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An Atheist Defends Religion
After hundreds of years, the time has come to admit that the debate about the existence of God can never be resolved to either side's satisfaction. But the discussion need not end there. We are still left with the important issue of the value of religion. And this is a debate that religion can win. Bruce Sheiman's "An Atheist Defends Why Humanity is Better Off with Religion than without It" offers a distinctive response to the numerous books by unbelievers -- from the perspective of an unbeliever. But unlike other atheists who embrace their rejection of God as an intellectual triumph, Sheiman asserts that religion provides a combination of psychological, moral, communal, existential, aesthetic, and even physical-health benefits that no other institution can replicate. "An Atheist Defends Religion" does not shy away from the controversial topics that ignite argument between atheists and people of faith, and takes on topics such as fundamentalist violence, militant atheism, faith and reason, and religion and science. Sheiman ultimately redefines the core question of the It is not whether God exists but whether the world is a better place because people believe God exists. This book makes a strong statement about the positive role of religion in the contemporary world, and what is lost in a purely secular conception of the world.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 29, 2012
Bruce Shieman, Author, Atheist and wannabe Theist wrote a most excellent book
about the ongoing debate between science and religion.
This review says it pretty well:
"An Atheist Defends Religion: Why Humanity is Better Off with Religion Than Without It by Bruce S. Sheiman. Finally, a very balanced treatment of the theism/atheist debate.This book is a welcomed alternative to some of the poorly reasoned arguments of the new atheism. I am glad to see this author understands reality. And as much as I don’t like the term religion, this author realizes it is not going anywhere! The author notes that unlike other atheists who embrace the rejection of religion as intellectual triumph, religion provides a combination of psychological, moral, emotional, existential, communal, and even physical health benefits that no other institution can provide."
From: http://chab123.wordpress.com/2010/11/...
Here is an excerpt from the book:
"An Atheist Defends Religion
Militant Atheism's Abuse of Science
Chapter 8 excerpt
"If you pay attention to the headlines, you could be excused for believing
that science and religion are mutually exclusive and incompatible. In
truth, that characterization applies only to a minority of people, the
extremists on either side of the debate. But because extremists are
usually the most vociferous, theirs tend to be the only voices we hear.
Because extremists are the ones writing books and giving speeches,
it is easy to think that this conflict reflects the sentiment of the majority
of Americans. But it is a manifestation mainly between religious fund-
mentalists on one end of the spectrum and militant atheism on the
other end.
The Danger of Extremism
Physicist Freeman Dyson said of the extremists "The media exaggerate
their numbers and importance. The media rarely mentions the fact that
the great majority of religious people belong to moderate denominations
that treat science with respect, or the fact that the great majority of scientists
treat religion with respect." Thus the battle underway between religion and
science, but between religious and secular extremists--hardened adherents
who believe they hold the exclusive truth." -Page 151
"Within the past 5 years, numerous books my militant atheists
have highlighted the destructive legacy of fundamentalist religion. In
this chapter, I focus on the other end of the ideological spectrum: the
extent to which militant atheists misuse science in their effort to chal-
lenge the validity of religion as a meaningful paradigm for understand-
ing the world, a perspective I identify as "scientism." -Page 152 excerpt.
I give this book 5/5 stars for great points about both sides in this ongoing debate,
why Religion and Science are not in conflict and a somewhat neutral stance that Bruce
takes on this often times confusing and complex issue.
about the ongoing debate between science and religion.
This review says it pretty well:
"An Atheist Defends Religion: Why Humanity is Better Off with Religion Than Without It by Bruce S. Sheiman. Finally, a very balanced treatment of the theism/atheist debate.This book is a welcomed alternative to some of the poorly reasoned arguments of the new atheism. I am glad to see this author understands reality. And as much as I don’t like the term religion, this author realizes it is not going anywhere! The author notes that unlike other atheists who embrace the rejection of religion as intellectual triumph, religion provides a combination of psychological, moral, emotional, existential, communal, and even physical health benefits that no other institution can provide."
