A-Theism: 'Believe It Or Not'

by Richard Lettis, Matthew Kirkpatrick (Editor), Lucy Lettis (Editor)

Targeted toward a general but educated audience, A-Theism is a user’s manual for both committed and would-be atheists, skeptics, and the open-minded faithful. The book begins with a light discussion of Robert Ripley, the cartoonist made famous for ferreting out and illustrating seemingly impossible facts, who challenged people to “believe it… or not.” Ripley helps to illustrate the dilemma faced by those thinking about faith—whether to believe in a deity or not. From there, A-Theism turns toward a wide range of thinkers and writers like Hume, Kant, Christopher Hitchens, William Blake, and Emily Dickinson to help illuminate the book’s expansive exploration of atheism. A-Theism covers major historical moments and summarizes the philosophical arguments for and against atheism through an educated and curious lens, all the while guided by the author’s wit, wisdom, and experience. Rather than rehashing the typical arguments against god and religion, the book makes a wide examination of the topic and takes many approaches. The author uses data about what people believe and logic to make his case in a positive and welcoming manner while never losing his conviction or edge. A-Theism provides both an evidence-based and a moral argument and is full of information to help a new atheist argue his or her position while also providing a foundation of moral and logical non-belief for the new atheist, the skeptic, or the questioning believer. While much of the book examines the various arguments for atheism, A-Theism also gives valuable historical context and uses data about contemporary belief to investigate the diminishing role of religion in many people’s lives. A-Theism uses sharp humor and an academic’s rigor to parse the various cases for and against religious beliefs in an intelligent, readable style. As a compendium, A-Theism provides a practical guide to navigating the wide and fascinating history of an often glossed-over belief system and will find a home with anyone interested in interrogating their own beliefs, no matter what they are.

208 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2020

About the author

Dr. Richard Lettis earned degrees from the University of Massachusetts and Yale, and taught at Ohio University and C.W. Post College of Long Island University, where he served as professor, department chair, and dean. A Dickens scholar, he wrote and edited works on Dickens, Brontë, and Crane, and published essays on Twain and Salinger. His op-eds and letters appeared in major publications and were collected in Letters to the Editor: Opinions, Objections, and Recollections. He lived in Ramsey, New Jersey, with his wife, Lucy Bara Lettis, who completed his final manuscript following his death in 2017.