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Atheism For Dummies
The easy way to understand atheism and secular philosophy For people seeking a non-religious philosophy of life, as well as believers with atheist friends, Atheism For Dummies offers an intelligent exploration of the historical and moral case for atheism. Often wildly misunderstood, atheism is a secular approach to life based on the understanding that reality is an arrangement of physical matter, with no consideration of unverifiable spiritual forces. Atheism For Dummies offers a brief history of atheist philosophy and its evolution, explores it as a historical and cultural movement, covers important historical writings on the subject, and discusses the nature of ethics and morality in the absence of religion. As the number of atheists worldwide continues to grow, this book offers a broad understanding of the subject for those exploring atheism as an approach to living.
384 pages, Paperback
First published February 21, 2013
49 people are currently reading
647 people want to read
About the author
Dale McGowan
17 books54 followersDALE McGOWAN, Ph.D., is a committed atheist, a devoted husband and father, and a recognized expert on raising caring, ethical children without religion. He is the author of Parenting Beyond Belief, a collection of essays by and for loving, thoughtful nonreligious parents hailed by Newsweek as “a compelling read,” and Raising Freethinkers, the first comprehensive resource addressing the unique challenges secular parents face. He teaches workshops to nonreligious parents throughout the United States and Canada and was named a Harvard Humanist of the Year. Dale also founded the nonprofit Foundation Beyond Belief, a charitable organization dedicated to encouraging and demonstrating acts of humanist generosity.
At age 28, Dale married his true love, Becca, a Southern Baptist. They had a traditional religious wedding in a beautiful, historic Lutheran church in San Francisco, with two ministers—a Methodist friend of the family and the bride’s Baptist uncle—plus an Episcopal organist. “No one would have guessed there was an atheist in the room,” Dale reflects, “much less that he was the one in tux and tails.” Twenty-three years and three kids later, their marriage is, happily, still going strong. Yet, as Dale knew from the experiences of others, including close friends, many mixed-belief marriages are marked by frequent conflict and pain, and some end in divorce, caused directly by the couple’s differences in worldview. Why do some secular/religious marriages succeed and others fail? Dale’s fascination with that question and search for answers culminated in the book, In Faith and In Doubt: How Religious Believers and Nonbelievers Can Create Strong Marriages and Loving Families.
Before finding his calling as a writer, Dale McGowan enjoyed a 15-year career as a professor of music and conductor. He holds degrees in physical anthropology and music theory from the University of California, as well as a doctorate in music composition and theory from the University of Minnesota. In addition to his books on secular parenting and mixed-belief families, he is the author of Atheism for Dummies, Voices of Unbelief, and two works of satirical fiction, Calling Bernadette's Bluff and Good Thunder. He makes his home near Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife Becca, a second grade teacher, and their three kids.
At age 28, Dale married his true love, Becca, a Southern Baptist. They had a traditional religious wedding in a beautiful, historic Lutheran church in San Francisco, with two ministers—a Methodist friend of the family and the bride’s Baptist uncle—plus an Episcopal organist. “No one would have guessed there was an atheist in the room,” Dale reflects, “much less that he was the one in tux and tails.” Twenty-three years and three kids later, their marriage is, happily, still going strong. Yet, as Dale knew from the experiences of others, including close friends, many mixed-belief marriages are marked by frequent conflict and pain, and some end in divorce, caused directly by the couple’s differences in worldview. Why do some secular/religious marriages succeed and others fail? Dale’s fascination with that question and search for answers culminated in the book, In Faith and In Doubt: How Religious Believers and Nonbelievers Can Create Strong Marriages and Loving Families.
Before finding his calling as a writer, Dale McGowan enjoyed a 15-year career as a professor of music and conductor. He holds degrees in physical anthropology and music theory from the University of California, as well as a doctorate in music composition and theory from the University of Minnesota. In addition to his books on secular parenting and mixed-belief families, he is the author of Atheism for Dummies, Voices of Unbelief, and two works of satirical fiction, Calling Bernadette's Bluff and Good Thunder. He makes his home near Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife Becca, a second grade teacher, and their three kids.
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January 18, 2016
کتاب بسیار جالب و خواندنی... با بکارگیری نمادها و تصاویر جالب، کتاب از حالت یکنواخت بودن خارج شده.. این کتاب شامل 5 فصل مفید و خواندنی هستش
البته این کتاب توسط جناب آقای بهمنیار گرامی، به فارسی برگردانده شده، امیدوارم از این کتاب کمال استفاده رو ببرید و سطح آگاهی بالای خودتون رو بازهم بالاتر ببرید و مطمئنم شما ایرانیان بزرگوار، آگاهی یافتن رو بزرگترین هدف خودتون میدونید
پیروز باشید و ایرانی
البته این کتاب توسط جناب آقای بهمنیار گرامی، به فارسی برگردانده شده، امیدوارم از این کتاب کمال استفاده رو ببرید و سطح آگاهی بالای خودتون رو بازهم بالاتر ببرید و مطمئنم شما ایرانیان بزرگوار، آگاهی یافتن رو بزرگترین هدف خودتون میدونید
پیروز باشید و ایرانی
July 3, 2013
Atheism for Dummies by Dale McGowan
"Atheism for Dummies" is the fantastic, friendly and accessible guide to understanding atheism and secular philosophy. It's an excellent respectful introduction for people who are interested in finding out more about atheism without the fear of indoctrination. Author, editor, humanist, Dr. Dale McGowan provides the reading public with an excellent reference into atheist philosophy that covers a gamut of fascinating topics. This stimulating 384-page book is broken into five parts: Part I - Understanding What Atheism Is, Part II - Following Atheism through the Ages, Part III - Reading the Great Works of Atheism, Part IV - Living a Full Life without Belief in God, and Part V. The Part of Tens.
Positives:
1. Engaging prose. The author is very respectful and treats this fascinating topic with utmost respect and care and with just the right touch of humor. A joy to read.
2. Just an overall, excellent introductory guide to atheism that covers a wide-range of fascinating topics.
3. The author has a great command of the topic and does a masterful job of keeping it an accessible level without compromising the intellectual integrity.
4. The familiarity with the For Dummies format will help readers jump to specific topics.
5. What sets this book apart from other atheist books is the wide gamut of interests that it covers including atheist pop culture.
6. So what do atheists believe in and why? The many different degrees and different expressions. The author includes his personal story of why he is an atheist.
7. The book includes the background on important atheist analogies and quips. "I contend we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god that you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours". Find out where this passage originated...
8. The humanist worldview one that for the record I espouse is clearly defined in this wonderful book. Its history, its voices...its virtues.
9. Deep and thought-provoking quotes abound in this book, "My desire to know has always been stronger than my desire to believe any particular answer. If I want to know the truth, trying hard to get a particular answer is the surest way to fail". That beautiful quote comes from the grand mind of Bertrand Russell.
10. Aha moments...a common thread among atheists.
11. Why evolution is such a hot-button issue. Interesting look at how the Catholic Church cautiously "evolved" its official stance on it.
12. The negative consequences of religious belief. The difference between religion and science. "Religion is a collection of answers, and science is a way of asking questions".
13. The book includes many interesting stories. The story of Jean Meslier, the Catholic priest of the latter 17th century was one of my favorites.
14. The fascinating history of atheism covering the globe from the earliest manifestations to the new atheist movement. The author does a great job of describing the many manifestations including Confucianism, Hinduism (Samkhya), Buddhism, and Jainism. The history of doubt.
15. Excellent look back at the important written works in the atheist movement. A special mention to the Roman poet Lucretius, "On the Nature of Things."
16. The Enlightenment and the Renaissance as huge developments in Western History and the grandest of them all, the Scientific Revolution.
17. The early feminist leaders: Goldman, Stanton, Rose, Knight, O'Hair...I would be remiss if I didn't add the literary contributions of Jennifer Michael Hecht and Susan Jacoby.
18. The great atheist minds throughout time. A special mention to Robert Green Ingersoll, "The Great Agnostic." The Four Horsemen. The youth movement.
19. There are some unique chapters in this book. "Laughing in Disbelief: Challenging the Divine with Humor" is a fantastic and clever idea. "Comedy theorists note that a joke is often funniest when it reveals something that's true but hidden by a fig leaf." The comedians, the movies, TV shows...related to atheism.
20. Great lists of atheist/secular sources: blogs (special mention to Greta Christina), books, websites, secular sources: blogs, books, websites, etc...
21. Understanding the concepts of morality through an atheist point of view. Eye-opening account on generosity. Morality from an evolutionary point of view. Moral development research. Excellent material!
22. The freedom of atheism. "When the last remnant of religious faith is gone, people tend to realize that with nobody minding the store, it's up to human beings to care for each other, to work for justice, to comfort those who suffer or grieve, and to make this life as good as it can be for as many people as possible." RAmen.
23. Some great advice on coming out as an atheist particularly in a predominantly religious environment.
24. Religious literacy the right way. Creating communities the right way.
25. The always fun part of tens.
Negatives:
1. One of the problems with the For Dummies Series is that it does not translate as well over to the electronic format. Sidebars though still distinguishable are now part of the narrative.
2. The book is repetitive, not terribly so but you find the author elaborating on topics he may have touched upon earlier in the book.
3. Such an ambitious and may I say wonderful book like this one is bound to glance over some topics that atheists expected more depth from. As an example, going over the classic arguments against "God"...from my perspective, the author made the wise choice of glancing it over and added instead, welcomed material that is seldom included in other books of this ilk. Looking back it's a positive for me it may be a negative for others.
In summary, a treat to read, never underestimate a For Dummies Series book. Dr. McGowan has written an excellent introductory guide into the atheistic philosophy. His pleasant and engaging approach and fascinating material makes this a must read. Surprisingly, the author included welcomed material seldom seen in most books of this ilk including atheist humor and other interesting pop culture references. Thrilled to have read this book and I give it one of my highest recommendations!
Further suggestions: "Doubt: A History" by Jennifer Michael Hecht, "Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism", by Susan Jacoby, "Nonbeliever Nation: The Rise of Secular Americans" by David Niose, "The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever" by Christopher Hitchens, "Society without God: What the Least Religious Nations Can Tell Us About Contentment" by Phil Zuckerman, "The God Argument: The Case against Religion and for Humanism" by A.C. Grayling, "50 Simple Questions for Every Christian" by Guy P. Harrison, "Why I Became an Atheist: A Former Preacher Rejects Christianity" by John Loftus, "Can We Be Good Without God?: Biology, Behavior, and the Need to Believe" by Robert Buckman, "Sense and Goodness Without God: A Defense of Metaphysical Naturalism" by Richard Carrier, "Natural Atheism" by Dr. David Eller, "God's Problem" by Bart D. Ehrman, "Why Evolution Is True" by Jerry A. Coyne, "Man Made God: A Collection of Essays" by Barbara G. Walker, "The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values" by Sam Harris, "Immortality" by Stephen Cave, , "God: The Failed Hypothesis. How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist" by Victor J. Stenger, "Godless" by Dan Barker, "Christian No More" by Jeffrey Mark, and "The Invention of God" by Bill Lauritzen.
"Atheism for Dummies" is the fantastic, friendly and accessible guide to understanding atheism and secular philosophy. It's an excellent respectful introduction for people who are interested in finding out more about atheism without the fear of indoctrination. Author, editor, humanist, Dr. Dale McGowan provides the reading public with an excellent reference into atheist philosophy that covers a gamut of fascinating topics. This stimulating 384-page book is broken into five parts: Part I - Understanding What Atheism Is, Part II - Following Atheism through the Ages, Part III - Reading the Great Works of Atheism, Part IV - Living a Full Life without Belief in God, and Part V. The Part of Tens.
Positives:
1. Engaging prose. The author is very respectful and treats this fascinating topic with utmost respect and care and with just the right touch of humor. A joy to read.
2. Just an overall, excellent introductory guide to atheism that covers a wide-range of fascinating topics.
3. The author has a great command of the topic and does a masterful job of keeping it an accessible level without compromising the intellectual integrity.
4. The familiarity with the For Dummies format will help readers jump to specific topics.
5. What sets this book apart from other atheist books is the wide gamut of interests that it covers including atheist pop culture.
6. So what do atheists believe in and why? The many different degrees and different expressions. The author includes his personal story of why he is an atheist.
7. The book includes the background on important atheist analogies and quips. "I contend we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god that you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours". Find out where this passage originated...
8. The humanist worldview one that for the record I espouse is clearly defined in this wonderful book. Its history, its voices...its virtues.
9. Deep and thought-provoking quotes abound in this book, "My desire to know has always been stronger than my desire to believe any particular answer. If I want to know the truth, trying hard to get a particular answer is the surest way to fail". That beautiful quote comes from the grand mind of Bertrand Russell.
10. Aha moments...a common thread among atheists.
11. Why evolution is such a hot-button issue. Interesting look at how the Catholic Church cautiously "evolved" its official stance on it.
12. The negative consequences of religious belief. The difference between religion and science. "Religion is a collection of answers, and science is a way of asking questions".
13. The book includes many interesting stories. The story of Jean Meslier, the Catholic priest of the latter 17th century was one of my favorites.
14. The fascinating history of atheism covering the globe from the earliest manifestations to the new atheist movement. The author does a great job of describing the many manifestations including Confucianism, Hinduism (Samkhya), Buddhism, and Jainism. The history of doubt.
15. Excellent look back at the important written works in the atheist movement. A special mention to the Roman poet Lucretius, "On the Nature of Things."
16. The Enlightenment and the Renaissance as huge developments in Western History and the grandest of them all, the Scientific Revolution.
17. The early feminist leaders: Goldman, Stanton, Rose, Knight, O'Hair...I would be remiss if I didn't add the literary contributions of Jennifer Michael Hecht and Susan Jacoby.
18. The great atheist minds throughout time. A special mention to Robert Green Ingersoll, "The Great Agnostic." The Four Horsemen. The youth movement.
19. There are some unique chapters in this book. "Laughing in Disbelief: Challenging the Divine with Humor" is a fantastic and clever idea. "Comedy theorists note that a joke is often funniest when it reveals something that's true but hidden by a fig leaf." The comedians, the movies, TV shows...related to atheism.
20. Great lists of atheist/secular sources: blogs (special mention to Greta Christina), books, websites, secular sources: blogs, books, websites, etc...
21. Understanding the concepts of morality through an atheist point of view. Eye-opening account on generosity. Morality from an evolutionary point of view. Moral development research. Excellent material!
22. The freedom of atheism. "When the last remnant of religious faith is gone, people tend to realize that with nobody minding the store, it's up to human beings to care for each other, to work for justice, to comfort those who suffer or grieve, and to make this life as good as it can be for as many people as possible." RAmen.
23. Some great advice on coming out as an atheist particularly in a predominantly religious environment.
24. Religious literacy the right way. Creating communities the right way.
25. The always fun part of tens.
Negatives:
1. One of the problems with the For Dummies Series is that it does not translate as well over to the electronic format. Sidebars though still distinguishable are now part of the narrative.
2. The book is repetitive, not terribly so but you find the author elaborating on topics he may have touched upon earlier in the book.
3. Such an ambitious and may I say wonderful book like this one is bound to glance over some topics that atheists expected more depth from. As an example, going over the classic arguments against "God"...from my perspective, the author made the wise choice of glancing it over and added instead, welcomed material that is seldom included in other books of this ilk. Looking back it's a positive for me it may be a negative for others.
In summary, a treat to read, never underestimate a For Dummies Series book. Dr. McGowan has written an excellent introductory guide into the atheistic philosophy. His pleasant and engaging approach and fascinating material makes this a must read. Surprisingly, the author included welcomed material seldom seen in most books of this ilk including atheist humor and other interesting pop culture references. Thrilled to have read this book and I give it one of my highest recommendations!
Further suggestions: "Doubt: A History" by Jennifer Michael Hecht, "Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism", by Susan Jacoby, "Nonbeliever Nation: The Rise of Secular Americans" by David Niose, "The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever" by Christopher Hitchens, "Society without God: What the Least Religious Nations Can Tell Us About Contentment" by Phil Zuckerman, "The God Argument: The Case against Religion and for Humanism" by A.C. Grayling, "50 Simple Questions for Every Christian" by Guy P. Harrison, "Why I Became an Atheist: A Former Preacher Rejects Christianity" by John Loftus, "Can We Be Good Without God?: Biology, Behavior, and the Need to Believe" by Robert Buckman, "Sense and Goodness Without God: A Defense of Metaphysical Naturalism" by Richard Carrier, "Natural Atheism" by Dr. David Eller, "God's Problem" by Bart D. Ehrman, "Why Evolution Is True" by Jerry A. Coyne, "Man Made God: A Collection of Essays" by Barbara G. Walker, "The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values" by Sam Harris, "Immortality" by Stephen Cave, , "God: The Failed Hypothesis. How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist" by Victor J. Stenger, "Godless" by Dan Barker, "Christian No More" by Jeffrey Mark, and "The Invention of God" by Bill Lauritzen.
November 18, 2017
A good overview that hits most of the major topics on Atheism. Brief, because of the number of things it has to cover, it gives recommendations for supplementary reading. A good start for anyone interested in the topic.
March 12, 2013
This was an interesting read especially since I was not an Atheist before I read this book. (I'm also not an Atheist after reading this book either).
I have been curious how Atheists come by their point of view and what they put the their faith in if not religion. It appears that many follow science and humanism as their religion instead (although I suspect many would disagree with my assertion that it is their form of religion).
One thing I did find extremely interesting is some of the justifications and "facts" used to abandon religion and God as many of these can just a easily be used to to find fault in their faith of science.
While I am not convinced that I should turn away from what I believe, I now have a much better understanding on how those who have abandoned faith believe in the way they do now.
I have been curious how Atheists come by their point of view and what they put the their faith in if not religion. It appears that many follow science and humanism as their religion instead (although I suspect many would disagree with my assertion that it is their form of religion).
One thing I did find extremely interesting is some of the justifications and "facts" used to abandon religion and God as many of these can just a easily be used to to find fault in their faith of science.
While I am not convinced that I should turn away from what I believe, I now have a much better understanding on how those who have abandoned faith believe in the way they do now.
March 15, 2013
I was hired as technical editor/reviewer for this book. Because I know Dale McGowan, I had pretty high expectations--but they were exceeded by the book (which I've read most of more than once). I consider myself quite well informed and familiar with all things atheistic, but I learned a great deal from this book. Whether you're just curious about atheism and atheists or want to know, as an atheist, about your history and the arguments for your philosophical conclusion, this is a rich resource. I recommend it highly.
--Ed Buckner, lead author of In Freedom We Trust; former president, American Atheists.
--Ed Buckner, lead author of In Freedom We Trust; former president, American Atheists.
March 20, 2020
A really good introduction to atheism and the free thought movement.
It is like atheism 101, enough detail to keep you interested and doesn't get overwhelming.
I liked the author's approach to look at atheism from a distance, observing how it evolved.
One thing that I loved is that it includes the world view, it is not only about Christianity and the English speaking countries but also about Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam (and other religions, Jainism being author's favourite) and about China, India, middle East and other places in the world.
Ps - Boy I'm happy I live today , had I been a atheist 100 year, life would be bad.
It is like atheism 101, enough detail to keep you interested and doesn't get overwhelming.
I liked the author's approach to look at atheism from a distance, observing how it evolved.
One thing that I loved is that it includes the world view, it is not only about Christianity and the English speaking countries but also about Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam (and other religions, Jainism being author's favourite) and about China, India, middle East and other places in the world.
Ps - Boy I'm happy I live today , had I been a atheist 100 year, life would be bad.
November 26, 2025
This book is great for beginners who are interested in atheism, secularism, and humanism. For non-beginners it's the same stuff that's discussed in other books on the same topics.
May 13, 2014
The book I read to research this post is Atheism For Dummies by Dale McGowan which is an excellent book which I bought from kindle. This book looks at the arguments for and against God in a variety of different religions. The author is an Atheist who used to be a Christian and studied a wide variety of religions including even Greek which him think if that religion can fall out of favor maybe mainstream religions will one day to and be replaced by something else. Many Atheists believe in a God but don't conform to any set religion. Agnostics believe your relationship with God is a personal thing and certainly don't believe in going to church. Deists believe God is something that is incomprehensible to us, he doesn't perform miracles and there is so much life in the Universe he probably doesn't even know we exist. I must admit I can relate to those 2 belief systems. Even if you choose to follow a particular religion the author suggests you learn about as many different religions as possible and why their followers follow them. He suggests attending services and talking to members of different religions about their beliefs. There are a lot of religious beliefs that are directly connected to world problems like the Catholic Churches opposition to contraception and the overpopulation in many countries. I was brought up a Catholic although some of what they believe like transubstantiation, the turning of bread and wine into Jesus's body and blood literally, I find ridiculous. At one time in the Western World it was considered unthinkable not to believe in God and many things like that the Earth goes around the Sun and not the other way around were considered heresy that you could be put to death for believing. Until the discovery of genetics in the 30's & 40's many wouldn't accept evolution was possible. I really enjoyed this book and would like to do more posts on different religions and why people follow them. I think no religion is 100 % accurate about God and the truth is probably a combination of many religions.
October 9, 2023
This is a brilliantly simple guide to walk you through the various grades of atheism and religious disbelief. The format is well-designed to study the history of this philosophical movement from earliest times to the present while providing a breakdown of major events, characters and works of literature that have helped to shape the movement. Highly recommended.
September 16, 2015
Delightful, witty, and informative. Everything I want a Dummies book to be. I learned all about the history, impact, and so much more with atheism and it didn't take me 2 months to read. Love Dale McGowan and I would definitely recommend this book!
November 13, 2016
براي كسي كه كتاب هاي گردن كلفتي در اين مورد خونده،،،يكم حوصله سر بره و پر گو و پرحرف،،،ولي براي كسي كه ميخواد شروع كنه و اول راهه، عاليه
August 17, 2020
3.5/5 stars. A primer, like other "for Dummies" books, author Dale McGowan lays out the basics of non-belief. His syntax is quite casual (almost too casual/friendly at times), and his prose is very easy to understand. Overall it is a winner of a book.
In particular, I enjoyed digesting McGowan's history of non-belief. Even as a non-believer, I admit that I do not know as much about its history as many other religions. I recall once noticing that Barnes and Noble has a GIANT section for religious books (mostly about Christianity) but a TINY section for non-belief books. This is a history that is often lost or ignored, and McGowan brings some of the colorful events and individuals across time to life (good stuff on the French Revolution, Mexico's Cristero Rebellion, Neo-Confucianism). McGowan clearly wants to connect to believers, and overall, he wants to live in a peaceful world. He also provides information about non-belief groups and tips on how to "come out".
It was not a huge deal, but I was not a fan of the repetitiveness or the length of the book. McGowan often says things multiple times and sometimes a chart could have better taken the place of pages of writing. He also inserts his opinion a LOT...sometimes it was appreciated but other times it felt like overkill.
For a first round TKO of religion I would recommend something by the "New Atheists" (Hitchens, Harris, Dawkins, etc.), but for something non-threatening and informative, this is a great book to read.
In particular, I enjoyed digesting McGowan's history of non-belief. Even as a non-believer, I admit that I do not know as much about its history as many other religions. I recall once noticing that Barnes and Noble has a GIANT section for religious books (mostly about Christianity) but a TINY section for non-belief books. This is a history that is often lost or ignored, and McGowan brings some of the colorful events and individuals across time to life (good stuff on the French Revolution, Mexico's Cristero Rebellion, Neo-Confucianism). McGowan clearly wants to connect to believers, and overall, he wants to live in a peaceful world. He also provides information about non-belief groups and tips on how to "come out".
It was not a huge deal, but I was not a fan of the repetitiveness or the length of the book. McGowan often says things multiple times and sometimes a chart could have better taken the place of pages of writing. He also inserts his opinion a LOT...sometimes it was appreciated but other times it felt like overkill.
For a first round TKO of religion I would recommend something by the "New Atheists" (Hitchens, Harris, Dawkins, etc.), but for something non-threatening and informative, this is a great book to read.
December 30, 2024
Atheism, delineated as a cognitive repudiation of theistic ontologies, constitutes an epistemological stance characterized by the absence of credence in anthropomorphic deities or metaphysical constructs. Eschewing fideistic paradigms, atheism adopts a non-theistic heuristic framework, often undergirded by empiricism, rationalism, and methodological skepticism. It problematizes the axiomatic presuppositions of divine teleology, positing instead a naturalistic and existentially autonomous worldview. Atheism is not monolithic but manifests as a spectrum, ranging from implicit agnostic dispositions to explicit antitheistic critiques.
Functionally, atheism serves as a discursive challenge to the epistemic hegemony of theological paradigms, advocating for ontological parsimony (Occam's Razor) and the dialectical dismantling of dogmatic ideologies. By negating the teleological essentialism imbued within sacred narratives, atheism facilitates the transcendence of existential dependency on metaphysical paternalism, thereby fostering an intellectually emancipated epistemic agency.
Functionally, atheism serves as a discursive challenge to the epistemic hegemony of theological paradigms, advocating for ontological parsimony (Occam's Razor) and the dialectical dismantling of dogmatic ideologies. By negating the teleological essentialism imbued within sacred narratives, atheism facilitates the transcendence of existential dependency on metaphysical paternalism, thereby fostering an intellectually emancipated epistemic agency.
July 2, 2021
This is my second 'for dummies' book, and it is very comprehensive! Who knew that there was so much to write about atheism. And it is occasionally funny.
This book covers a vast array of topics- from history to present day, from literature to movies and podcasts, from haters to supporters, and everything in between.
I am an atheist, and honestly, I didn't bother much with the intricacies. I simply lived along with my life. But this books tells me that there is a vast world of atheism that I had no clue existed. People really are serious about this stuff.
This book does not push the wrong buttons of the religious, but simply (and smoothly) glides through the topics.
That said, I just happened to come across the book by sheer luck, and I considered to give it a try. 17 days later I have a better understanding of the world.
I recommend this book as an audiobook. Reading the entirety might be cumbersome.
This book covers a vast array of topics- from history to present day, from literature to movies and podcasts, from haters to supporters, and everything in between.
I am an atheist, and honestly, I didn't bother much with the intricacies. I simply lived along with my life. But this books tells me that there is a vast world of atheism that I had no clue existed. People really are serious about this stuff.
This book does not push the wrong buttons of the religious, but simply (and smoothly) glides through the topics.
That said, I just happened to come across the book by sheer luck, and I considered to give it a try. 17 days later I have a better understanding of the world.
I recommend this book as an audiobook. Reading the entirety might be cumbersome.
August 1, 2018
I really like the cover of this book for some reason. I don't know what it has to do with atheism, but it's really pretty on the eyes.
Anyways, I'd never really known much about atheism before this book, so it was kind of mindblowing to hear that there were multiple sects of atheism. Agnosticism? Secular humanism? All of them have their own different flavors. It doesn't matter if you're a believer or a non-believer, I feel like it's always good to have knowledge of general belief systems, so recommend to anyone that hasn't explored the topic.
Anyways, I'd never really known much about atheism before this book, so it was kind of mindblowing to hear that there were multiple sects of atheism. Agnosticism? Secular humanism? All of them have their own different flavors. It doesn't matter if you're a believer or a non-believer, I feel like it's always good to have knowledge of general belief systems, so recommend to anyone that hasn't explored the topic.
June 25, 2018
As an atheist I read the book not to discover what is atheism but to broaden my views. This was acieved as there are many interesting facts, opinions and links to other books and internet sources.
Some parts of the book were not so entertaining and could be not so lengthy.
Some parts of the book were not so entertaining and could be not so lengthy.
January 16, 2019
Fabulous, well organized, well presented. So much good information.
May 15, 2019
Good read.. May be it will add more value to someone looking for introduction to atheism
August 4, 2021
Opens your eyes.
June 5, 2022
I would give this book 5 stars because this book was intriguing and hard to put down, but there are some references that are outdated or no longer existent.
July 23, 2022
A great introduction into atheism. Overview information for someone who wants a straightforward, non-pretentious look at atheism. Hit all the points I would have expected.
April 1, 2025
Beautifully written, such a kind gentle person!
Loved it!!
Loved it!!
May 3, 2025
Just picked this out of sheer curiosity and turned out to be a brilliant book. As the title implies, it doesn't take to a deeper level, but it compensate by exploring a broad range of topics and branches.
The chapter 3 is particularly brilliant. Eg. Compatibility of science and religion.
Chapter 4 - writing of Xun Zi
Chapter 7 provides thoughts from the era of Copernicus and Darwin.
The chapter 3 is particularly brilliant. Eg. Compatibility of science and religion.
Chapter 4 - writing of Xun Zi
Chapter 7 provides thoughts from the era of Copernicus and Darwin.
March 21, 2013
I found this book fantastic. I cannot fathom the many types of personalities that will pick this book up, but it is really for only certain people: humans. I suppose it might feel like you just asked your dad about sex. Sometimes it gets awkward, some things are downright uncomfortable, but in the end, as you're walking away, you feel like you know a secret and you look at everyone differently. And Dale McGowan is the perfect person with which to have that talk.
When you boil it right down, there is no way to know what people really believe deep in their hearts. Just ask that congregation whose saintly priest never let on that he was an atheist for decades! Couple that with the congregation who discovers their pastor had been cheating on his wife with four different women. All we have to go on is what people do, which is why atheists are such a mystery. We see scandal after scandal of pious politicians and pastors, but we don't paint every religious person with that same brush. Yet we do with atheists. We know one atheist, we think we know them all. So much so, that when we find out a close friend is an atheist, our first thought is: "But you're so nice!" Compared to whom? Stalin?
Our labels mean nothing. They've been used as quick identifiers for friend and foe in the past. They were false senses of security, though. How many cheating, backstabbing Christians does it take to make us realize that our labels are just masks and that we don't know who we're getting behind them? The same goes for atheists. How many kind, considerate, honest, fun-filled atheists does it take? Calling oneself a Christian is not a get-out-of-jail-free card. Just ask the majority of prisoners. Only one label sticks: human. After that, it is anyone's guess.
When you boil it right down, there is no way to know what people really believe deep in their hearts. Just ask that congregation whose saintly priest never let on that he was an atheist for decades! Couple that with the congregation who discovers their pastor had been cheating on his wife with four different women. All we have to go on is what people do, which is why atheists are such a mystery. We see scandal after scandal of pious politicians and pastors, but we don't paint every religious person with that same brush. Yet we do with atheists. We know one atheist, we think we know them all. So much so, that when we find out a close friend is an atheist, our first thought is: "But you're so nice!" Compared to whom? Stalin?
Our labels mean nothing. They've been used as quick identifiers for friend and foe in the past. They were false senses of security, though. How many cheating, backstabbing Christians does it take to make us realize that our labels are just masks and that we don't know who we're getting behind them? The same goes for atheists. How many kind, considerate, honest, fun-filled atheists does it take? Calling oneself a Christian is not a get-out-of-jail-free card. Just ask the majority of prisoners. Only one label sticks: human. After that, it is anyone's guess.
September 22, 2013
This is Atheism 101, for theists and atheists alike. It goes into the main implications of Atheism as a world view, a history of the sceptic thinkers and quite a lot of refernces. It does address most questions theists have about atheists.
If you read this book as a theist, know your pre.conceptions will be challenged, about Atheism but also about your own religion (and others). Well read as a theist you cannot leave it unscathed.
It does not, however, go into the deeper philosophical discusions of the points addressed. The best Morality argument I've read came from Hitchens but McGowan choses a more common and understandable Epicurean view and then devotes a chapter to the practical issues. It also includes no debate trying to convince anyone of anything (except maybe excercising critical thought).
It also doesn't delve quite deeply in all the implications of a universe without god, or even mentions Nietzsche's solution to a life of meaning without god.
In the purest sense of the "for Dummies" series, it seeks to give you an introduction into an unknown subject, and this is accomplished very well. It is also a "reference for the rest of us" since an atheist I still found out a lot about it. Maybe no filosofical arguments, but some cool references and at least one great song.
In my opinion not a book that's a must have, but it certainly fulfils the purpose for which it was written, which is easier said than done.
If you read this book as a theist, know your pre.conceptions will be challenged, about Atheism but also about your own religion (and others). Well read as a theist you cannot leave it unscathed.
It does not, however, go into the deeper philosophical discusions of the points addressed. The best Morality argument I've read came from Hitchens but McGowan choses a more common and understandable Epicurean view and then devotes a chapter to the practical issues. It also includes no debate trying to convince anyone of anything (except maybe excercising critical thought).
It also doesn't delve quite deeply in all the implications of a universe without god, or even mentions Nietzsche's solution to a life of meaning without god.
In the purest sense of the "for Dummies" series, it seeks to give you an introduction into an unknown subject, and this is accomplished very well. It is also a "reference for the rest of us" since an atheist I still found out a lot about it. Maybe no filosofical arguments, but some cool references and at least one great song.
In my opinion not a book that's a must have, but it certainly fulfils the purpose for which it was written, which is easier said than done.
August 17, 2014
I've long ago lost count of how many books on atheism and related topics I've read--at least dozens, maybe even hundreds--and I delighted in many of them and recommend many to others. But "Atheism for Dummies" is my favorite book to recommend to non-atheists who are interested in us atheists. Despite the series title, McGowan never condescends, never treats his readers as anything but interested (even not as necessarily well-informed) parties. The breadth of knowledge, history, and philosophy he brings to this work slips up on you almost before you realize it, because he writes with such flair, wit, and grace. The book is not intended to convert anyone to atheism but is instead designed to enlighten everyone--atheists and non-atheists--on what atheism is really all about. I had a very minor role in developing the book, so perhaps I cannot be objective, but I can tell you this: i agreed to review chapters before they were published because I know Dale and think the topic is worth a good popular treatment. But I accepted this task in part because I felt it was my duty, as an atheist, to help make sure it was done right. So I was surprised--quite surprised--to find myself eagerly awaiting each new chapter rather than dutifully poring over them. And I was delighted and surprised by how much I learned from every chapter. This book is indeed a good read, not just a solid reference work.
March 19, 2013
This book covers the various degrees of disbelief, the history of disbelief, trailblazing atheists/agnostics, and the mindset/behavior of those who choose to go that route.
To the author's credit, he's even handed regarding giving the theists their due when warranted as well as taking some atheists to task due to their more strident, take-no-prisoners stance.
This book is not out to convert nor convince the reader that atheism is the best and only way to live a full life but rather a guide for those who have no doubt already have made their choice.
Religious readers who have inadvertently stumbled upon this book need not fear that they may become subject to proselytizing (Satanic or otherwise). They can continue to touch kids, behead infidels, kill Palestinians, skim from the collection plate, burn trains, release gas in the subway-you get the idea, no worry at all.
Unfortunately, the author tends to repeat himself and the book could have used footnotes or some other citation source for the very large amount of stats and quotes that fill this book. They would come in handy for any potential debates with any of the good people who try to show you their light.
To the author's credit, he's even handed regarding giving the theists their due when warranted as well as taking some atheists to task due to their more strident, take-no-prisoners stance.
This book is not out to convert nor convince the reader that atheism is the best and only way to live a full life but rather a guide for those who have no doubt already have made their choice.
Religious readers who have inadvertently stumbled upon this book need not fear that they may become subject to proselytizing (Satanic or otherwise). They can continue to touch kids, behead infidels, kill Palestinians, skim from the collection plate, burn trains, release gas in the subway-you get the idea, no worry at all.
Unfortunately, the author tends to repeat himself and the book could have used footnotes or some other citation source for the very large amount of stats and quotes that fill this book. They would come in handy for any potential debates with any of the good people who try to show you their light.
April 2, 2013
Great, comprehensive guide for anyone looking to understand more about the commonly misunderstood (and much maligned) lack of belief called atheism. I knew most of what was in the book – I read it to see how Dale covered the topics and I like his writing style – but there were many things I learned, including a lot of the history of unbelief, hearkening way back to ancient Greece. I read it straight through, but you could also skip around to just the topics that interest you. Some believers who would like to learn more about their family, friends, neighbors who are atheists might be turned off by the harsher tones of Dawkins or Hitchens, but Dale’s guide is a safe intro that doesn’t roast the sacred cows of belief – granted, he does present the reasons why some people are atheists, which includes specific thoughts on religious tenets, but it’s not done in a malicious or condescending manner.
August 11, 2024
The grammar within is concerning. Instead of viewing atheism as a disbelief in organismed religion, it just keeps saying “a disbelief in God.” God capitalized like its a person instead of a concept, God as in a name like in Judeo Christian religions. The book is practically stating from the get go that not believing is somehow an odd concept.
“Living a full life without belief in God“ as a chapter header just doesn’t sit right. It’s almost like it was written with the intent to calm the Christian reader that everything will be fine.
Half history lesson. Half infographic. Not really made for atheists bur for ignorant folks instead.
There are discussions about being in the closet, feminism, and percentages of atheist populations. All in all, the book is awkward to hold and read.
“Living a full life without belief in God“ as a chapter header just doesn’t sit right. It’s almost like it was written with the intent to calm the Christian reader that everything will be fine.
Half history lesson. Half infographic. Not really made for atheists bur for ignorant folks instead.
There are discussions about being in the closet, feminism, and percentages of atheist populations. All in all, the book is awkward to hold and read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2014
Overall, I liked this book. I wish instead of just giving his definition of atheism, he would have discussed various definitions, since it is a book for people to learn about the subject. The definition he used is different than what a lot of modern-day atheists use.
The book contained a lot of history and other interesting information. However, I did find one problem. He discussed places in the US where atheists are not allowed to run for public office by law. However, he never mentioned that this has been overruled by the Supreme Court in a case in Maryland. Other than that, I thought it had a lot of great information that would interest many theists and atheists alike.
The book contained a lot of history and other interesting information. However, I did find one problem. He discussed places in the US where atheists are not allowed to run for public office by law. However, he never mentioned that this has been overruled by the Supreme Court in a case in Maryland. Other than that, I thought it had a lot of great information that would interest many theists and atheists alike.
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