From: http://chab123.wordpress.com/2010/11/...
Here is an excerpt from the book:
"An Atheist Defends Religion
Militant Atheism's Abuse of Science
Chapter 8 excerpt
"If you pay attention to the headlines, you could be excused for believing
that science and religion are mutually exclusive and incompatible. In
truth, that characterization applies only to a minority of people, the
extremists on either side of the debate. But because extremists are
usually the most vociferous, theirs tend to be the only voices we hear.
Because extremists are the ones writing books and giving speeches,
it is easy to think that this conflict reflects the sentiment of the majority
of Americans. But it is a manifestation mainly between religious fund-
mentalists on one end of the spectrum and militant atheism on the
other end.
The Danger of Extremism
Physicist Freeman Dyson said of the extremists "The media exaggerate
their numbers and importance. The media rarely mentions the fact that
the great majority of religious people belong to moderate denominations
that treat science with respect, or the fact that the great majority of scientists
treat religion with respect." Thus the battle underway between religion and
science, but between religious and secular extremists--hardened adherents
who believe they hold the exclusive truth." -Page 151
"Within the past 5 years, numerous books my militant atheists
have highlighted the destructive legacy of fundamentalist religion. In
this chapter, I focus on the other end of the ideological spectrum: the
extent to which militant atheists misuse science in their effort to chal-
lenge the validity of religion as a meaningful paradigm for understand-
ing the world, a perspective I identify as "scientism." -Page 152 excerpt.
I give this book 5/5 stars for great points about both sides in this ongoing debate,
why Religion and Science are not in conflict and a somewhat neutral stance that Bruce
takes on this often times confusing and complex issue.
November 8, 2011
I really enjoyed reading this book. This is, I believe, the closest thing to a "neutral" position that we will find in the never-ending atheism-vs.-theism debate.
Sheiman has obviously done his homework -- he pulls quotes from probably a hundred other authors, and covers just about every topic imaginable, from the violence perpetrated by religious extremists (i.e. terrorists) to evolution/creation in the public school classroom. He describes himself as "an atheist sympathetic to theists," so throughout the book, he takes every attack that militant atheists (such as Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens) have made on religion and picks it apart. He makes a case for why religion is GOOD for society (and for the individual, as cases allow) and is actually flourishing when it has been predicted that we would "evolve away" from religion.
I also very much appreciated his distinction between science (which is values-neutral) and what he calls "scientism," a perversion of science that militant atheists use to justify their attack on religion. I am a Christian that loves science, so it has always bothered me when people pervert science for their own agenda (religious or not). I sincerely hope his coining of the term "scientism" catches on, and religious people will begin to embrace science more fully.
My only issue with this book is that I often felt like I was reading a textbook. It was, for the most part, very dry and sometimes difficult to read. I think in the interest of reaching more people, it could have been a little bit more colloquial and a little less academic in its linguistic styling.
Sheiman has obviously done his homework -- he pulls quotes from probably a hundred other authors, and covers just about every topic imaginable, from the violence perpetrated by religious extremists (i.e. terrorists) to evolution/creation in the public school classroom. He describes himself as "an atheist sympathetic to theists," so throughout the book, he takes every attack that militant atheists (such as Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens) have made on religion and picks it apart. He makes a case for why religion is GOOD for society (and for the individual, as cases allow) and is actually flourishing when it has been predicted that we would "evolve away" from religion.
I also very much appreciated his distinction between science (which is values-neutral) and what he calls "scientism," a perversion of science that militant atheists use to justify their attack on religion. I am a Christian that loves science, so it has always bothered me when people pervert science for their own agenda (religious or not). I sincerely hope his coining of the term "scientism" catches on, and religious people will begin to embrace science more fully.
My only issue with this book is that I often felt like I was reading a textbook. It was, for the most part, very dry and sometimes difficult to read. I think in the interest of reaching more people, it could have been a little bit more colloquial and a little less academic in its linguistic styling.
December 20, 2009
Fascinating. Utterly fascinating.
