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The Belief Book
What is belief and why is it so important? Where did it come from and what does it do? This book answers all of those questions and more! David G. McAfee, an author who studies religions, teamed up with writer and illustrator Chuck Harrison to create The Belief Book. No matter how old or how young you are, this easy-to-read book can help you learn more about religions and gods and beliefs in general. It will also teach you about something called The Scientific Method, which is how we learn new things about the world! By the time you're done reading you will know the answers to some of life's biggest questions, but more importantly you will see why your questions, and all questions for that matter, are so important. This book is the first in a series of books all about belief, gods, and religion. The fully illustrated and interactive Belief Book is for readers and thinkers of all ages, including kids and kids at heart.
84 pages, Paperback
First published January 28, 2015
141 people are currently reading
361 people want to read
About the author
David G. McAfee
13 books168 followersDavid G. McAfee is a journalist and author of The Curious Person's Guide to Fighting Fake News, No Sacred Cows: Investigating Myths, Cults, and the Supernatural, and other books. He is a former columnist for Canadian Freethinker Magazine and a contributor to American Atheist Magazine. Mr. McAfee attended University of California, Santa Barbara, and graduated with bachelor’s degrees in English and Religious Studies with an emphasis on Christianity and Mediterranean religions. After experiencing discrimination within the American public education system as a result of his secular activism, David G. McAfee sought to help those who fear similar professional or familial consequences to their public non-belief.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
March 25, 2015
A fantastic book, filled with some humorous anecdotes and adorable illustrations. The book talks about what beliefs are, how they are formed, including a discussion of Gods and religion. There are also discussion points and sections in the book where a child (or adult) can write down their own thoughts.
The book starts out on a great note with defining terms. Helping children understand the definition of religion, belief and gods in the beginning of the book sets the tone of the rest of the book.
There's no judgement, just an overall sense of curiosity that encourages the reader to ask questions and use their imagination. It examines the way people lived and thought, and how people created stories to explain things they couldn't understand. It examines some stories that were once considered absolute fact and now are recognized as myth, as well as those that persevere to this day.
At the end you're encouraged to use logic and evidence to decide for yourself what makes the most sense, and to make your own decisions about how to live your life. The book encourages critical thinking by telling children it’s ok to ask questions, but also it spurs the imagination and helps children connect with the past by actually creating a story like their ancestors did. In doing this, the authors explain how stories get passed down from generations and how much power a well-told story can wield.
The book starts out on a great note with defining terms. Helping children understand the definition of religion, belief and gods in the beginning of the book sets the tone of the rest of the book.
There's no judgement, just an overall sense of curiosity that encourages the reader to ask questions and use their imagination. It examines the way people lived and thought, and how people created stories to explain things they couldn't understand. It examines some stories that were once considered absolute fact and now are recognized as myth, as well as those that persevere to this day.
At the end you're encouraged to use logic and evidence to decide for yourself what makes the most sense, and to make your own decisions about how to live your life. The book encourages critical thinking by telling children it’s ok to ask questions, but also it spurs the imagination and helps children connect with the past by actually creating a story like their ancestors did. In doing this, the authors explain how stories get passed down from generations and how much power a well-told story can wield.
March 20, 2020
I loved this book.
I am a secular homeschool parent and purchased this book to begin the exploration of religion with my child. Before haters judge, I also hold state licenses in K6 Elementary Ed and K12 World Language Ed and have taught in public school for a decade. So, when I say this book ticks all the boxes for beginning to address very big questions posed by young minds, it does not come lightly. This is not a book about religion. I repeat. THIS IS NOT A BOOK ABOUT RELIGION. This is a book about all the preceding events that lead to religions being formed. The most important of which is belief.
The Amazon reviews were a mixed bag of "this book was great" to "this book is closed-minded hooey". So, I didn't have high hopes and chose to read it first before deciding if it was ok to use with my almost 7 year old.
I needn't have worried.
This book is very gentle but direct in its message. "Belief is an extremely important aspect of life as we know it all over the world and what you choose to believe should be based on solid evidence to back it up."
Many people of faith (from the Amazon reviews) automatically discounted the book at this point. Many admitted to not even finishing the book because they disagreed with that message. The most common complaint being that such a premise for a kids book is teaching them to reject religion or to be skeptical of faith. Quite the opposite. Had these same people kept reading, they would have found that the book actually openly states people with religion are not wrong or dumb. Everyone has beliefs. Everyone. One self labeled atheist in the reviews, said this book was closed minded and judgemental of religion. But as I said before this book is NOT ABOUT RELIGION. It is about BELIEF.
This book attempts in as simple a way as possible to explain how beliefs are formed, how they evolve and why they are important. It uses every day kid-friendly examples to illustrate the sequences of events that demonstrate how ancient peoples asked questions about and then created stories to explain their world. Those stories were passed down as fact from elders to children. Those stories then became the beliefs of that time. The beings in those stories became the heroes/gods of that time and then myths were created to fit the beliefs about the various deities of a time or culture. Thus, questions led to stories which led to beliefs which led to gods which led to myths which are the foundation of religion. I know. It kinda stings when it's broken down like that, right? To lump Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism in with Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Norse mythology? That stings a lot. But it isn't meant to. The authorer is not taking cheap shots. He is simply seeking to show that the same process created all of these belief systems.
The book attempts to use easy to understand language to acknowledge that beliefs are an important part of our world and that each culture has distinct beliefs based on their unique history of existence. That some cultures believe in many deities and others just a single deity. It also takes the time to define and then use in a separate, italicized sentence any larger words that may need clarification for younger learners.
While this is not a book to just give to a young reader who has these big questions, it is a great book for a read aloud discussion with little ones or a book club style, read-together text for upper elementary or older. It does not belittle or denigrate religion or people with religion. On the contrary. It seeks to help children (and their adults) to engage in scholarly investigation into a topic that is so often quite personal. It implores the reader not to accept something just because someone told you so. Even if that someone is someone we trust. It encourages the reader to do their own digging and decide for themself. The book seeks empower young minds to become thinkers who are brave enough to have their own beliefs no matter what the world says and compassionate enough to realize that belief is a powerful divider and bringer together of people.
There is no condescension or sarcasm here. Just a genuine attempt to help young humans with gigantic age old questions begin to see that they are not alone in asking these questions and that it is indeed okay to question. Everything. If they want to learn more and become more knowledgeable of our world and its many peoples.
I get why people complain. No one likes for their beliefs to challenged. Even with respect and kindness. No one likes thinking a book is telling their children to question the validity of their family beliefs. However, it is only through questioning and seeking answers that truth comes to light and each individual among us will find our right path. History and science the world over have both shown that to be true time and time again.
Question that which doesn't make sense to you.
Seek out answers until the questions are no longer questions.
Then form your beliefs.
Beliefs are the most powerful possession we have.
Beliefs form our thoughts.
Thoughts form our actions and choices.
Actions and choices affect every other aspect of our human existence.
So why not give honest effort into looking at how beliefs are formed in order to become better thinkers and doers for ourselves and those we love?
I am a secular homeschool parent and purchased this book to begin the exploration of religion with my child. Before haters judge, I also hold state licenses in K6 Elementary Ed and K12 World Language Ed and have taught in public school for a decade. So, when I say this book ticks all the boxes for beginning to address very big questions posed by young minds, it does not come lightly. This is not a book about religion. I repeat. THIS IS NOT A BOOK ABOUT RELIGION. This is a book about all the preceding events that lead to religions being formed. The most important of which is belief.
The Amazon reviews were a mixed bag of "this book was great" to "this book is closed-minded hooey". So, I didn't have high hopes and chose to read it first before deciding if it was ok to use with my almost 7 year old.
I needn't have worried.
This book is very gentle but direct in its message. "Belief is an extremely important aspect of life as we know it all over the world and what you choose to believe should be based on solid evidence to back it up."
Many people of faith (from the Amazon reviews) automatically discounted the book at this point. Many admitted to not even finishing the book because they disagreed with that message. The most common complaint being that such a premise for a kids book is teaching them to reject religion or to be skeptical of faith. Quite the opposite. Had these same people kept reading, they would have found that the book actually openly states people with religion are not wrong or dumb. Everyone has beliefs. Everyone. One self labeled atheist in the reviews, said this book was closed minded and judgemental of religion. But as I said before this book is NOT ABOUT RELIGION. It is about BELIEF.
This book attempts in as simple a way as possible to explain how beliefs are formed, how they evolve and why they are important. It uses every day kid-friendly examples to illustrate the sequences of events that demonstrate how ancient peoples asked questions about and then created stories to explain their world. Those stories were passed down as fact from elders to children. Those stories then became the beliefs of that time. The beings in those stories became the heroes/gods of that time and then myths were created to fit the beliefs about the various deities of a time or culture. Thus, questions led to stories which led to beliefs which led to gods which led to myths which are the foundation of religion. I know. It kinda stings when it's broken down like that, right? To lump Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism in with Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Norse mythology? That stings a lot. But it isn't meant to. The authorer is not taking cheap shots. He is simply seeking to show that the same process created all of these belief systems.
The book attempts to use easy to understand language to acknowledge that beliefs are an important part of our world and that each culture has distinct beliefs based on their unique history of existence. That some cultures believe in many deities and others just a single deity. It also takes the time to define and then use in a separate, italicized sentence any larger words that may need clarification for younger learners.
While this is not a book to just give to a young reader who has these big questions, it is a great book for a read aloud discussion with little ones or a book club style, read-together text for upper elementary or older. It does not belittle or denigrate religion or people with religion. On the contrary. It seeks to help children (and their adults) to engage in scholarly investigation into a topic that is so often quite personal. It implores the reader not to accept something just because someone told you so. Even if that someone is someone we trust. It encourages the reader to do their own digging and decide for themself. The book seeks empower young minds to become thinkers who are brave enough to have their own beliefs no matter what the world says and compassionate enough to realize that belief is a powerful divider and bringer together of people.
There is no condescension or sarcasm here. Just a genuine attempt to help young humans with gigantic age old questions begin to see that they are not alone in asking these questions and that it is indeed okay to question. Everything. If they want to learn more and become more knowledgeable of our world and its many peoples.
I get why people complain. No one likes for their beliefs to challenged. Even with respect and kindness. No one likes thinking a book is telling their children to question the validity of their family beliefs. However, it is only through questioning and seeking answers that truth comes to light and each individual among us will find our right path. History and science the world over have both shown that to be true time and time again.
Question that which doesn't make sense to you.
Seek out answers until the questions are no longer questions.
Then form your beliefs.
Beliefs are the most powerful possession we have.
Beliefs form our thoughts.
Thoughts form our actions and choices.
Actions and choices affect every other aspect of our human existence.
So why not give honest effort into looking at how beliefs are formed in order to become better thinkers and doers for ourselves and those we love?
February 9, 2016
I bought the book. It was expensive for what it was. I bought it thinking it was going to talk about some religions, but it only has half page about Catholicism, half about Mormonism, and half about Jainism.
As it is addressed to children, I thought it was going to be full of (or at least with many) drawings about each main religion with an explanation and some traditions and beliefs.
Some people belief because it makes them feel better and their parents taught them that their god is true; it is better to apply the scientific method when possible. That's it, that's the book. It also includes four blank pages to write a story the kid imagines, and to write or draw a god the kid imagines.
As it is addressed to children, I thought it was going to be full of (or at least with many) drawings about each main religion with an explanation and some traditions and beliefs.
Some people belief because it makes them feel better and their parents taught them that their god is true; it is better to apply the scientific method when possible. That's it, that's the book. It also includes four blank pages to write a story the kid imagines, and to write or draw a god the kid imagines.
February 7, 2015
This should be mandatory reading for every child or young adult. My seven year old son and I were literally discussing belief two nights ago. No, not in a deep dialogue but the way any child would. "Belief" is a tool that can be used to encourage the use of logic and reason in children. That is quite a hefty undertaking. I only wish I would have had it when I was his age.
April 4, 2022
When I came upon McAfee's series directed towards children I had picked up the one that was the second in the series The Book of Gods, as I am particularly fond of studying that subject. After reading the introduction I found that there were actually three books and so chose to track them down while reading them in their given order as they are meant to build up from the previous book(s). These three books in McAfee's series directed to children ask what Belief, Gods, and Religions mean.
Here in this book it promises to teach the reader what is belief, to explain why we may believe some things and not in others. It explores what is religion and why so many people believe in so many gods. And the book was pretty much okay when it did come to meeting these goals in a sense....
As for the in a sense part I only say that since there was a bunch of hot air and double-speak. I had planned on writing a review for this particular book but instead I think I will allow the book to write its own review with some of my own notes thrown in.
"And they (Dave and Chuck) believe in always telling the truth." Just to warn the reader these guys are full of it. They love to give the readers definitions of certain words that are used then follow them by an example in which their names Dave and Chuck are presented. After a while this gets old and if you don't believe me this particular sentence structure can be found just five times alone in the introduction of this book, seventeen times in the remainder of the book, twenty times in the next book and sixteen times in the last book. And yes that's a grand total of 58 times you have to hear them refer to themselves as the most superior, wise, all-knowing beings of these books.
The biggest lie in this book for quite a few of us and one of the first: Even you started as a question asked by your mom and dad. They asked themselves and each other, Should we have a baby? And the answer was a big Yes!. I am really hoping that you weren't the surprise baby that supposedly ruined your parents' lives since I can promise in that case they didn't ask each other whether they wanted a baby.
There is also mention of the very special underwear that Mormons use, which if they actually look into it Mormons don't have special underwear. Check off yet another piece of wrong information being provided to young impressible minds.
This is just a quick look at the many different religions out there... The many different religions that they explored were only Catholicism, Mormonism and Jainism. I definitely don't consider that as looking at many different religions.
And Not all beliefs are built on logic and reason, but the ideas that are based in truth always shine the brightest.
Wars, stealing, lying and other bad things are often taught by religions to be allowed - and they can affect all of us, even if we don't personally believe!. I consider this both a double whammy for Dave and Chuck since first they aren't telling the truth and second their addressing the reader that not all beliefs are built on logic and reason is proven since if both author as well as illustrator took a deep look most religions have rules against stealing, lying and a lot of other bad things.
Here is yet another part that I really enjoyed: but they also know that people can be good to other people without being threatened or promised rewards. It's true you don't need to be religious or spiritual to do good things but they also forget to mention the other side of the coin in which there have been some really bad people who weren't religious or spiritual who have done some horrible things to others without being afraid they may be sent down to hell or be receiving some type of blessing from a BDSM-focused deity.
And then the most horrible experiment in the book goes to imagining yourself climbing to the top of a tree. The author tells the reader to jump and then basically goes on to scold the reader for not doing so since they may be afraid they would get hurt or die. He explains to the reader you know you will get hurt or dead since you've seen it on TV but we all know that the movies and TV shows and video games aren't the same as real life, so whatever happens in them isn't always real. And if these things aren't real, maybe nothing will happen to you if you decide to jump, right? So jump! Or someone told you.
This whole explanation was moot to me since first of all if I was imagining myself up in a tree and throwing myself out of it I would see myself as flying or gliding, not falling to the ground to meet it in a broken bones style. Second of all explaining that I base the proof of what may happen and stop myself from being jumping out of the tallest, biggest tree based upon television, movies and video games is laughable. When did those who supposedly base their beliefs and whole lives on the scientific method ever fall back first upon indirect proof from mediums that are known for false storytelling instead of actual experiences that one may have lived through?
As for book errors the most confusing was the fact after the tree experiment there is an illustration with "Rip Roy B Giv". When did we go from trying to imaginably killing ourselves to killing the colors of the rainbow? And what is with capitalizing Tectonic Plates in the text as well?
All in all I did enjoy how the author and illustrator were able to show how beliefs slowly made up over time to become ideas and ideas into deities, which followed up with the making of a religion. Too bad there was no easy direct Point A to Point B getting there without the punches to those who are religious and having to hear the gods of this book blow their pride up. And so I will end this hot mess with one final quote.
Believing in something just because someone says that's what you should do can lead to something no one wants - false beliefs. People around the world just like you have to decide if they're going to believe what they've been taught by other people all their lives, or if they plan to think about and study those beliefs by looking a little closer.
Here in this book it promises to teach the reader what is belief, to explain why we may believe some things and not in others. It explores what is religion and why so many people believe in so many gods. And the book was pretty much okay when it did come to meeting these goals in a sense....
As for the in a sense part I only say that since there was a bunch of hot air and double-speak. I had planned on writing a review for this particular book but instead I think I will allow the book to write its own review with some of my own notes thrown in.
"And they (Dave and Chuck) believe in always telling the truth." Just to warn the reader these guys are full of it. They love to give the readers definitions of certain words that are used then follow them by an example in which their names Dave and Chuck are presented. After a while this gets old and if you don't believe me this particular sentence structure can be found just five times alone in the introduction of this book, seventeen times in the remainder of the book, twenty times in the next book and sixteen times in the last book. And yes that's a grand total of 58 times you have to hear them refer to themselves as the most superior, wise, all-knowing beings of these books.
The biggest lie in this book for quite a few of us and one of the first: Even you started as a question asked by your mom and dad. They asked themselves and each other, Should we have a baby? And the answer was a big Yes!. I am really hoping that you weren't the surprise baby that supposedly ruined your parents' lives since I can promise in that case they didn't ask each other whether they wanted a baby.
There is also mention of the very special underwear that Mormons use, which if they actually look into it Mormons don't have special underwear. Check off yet another piece of wrong information being provided to young impressible minds.
This is just a quick look at the many different religions out there... The many different religions that they explored were only Catholicism, Mormonism and Jainism. I definitely don't consider that as looking at many different religions.
And Not all beliefs are built on logic and reason, but the ideas that are based in truth always shine the brightest.
Wars, stealing, lying and other bad things are often taught by religions to be allowed - and they can affect all of us, even if we don't personally believe!. I consider this both a double whammy for Dave and Chuck since first they aren't telling the truth and second their addressing the reader that not all beliefs are built on logic and reason is proven since if both author as well as illustrator took a deep look most religions have rules against stealing, lying and a lot of other bad things.
Here is yet another part that I really enjoyed: but they also know that people can be good to other people without being threatened or promised rewards. It's true you don't need to be religious or spiritual to do good things but they also forget to mention the other side of the coin in which there have been some really bad people who weren't religious or spiritual who have done some horrible things to others without being afraid they may be sent down to hell or be receiving some type of blessing from a BDSM-focused deity.
And then the most horrible experiment in the book goes to imagining yourself climbing to the top of a tree. The author tells the reader to jump and then basically goes on to scold the reader for not doing so since they may be afraid they would get hurt or die. He explains to the reader you know you will get hurt or dead since you've seen it on TV but we all know that the movies and TV shows and video games aren't the same as real life, so whatever happens in them isn't always real. And if these things aren't real, maybe nothing will happen to you if you decide to jump, right? So jump! Or someone told you.
This whole explanation was moot to me since first of all if I was imagining myself up in a tree and throwing myself out of it I would see myself as flying or gliding, not falling to the ground to meet it in a broken bones style. Second of all explaining that I base the proof of what may happen and stop myself from being jumping out of the tallest, biggest tree based upon television, movies and video games is laughable. When did those who supposedly base their beliefs and whole lives on the scientific method ever fall back first upon indirect proof from mediums that are known for false storytelling instead of actual experiences that one may have lived through?
As for book errors the most confusing was the fact after the tree experiment there is an illustration with "Rip Roy B Giv". When did we go from trying to imaginably killing ourselves to killing the colors of the rainbow? And what is with capitalizing Tectonic Plates in the text as well?
All in all I did enjoy how the author and illustrator were able to show how beliefs slowly made up over time to become ideas and ideas into deities, which followed up with the making of a religion. Too bad there was no easy direct Point A to Point B getting there without the punches to those who are religious and having to hear the gods of this book blow their pride up. And so I will end this hot mess with one final quote.
Believing in something just because someone says that's what you should do can lead to something no one wants - false beliefs. People around the world just like you have to decide if they're going to believe what they've been taught by other people all their lives, or if they plan to think about and study those beliefs by looking a little closer.
July 19, 2016
Explains both concisely and kindly how religious stories come to be and that they're just stories, but without denigrating those who believe otherwise. A really good starting point for discussions with younger kids.
December 27, 2016
Thought this was aimed at children. Super boring and condescending.
February 10, 2020
As a pastor in a denomination that encourages people of all ages to ask and seek answers to the questions, "What do I believe?" and "Why do I believe?" I was excited to read the blurb about this book as it read as if it would be a fairly measured approach to religion and science. From the back of the book: "No matter how old or how young you are, this easy-to-read book can help you learn more about religions and gods and beliefs in general. It will also teach you about something called The Scientific Method, which is how we learn new things about the world!" These are the types of books I like to provide for the children and youth at the church.
I checked the book out of our library to give it an initial read, and I am quite happy I did not waste my money purchasing it. While it started out on a high note with definitions and encouragement to ask questions it soon devolved into atheist propaganda as repugnant as right-wing Christian propaganda. Several times throughout the book, "smart people" are those who only believe what can be proven by scientific method. There's never room or discussion in the book about the verifiable fact that there are many "smart people" who believe in both science and faith/religion. Nor is there acknowledgement that many people of faith recognize the myths and ancient scientific understandings that exist in their ancient literature.
The book was also highly gender biased with only one female being used in an example - Sally who happened to be scared of dogs and therefore didn't remember clearly what animal had been brought to school - and all of the superhero illustrations are boys.
I would not recommend this book to anyone who wants to teach their children about the faith/religion/belie/science choices that exist for them in this world. There are much better books that highlight faith and science as partners.
I checked the book out of our library to give it an initial read, and I am quite happy I did not waste my money purchasing it. While it started out on a high note with definitions and encouragement to ask questions it soon devolved into atheist propaganda as repugnant as right-wing Christian propaganda. Several times throughout the book, "smart people" are those who only believe what can be proven by scientific method. There's never room or discussion in the book about the verifiable fact that there are many "smart people" who believe in both science and faith/religion. Nor is there acknowledgement that many people of faith recognize the myths and ancient scientific understandings that exist in their ancient literature.
The book was also highly gender biased with only one female being used in an example - Sally who happened to be scared of dogs and therefore didn't remember clearly what animal had been brought to school - and all of the superhero illustrations are boys.
I would not recommend this book to anyone who wants to teach their children about the faith/religion/belie/science choices that exist for them in this world. There are much better books that highlight faith and science as partners.
July 15, 2022
This book is a great discussion starter, but it is heavy-handed as it tells you to believe in atheism (without ever using that word in the text) as much as a religious book would ask you to believe in that religion. And while atheism may make logical sense in one way it is just as absolutist and dismissive of others as religion as religions are about each other or about atheism. And their argument that you shouldn't believe in a god or gods because that belief can't be proven doesn't work because you also can't prove that there isn't a god or gods! I am glad that I read this book with my son because it is really, really important to have discussions about religion and study religion as we study history and culture around the world and I think that reading this book solidified where I stand on religions, not because I am taking everything in this book to heart, but because this book encourages asking questions and a book that encourages you to look at yourself and your beliefs is a good thing to read in my opinion.
April 16, 2023
Such a useful book for someone raising intentionally non-religious children. We live in a majority Christian area and I have had to figure out how to explain others religions and beliefs to my kids younger than I anticipated… and it’s not easy. How does one explain to a kid that “so and so believes you’ll go to hell if you don’t xyz?” Especially when she doesn’t know what hell or god or even belief is?
Well, this book and others like it are how I’m going to figure out how to answer that question.
It’s written for children, maybe like 7-11ish. But it breaks down how and why people do and always have believed things that can’t be proven. It’s the very first piece in explaining religion. It’s not something I’d just hand over to her, but rather something we’ll read together bit by bit.
Well, this book and others like it are how I’m going to figure out how to answer that question.
It’s written for children, maybe like 7-11ish. But it breaks down how and why people do and always have believed things that can’t be proven. It’s the very first piece in explaining religion. It’s not something I’d just hand over to her, but rather something we’ll read together bit by bit.
July 28, 2021
Read aloud to my kids. This book is great at explaining the origin of religion in a way that kids can easily understand. Questions led to stories that people believed. Those stories became myths. Gods grew from the myths. Religions formed around those gods. This book doesn’t go in depth about different religions and their beliefs. I would imagine that comes in the following books in the trilogy. I think this book is expensive and short. I would have preferred all three books in one volume instead of 67 pages, double spaced for $12. But I did like the way religion was explained in a rational way on a kid level. That’s very hard to find in our very religious community.
January 31, 2021
This was a fun little read. I don't do a very good job reading summaries of books. But I got this for my fiance for Christmas and was not aware it was like a YA book on belief. It seems like this would be a good read for a 10 to 15 year old struggling with belief. But to be fair this might be good for some older folks as well. I will prob pass this along to my daughter at some point. I do enjoy how it puts science, the scientific method and facts above just listening and believing blindly.
June 20, 2019
After reading my (6-7 year old) son the Chronicles of Narnia, I felt I had to teach him something about religion. We are not religious and I wanted to find a book that was respectful and yet explained the whole concept well. This did pretty well. Easy to read and my son seemed to like it. I thought it was a bit repetitive though. Which seems a bit odd since it was so short.
October 24, 2019
Offensive patronizing attitude toward any believers in higher power
Although the author did differentiate between different religions accurately, the idea that people cling to religions for safety or because of indoctrination is offensive. It may be true for some, but this read as an indoctrination to atheism.
Although the author did differentiate between different religions accurately, the idea that people cling to religions for safety or because of indoctrination is offensive. It may be true for some, but this read as an indoctrination to atheism.
May 31, 2022
Not what I was expecting it to be. I was led to believe it was an intro to comparative religion for children, but it's more basic than that: what belief is and how myths arose. Those are important things to know, but I don't think the authors needed 40 pages for that, even if it's for kids. Too repetitive, too vague. I'll look elsewhere.
May 8, 2017
Amazing book! The explanations of what belief is and how it all began was excellent. My son who is 7 read it in 2 days! I did not find it condescending or preachy (which was very important to me). Cute illustrations and great explanations :)
November 6, 2017
I like how it breaks it into simple concepts and it adds to each idea in the next chapter, but my daughter is still very confused, so I will see what the next book brings to help her learn more about religion in general and all the different gods.
October 14, 2020
Great introductory book for kids about belief and religion. No fear or denial sewed into my kids heads, just critical thinking and the ability to make their own decisions. Great read and good introduction into this field of thought for kids.
December 12, 2018
A fun and interesting resource for kids twelve and under.
January 27, 2019
Pretty good! Looking forward to reading it with my children in a few years. Does not pull any punches ... I'm sure it would offend a lot of believers.
November 29, 2021
Wonderful
A good bedtime book to work on with my kiddos this week. I love the way it explains everything so simply.
A good bedtime book to work on with my kiddos this week. I love the way it explains everything so simply.
December 31, 2022
Simple and easy to understand, though condescending tone at times. This would have been a decent intro to a book about religions as myths, but just isn't enough on its own.
May 30, 2023
cool
It was an interesting book. You can see where having a physical copy might be nice but overall I think it would be a good book for kids.
It was an interesting book. You can see where having a physical copy might be nice but overall I think it would be a good book for kids.
October 11, 2023
Brilliant! Such a great resource for kids and adults alike who either know nothing or very little about belief, religion, and logic.
Can't give this book enough praise! 🙂
Can't give this book enough praise! 🙂
Read
January 13, 2025This is a great introduction to studying world religions. I would start here before introducing the various religions.
October 26, 2025
Re-read it before giving it to my 6 year old. Amazing book, exactly what I want to teach my kids about inquiry and religion.
January 19, 2021
I find this book disingenuous, insidious and downright rude.
Nowhere in the book's description does it state that the book is written from an atheistic viewpoint. Now, mind you, I don't require authors to declare their religious beliefs in the blurb on the back of their book, but if a staunch vegan were to write a book about the varieties of meat dishes served around the world, I feel like it would only be proper for them to inform potential readers that they, themselves, not only don't eat meat - but find the eating of meat to be a ridiculous, unnecessary practice. THEN let the reader decide if they wish to read your book or not.
I find the lack of transparency even MORE disturbing because this book is clearly being purposely marketed for children. Children should be given books that present clear, unbiased information about the world around them, because they are so very impressionable. But then, I can't help feeling that's precisely WHY the author is targeting children with this book, and WHY he's so shy about advertising his own religious beliefs... that is, until you crack the book open and those beliefs are spilling out between all the lines.
Nowhere in the book's description does it state that the book is written from an atheistic viewpoint. Now, mind you, I don't require authors to declare their religious beliefs in the blurb on the back of their book, but if a staunch vegan were to write a book about the varieties of meat dishes served around the world, I feel like it would only be proper for them to inform potential readers that they, themselves, not only don't eat meat - but find the eating of meat to be a ridiculous, unnecessary practice. THEN let the reader decide if they wish to read your book or not.
I find the lack of transparency even MORE disturbing because this book is clearly being purposely marketed for children. Children should be given books that present clear, unbiased information about the world around them, because they are so very impressionable. But then, I can't help feeling that's precisely WHY the author is targeting children with this book, and WHY he's so shy about advertising his own religious beliefs... that is, until you crack the book open and those beliefs are spilling out between all the lines.
January 18, 2016
Overall this seems a rather juvenile read. I was hoping for something condensed in terms of a discussion about beliefs. The writing and tone of the book seems to talk down to the reader as if they are simple. At least that it the sense I had in reading this book.
While not an atheist and also someone who does not associates with any religion there is a better way to engage in discussions of belief like this. At least its a short read.
While not an atheist and also someone who does not associates with any religion there is a better way to engage in discussions of belief like this. At least its a short read.
March 5, 2016
Cute little book. Directed at children, but nonetheless still adorable with cute little pictures. Doesn't go into actual religious beliefs, but rather just gives small examples. I think it's be a great book for parents and children to read together in order to expand not only your child's mind, but the parent's mind as well. Children have a funny habit of doing that at times.
Also not a parent so take it with a grain of salt.
Also not a parent so take it with a grain of salt.
September 5, 2015
The writing was good, and the pics were good, the only problem with this book was that it was incomplete. it was the intro to a book.
Literally.
On the last page they tell you that there's another one. The second of three.
If have preferred that they just packaged them as one book.
Literally.
On the last page they tell you that there's another one. The second of three.
If have preferred that they just packaged them as one book.
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