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Nonbeliever Nation: The Rise of Secular Americans
Today, one in five Americans are nonbelievers―a rapidly growing group at a time when traditional Christian churches are dwindling in numbers. Still we see almost none of them openly serving in elected office, while Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, and many others continue to loudly proclaim the falsehood of America as a Christian nation. In Nonbeliever Nation , leading secular advocate David Niose calls for nonreligious Americans from all backgrounds to step out of the shadows and signal their opposition to the long-dominant Religious Right. Exploring all the hot-button issues that divide the country―from gay marriage to education policy to contentious church-state battles―he shows how Secular Americans―a group comprised not just of atheists and agnostics, but lapsed Catholics, secular Jews, and millions of others who have walked away from organized religion―are mobilizing and forming groups all over the country (even atheist clubs in Bible-belt high schools) to challenge the exaltation of religion in American politics and public life. This is a timely and important look at a growing demographic that is flexing its muscles for the first time.
272 pages, Paperback
First published July 17, 2012
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September 12, 2023
The fact that I am an atheist is one of the worst kept secrets on GoodReads. Yet most of the people I know in “real life” (I use that term sarcastically) have no clue that I am a nonbeliever. It’s not that I masquerade as a Christian (or a Jew or a Muslim or a Buddhist or a Whatever), it’s just that I have instituted my own “don’t ask-don’t tell” philosophy; I won’t tell if they don’t ask. I’m out but I’m not out-out. Those of you who live as I do, in the buckle of America’s Bible Belt, will undoubtedly know why. Being openly godless in this country, even today, comes with a price. Sure, there is a stigma attached to being secular, nonreligious, or agnostic, but if you’re an outright atheist you’re going to feel the heat.
THE DECLINE OF THE AMERICAN DIALOGUE
Things were not always this bad.
“Of course, like every other man of intelligence and education, I do believe in organic evolution. It surprises me that at this late date such questions should be raised.” ~Woodrow Wilson, 1922
As far back as the late nineteenth century many Americans believed that biblical literalism was outdated. According to prominent political players like Eugene Debs (1855-1926), William Howard Taft (1857-1930), and Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), religious conservatism was on its way out. Sadly, they were wrong.
“Extreme religious conservatives, men and women who would have seemed backward even a hundred years ago, are now viewed by well-informed mainstream journalists as a normal part of America’s political landscape.”
Anti-intellectualism is currently a matter of course. Religiosity is now requisite for so-called “patriotism” and the casualty list includes pluralism, pragmatism, and the discipline of reason.
HISTORICALLY OVERLOOKED
The percentage of Americans that are “secular” varies from poll to poll and can be rather speculative. The word itself is simply defined as “having no spiritual or religious basis” and broadly encompasses atheists, agnostics, and the religiously unaffiliated—the Nones.
Author David Niose’s statistical examples (published in 2012) are now a bit outdated, but they show trends that continue to this day. The most recent poll I could find (Pew Research Center, 2021) shows that approximately three out of every 10 Americans are now religiously unaffiliated. Christians currently make up 63% of the population in this country. While 63% is still a significant majority, it is a decline from 75% in 2011, and 78% in 2007. The Nones, on the other hand, have increased from 16% to 29% in the same time period, making them the fastest growing minority in America.
“Secular Americans have existed as long as the country itself, but only in recent years have they begun to stand together as a unit and demand recognition, respect, and equality.”
According to Niose, what the religious right fears more than almost anything is cohesive secular activism. He proposes that we pay close attention to the strides made by the LGBTQ community. It wasn’t that long ago when discrimination against a non-heterosexual wasn’t even frowned upon. I grew up with closeted friends and family members who didn’t dare reveal themselves to anyone for fear of their lives. And then things changed. Starting with a few unbelievably ballsy individuals, people started to come out. It’s taken time (and still has a long way to go!) but attitudes have changed. If the 5.6% LGBTQ minority can accomplish all they have achieved over the past few decades, just imagine what we 30% (and growing!) Nones could do.
THE DECLINE OF THE AMERICAN DIALOGUE
Things were not always this bad.
“Of course, like every other man of intelligence and education, I do believe in organic evolution. It surprises me that at this late date such questions should be raised.” ~Woodrow Wilson, 1922
As far back as the late nineteenth century many Americans believed that biblical literalism was outdated. According to prominent political players like Eugene Debs (1855-1926), William Howard Taft (1857-1930), and Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), religious conservatism was on its way out. Sadly, they were wrong.
“Extreme religious conservatives, men and women who would have seemed backward even a hundred years ago, are now viewed by well-informed mainstream journalists as a normal part of America’s political landscape.”
Anti-intellectualism is currently a matter of course. Religiosity is now requisite for so-called “patriotism” and the casualty list includes pluralism, pragmatism, and the discipline of reason.
HISTORICALLY OVERLOOKED
The percentage of Americans that are “secular” varies from poll to poll and can be rather speculative. The word itself is simply defined as “having no spiritual or religious basis” and broadly encompasses atheists, agnostics, and the religiously unaffiliated—the Nones.
Author David Niose’s statistical examples (published in 2012) are now a bit outdated, but they show trends that continue to this day. The most recent poll I could find (Pew Research Center, 2021) shows that approximately three out of every 10 Americans are now religiously unaffiliated. Christians currently make up 63% of the population in this country. While 63% is still a significant majority, it is a decline from 75% in 2011, and 78% in 2007. The Nones, on the other hand, have increased from 16% to 29% in the same time period, making them the fastest growing minority in America.
“Secular Americans have existed as long as the country itself, but only in recent years have they begun to stand together as a unit and demand recognition, respect, and equality.”
According to Niose, what the religious right fears more than almost anything is cohesive secular activism. He proposes that we pay close attention to the strides made by the LGBTQ community. It wasn’t that long ago when discrimination against a non-heterosexual wasn’t even frowned upon. I grew up with closeted friends and family members who didn’t dare reveal themselves to anyone for fear of their lives. And then things changed. Starting with a few unbelievably ballsy individuals, people started to come out. It’s taken time (and still has a long way to go!) but attitudes have changed. If the 5.6% LGBTQ minority can accomplish all they have achieved over the past few decades, just imagine what we 30% (and growing!) Nones could do.
June 14, 2015
In just reading the introduction, I can not stress how important of a book this is to read. I am so ashamed of myself by not taking a stand years ago. By allowing others to fight this battle and like many turned a blind eye to what was happening in this Country!
We CAN NOT stay silent! WE can not sit sit around and expect someone else pick up the pieces for something many like me helped cause by ignoring that which makes you uncomfortable and saying "what can I do? I'm just one person!"
I am not a genius, nor do I have any special talent that or ability. I am an average person, at the very least I own it to my children and grand-children to DO SOMETHING! There are a lot of dedicated, knowledgeable people who have been in this movement for years, who do know what they are doing and are more then happy to help and teach us what we can do to make a difference.
To think I have only read the intro! LOL
We CAN NOT stay silent! WE can not sit sit around and expect someone else pick up the pieces for something many like me helped cause by ignoring that which makes you uncomfortable and saying "what can I do? I'm just one person!"
I am not a genius, nor do I have any special talent that or ability. I am an average person, at the very least I own it to my children and grand-children to DO SOMETHING! There are a lot of dedicated, knowledgeable people who have been in this movement for years, who do know what they are doing and are more then happy to help and teach us what we can do to make a difference.
To think I have only read the intro! LOL
October 20, 2012
I wasn't sure I would like this book when I first picked it up. It's about the politics of religion in America, and I don't consider myself politically minded enough to actually sit down and read a book on the subject. Nevertheless, I found this book fascinating in the ways that it opened my eyes to the way that Secular Americans are mistreated and even marginalized in the religiously political environment of America today. It wasn't always so. Politicians used to understand the importance of separating church and state, but due to the rise of the so-called Moral Majority and Religious Right, any politician who dares profess anything less than faith in the Christian God risks the distrust and antagonism of his or her constituents.
As president of the American Humanist Association, Mr. Niose does not approach the subject of religion in America with dispassionate rigor, but is careful to present his arguments intelligently and fairly, even indicating places where certain data could be interpreted both ways. He makes a compelling case for moderation of religion in politics and also for Secular Americans to stand up and be noticed. He notes that most Secular Americans are ambivalent about standing up and denouncing religion; they don't have an agenda to proselytize nor do they care much what another person believes, but in the America of today where a specific religion is being privileged through legal means, the rights of Secular Americans are being actively infringed, and the beliefs of Secular Americans are increasingly portrayed as amoral and un-American.
Taking a cue from the LGBT communities progress in recent years, he encourages all Secular Americans to "come out of the closet" and let those around them know that they are not religious, so that all Americans can see through the propaganda when the Religious Right insists that we are a nation of believers. This is the only way that a secular viewpoint will be tolerated amidst the heated rhetoric of the overtly religious, and the only way that Secular Americans will gain a seat at the political table.
As president of the American Humanist Association, Mr. Niose does not approach the subject of religion in America with dispassionate rigor, but is careful to present his arguments intelligently and fairly, even indicating places where certain data could be interpreted both ways. He makes a compelling case for moderation of religion in politics and also for Secular Americans to stand up and be noticed. He notes that most Secular Americans are ambivalent about standing up and denouncing religion; they don't have an agenda to proselytize nor do they care much what another person believes, but in the America of today where a specific religion is being privileged through legal means, the rights of Secular Americans are being actively infringed, and the beliefs of Secular Americans are increasingly portrayed as amoral and un-American.
Taking a cue from the LGBT communities progress in recent years, he encourages all Secular Americans to "come out of the closet" and let those around them know that they are not religious, so that all Americans can see through the propaganda when the Religious Right insists that we are a nation of believers. This is the only way that a secular viewpoint will be tolerated amidst the heated rhetoric of the overtly religious, and the only way that Secular Americans will gain a seat at the political table.
July 19, 2012
Nonbeliever Nation: The Rise of Secular Americans by David Niose
“Nonbeliever Nation" is a plea for Secular Americans to drive America to a better future by embracing its Enlightenment principles and breaking away from the restrictive chains of the Religious Right. This book is about the resistance to the Religious Right and an emerging and often overlooked segment of Secular Americans who reject religiosity as a prerequisite to patriotism and sound public policy. It’s about the rise and hope of a movement.
This well written 272-page book is composed of the following chapters: 1. The Wedding Invitation, 2. A Religious People?, 3. A Secular Heritage, 4. Secularity and Morality, 5. The Disaster of the Religious Right, 6. Better Late than Never: Secular Americans Emerge, 7. Reason for Hope and Hope for Reason, 8. When “Happy Holidays” Is an Act of Hostility, 9. A New Plan of Action and 10. A Secular Future.
Positives:
1. An important topic in the hands of a subject-matter expert.
2. Well researched and accessible book for the masses.
3. Fair and even-handed treatment of the topic and respectful tone used.
4. Good use of reason and sound logic.
5. A great defender of secular humanistic views. Does a wonderful job of differentiating between secular and religious worldviews. Touches on all the popular cultural wars.
6. Great quotes abound, “That doesn’t mean that a secular government must be antireligion, but only that government should be neutral on religion and not controlled by clerics or based on religious law”.
7. A great job of describing how the Religious Right emerged and their tactics.
8. The reality of religion and secularity around the globe. Homicides, STD infection rates, teen pregnancy, abortions, social dysfunction, etc…
9. Great chapter on Secular Heritage, the founders would be proud. Debunks many myths.
10. Setting the record straight about how the Holocaust and communist Russia relates to secularity.
11. Great quote from Alan Dershowitz regarding rights, “Rights are not divine or naturally existing but are invented by societies through experience, often by learning from mistakes”.
12. The negative impact of the Religious Right. Taxpayers of Kentucky’s $40 million proselytizing theme park, denying separation of Church and State, in bed with corporate interests (environmental concerns, global warming), tax-payer funded faith-based initiatives, overpopulation denial, denying evolution, etc…
13. What Secular Americans want…the emergence of Secular Americans.
14. The impact of conservation religion and women’s rights.
15. The rise of the Secular Movement and reason for hope. New concepts of community.
16. Legal setbacks and successes. Many great examples.
17. A wonderful job of laying out a new plan of action. Provides a model that is copied from…I won’t spoil it.
18. The future of the Secular Movement. Education and politics.
Negatives:
1. Going through the book I had a sense of déjà vu. As an avid reader and a supporter of secular values, I am very familiar with a lot of what is in this book, so many times it felt more like a refresher. Be that as it may, this book is well organized and well thought out and will serve as a personal reference. Furthermore, Niose does provide new ideas and a sound approach to advancing secular issues.
2. Very few notes and no formal bibliography.
3. More charts and illustrations would have added value.
In summary, I really enjoyed this book, so why not give it 5 stars? Because if you are an avid reader and familiar with the secular movement as I am you will find very little new here. That being said, the book is very sound and reference quality. Niose does a wonderful job of capturing the essence of the secular movement and provides sound advice for its future and how it relates to the welfare of our society. I highly recommend it!
Further suggestions: “Freethinker” by Susan Jacoby, “Society without God” by Phil Zuckerman, “Why Are You Atheists So Angry?” Great Christina, “Doubt: A History” by Jennifer Hecht, “Can We Be Good Without God?” by Robert Buckman, “Moral Combat” by Sikivu Hutchinson, “The Religion Virus” by Craig A. James, “Infidel” by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, “Man Made God” by Barbara G. Walker, “Godless” by Dan Barker, “God’s Defenders” by S.T. Joshi, “God and the Folly of Faith” by Victor Stenger, “Atheist Universe” by David Mills, “The Conservative Assault on the Constitution” by Erwin Chemerinsky, “Attack of the Theocrats!” by Sean Faircloth, “The Republican Brain” by Chris Mooney, “Republican Gomorrah” by Max Blumenthal, “Merchants of Doubt” Erik m. Conway, “Why the Religious Right Is Wrong” by Rob Boston and “American Fascists” by Chris Hedges. I have reviewed all the aforementioned books; look for the tag “Book Shark Review” in Amazon.
“Nonbeliever Nation" is a plea for Secular Americans to drive America to a better future by embracing its Enlightenment principles and breaking away from the restrictive chains of the Religious Right. This book is about the resistance to the Religious Right and an emerging and often overlooked segment of Secular Americans who reject religiosity as a prerequisite to patriotism and sound public policy. It’s about the rise and hope of a movement.
This well written 272-page book is composed of the following chapters: 1. The Wedding Invitation, 2. A Religious People?, 3. A Secular Heritage, 4. Secularity and Morality, 5. The Disaster of the Religious Right, 6. Better Late than Never: Secular Americans Emerge, 7. Reason for Hope and Hope for Reason, 8. When “Happy Holidays” Is an Act of Hostility, 9. A New Plan of Action and 10. A Secular Future.
Positives:
1. An important topic in the hands of a subject-matter expert.
2. Well researched and accessible book for the masses.
3. Fair and even-handed treatment of the topic and respectful tone used.
4. Good use of reason and sound logic.
5. A great defender of secular humanistic views. Does a wonderful job of differentiating between secular and religious worldviews. Touches on all the popular cultural wars.
6. Great quotes abound, “That doesn’t mean that a secular government must be antireligion, but only that government should be neutral on religion and not controlled by clerics or based on religious law”.
7. A great job of describing how the Religious Right emerged and their tactics.
8. The reality of religion and secularity around the globe. Homicides, STD infection rates, teen pregnancy, abortions, social dysfunction, etc…
9. Great chapter on Secular Heritage, the founders would be proud. Debunks many myths.
10. Setting the record straight about how the Holocaust and communist Russia relates to secularity.
11. Great quote from Alan Dershowitz regarding rights, “Rights are not divine or naturally existing but are invented by societies through experience, often by learning from mistakes”.
12. The negative impact of the Religious Right. Taxpayers of Kentucky’s $40 million proselytizing theme park, denying separation of Church and State, in bed with corporate interests (environmental concerns, global warming), tax-payer funded faith-based initiatives, overpopulation denial, denying evolution, etc…
13. What Secular Americans want…the emergence of Secular Americans.
14. The impact of conservation religion and women’s rights.
15. The rise of the Secular Movement and reason for hope. New concepts of community.
16. Legal setbacks and successes. Many great examples.
17. A wonderful job of laying out a new plan of action. Provides a model that is copied from…I won’t spoil it.
18. The future of the Secular Movement. Education and politics.
Negatives:
1. Going through the book I had a sense of déjà vu. As an avid reader and a supporter of secular values, I am very familiar with a lot of what is in this book, so many times it felt more like a refresher. Be that as it may, this book is well organized and well thought out and will serve as a personal reference. Furthermore, Niose does provide new ideas and a sound approach to advancing secular issues.
2. Very few notes and no formal bibliography.
3. More charts and illustrations would have added value.
In summary, I really enjoyed this book, so why not give it 5 stars? Because if you are an avid reader and familiar with the secular movement as I am you will find very little new here. That being said, the book is very sound and reference quality. Niose does a wonderful job of capturing the essence of the secular movement and provides sound advice for its future and how it relates to the welfare of our society. I highly recommend it!
Further suggestions: “Freethinker” by Susan Jacoby, “Society without God” by Phil Zuckerman, “Why Are You Atheists So Angry?” Great Christina, “Doubt: A History” by Jennifer Hecht, “Can We Be Good Without God?” by Robert Buckman, “Moral Combat” by Sikivu Hutchinson, “The Religion Virus” by Craig A. James, “Infidel” by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, “Man Made God” by Barbara G. Walker, “Godless” by Dan Barker, “God’s Defenders” by S.T. Joshi, “God and the Folly of Faith” by Victor Stenger, “Atheist Universe” by David Mills, “The Conservative Assault on the Constitution” by Erwin Chemerinsky, “Attack of the Theocrats!” by Sean Faircloth, “The Republican Brain” by Chris Mooney, “Republican Gomorrah” by Max Blumenthal, “Merchants of Doubt” Erik m. Conway, “Why the Religious Right Is Wrong” by Rob Boston and “American Fascists” by Chris Hedges. I have reviewed all the aforementioned books; look for the tag “Book Shark Review” in Amazon.
September 24, 2012
A good history and overview of what it means to support secular government in the United States. The book does not contain arguments for or against God's existence. Instead, it promotes "a renewed appreciation of reason, critical thinking, and the forward-looking values promoted by Secular Americans. This is not to suggest that religion itself must be made irrelevant, but only that effective opposition is needed to the politically mobilized fundamentalist element." The word "secular" conveys the idea that "government should be neutral on religion and not controlled by clerics or based on religious law."
That said, the title of the book is not "Secular Nation" but rather "Nonbeliever Nation," and the book's tone indeed feels addressed more toward nonbelievers. For example, Niose writes:
However, I don't imagine the approach would be completely off-putting, particularly to someone with an open mind who really wants to learn about how an atheist frames the issues and is prepared to hear some things that they might disagree with. Overall, it seems a reasonable and good representation of issues that affect all Americans.
That said, the title of the book is not "Secular Nation" but rather "Nonbeliever Nation," and the book's tone indeed feels addressed more toward nonbelievers. For example, Niose writes:
"A Western country like the United States stands little chance of invoking Islamic law, but we should be mindful that the Bible also calls for a similar punishment for adultery...it is only our willingness to reject biblical law, our insistence on adhering to modern secular standards of civility, that separates us from Somalian justice. Moreover, though it's rarely discussed publicly, there are many fundamentalists who take the Bible seriously and would not hesitate to return to biblical standards."To most atheists, this statement will seem obvious, but it is likely to puzzle and frustrate people with so-called "moderate" religious beliefs, those who consider themselves to "take the Bible seriously" on a middle path, avoiding literalism yet refusing to reject the Bible entirely. For them, the debate on the proper role of religion expresses itself somewhat differently.
However, I don't imagine the approach would be completely off-putting, particularly to someone with an open mind who really wants to learn about how an atheist frames the issues and is prepared to hear some things that they might disagree with. Overall, it seems a reasonable and good representation of issues that affect all Americans.
September 20, 2012
This book isn't intended to debunk Christianity or religion, but rather encourage U.S. citizens of all faiths to support church-state separation and decry the increasing influence of religion in politics.
This book by exploring how secularism was once widely accepted feature of American politics. David Niose, the author, points specifically at the 1912 election in which 4 different candidates were vying for office: Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Eugene Debs, and William Howard Taft. These 4 presidential campaigns are interesting to Niose, not only because it's rare to have 3 let alone 4 presidential candidates, but also because these candidates have expressed views that would politicians today wouldn't dare make public. So what's happened between this time in history and the present? Well, Niose points to the rise of Religious Right and the movement's growing fusion of religion with politics.
The book describes the origins and rise of the Religious Right and how the movement's alarming influence has been growing despite initial skepticism of it's strength. The Religious Right has almost full control of the Republican Party and a strong influence in the Democratic Party as well. The book analyzes how the movement was able to grow so strong, describes why previous secular movements failed, demonstrates how the intermingling of politics and religion is dividing the nation, and documenting the modern, growing secular movement opposed to the Religious Right.
This book by exploring how secularism was once widely accepted feature of American politics. David Niose, the author, points specifically at the 1912 election in which 4 different candidates were vying for office: Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Eugene Debs, and William Howard Taft. These 4 presidential campaigns are interesting to Niose, not only because it's rare to have 3 let alone 4 presidential candidates, but also because these candidates have expressed views that would politicians today wouldn't dare make public. So what's happened between this time in history and the present? Well, Niose points to the rise of Religious Right and the movement's growing fusion of religion with politics.
The book describes the origins and rise of the Religious Right and how the movement's alarming influence has been growing despite initial skepticism of it's strength. The Religious Right has almost full control of the Republican Party and a strong influence in the Democratic Party as well. The book analyzes how the movement was able to grow so strong, describes why previous secular movements failed, demonstrates how the intermingling of politics and religion is dividing the nation, and documenting the modern, growing secular movement opposed to the Religious Right.
March 4, 2014
Niose presents an extremely entertaining, well-written and well-researched history of the marginalization of Secular Americans, the climb to power by the Religious Right and the issues at the center of the culture war over America's supposedly religious identity. I liked his strategic comparison of the Secular movement with the LGBT movement. Not that secular Americans have suffered an oppression any near as ugly as that visited LGBT people; neither he nor I would dream of asserting that. But we need to take a lesson from the LGBT movement and "come out of the closet." Too many just keep quiet and go along to get along; we need to make our presence known and more forcefully assert our presence and rights as Secular Americans: "We don't believe. We won't leave. Get used to it."
In addition, Niose proposes an alternate strategy on the litigation front: The direct approach basing arguments on the First Amendment and the "Establishment Clause" has failed. He proposes pursuing the due process and equal protection approach that has been successful for other minority or marginalized groups and therefore seems like a smart strategy that may not so easily be dismissed as Secular Americans come out of the religion closet.
In addition, Niose proposes an alternate strategy on the litigation front: The direct approach basing arguments on the First Amendment and the "Establishment Clause" has failed. He proposes pursuing the due process and equal protection approach that has been successful for other minority or marginalized groups and therefore seems like a smart strategy that may not so easily be dismissed as Secular Americans come out of the religion closet.
April 12, 2014
I had no idea that the religious right and their power in politics was such a recent phenomenon! 150 years ago, we had open skeptics and non-Christians running for president and even elected president – religious litmus tests didn't exist. And the motto in God we trust didn't appear on our coins until the 1950s, same with under God in the Pledge of Allegiance. It was the McCarthy era, with the scare over communism, when Christianity came to the forefront, and it was not until the moral majority and Jerry Falwell (and we know how crazy he was) that the religious right as a phenomenon came to be. I also learned of the Puritans, who are everyone's heroes, did not come to America seeking religious freedom – they had religious freedom where they lived – they came to set up a theocracy and discriminate against anyone who wasn't Puritan. And the people were executed in the Salem witchhunts were not the only people executed for religion in our country by the Puritans– this book was just full of facts I didn't know I have always been worried about the religious right, even when I was a Christian, and it's pretty disturbing about the anti-intellectualism that they spawn. Some pretty awful stuff – and I agree with the author that it is incredibly scary to think that there may someday be someone in the White House who believes in Armageddon, and a battle between good and evil that will culminate in the end of the world – and that this person would have power to start a nuclear war. Absolutely terrifying. It talks about how the ante-intellectualism of America embarrasses our country in front of the world. But it's also very hopeful, because it talks about how incredible the rise of the secular movement has been through the past couple of years. I was very surprised to find out that now a large number of campuses have secular groups and even a large number of high schools do as well – more and more people are identifying a secular, which can encompass atheist, agnostic, nonreligious, humanist, etc. – when I was in college, there were about 7 or 8 Christian groups but not a single atheist or secular group. I wish there had been. That is not the case anymore – and I'm very glad about it. I hope this book is very influential, it certainly influenced me.
December 30, 2013
Great primer on the disaster that has been the Religious Right in the US, the consolidation and rise of Secular Americans over the past 10-15 years, and how a rational, secular approach to policy making can benefit everyone, regardless of religious proclivities. Secular Americans have to stop accepting marginalization by even the religious left.
February 26, 2013
A book the not only seeks to show how America was founded (hint: not on religion) but how secular humanists can move forward and earn their place in America and the world as more than bottom of the barrel immoral types.
July 21, 2014
The author captures the secular humanist changes within the society that have been happening to America with a particular emphasis of the recent past up to the beginning of 2012.
It's easy to say the author was slightly ahead of his time and foresaw the rapid changes that have happened since the publication of the book, and the changes have been even more dramatic after the book's publication. It's as if the author was writing a book about the financial crisis but published it in October 2008. He sees what was happening before it became real to everyone else.
The author puts the story in great context and tells you how the world is changing and how the secular humanist (and atheist) movement is winning and coming out of the closest unashamedly. Not too recently, and slightly before the book was published, the default position was to be in the closet with ones secular humanist beliefs and the media would assume that the religious perspective was the most right, he states. For example, the Mormons gave the bulk of the donations to Proposition 8 ('Prop Hate'), and they also said they would not support the Boy Scouts if they allowed gays. Times have changed. I suspect they would like to walk back those statements and positions and that's only since the book has been published (less than two years ago).
The book really gives a good snapshot of how times have been changing and lays the foundation for the understanding for how they will even change more. The author is never in your face, but states his positions as matter of facts.
BTW, I loved the fact that a woman reader read the parts of the book when a woman was being quoted. It allows me to follow the narrative even better.
It's easy to say the author was slightly ahead of his time and foresaw the rapid changes that have happened since the publication of the book, and the changes have been even more dramatic after the book's publication. It's as if the author was writing a book about the financial crisis but published it in October 2008. He sees what was happening before it became real to everyone else.
The author puts the story in great context and tells you how the world is changing and how the secular humanist (and atheist) movement is winning and coming out of the closest unashamedly. Not too recently, and slightly before the book was published, the default position was to be in the closet with ones secular humanist beliefs and the media would assume that the religious perspective was the most right, he states. For example, the Mormons gave the bulk of the donations to Proposition 8 ('Prop Hate'), and they also said they would not support the Boy Scouts if they allowed gays. Times have changed. I suspect they would like to walk back those statements and positions and that's only since the book has been published (less than two years ago).
The book really gives a good snapshot of how times have been changing and lays the foundation for the understanding for how they will even change more. The author is never in your face, but states his positions as matter of facts.
BTW, I loved the fact that a woman reader read the parts of the book when a woman was being quoted. It allows me to follow the narrative even better.
March 26, 2013
I've been stalking the First Coast Freethought Society for the past few months trying to decide if I want to get involved or not. My strategy is to read some of the books on their book discussion group list and see if that helps me make a decision. I wonder how many other people are doing this because this book, Nonbeliever Nation, has done a lot to encourage me to seek out other nonbelievers and given me excellent reasons to do so. In recent years, I have searched for an answer to the questions of church and God that sometimes come up in conversation. Recently, I've now begun to identify, not as a "raised Christian, became Buddhist", but as a "none" which is more exact. So although it didn't sway my point of view, this book did help me to understand why it is so important to not shirk away from identifying as such and also why it is important to seek out others who feel the same. It offers compelling arguments and examples of how Secular Americans are marginalized, ostracized, and minimalized in the American culture.
January 19, 2013
As interested as I was in reading this book, it turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. For any longtime atheist, it's more of a refresher course on the secular movement in America. There was enough new and revealing historical content that I don't count the read as a waste of time, but a lot of it was almost remedial for anyone who's spent any time responding intelligently to proselytizers. The best this book offered was the history of the secular organizations and their current movements.
Organizationally, Nonbeliever Nation has a problem with repeating itself. It isn't structured for a smooth read and has a tendency to reiterate points several times as though the author fears you missed it the first however many times. Having read it on a Nook, I can't speak to the endnotes because it just isn't as easy to flip back and forth as it would be with an actual book.
Organizationally, Nonbeliever Nation has a problem with repeating itself. It isn't structured for a smooth read and has a tendency to reiterate points several times as though the author fears you missed it the first however many times. Having read it on a Nook, I can't speak to the endnotes because it just isn't as easy to flip back and forth as it would be with an actual book.
August 30, 2018
The best word I can think of to describe Niose's writing style is, "succinct". I very much enjoyed this book, and learned quite a bit about America's secular history, and the absolute dire need to recognize Secular Americans and their view on politics, education, and more. I find myself feeling anyone who misses out on this book or merely "skims" it is really doing themselves, and this country, a disservice. It's an important book by an excellent, thoughtful writer who explains the necessity for critical thinking and rational policy in a way that portrays the damage done by religion in this country and how we should hope to mend it. David Niose has quickly become one of my all-time favorite authors.
February 4, 2016
Wonderful read and very informative. Interesting chronicle of the rise of the religious right (in the form of the "Moral Majority) in the late 70's, it's revisionist history, and it's powerful political influence today. Despite years of being discriminated against, labeled as unpatriotic, immoral, etc., and treated as second class citizens secular Americans have begun to organize and fight back. It's an uphill battle but progress is being made. I look forward to reading more from a true voice of reason, David Niose.
August 13, 2012
A solid look back at the rational Enlightenment foundation of our country and an optimistic look forward to a nation that grows farther and farther away from Religious Right crazies, Nonbeliever Nation by David Niose is a bit dry in places but a reassuring read nonetheless. Chapter 10, "A Secular Future," is a fine, brief manifesto for those who believe fervently in the separation of church and state.
June 3, 2013
i think i would have liked this more if i hadn't already known most of what he had to say. i think this book is best for people who are just starting to investigate secularism.
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June 14, 2019Excellent book. Gives me hope for a future.
February 19, 2017
"When a significant segment of the politically engaged population stands firmly opposed to science, reason, and critical thinking, intelligent debate and policy making become impossible." This quote, taken from the beginning of the book, is what originally drew me in, what made me want to read more. As the last year has gone by, I have become increasingly frustrated with much of the political rhetoric I hear on television, read in the newspapers, even hear in conversations with friends and family members. And while I don't necessarily think that holding strong religious convictions and beliefs are a negative thing, when it comes to biblical literalism, I balk, because at that point, debate and conversation leaves the realm of the factual, the data driven, the peer reviewed, and you can't engage realistically anymore.
David Niose's NonBeliever Nation is a book that I needed to read at this moment. I do feel like there are certain books that fall into our laps at apt times in our lives, and for me, this was one of them. To be perfectly fair, I didn't love this book-- parts of it definitely fall into a blatant self-promotion of very specific secularist groups, and there are several chapters where bias is strong. That said, the research and analysis done by the author, particularly in the chapters which compare violent and delinquent tendencies and outcomes of religiously dominated cultures versus secular dominated cultures, was excellent and eye opening. Also of note were the statistics of people who consider themselves nonbelievers, secularists, aetheists, agnostics, etc, but don't necessarily identify themselves as such in most statistical/polling/census data. And finally, the chapter on American history, the Founding Fathers, and their place in history, how the Enlightenment impacted the world-- these chapters were thorough in their research and fact presentation, a valuable resource in today's religiously and politically divided nation. Reading this book five years after its publication, in a nation that has turned even MORE to the conservative side politically speaking, gives its words more gravitas, and its optimism more of a "don't you wish" sadness.
This book will not be everyone's cup of tea. As a (lapsed, inactive, not particularly faithful) Catholic, there were some areas of writing where I can see people becoming insulted at the condescension that is barely veiled in Niose's writing. On the same token, sometimes we need to take emotion out of our reading while we think about the information presented in nonfiction works. Overall, I'd recommend this book to people who enjoy learning about the intermingling of politics and religion, particularly in American society. You'll learn a lot and it is a view that is not necessarily easy to find online due to its divisive subject material. Three stars.
David Niose's NonBeliever Nation is a book that I needed to read at this moment. I do feel like there are certain books that fall into our laps at apt times in our lives, and for me, this was one of them. To be perfectly fair, I didn't love this book-- parts of it definitely fall into a blatant self-promotion of very specific secularist groups, and there are several chapters where bias is strong. That said, the research and analysis done by the author, particularly in the chapters which compare violent and delinquent tendencies and outcomes of religiously dominated cultures versus secular dominated cultures, was excellent and eye opening. Also of note were the statistics of people who consider themselves nonbelievers, secularists, aetheists, agnostics, etc, but don't necessarily identify themselves as such in most statistical/polling/census data. And finally, the chapter on American history, the Founding Fathers, and their place in history, how the Enlightenment impacted the world-- these chapters were thorough in their research and fact presentation, a valuable resource in today's religiously and politically divided nation. Reading this book five years after its publication, in a nation that has turned even MORE to the conservative side politically speaking, gives its words more gravitas, and its optimism more of a "don't you wish" sadness.
This book will not be everyone's cup of tea. As a (lapsed, inactive, not particularly faithful) Catholic, there were some areas of writing where I can see people becoming insulted at the condescension that is barely veiled in Niose's writing. On the same token, sometimes we need to take emotion out of our reading while we think about the information presented in nonfiction works. Overall, I'd recommend this book to people who enjoy learning about the intermingling of politics and religion, particularly in American society. You'll learn a lot and it is a view that is not necessarily easy to find online due to its divisive subject material. Three stars.
April 4, 2014
I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion through the Goodreads First Reads program.
Every once in a while I like to read a book I know I'll disagree with. I feel like the exposure to other world views opens my mind to new ideas. I'm glad I read this book for that reason. But that's the only reason.
It's sad to me that secular Americans feel persecuted and marginalized. That is certainly not something that I want. However, this book promotes an us vs them mentality that definitely doesn't help the cause. As much as the author claims to value intellectualism, he throws logic and reason to the wind in an effort to demonize religious Americans.
Here are a few examples:
In chapter 2, he talks about how Louisiana and Alabama have both very high religiosity and very high murder rates. He then goes on to say that there must be a correlation between religion and murder. Really? Of course, if you only look at one tiny piece of the data you can extrapolate any interpretation you want. But, if you look at the whole picture you start to see something else. The #2 most religious state in the U.S. is Utah. Utah ranks #46 out of 50 when it comes to murder rate. Lousisiana and Alabama happen to be two of the poorest states in the union. I'm no social scientist, but I would venture a guess that perhaps the correlation we should be looking at is between poverty and murder rates. But that wouldn't fit the anti-religious agenda.
As if the way he brushed the rest of the data under the rug weren't bad enough, he references that particular argument at least half a dozen times throughout the book, using it as a foundation for other arguments.
Elsewhere he talks about the BSA, claiming they are bigoted because they don't allow atheists to join. Never mind that there was a whole chapter celebrating all of the secular organizations that have been organized in recent years. Never mind that the BSA was founded as a religious organization, and that all scouts are required to recite the oath and promise to "do my duty to God and my country." Clearly, according to the author, secular organizations should be celebrated, but religious organizations should change their core beliefs so that atheists can comfortably join and take part.
I won't go into everything I disagreed with. I'll just say that there was plenty. However, there were some valid points made. The biggest one being that he talked about how religious law makers use government funds to support religious organizations. The author objects to his tax dollars supporting religious groups. I actually understand and sympathize with that view. My solution, of course, would be to reduce the overall size of government. What if we could allow all charitable (or other) causes to be funded in the private sector? While I personally choose to donate primarily to religious organizations, I may still donate to secular organizations that perform cancer or diabetes research. The author of this book could choose to put all of his donations to secular causes. We could both have 100% control of what causes we support.
Unfortunately, he isn't advocating the libertarian approach. While the book isn't heavily political, he definitely comes from a very liberal perspective. He talked about how the role of churches in providing social safety nets should be completely taken over by government. Essentially, he would expand the role of government and spend my tax dollars to fund his favorite projects. Double standard? Very much yes.
All in all, it was mainly a smorgasbord of logical fallacies, distorted truths and demonizing of religion with the rare valid point peppered in for added taste. Don't bother.
Every once in a while I like to read a book I know I'll disagree with. I feel like the exposure to other world views opens my mind to new ideas. I'm glad I read this book for that reason. But that's the only reason.
It's sad to me that secular Americans feel persecuted and marginalized. That is certainly not something that I want. However, this book promotes an us vs them mentality that definitely doesn't help the cause. As much as the author claims to value intellectualism, he throws logic and reason to the wind in an effort to demonize religious Americans.
Here are a few examples:
In chapter 2, he talks about how Louisiana and Alabama have both very high religiosity and very high murder rates. He then goes on to say that there must be a correlation between religion and murder. Really? Of course, if you only look at one tiny piece of the data you can extrapolate any interpretation you want. But, if you look at the whole picture you start to see something else. The #2 most religious state in the U.S. is Utah. Utah ranks #46 out of 50 when it comes to murder rate. Lousisiana and Alabama happen to be two of the poorest states in the union. I'm no social scientist, but I would venture a guess that perhaps the correlation we should be looking at is between poverty and murder rates. But that wouldn't fit the anti-religious agenda.
As if the way he brushed the rest of the data under the rug weren't bad enough, he references that particular argument at least half a dozen times throughout the book, using it as a foundation for other arguments.
Elsewhere he talks about the BSA, claiming they are bigoted because they don't allow atheists to join. Never mind that there was a whole chapter celebrating all of the secular organizations that have been organized in recent years. Never mind that the BSA was founded as a religious organization, and that all scouts are required to recite the oath and promise to "do my duty to God and my country." Clearly, according to the author, secular organizations should be celebrated, but religious organizations should change their core beliefs so that atheists can comfortably join and take part.
I won't go into everything I disagreed with. I'll just say that there was plenty. However, there were some valid points made. The biggest one being that he talked about how religious law makers use government funds to support religious organizations. The author objects to his tax dollars supporting religious groups. I actually understand and sympathize with that view. My solution, of course, would be to reduce the overall size of government. What if we could allow all charitable (or other) causes to be funded in the private sector? While I personally choose to donate primarily to religious organizations, I may still donate to secular organizations that perform cancer or diabetes research. The author of this book could choose to put all of his donations to secular causes. We could both have 100% control of what causes we support.
Unfortunately, he isn't advocating the libertarian approach. While the book isn't heavily political, he definitely comes from a very liberal perspective. He talked about how the role of churches in providing social safety nets should be completely taken over by government. Essentially, he would expand the role of government and spend my tax dollars to fund his favorite projects. Double standard? Very much yes.
All in all, it was mainly a smorgasbord of logical fallacies, distorted truths and demonizing of religion with the rare valid point peppered in for added taste. Don't bother.
July 19, 2012
In this new book, my friend David Niose outlines the history of secular thought in America, the relatively recent rise of the Religious Right, and a resulting re-emergence of secular forces that is still in its early stages. He then urges secular people (whom he broadly defines) to step forward and reclaim their longstanding right to be recognized and allowed to participate in the political life of the United States.
His first several chapters are a quick survey and short history of secularism in America. He points out that secularism is a long cherished American point of view. By secularism he means not just atheism and agnosticism, (a rapidly growing force in itself, which he does address) but also religious people who believe that religion should be their private domain, and should not be supported or imposed by the government. He outlines the history of secular support, a narrative that may seem obvious to many, but that has become the subject of attack by the Religious Right in what can only be termed an audacious attempt to rewrite history.
He argues that there was a sea change in the broad support of secularism, first in the 1950’s as a result of opposition to communism, and again in the 1980’s with the rise of the Religious Right. It is a change that has been brought about in large part by the assumption by many that secular values were too entrenched in the American character to really be the subject of such obvious assaults. But by not exchanging the Religious Right’s arguments earlier, the Silent Secular Center (my own term) allowed the Right to begin to dominate the political debate, in part by demonizing the very idea of a “secular society” which for so long had been the accepted American ideal.
Niose calls for secular Americans to re-engage in the national debate, to step forward and announce themselves for what they are -and refuse the Religious Right’s attempts to marginalize them. He does so in straight forward, well argued writing that is eminently readable.
The book is not aimed primarily aimed at changing minds on these subjects, but at raising the alarm to just what is happening in political and cultural America to people who quite frankly, might not have given the matter much thought. But it is the very public coming out of the Religious Right in this last Presidential election, with serious candidates such as Rick Perry, Michele Bachman, and Herman Cain, that has awakened many people to just what the Right is now trying to impose, and how it goes against the very fabric of America. In that way, this may be one of the most timely books published in the last few years.
His first several chapters are a quick survey and short history of secularism in America. He points out that secularism is a long cherished American point of view. By secularism he means not just atheism and agnosticism, (a rapidly growing force in itself, which he does address) but also religious people who believe that religion should be their private domain, and should not be supported or imposed by the government. He outlines the history of secular support, a narrative that may seem obvious to many, but that has become the subject of attack by the Religious Right in what can only be termed an audacious attempt to rewrite history.
He argues that there was a sea change in the broad support of secularism, first in the 1950’s as a result of opposition to communism, and again in the 1980’s with the rise of the Religious Right. It is a change that has been brought about in large part by the assumption by many that secular values were too entrenched in the American character to really be the subject of such obvious assaults. But by not exchanging the Religious Right’s arguments earlier, the Silent Secular Center (my own term) allowed the Right to begin to dominate the political debate, in part by demonizing the very idea of a “secular society” which for so long had been the accepted American ideal.
Niose calls for secular Americans to re-engage in the national debate, to step forward and announce themselves for what they are -and refuse the Religious Right’s attempts to marginalize them. He does so in straight forward, well argued writing that is eminently readable.
The book is not aimed primarily aimed at changing minds on these subjects, but at raising the alarm to just what is happening in political and cultural America to people who quite frankly, might not have given the matter much thought. But it is the very public coming out of the Religious Right in this last Presidential election, with serious candidates such as Rick Perry, Michele Bachman, and Herman Cain, that has awakened many people to just what the Right is now trying to impose, and how it goes against the very fabric of America. In that way, this may be one of the most timely books published in the last few years.
June 3, 2015
What an eye opening and interesting book! While the title might have you believe that this book is just going to go after religion, that isn't really true. It states the history that religion has played in our country and how it has changed as the religious right has increased their power and stance in politics over the last 3 decades. Our politicians now have no chance of being elected if they dare to not claim a religion or challenge relgious beliefs and agendas. Just a little over a hundred years ago in the 1912 election religion wasn't even a talking point in the debates! In fact, the most religious of the canidates, Woodrow Wilson, laughed at the thought of not believing in evolution, it was pretty much a fact and a non point . He stated that any educated man would certainly have to believe the evidence portrayed for the theory of evolution. Nowadays, it seems canidates get extra brownie points for being as unintellectual as possible. We are going backwards as a country instead of forward and we are pretty much a laughingstock for every other developed secular nation. Now this book isn't stating religion is bad. If it gives someone faith and help in a dark time fine, but when people in high power bring their relgious agenda and so called moral beliefs to the table to impose laws that will affect all people, religious or not, that's where the line should be drawn and the separation of church and state should occur.
Despite the beliefs of many conservative Christians, this country was not founded as a Christian nation, and if you look at any good history book the evidence is there. This country's founding fathers were the least relgious for their time and would be considered deists. They knew what religion did to their home country and wanted to prevent that in the new country. The constitution and Declaration of Independence are written in a very secular way for the time, but today's Christians are twisting it and challenging it to impose more and more religion in government and day to day lives. They seem to ignore that relgious freedom also means freedom from relgion if an individual so chooses but today's policy makers are trying to break that line down little by little to the point of this country heading towards a theocracy rather than the democracy it was originally founded to be.
Despite the beliefs of many conservative Christians, this country was not founded as a Christian nation, and if you look at any good history book the evidence is there. This country's founding fathers were the least relgious for their time and would be considered deists. They knew what religion did to their home country and wanted to prevent that in the new country. The constitution and Declaration of Independence are written in a very secular way for the time, but today's Christians are twisting it and challenging it to impose more and more religion in government and day to day lives. They seem to ignore that relgious freedom also means freedom from relgion if an individual so chooses but today's policy makers are trying to break that line down little by little to the point of this country heading towards a theocracy rather than the democracy it was originally founded to be.
July 24, 2012
It's the end of the world as we've known it, and that's a good thing. It is not a coincidence that our nation's steady climb toward being more religious, politically and legislatively, has created a nation that has fallen behind in numerous identifiers of a healthy democracy. The top five countries with the highest qualities of life have populations where 16% or less attend church. This doesn't mean these countries are spiritually defunct, it merely means they understand that even though religion may not poison everything, more importantly, that secularism definitely does not; meaning they know that religious ideologies must be checked at the chamber door in houses of government. I will not go into how dangerous an End Times mentality can be when planning for the future of a democracy, but rest assured that it is the greatest conflict of interest one can muster.
David Niose does a great job of bringing his readers up to speed on how we got to where we're at and what it's going to take to re-secularize the nation, both through political victories and providing a more accepting environment for Secular Americans to come out of the shadows; not only to return the U.S. to the foundational excellence of the enlightened period that built it, but to keep it relevant among the secularized countries that know our history better than we do and continue to thrive according to its ideals. It is often said that those who don't know their history are doomed to repeat it, but in this case we're doomed if we don't.
David Niose does a great job of bringing his readers up to speed on how we got to where we're at and what it's going to take to re-secularize the nation, both through political victories and providing a more accepting environment for Secular Americans to come out of the shadows; not only to return the U.S. to the foundational excellence of the enlightened period that built it, but to keep it relevant among the secularized countries that know our history better than we do and continue to thrive according to its ideals. It is often said that those who don't know their history are doomed to repeat it, but in this case we're doomed if we don't.
February 24, 2013
Niose educates readers on a number of timely topics, such as that any claim that America has a religious heritage is totally distorted. The founders' intent was to establish a nation that gave no preference to any religion, and until the rise of the Religious Right in the late 20th century, the separation of church and state was clear to most citizens and upheld by law. Since then that clarity has been deliberately undermined, with efforts to put conservative religious views into public school classrooms, and by diverting government money to faith-based charities that promote religion, to mention just two examples.
The number of Americans self-identifying as nonbelievers has been steadily increasing, partly, Niose contends, as a reaction to the Religious Right, yet secular Americans have not had a unified voice. Until now. The rise of what could be called "secular pride" has been especially marked among high school and college students, and was spurred among all age groups by recent best-selling books by New Atheist writers.
Overall, Niose describes in detail the well-funded activities of the Religious Right in government and politics (and even in climate-change denial) and argues that nonbelievers need to unite in order to stop its excesses and affirm their own legitimacy as a demographic worthy of political and societal respect.
The number of Americans self-identifying as nonbelievers has been steadily increasing, partly, Niose contends, as a reaction to the Religious Right, yet secular Americans have not had a unified voice. Until now. The rise of what could be called "secular pride" has been especially marked among high school and college students, and was spurred among all age groups by recent best-selling books by New Atheist writers.
Overall, Niose describes in detail the well-funded activities of the Religious Right in government and politics (and even in climate-change denial) and argues that nonbelievers need to unite in order to stop its excesses and affirm their own legitimacy as a demographic worthy of political and societal respect.
December 25, 2014
Just when I think there's no reason to read yet another book on atheism, church and state separation, and the like because there's nothing new to learn, Niose writes Nonbeliever Nation. Full of lots of new information (even for this well-read and informed reader), this is one of the most important reads out there for those with a stake in a secular future.
In terms of US history, law, politics, religion, and secularism, Niose details where we've come from, where we are, and where we may be going. He discusses current movements and affirmative actions we can take to steer our country back onto a secular course.
The book is not overly academic and is written in clear, concise language. Niose says what needs to be said as succinctly as possible. If you want to understand, or be able to explain, the need for secular activism, this book is for you. If you have time for just one book on this topic, make it this one. It's worth it!
In terms of US history, law, politics, religion, and secularism, Niose details where we've come from, where we are, and where we may be going. He discusses current movements and affirmative actions we can take to steer our country back onto a secular course.
The book is not overly academic and is written in clear, concise language. Niose says what needs to be said as succinctly as possible. If you want to understand, or be able to explain, the need for secular activism, this book is for you. If you have time for just one book on this topic, make it this one. It's worth it!
December 16, 2016
Part historical account, part explanation of implications, and part call to arms, Nonbeliever Nation is an amazing read. As a millenial, the state of the Religious Right has simply always been as it is now for me. Nonbeliever Nation did an amazing job of explaining the catalyst for the creation of the Religious Right, explaining why and how their actions are important (especially in the context of court decisions and policy creation), and explaining why secular Americans need to band together into an identity-based movement. The author also peppers the text with examples of how to do so, complete with examples from the, in comparison, wildly successful identity-based LGBTQ movement. I took a lot from the book, and I highly recomend it to anyone who despairs of religious tyranny in the US.
July 16, 2014
Nonbeliever Nation is great for someone like me: a Brit with basically no understanding of American political history. Briefly, David Niose does a fine job in delineating the environment and events that lead to the development of the Moral Majority into the Religious Right, and through this context explains how it came to be that secular Americans are dismissed, if not downright reviled, in the modern political arena. The book sprawls across several weighty topics but seems far from stretched thin, and each chapter fits comfortably within the narrative of America as a secular nation, hijacked by a particularly troublesome voting bloc.
September 9, 2012
I think this is an important book in two ways:
First, it shows people, who are either non-theistic or who just don't follow the doctrines of the various churches, that there is an alternative stance you can take, one that is respectable and does not have to be hidden.
Secondly, it shows the dangers that we face today, if politics, who still have a mindset that resembles the ones of the middle ages, keep dominating the political landscape.
One can only hope that the book will be read by many and the message will be understood.
First, it shows people, who are either non-theistic or who just don't follow the doctrines of the various churches, that there is an alternative stance you can take, one that is respectable and does not have to be hidden.
Secondly, it shows the dangers that we face today, if politics, who still have a mindset that resembles the ones of the middle ages, keep dominating the political landscape.
One can only hope that the book will be read by many and the message will be understood.
July 30, 2014
I think the best part of this book is the inherent honesty in the statistics and information that it uses. I did some researching and I found that they were spot on which really makes the book much more credible and engrossing. I was even more inspired by this book than I was by Attack Of The Theocrates. David's information just made a bigger impact upon my non believer status just as Alan Weisman did with his brilliant book titled Countdown which I believe to be the most important book of this generation.
November 23, 2012
This was very informational and eye opening. I personally found it quite motivating! Once I finally got around to reading it, I wish I would have read it sooner. It pretty much sums up how I have felt for most of my adult life in regards to politics and religion, I just never knew what to call it and have found the right niche (essentially secular humanist but not atheist). Highly recommend this book for anyone concerned about the future of our nation!
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