The only reasons I clipped it a star were a couple of sections I skipped citing too many statistics from too many studies, and a tendency of the author to write in too "college-y" a style. I mean, I'm impressed already, you don't have to use an automatic weapon spraying big words to overwhelm me.
Here's a quote from the book, page 185: "...atheism requires faith as much as theism." Interesting, interesting stuff. Worth a thorough skim, at least.
The only reasons I clipped it a star were a couple of sections I skipped citing too many statistics from too many studies, and a tendency of the author to write in too "college-y" a style. I mean, I'm impressed already, you don't have to use an automatic weapon spraying big words to overwhelm me.
Here's a quote from the book, page 185: "...atheism requires faith as much as theism." Interesting, interesting stuff. Worth a thorough skim, at least.
December 21, 2012
I found this an odd book and couldn't decide whether I really liked it or whether it was just okay. Author Bruce Sheiman is an atheist. He simply cannot bring himself to believe in a supernatural God. Yet he feels that man is more than just another animal crawling on the surface of an insignificant planet revolving around an unregarded yellow star in an obscure corner of an obscure galaxy. He has a gut feeling that human existence has a purpose and a meaning. He says all people feel the same way and most of them find purpose and meaning in religion. He proceeds to examine religion from the outside and investigate whether, on the whole, religion has been better for mankind than no religion.
The first five chapters deal with the benefits of religious belief and behaviour: supplying meaning to life; fostering compassion; offering "union with the divine"; offering health benefits (longevity and general well-being), and advancing the cause of human rights. In general, I have no doubt that religion has been important and beneficial to many people in the past and present. I don't agree with his claim that everybody yearns for some external, objective purpose and meaning to their lives, however. I am willing to admit that I am in a very small minority in feeling that way.
Sheiman then spends some chapters discussing religious and atheist extremism and how most people are in a happy middle somewhere. The extremists in both camps are getting all the press, however. He does lament that, in current-day America at least, science has been positioned as the enemy of religion and most people find religion easier to believe than science is to understand. So the majority choose religion over science (he offers the surprising statistic that only about half of Americans know that the Earth revolves around the sun and that the duration of each revolution is the basis for the length of the year).
His final few chapters examine the question of whether life and evolution have a purpose. He concludes that they do, but tries to find a way to frame his belief without resorting to God.
There is much I agree with here, including the benefits of religion to the vast majority of believers. I also agree that religion is probably not going to fade away. He admits that he doesn't have the answers for how atheists should reconcile themselves to religion or interact with believers. I feel his attempt to reconcile science and religion are clumsy and unsatisfying. I'm not sure a reconciliation is possible or needed. In the end, believers and atheists will just have to agree to disagree.
The first five chapters deal with the benefits of religious belief and behaviour: supplying meaning to life; fostering compassion; offering "union with the divine"; offering health benefits (longevity and general well-being), and advancing the cause of human rights. In general, I have no doubt that religion has been important and beneficial to many people in the past and present. I don't agree with his claim that everybody yearns for some external, objective purpose and meaning to their lives, however. I am willing to admit that I am in a very small minority in feeling that way.
Sheiman then spends some chapters discussing religious and atheist extremism and how most people are in a happy middle somewhere. The extremists in both camps are getting all the press, however. He does lament that, in current-day America at least, science has been positioned as the enemy of religion and most people find religion easier to believe than science is to understand. So the majority choose religion over science (he offers the surprising statistic that only about half of Americans know that the Earth revolves around the sun and that the duration of each revolution is the basis for the length of the year).
His final few chapters examine the question of whether life and evolution have a purpose. He concludes that they do, but tries to find a way to frame his belief without resorting to God.
There is much I agree with here, including the benefits of religion to the vast majority of believers. I also agree that religion is probably not going to fade away. He admits that he doesn't have the answers for how atheists should reconcile themselves to religion or interact with believers. I feel his attempt to reconcile science and religion are clumsy and unsatisfying. I'm not sure a reconciliation is possible or needed. In the end, believers and atheists will just have to agree to disagree.
December 23, 2012
An interesting, nuanced, honest, and especially surprising account of an atheist who looks at religion and actually argues that the world is better with religion than without it. Religion is the cause, so Sheiman argues, that "human beings" turned into "being humane". Religion was morally uplifting, but also was the cause of the development of science and technology.
Sheiman also clearly recognizes that most if not all atheists have a longing for the transcendent, for an ultimate value. Sheiman longs for religion but, as he writes, cannot accept the contents of what religions (particularly Christianity) actually teach, and that's why he remains an atheist.
A very interesting contribution to the theism/atheism debate, and also very well-written, although he gives quite a lot of quotations, without giving exact references, which I found slightly annoying.
Probably because it is such a nuanced account, Sheiman's book remains quite out of view. I guess that Dawkins, Harris and Dennett hate this book. And the media like the extremists on both sides of the debates more than the more nuanced voices. Too bad, because I guess Sheiman is the kind of atheist that actually bring the debate further.
Sheiman also clearly recognizes that most if not all atheists have a longing for the transcendent, for an ultimate value. Sheiman longs for religion but, as he writes, cannot accept the contents of what religions (particularly Christianity) actually teach, and that's why he remains an atheist.
A very interesting contribution to the theism/atheism debate, and also very well-written, although he gives quite a lot of quotations, without giving exact references, which I found slightly annoying.
Probably because it is such a nuanced account, Sheiman's book remains quite out of view. I guess that Dawkins, Harris and Dennett hate this book. And the media like the extremists on both sides of the debates more than the more nuanced voices. Too bad, because I guess Sheiman is the kind of atheist that actually bring the debate further.
January 14, 2014
Bruce Sheiman, in a 256 pages-Alpha published book, An Atheist Defends Religion: Why Humanity Is Better Off with Religion(2009), went head on against the popular myth of new atheism movement that religion is evil and at war with science, and thus should be erased, to show that humanity is better off with religious beliefs.
As an atheist, Sheiman contend not for the existence of God but for the belief in God. He wrote, “I want to believe this[that God exists, humans are made in Imago Dei etc] but, alas, I cannot. Thus, even though I cannot believe in God, I still feel the need for God.”(ix)
Religion, particularly Christianity, contended Sheiman, offers a transcendent moral values and duties, human rights, altruism, mental healthy, happiness and longer life, and gave birth to science.
There is much to agree with Sheiman, as a Christian theist, and little to disagree e.g. he makes couples of classical errors e.g. confusing epistemology with ontology as he went through researches that showed both believers and nonbeliever grasp same moral values and duties, tagging Intelligent Design as Creationism and seem to hold a belief that the universe somehow was impregnated with life, thus we can find meaning and values from this notion.
As an atheist, Sheiman contend not for the existence of God but for the belief in God. He wrote, “I want to believe this[that God exists, humans are made in Imago Dei etc] but, alas, I cannot. Thus, even though I cannot believe in God, I still feel the need for God.”(ix)
Religion, particularly Christianity, contended Sheiman, offers a transcendent moral values and duties, human rights, altruism, mental healthy, happiness and longer life, and gave birth to science.
There is much to agree with Sheiman, as a Christian theist, and little to disagree e.g. he makes couples of classical errors e.g. confusing epistemology with ontology as he went through researches that showed both believers and nonbeliever grasp same moral values and duties, tagging Intelligent Design as Creationism and seem to hold a belief that the universe somehow was impregnated with life, thus we can find meaning and values from this notion.
April 19, 2016
It is almost more interesting that this book was written and published than is the book itself. Please see my more detailed review at the following link:
https://wonderlust.quora.com/Review-o...
https://wonderlust.quora.com/Review-o...
January 16, 2012
Interesting perspective, unapologetic. http://onfaith.washingtonpost.com/onf...
November 13, 2015
Pretty much sums up my position!
June 19, 2024
A little deceptive in that the atheist author was a Christian pastor who mostly just evolved from an anthropomorphic superman in the sky.
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October 2, 2018Nihil
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews