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The Harm Done by Religion
The third in the "Best of Free Inquiry" series, this new anthology collects outstanding articles from the prior decade of Free Inquiry. Thirteen hard-hitting essays survey the harm done by religion—to individuals, peoples, and societies—by a variety of faith traditions and at varied times and places very much including—but not limited to—the here and now.
It's 175 pages of sheer brilliance on an important topic by some of secularism's greatest thinkers, including Peter Singer, Richard Dawkins, and the late Christopher Hitchens.
It's 175 pages of sheer brilliance on an important topic by some of secularism's greatest thinkers, including Peter Singer, Richard Dawkins, and the late Christopher Hitchens.
174 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2015
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64 people want to read
About the author
Ronald A. Lindsay
6 books3 followersRonald A. Lindsay was president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry and of its affiliates, the Council for Secular Humanism and the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. He held this position June 2008 – 2016.
Lindsay has a PhD in philosophy from Georgetown University, with a concentration in bioethics. He is the author of the book Future Bioethics: Overcoming, Taboos, Myths, and Dogmas (Prometheus: 2008).
Lindsay has also written several articles on ethical issues for Free Inquiry, the publication of the Council for Secular Humanism. These articles include a vigorous defense of equal rights for LGBT individuals, and a discussion of the foundation for a nonreligious ethics.
Lindsay has a PhD in philosophy from Georgetown University, with a concentration in bioethics. He is the author of the book Future Bioethics: Overcoming, Taboos, Myths, and Dogmas (Prometheus: 2008).
Lindsay has also written several articles on ethical issues for Free Inquiry, the publication of the Council for Secular Humanism. These articles include a vigorous defense of equal rights for LGBT individuals, and a discussion of the foundation for a nonreligious ethics.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 9, 2020
A collection of essays from Free Inquiry magazine of which I am a subscriber.
1. The first essay dealt with a Jesus theme park.
2. Christopher Hitchens writes about religion and safety being inversely related.
3 and 4. Essays about the collaboration between the Catholic Church and Nazis.
There was only one mass demonstration in Germany to save Jews. And that one was for mixed marriages. Two thousand Jewish husbands were released with Hitler's approval. Those families lived openly and survived the war.
Goebbels later said the regime relented "in order to eliminate the protest from the world, so that others didn't begin to do the same." The strategy worked.
Germans who refused to participate in atrocities never suffered retaliation. Nazis after the war were not allowed to claim fear of retaliation as a defense because of this.
At root, the regime was cowardly in so many more ways than we knew.
In exchange for the Pope's support, Mussolini made payments of about $100 million dollars. He also restored the Vatican's nationhood status.
One tenth of the income tax paid by German Catholics would flow from Hitler's treasury to the Catholic Church accounts. About $1 billion dollars total.
Hitler covered all his bases. He also diverted 10% to his evangelical friends. They made about $2 billion dollars.
The churches invested heavily in fascist enterprises.
5. Peter Singer writes about the harm that religion does.
6. Barbara Smoker writes about blasphemy, a topic very important to me. Why can't people insult religion? Why should it be against the law? Why are religions allowed to indoctrinate their children? Why don't religious leaders defend atheism?
7. James A. Haught writes about how money flows into religion. He mentions T. D. Jakes who raked in about $20 million a year.
8. Christopher Hitchens writes about religious holidays and how more keep being added to keep them all equal.
9. The last three essays are by Richard Dawkins and Lisa Bauer, a woman who converted to Islam and then wanted to escape. Her imam called her part of a misyar, or traveler's marriage. Sexual activity is okay, but the woman gets no support from the man. It has become popular in the Sunni world, similar to the Shiite version. She would write to Dawkins who would help her get away.
1. The first essay dealt with a Jesus theme park.
2. Christopher Hitchens writes about religion and safety being inversely related.
3 and 4. Essays about the collaboration between the Catholic Church and Nazis.
There was only one mass demonstration in Germany to save Jews. And that one was for mixed marriages. Two thousand Jewish husbands were released with Hitler's approval. Those families lived openly and survived the war.
Goebbels later said the regime relented "in order to eliminate the protest from the world, so that others didn't begin to do the same." The strategy worked.
Germans who refused to participate in atrocities never suffered retaliation. Nazis after the war were not allowed to claim fear of retaliation as a defense because of this.
At root, the regime was cowardly in so many more ways than we knew.
In exchange for the Pope's support, Mussolini made payments of about $100 million dollars. He also restored the Vatican's nationhood status.
One tenth of the income tax paid by German Catholics would flow from Hitler's treasury to the Catholic Church accounts. About $1 billion dollars total.
Hitler covered all his bases. He also diverted 10% to his evangelical friends. They made about $2 billion dollars.
The churches invested heavily in fascist enterprises.
5. Peter Singer writes about the harm that religion does.
6. Barbara Smoker writes about blasphemy, a topic very important to me. Why can't people insult religion? Why should it be against the law? Why are religions allowed to indoctrinate their children? Why don't religious leaders defend atheism?
7. James A. Haught writes about how money flows into religion. He mentions T. D. Jakes who raked in about $20 million a year.
8. Christopher Hitchens writes about religious holidays and how more keep being added to keep them all equal.
9. The last three essays are by Richard Dawkins and Lisa Bauer, a woman who converted to Islam and then wanted to escape. Her imam called her part of a misyar, or traveler's marriage. Sexual activity is okay, but the woman gets no support from the man. It has become popular in the Sunni world, similar to the Shiite version. She would write to Dawkins who would help her get away.
July 27, 2019
It can be horrific.
This is a collection of articles denouncing religion, most specifically Christianity and Islam, originally published in the secular humanist magazine “Free Inquiry.” It includes pieces by some of the luminaries of atheism including Gregory S. Paul and Christopher Hitchens. Paul’s two contributions show beyond serious doubt how Christians, both Protestant and Catholic, helped Hitler gain dictatorial power in Germany. Therein I learned that Hitler was actually a Catholic and that the Catholic and Protestant churches gained millions in tax credits for their support of Hitler. Oh, and the Pope liked to send Hitler thank you birthday greetings.
Almost as interesting were the three articles on “Subjection and Escape” by Lisa Bauer a shy American woman who as a college student embraced and gave herself over to Islam. She details what it was like to become a Muslim and perform the rituals and wear the garb. She details her seduction by an imam, and finally after several years her change of heart and her conversion to atheism (with a little help from Richard Dawkins). Incidentally one of the meanings of the word “Islam” is surrender…of course it is “surrender to God” which in practice means surrender to the religion itself.
Plainly Bauer is a follower, the type of person easily mesmerized by cult leaders. Fortunately, she didn’t drink any Kool Aid; however she did get besmirched and degraded before wising up. She’s a very good writer and her exasperating story is a good, quick read.
As for the good done by religion? Not mentioned here. As for the germane question: does religion do more harm than good? it is clear that the editors of, and contributors to, “Free Inquiry” strongly believe that religion does more harm than good. I tend to agree, but only as far as organized religions are concerned. Personal religion and spirituality that come from within can be a force for good in this world (or not, of course). The problem with organized religions is that they are primarily political and social entities where spirituality plays second fiddle.
--Dennis Littrell, author of “Understanding Religion: Reviews, Essays and Commentary”
This is a collection of articles denouncing religion, most specifically Christianity and Islam, originally published in the secular humanist magazine “Free Inquiry.” It includes pieces by some of the luminaries of atheism including Gregory S. Paul and Christopher Hitchens. Paul’s two contributions show beyond serious doubt how Christians, both Protestant and Catholic, helped Hitler gain dictatorial power in Germany. Therein I learned that Hitler was actually a Catholic and that the Catholic and Protestant churches gained millions in tax credits for their support of Hitler. Oh, and the Pope liked to send Hitler thank you birthday greetings.
Almost as interesting were the three articles on “Subjection and Escape” by Lisa Bauer a shy American woman who as a college student embraced and gave herself over to Islam. She details what it was like to become a Muslim and perform the rituals and wear the garb. She details her seduction by an imam, and finally after several years her change of heart and her conversion to atheism (with a little help from Richard Dawkins). Incidentally one of the meanings of the word “Islam” is surrender…of course it is “surrender to God” which in practice means surrender to the religion itself.
Plainly Bauer is a follower, the type of person easily mesmerized by cult leaders. Fortunately, she didn’t drink any Kool Aid; however she did get besmirched and degraded before wising up. She’s a very good writer and her exasperating story is a good, quick read.
As for the good done by religion? Not mentioned here. As for the germane question: does religion do more harm than good? it is clear that the editors of, and contributors to, “Free Inquiry” strongly believe that religion does more harm than good. I tend to agree, but only as far as organized religions are concerned. Personal religion and spirituality that come from within can be a force for good in this world (or not, of course). The problem with organized religions is that they are primarily political and social entities where spirituality plays second fiddle.
--Dennis Littrell, author of “Understanding Religion: Reviews, Essays and Commentary”
January 29, 2017
I am not into reading history but this book gave me a look at how religion has influenced our politicians. Through out history, wars have been started over religion. Also some of the religions have and still suppress women and are quite abusive to women. The excuse is Our God told us to do this, not!! Just your excuse to be abusive.!
June 14, 2024
A brilliant set of essays by those who are champions of atheism and some lesser-known victims of religion who have spoken out. Includes essays by Dawkins and Hitchens that are well worth the cover price.
March 5, 2022
Essays!
This book consists of a series of essays on the title subject. Some of them, of course, are much better than others. Those by the late Cristopher Hitchens are very well thought out, and very well written.
The primary focus of the book seems to be a series of three essays written by Lisa Bauer after an introductory essay by the very well-known Richard Dawkins. Bauer's essays describe her indoctrination into a specific religion, and then her gradual realization that it was not what she thought it was. Eventually, she became an atheist. Her story is emotional and compelling.
These essays were all taken from the magazine "Free Inquiry," the flagship magazine of the Council for Secular Humanism. As such, it is not likely to be widely read, but it certainly would make a good starting point for those of a religious bent to begin serious discussions about the subject with atheists like Dawkins.
This is a seriously thought-provoking book. If you are so religious that you believe in "heresy" and "blasphemy," then you probably should not read it. If, on the other hand, you believe that you are a critical thinker who is not afraid of those who might challenge your religious views, then by all means, be sure to read it.
This book consists of a series of essays on the title subject. Some of them, of course, are much better than others. Those by the late Cristopher Hitchens are very well thought out, and very well written.
The primary focus of the book seems to be a series of three essays written by Lisa Bauer after an introductory essay by the very well-known Richard Dawkins. Bauer's essays describe her indoctrination into a specific religion, and then her gradual realization that it was not what she thought it was. Eventually, she became an atheist. Her story is emotional and compelling.
These essays were all taken from the magazine "Free Inquiry," the flagship magazine of the Council for Secular Humanism. As such, it is not likely to be widely read, but it certainly would make a good starting point for those of a religious bent to begin serious discussions about the subject with atheists like Dawkins.
This is a seriously thought-provoking book. If you are so religious that you believe in "heresy" and "blasphemy," then you probably should not read it. If, on the other hand, you believe that you are a critical thinker who is not afraid of those who might challenge your religious views, then by all means, be sure to read it.
October 3, 2020
This book is a compilation of articles from a journal called Free Inquiry. Almost all of the articles were interesting, especially the ones on the relationship between Hitler, the Nazis and the Christian churches. The churches hated democracy and made pacts with the Nazis, who provided them with taxpayer funding (as the German government continues to do today). Hitler concluded an agreement with the Vatican in 1933 and obtained the support of the Catholic church, with little opposition. Protestant churches also quickly fell in line, including Mormons and Seventh Day Adventists. They mounted no organized resistance to the Nazis, and they could have. Antisemitism was the norm in Christian churches, which as a rule did not protest the treatment of the Jews. Another article made an interesting point: if the Church did not take over the remains of the Roman Empire and turn away from science and free inquiry and towards superstition and repression, where might we be today? What levels of understanding and progress might we have attained? Something to think about.
May 15, 2019
On the question of whether religion has, in the long run, done more good or more harm, one can cite examples on both sides all day long, but, for me, the answer lies in the fact that religion teaches us to believe, on faith, things that are not true. That's not a good start.
Sadly, The Harm Done By Religion, a collection of writings featured in Free Inquiry magazine isn't very good. In fact, I'm not sure all the essays are on topic. It begins with a piece by comedian Beth Birnbaum on a visit to a theme park in Orlando, Florida, called Holy Land. I suppose the editors wanted to start their book on a light note, but the essay doesn't really say much about the harms of religion, and it's not particularly original or funny, either.
A couple of the highlights are a pair of articles written by Gregory Paul on religion's role in the rise of Nazism. Some religious people will tell you that Nazism was all about atheism, but it's not so.
Another highlight is Barbara Smoker's Should We Respect Religion? And when she asks that question, it means, should religion be in its own category as something that is not to be examined critically? Should we temper our free speech because of the sensitivities of the religious? Smoker says, No.
Then we come to the strange case of Lisa Bauer, a young woman who even after 9/11, and after reading copiously on the subject of Islam (including books critical of the religion), converted to Islam. A great chunk of this slim book is devoted to Bauer's story. Bauer, from the evidence in her writing, is a person who, although almost obsessively well-read, did not really decipher the meaning behind the things she read; she also seems to have had trouble relating to other people. At the time in her life when she became a Muslim, she might have had a rough time whatever choices she made. I did learn something from her about the bathing rituals Muslims go through to cleanse themselves of impurity. They describe, to me, a collective, institutional case of OCD.
Not sure why such a slim book needed four editors, and why it still contained a few spelling errors. Slapdash.
Sadly, The Harm Done By Religion, a collection of writings featured in Free Inquiry magazine isn't very good. In fact, I'm not sure all the essays are on topic. It begins with a piece by comedian Beth Birnbaum on a visit to a theme park in Orlando, Florida, called Holy Land. I suppose the editors wanted to start their book on a light note, but the essay doesn't really say much about the harms of religion, and it's not particularly original or funny, either.
A couple of the highlights are a pair of articles written by Gregory Paul on religion's role in the rise of Nazism. Some religious people will tell you that Nazism was all about atheism, but it's not so.
Another highlight is Barbara Smoker's Should We Respect Religion? And when she asks that question, it means, should religion be in its own category as something that is not to be examined critically? Should we temper our free speech because of the sensitivities of the religious? Smoker says, No.
Then we come to the strange case of Lisa Bauer, a young woman who even after 9/11, and after reading copiously on the subject of Islam (including books critical of the religion), converted to Islam. A great chunk of this slim book is devoted to Bauer's story. Bauer, from the evidence in her writing, is a person who, although almost obsessively well-read, did not really decipher the meaning behind the things she read; she also seems to have had trouble relating to other people. At the time in her life when she became a Muslim, she might have had a rough time whatever choices she made. I did learn something from her about the bathing rituals Muslims go through to cleanse themselves of impurity. They describe, to me, a collective, institutional case of OCD.
Not sure why such a slim book needed four editors, and why it still contained a few spelling errors. Slapdash.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews