atheists in a humble and entertaining manner. I think almost anyone, atheist or not, would enjoy reading this book.
Silverman talks about his childhood, family, and education in a humorous, often self-deprecating, manner. He continues this entertaining style throughout the book as he describes his professional teaching career as a math professor, unwitting introduction into political activism, and his philosophies on introducing these subjects to the public.
The thing I most appreciate about this book as that it is a unique look at atheism. Most books on the subject focus on philosophical arguments. Silverman, however, humanizes atheists in a humble and entertaining manner. I think almost anyone, atheist or not, would enjoy reading this book.
February 28, 2013
A fairly uninteresting life. It would be better served as memoir versus autobiography as the theme of atheism in the South is overshadowed by a life of a Jewish math professor who grew up in Philadelphia and had a normal life professionally and privately. Hitchens Hitch-22 had little about his personal life but was an astounding book of his travels and observations. This author could learn from that model.
July 30, 2014
The state constitution of South Carolina used to require all elected officials to believe in a supreme being. The US Constitution prohibits religious tests to hold office. Hmmm...wasn't this settled in the 1800's? Anyway, this is an interesting autobiography of Herb Silverman, a mathematics professor in South Carolina who ultimately got the state constitution changed. It is funny and touching. You learn about his life and about math, as well as his interactions with the SC government.
December 4, 2014
Good enough. Quite a few amusing bits, and some really good stories. I'm especially glad that when the person who loaned it to me let me know she needed it back, I skipped to the last chapter and read that when I still had a few more chapters to read. It encouraged me to finish the book, and when I got to the end of the penultimate chapter, IT was the perfect end to the book!
August 7, 2012
Read this aloud with Doug on our trip to Seattle- enjoyed some of Herb's wiseass descriptions of his life- especially enjoyed his running for governor and his adventures becoming a notary public. What's with him and his mom?
December 10, 2012
Funny, autobiographical, irreverent
April 2, 2013
This book made me laugh right out loud! Mr. Silverman is one audacious character. :)
December 16, 2013
Very entertaining
March 31, 2018
Silverman describes his efforts to make American culture more tolerant of atheists. He spends a lot of time on autobiographical matters. There is little insight into why he became an atheist. He seems to want to prove to readers that he's a genial and normal person. He raises some interesting points about the implications of the first amendment. Is it okay to begin a public ceremony with a prayer? Is it okay to require a political candidate to embrace theism?
Silverman also embraces a lot of left-wing causes. I wonder why atheists tend to embrace causes like abortion, euthanasia, and liberation of sexual urges.
Overall, Silverman is a clear writer and, though I disagree with him on many levels, it is enjoyable to engage with him.
Silverman also embraces a lot of left-wing causes. I wonder why atheists tend to embrace causes like abortion, euthanasia, and liberation of sexual urges.
Overall, Silverman is a clear writer and, though I disagree with him on many levels, it is enjoyable to engage with him.
July 29, 2024
I loved this book as a fellow atheist Jew from Philadelphia but also as a firm believer in separation of church and state who also lives in the South (Gainesville, Florida ). A humorous, intimate look into secular Jewish family life and behind the scenes glimpses of debates between atheists and fundamentalists of all religions - this is a fun easy read with just the right amount of philosophy. I really enjoyed it…. (The other) Leonard Cohen
December 30, 2023
Was expecting more in depth views/ideas on issues and not so much name dropping and mundane tidbits about life.
If losing your virginity and having lunches with different people consitute appropriate material for writing ones autobiography, I am contemplating starting mine soon...
If losing your virginity and having lunches with different people consitute appropriate material for writing ones autobiography, I am contemplating starting mine soon...
June 29, 2021
Poignant, thought-provoking, and laugh-out-loud funny.
August 6, 2019
Interesting autobiography of a person whose life is so different from mine. I enjoyed it.
February 27, 2024
Now that Covid is less of a problem, I decided to look online for interesting meetups on Meetup.com. I found a couple of book groups that were reading books that seemed interesting. One of these groups was the Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry. At the book group, I met Herb Silverman, the author of quite a few books, including this one. This is his autobiography. He is well known in Charleston as the College of Charleston professor who ran for governor a while back in order to challenge the SC requirement that one had to believe in "the Supreme Being" in order to hold public office. He tells that story, and lots more interesting (and funny) ones in this book... Worth reading!
August 26, 2016
I is a funny autobiography of a funny man. The book is quite enjoyable and you can learn some interesting things from it.
His a life I think has a lot in common with other secular and no secular Jews that have transcended modern history and his picture of the South is quite interesting. I was surprised for how he describes a society that is very decades behind, if not centuries, without reinforcing stereotypes but instead trying to show the great diversity of his state.
I think he enjoyed his life and basically tells you to enjoy yours.
His a life I think has a lot in common with other secular and no secular Jews that have transcended modern history and his picture of the South is quite interesting. I was surprised for how he describes a society that is very decades behind, if not centuries, without reinforcing stereotypes but instead trying to show the great diversity of his state.
I think he enjoyed his life and basically tells you to enjoy yours.
September 3, 2013
I think I would have enjoyed this book more, but I found the narrator of the audiobook annoying!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews