| Description |
555 pages ; 23 cm |
|
text txt rdacontent |
|
unmediated n rdamedia |
|
volume nc rdacarrier |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references. |
| Contents |
Foreword / Hector Avalos -- Introduction : Religious violence and the harms of Christianity / John W. Loftus -- HOW FAITH FAILS. The failure of the church and the triumph of reason / Robert G. Ingersoll -- The folly of faith : the incompatibility of science and Christianity / Victor J. Stenger -- Faith, epistemology, and answering Socrates' question by translation / Peter Boghossian -- POLITICAL/INSTITUTIONAL HARMS. Love your enemy, kill your enemy : crusades, inquisitions, and centuries of Christian violence / David Eller -- Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live : the wicked Christian witch hunts / John W. Loftus -- They will make good slaves and Christians : Christianity, colonialism, and the destruction of indigenous people / David Eller -- The slave is the owner's property : Christianity and the savagery of slavery / John W. Loftus -- Christianity and the rise of American democracy / Richard Carrier -- SCIENTIFIC HARMS. The dark ages / Richard Carrier -- The Christian abuse of the sanctity of life / Ronald A. Lindsay -- The gender binary and LGBTI people : religious myth and medical malpractice / Veronica Drantz -- Christianity can be hazardous to your health / Harriet Hall -- Christianity and the environment / William R. Patterson -- Doth God car for oxen? : Christianity's acrimony against animals / John W. Loftus -- SOCIAL AND MORAL HARMS. The Christian Right and the culture wars / Ed Brayton -- Woman, what have I to do with thee? : Christianity's war against women / Annie Laurie Gaylor -- Secular sexuality : a direct challenge to Christianity / Darrel W. Ray -- The crazy-making in Christianity : a look at real psychological harm / Marlene Winell, Valerie Tarico -- Abusive pastors and churches / Nathan Phelps -- MORALITY, ATHEISM, AND A GOOD LIFE. "Tu quoque, atheism?"--our right to judge / Jonathan MS Pearce -- Only humans can solve the problems of the world / James A. Lindsay -- Living without God / Russell Blackford. |
| Summary |
In this new anthology critiquing Christianity, John Loftus--a former minister and now a leading atheist--has brought together an outstanding group of respected scholars who focus on the harms caused by the world's leading religion. The contributors begin by dissecting the many problematic aspects of religious faith generally. They repeatedly demonstrate that, with faith as a foundation, almost anything can be believed or denied. And almost any horrific deed can be committed. The authors then take a good hard look at many of the most important political, institutional, scientific, social, and moral harms committed in the name of Christianity. These range from the historical persecutions of the Inquisition and witch hunts to the current health hazards of faith healing. Finally, the authors answer three common Christian retorts to criticisms from nonbelievers: (1) that atheists cannot judge a harmful action without an objective moral standard; (2) that atheists need faith to solve the world's problems; and (3) that atheists cannot live a good life without faith. Loftus and the contributors generally conclude that, given both the well-documented historical record and ongoing problems raised by the faith, Christianity decisively fails empirical tests of its usefulness to humanity. |
| Subject |
Christianity -- Controversial literature.
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|
Christianity. (OCoLC)fst00859599
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| Genre/Form |
Controversial literature. (OCoLC)fst01423907
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| Added Author |
Loftus, John W., editor.
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Avalos, Hector, author of introduction, etc.
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| ISBN |
9781616149567 (pbk.) |
|
1616149566 (pbk.) |
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9781616149574 (ebook) |
| Standard No. |
40024209833 |
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