Religion for atheists
Subtitle: a non-believer's guide to the uses of religion
By: Alain de Botton
Edition: 1st U.S. ed.
Publisher: Pantheon Books
Published: 2012
Place of publication: New York, USA
Language: eng
Number of pages: 320
ISBN-13: 9780307379108
Subjects: Atheists; Religious life
Description: What if religions are neither all true nor all nonsense? The long-running and often boring debate between believers and non-believers is finally moved forward by Alain de Botton's inspiring book, which boldly argues that the supernatural claims of religion are entirely false--but that it still has some very important things to teach the secular world. Religion for Atheists suggests that rather than mocking religion, agnostics and atheists should instead steal from it--because the world's religions are packed with good ideas on how we might live and arrange our societies. Blending deep respect with total impiety, de Botton (a non-believer himself) proposes that we look to religion for insights into how to, among other concerns, build a sense of community, make our relationships last, overcome feelings of envy and inadequacy, inspire travel and reconnect with the natural world.--From publisher description.
Notes: Includes index.
Table of contents: title: Wisdom without doctrine; title: Community; title: Kindness; title: Education; title: Tenderness; title: Pessimism; title: Perspective; title: Art; title: Architecture; title: Institutions.