Good Without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe - Hardcover

Epstein, Greg M.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0061670111 ISBN 13: 9780061670114

Publisher: William Morrow & Co, 2009

Synopsis

Offers a constructive, challenging response to recent atheist manifestos that focuses on the heart of humanism, which, rather than seeking to destroy religion, offers an approach to life where people try to live well, build community, celebrate tradition, and be good ... without God. 50,000 first printing.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

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 scientific reason but also hope and the moral courage needed to overcome such challenges. For some, answers to the most challenging questions are found in the divine. For others, including the New Atheists, religion has no place in the world and is, in fact, an "enemy."

But in Good Without God, Greg Epstein presents another, more balanced and inclusive response: Humanism. With a focus on the positive, he highlights humanity's potential for goodness and the ways in which Humanists lead lives of purpose and compassion. Humanism can offer the sense of community we want and often need in good times and bad, as we celebrate marriages and the birth of our children, and as we care for those who are elderly or sick. In short, Humanism teaches us that we can lead good and moral lives without supernaturalism, without higher powers . . . without God.

In this constructive response not only to his fellow atheists Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Sam Harris but also to contemporary religious leaders such as Rick Warren and Jim Wallis, Epstein makes a bold claim for what nonbelievers do share and believe. At a time when the debate about morality rages more fiercely than ever—and when millions are searching for something they can put their faith in—Humanism offers a comfort and hope that affirms our ability to live ethical lives of personal fulfillment, aspiring together for the greater good of all.

About the Author:

The Humanist chaplain at Harvard University, Greg M. Epstein holds a B.A. in religion and Chinese and an M.A. in Judaic studies from the University of Michigan, and an M.A. in theological studies from the Harvard Divinity School. He is a regular contributor to "On Faith," an online forum on religion produced by Newsweek and the Washington Post.

About this edition

• Publisher: William Morrow & Co
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0061670111
• ISBN 13: 9780061670114
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 250