num_pages: 258
description: While atheists such as Richard Dawkins have now become public figures there is another and perhaps darker strain of religious rebellion that has remained out of sight--people who hate God.In this revealing book Bernard Schweizer looks at men and women who do not question God's existence but deny that He is merciful competent or good. Sifting through a wide range of literary and historical works Schweizer finds that people hate God for a variety of reasons. Some are motivated by social injustice human suffering or natural catastrophes that God does not prevent. Some blame God for their personal tragedies. Schweizer concludes that despite their blasphemous thoughts these people tend to be creative and moral individuals and include such literary lights as Friedrich Nietzsche Mark Twain Zora Neale Hurston Rebecca West Elie Wiesel and Philip Pullman. Schweizer shows that literature is a fertile ground for God haters. Many authors who dare not voice their negative attitude to God openly turn to fiction to give vent to it. Indeed Schweizer provides many new and startling readings of literary masterpieces highlighting the undercurrent of hatred for God.Moreover by probing the deeper mainsprings that cause sensible rational and moral beings to turn against God Schweizer offers answers to some of the most vexing questions that beset human relationships with the divine.
language: English
title: Hating God: The Untold Story of Misotheism
publisher: Oxford University Press