Good Without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe
- ISBN13: 9780061670114
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
An inspiring and provocative exploration of an alternative to traditional religion by the Humanist chaplain at Harvard University With the current state of the economy, the ongoing wars that rage across the globe, and the unsettling changes to the earth’s climate, questions about the role of God and religion in world affairs have never been more relevant or felt more powerfully. Many of us are searching for a place where we can find not only facts and scientifi… More >>
Good Without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe
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Oprah, who has achieved the status of a multibillion-dollar cultural
phenomenon by offering a hopeful spirituality that can be hard to pin down
as either religious or secular, often encourages her audiences to “connect
yourself to the source, I call it God, you can call it whatever you want to, the
force, nature, Allah, the power
I read the first chapter Pdf file. The book is inspiring and balanced. Yes within all human systems religion, education, even science there is still darkness Yet whatever our particular belief systems god or no god, we humans are all struggling with finding meaning to our existence.
I find it interesting that Mr Murrow is the humanistic chaplain at Harvard.
Very cool. So even if there is no god ministers and chaplains will not be out of work.
Something else that fascinates me is that that many people who say they believe in god don’t really know god or show any evidence that they work with him. So they really are atheists in actuality.
Also what interested me is that much of this discussion is about religion. All religion is simply made up. That is why it is all so confusing.
All conceptions of god are simply made up.
Now this is my experience. When I want to reach a goal I simply right it down on a piece of paper. I don’t use my rational mind primarily. I just let the power take care of it. I use altered states of awareness (relaxation) (alpha-theta) gained by tapping on acupressure points (EFT) and relaxation tapes. I rely on intuition and reason. I usually reach my goal sooner or later. Is god helping me? Maybe-Maybe not!
Now I find one thing quite interesting is that atheists and agnostics have lower divorce rates the church people.
Scientific studies by Herbert Benson MD and Andrew Newberg MD are helping to lead us to greater understanding of the human brain and spirituality.
I am looking forward to a marriage of science and spirituality. I am looking forward to getting away from dogmatic fundamentalist belief whether it be religious, scientific, or atheistic.
Rating: 5 / 5
About 100 pages into this book. Clearly written, logical, intelligent and fair-minded. It should be read by theists as well as non-theists.
Rating: 5 / 5
Often I am asked about my Humanist lifestance by others who are interested in Humanism or by those who do not understand this philosophy. I can now direct them to a book that solidifies my views of tolerance and human flourishing and that is not anti-religious like some of the “new atheists” books out there. A perfect gift for those who no longer believe in “organized” religion and/or God and is looking for something to replace the void.
Rating: 5 / 5
Harvard’s Humanist Chaplain, Greg Epstein, has performed an enormous mitzvah for not only the humanist/freethinker/atheist/agnostic minority, but also for majority/believer/religious folks who are curious enough to read this important and positive work — Good Without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe Whether one is a person wallowing in negativity, having internalized the majority’s stereotype of those whose beliefs fall outside the norm, or a person who cannot fathom how a “non-believer” can possibly aspire to lead an ethical life, one can benefit from reading Epstein’s cogent exploration of what non-religious people do believe, and where the beliefs of “infidels” and the faithful may intersect to provide heretofore untapped opportunities for social progress.
Rating: 5 / 5
The release of a Greg Epstein’s book, Good Without God, is a welcome resource for anyone who wishes to have more than just a superficial idea of what it means to be a humanist. In his discussion, Epstein reaches out to a wide range of people: nonbelievers, nonreligious, atheists, agnostics, anyone who do does not feel that their morality is derived from a belief in a god. Even the progressively religious can be humanist, or at least friendly allies, since the basic framework for being a humanist is to seek the best in yourself and others, and to believe in your own ability to make a positive difference in the world.
Good Without God does not focus on criticizing faith based beliefs; rather it seeks to bring an understanding of the natural goodness of humanity. It emphasizes the need for humanists to carve out a space in society in which like-minded, concerned, nonreligious citizens can come together to share their beliefs, celebrate life, and collaborate in making the world a better place for everyone. As a group, we should look for and expect more than simply toleration from society. Rejecting and refusing to accept alienation from religious communities and making our collective voices heard is an important theme in the book. As Epstein emphasizes “being a good person in a vacuum is not a very satisfying experience”. We too, crave fellowship with people in a forum that is inclusive, supportive, and one in which we can grow together.
Morality is not about sinners and saints, heaven and hell, damnation and punishment. It’s about alleviating unnecessary suffering and promoting human flourishing and dignity. As the Author emphasizes, “Not a single version of the golden rule requires a god”. The time has long since come for the creation and recognition of a common forum in which nonreligious people can together mark life’s events – marriages, births, deaths and a shared understanding of life. As Epstein emphasizes, within this forum we can “develop aesthetically powerful rituals and a sense of engagement with culture, serve the community with uncommon bravery and measureable success; and play a leading role in the most urgent social struggles of the age.” This book leaves no doubt that “Being Good” is a characteristic that is not solely derived from living in awe and fear of a god. Being good blossoms from the hearts of people who feel the awe of nature, are energized by the bonds of love, sympathize with the plight of those in need, and are moved to action to make the world a better place. The sincerity of these emotions and the virtues they evoke do not depend upon an outside force. They come from within.
Rating: 5 / 5