Book Recommendations

[Bella]

Can anyone recommend a book for me? I'm looking for something to give me all kinds of amo for typical arguments that fundies like to throw at me.

[SabineMaia]

"The Secular Bible: Why Non Believers Must Take Religion Seriously" by Jaques Berlinerblau is a fascinating book for understanding the flaws in biblical interpretations.

"Misquoting Jesus:The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why" by Bart D. Ehrman is chock full of the authorship issues regarding the bible. The kicker is that the author used to be a fundie whose perspective changed as he delved deeper into biblical scholarship.

Those two have served me well.

[donkeyhoty]

The Bible, that one'll tie 'em in knots.


Or, Atheism: The Case Against God by George Smith;  Losing Faith in Faith by Dan Barker; Atheist Universe: The Thinking Person's Answer to Christian Fundamentalism by David Mills; The God Delusion or The Blind Watchmaker by Dick Dawkins; The End of Faith or Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris.

I haven't read all of these, but they're most likely the best of what you're looking for.  If you're going for only one then I'd say The Case Against God, or the Atheist Universe.  Or, you could go the free route and do some internet searching and find some stuff.

[a_jaynepayne]

I am America. (And so can you!) by Steven Colbert...HAHAHA just kiddin.  I just wanted to say I'm glad someone started this cause I was wonderin' too.

[rlrose328]

This one is about politics AND religion... "Don't Think of an Elephant" by George Lakoff.  Because so much of the religion right is so entwined with the conservative Republican movement, this is essential reading for fighting not just their cause but also, their identity.  We've recommended it to dozens of people who have loved it as well.

I also purchased (yes, i gave them money) "Of Pandas and People," the Intelligent Design textbook because I wanted to know EXACTLY what they wanted to "educate" children with.  I'm ever so glad I did because it's one scary book.  I wish I could have gotten it for free because I so did not want to give them money... but oh well.  You MUST know what the enemy is thinking and teaching in order to fight them.  Check the link to Amazon and you can read some of the book online... just the first page, the "overview," will make you laugh AND cry.

[MikeyV]

Might I also suggest Youtube?

The Richard Dawkins BBC Special "The Root of all Evil?" is available there.

Part 1

There are plenty of great interviews with Sam Harris, and you can watch Chris Hitchins decimate opponents.

[Bella]

So much meat here! and here I thought that reading biographies of serial killers was the best way to waste time online.

[SabineMaia]

That's a good one, and it's very well written.

[Bella]

^I'm glad to hear it, it was almost $50

[SabineMaia]

That much?! I don't recall it being so expensive when I bought it. Yeesh. Mind you, in my head, all books about that size are $35. Why? I don't know. Is it the shipping that upped it?

[Bella]

Damn... I just realized that I got the hardcover. >.< Well, I guess I can just display it in my living room with all of the other books I'm proud of (unlike the trash novels that are hidden in my bedroom). Maybe I'll steal my old Bible back from my mom's house and set them next to each other for the sake of irony and easy referencing. (Hooray for stealing Bibles!)

[a_jaynepayne]

I take back my just kiddin' thing about the Colbert book guys...they way he describes different religions and atheists is friggen hilarious...and agnostic people...funny stuff.  I mean nothing in it will arm you with any sort of useful info or good arguments but despite how much we all like to debate havin' a good laugh every now and again can be just as fun.

[MysticalChicken]

I just finished Colbert's book.  I'm a huge fan of his and I was laughing out loud throughout pretty much the entirety of the book.  I loved the description of atheists!  (paraphrased):  "Oh, earthquakes happen because tectonic plates shift.  It's not because God shook the earth because he's angry at San Franciscans!"

I need to get the audiobook as well.

My favorite book is Franny and Zooey by JD Salinger.  I'm a huge Salinger fan as well and have all his books except one (Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour, An Introduction, which I just couldn't finish because Seymour was just so boring and repetitive, so I got rid of it.)

The funniest book I've ever read is The Book of Ratings by Lore Sjöberg.  I'm working on memorizing the entire book.

[tigerlily46514]

Also there are many many websites....i have several pages of great points to debate fundies with......let me know if you'd like any of them, and what kind you want, anti-god, anti-bible, (so popular in USA!) ha ha, name an atheist issue you are debating, i might have just the page for you....  i have tons of 'em.

[SteveS]

Bella - I highly recommend George H. Smith, "Atheism: The Case Against God".  It is philosophical in nature, but its wonderful, complete, and really well written.  The writer is enjoyable - its not slow or dry or anything like that, but the points are heavy.