Why Are You Atheists So Angry? 99 Things That Piss Off the Godless
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About this ebook
Why are atheists angry?
Is it because they're selfish, joyless, lacking in meaning, and alienated from God?
Or is it because they have legitimate reasons to be angry -- and are ready to do something about it?
Armed with passionate outrage, absurdist humor, and calm intelligence, popular blogger Greta Christina makes a powerful case for outspoken atheist activism, and explains the empathy and justice that drive it.
This accessible, personal, down-to-earth book speaks not only to atheists, but to believers who want to understand the so-called "new atheism." "Why Are You Atheists So Angry?" drops a bombshell on the destructive force of religious faith -- and gives a voice to millions of angry atheists.
"Greta Christina's analysis of religion is acute and witty, and at the same time fair and compassionate. And I'm jealous: I sure wish I could write as well as she does."
-Alan Sokal, Professor of Physics, New York University
"Greta has done something truly impressive with this book: She explains in a calm, reasonable, and thoughtful way exactly why she's a pissed-off, angry atheist. She's not alone, though, and it's not only other atheists who will agree with her. In fact, I *dare* religious people to read this book and not come away furious at the often awful impact faith has had on the world, even if they don't believe they're responsible for it. I may be a "friendly atheist" online, but Greta definitely speaks for me in this book."
-Hemant Mehta, Friendly Atheist, author of I Sold My Soul on eBay
"If only more people could channel their anger into something so inspiring! Greta Christina has written the perfect book for anyone who wonders about the true impact of religious dogma on women's health, gay rights, science education, and the daily lives of those who have no faith. Her concluding chapter, which contains solid advice for how to make a positive change in the world, will ensure that you'll have an outlet for all that rage you'll build up by the end of the book. Trust me – you'll need it."
-Rebecca Watson, Skepchick.org
"I found this book informative and enraging! Leave it to Greta to inform and elucidate like no other. I highly recommend this book to everyone, everywhere. And I hope never to get Greta angry at me. :)"
-David Silverman, President, American Atheists
"Greta Christina's book offers a passionately lucid explanation of the reasons for atheist anger and its connection to the energy behind all movements for social justice. It is both informative and inspiring."
-Ophelia Benson, Butterflies and Wheels
"They say if you're not angry, you're not paying attention. Well, Greta Christina is definitely paying attention -- and in this book, she delivers a clean, bracing blast of atheist anger, like a refreshing cool breeze in a stifling hothouse of faith, that offers compelling reasons why all rational people of conscience should oppose religion and the harm it does."
-Adam Lee, Daylight Atheism
"Greta Christina is one of the best writers on religion out there, period. I've been waiting for this book for a long time."
-Chris Hallquist, The Uncredible Hallq
"This just became my number-one book to recommend to all believers and new atheists alike. I thought the field of atheist literature was all just rehashing the same stuff by now. But this is an original, visceral, and ultimately complete defense of not just atheist outrage, but atheism itself. Greta sticks to the undeniable facts-on-the-ground and articulates it all correctly and well, heading off every possible rebuttal with brilliant economy. She never gets bogged down in abstract philosophy, yet still hits every key abstract point, leaving you by the end with no rational reason not to agree, and finally kick to the curb that useless old religion, or get off your bum and really do something for the cause."
-Dr. Richard Carrier, author of Sense and Goodness without
Greta Christina
Greta Christina is one of the most widely-read and well-respected bloggers in the atheist blogosphere. She blogs at the cleverly named Greta Christina's Blog (http://freethoughtblogs.com/greta), and is a regular contributor to the online political magazine, AlterNet. She was ranked by an independent analyst as one of the Top Ten most popular atheist bloggers, and her writing has appeared in numerous magazines, newspapers, and anthologies, including Ms., Penthouse, Skeptical Inquirer, the Chicago Sun-Times, and the anthology Everything You Know About God Is Wrong. She is editor of the Best Erotic Comics anthology series and of Paying For It: A Guide by Sex Workers for Their Clients, and is author of Bending, an erotic novella in the three- novella collection Three Kinds of Asking For It. She has been writing professionally since 1989, on topics including atheism, skepticism, sexuality and sex-positivity, LGBT issues, politics, culture, and whatever crosses her mind. She is on the speakers' bureaus of the Secular Student Alliance and the Center for Inquiry. She tweets at @GretaChristina. She lives in San Francisco with her wife, Ingrid.
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Reviews for Why Are You Atheists So Angry? 99 Things That Piss Off the Godless
55 ratings6 reviews
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5It started off well and ended well enough, but I thought it dragged in the middle with too much repetition.Notes jotted down while reading:10/29/2012 page 19 10.0% "I hadn't heard of these Protocols of the Elders of Zion."11/03/2012 page 87 47.0% 11/08/2012 page 89 48.0% "Adolph [sic] Hitler, eh?"
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Greta Christina does a great job of explaining things clearly and making them easily understandable. Her writing voice is wonderful in that I'm never left confused as to what she means. Every time I read something of hers, I can't imagine how anyone could misinterpret or misunderstand what she says and what she means because even when she's giving examples or going into detail about something, she says exactly what she means. This book is absolutely no exception.
I also think it's a rather important book. It's well thought-out, expressed, and sourced. It's not even that long but it still says everything it needs to say. It answers some really persistent questions that a lot of people seem to ask quite often and I think it'd be an easy and quick read for people who have those questions, if they're honestly interested in getting an answer to them, or at least an understanding.
I think everyone should read this book at least once, both atheists AND theists, regardless of whether or not you agree with Greta Christina. This book is mostly addressed to theists, but there is something for atheists as well in each chapter. Not to mention there are some chapters and sections addressed entirely TO other atheists. - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5It's okay. It's a good introduction to atheism, but if you've followed a couple of blogs, you've heard it before.
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5This is brain rot. This is an author who clearly has no understanding of history, of politics, of religion, or how our nation functions. The writing is proficient, but the concepts being espoused are so ignorant to reality that it is hard to read. In the end, this book is not a serious take on concepts of religion and atheism. Rather, it is the product of an angry, confused, rambling heathen fumbling for meaning and trying to get her preferred politicians elected. It is a puffy ideological cake iced with an ignorance to reality.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I am not an angry atheist. I am an atheist who has a great deal of respect for others’ practices and beliefs, provided they don’t expect me to share them. I’ve seen the solace that religion can provide, but I’ve also seen the hurt that has been caused in the name of religion. Like anything, it has many points, good and bad and many arguments can be made for and against. I am not here to fight my corner, for one very good reason: my corner is my own. I won’t try to extend it to encroach on yours or drag you kicking and screaming into mine. I feel it is important to make this distinction very clear: I am not anti-religious. Rather, I am anti-intolerance.The reason I have to make that so clear is that I don’t want this to be a review that really just provides a soapbox for an anti-religion rant. I don’t care what faith anyone follows as long as they don’t hurt others – physically or mentally – in its name. Here’s the kicker: I would passionately and ardently argue that this applies to atheists too.And there, I think, lies the source of my discontent about this book. It made many pro-atheism points, some of which had been fundamental in my own decisions about God and, as it was the religion I was most exposed to, Christianity. However, in the defence of an atheistic standpoint, it also made many anti-religion points. Well, that’s fair enough. I’m not opposed to debate, where it is sensible, productive and courteous. That said I am fiercely opposed to the idea of one person trying to convert another.Perhaps it’s fair to say that my desire for tolerance rates more highly with me than my desire to proclaim my faith, or lack of. Therefore, when Greta Christina began to discuss “atheistic activism” I became incredibly uncomfortable. I am happy to explain to anyone why I don’t follow a faith and may be passionate about my reasons. There is a huge difference, however, between being passionate about something you believe in and passionately insisting it is the only thing anyone should believe in. So when Christina talks about activism, I feel profoundly uneasy. Isn’t that just another form of judgement?The truth is, whether we judge someone based on their skin colour, language, gender, sexuality or religion, we demonstrate intolerance. The choice is whether you keep your views private and remain passively intolerant or if you take them out into the world. To me, the activism Christina advocates is just another form of active intolerance.So, are we atheists angry? Some are, I’m sure. I do get a little angry when people make assumptions about me because of my lack of faith. My lack of religion has not robbed me of a moral compass or a sense of kindness. I also find it frustrating that when we share our reasons – so often based on logic and science – we are accused of being angry. I guess it does make you a little defensive. But am I angry? No. As I said, I am not anti-religion. To be an angry atheist would just demonstrate the active intolerance that irks me so much.The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins was a well reasoned book. There was a fair amount of passionate rhetoric and, yes, some anger. His anger was largely aimed at those who have lampooned him or those who have used religion as a basis to commit atrocious deeds. Yet, despite this anger, the book was a stunningly crafted argument about the reason he has taken his stance. I suppose you could argue that publishing that was a form of activism but I don’t believe so, any more than publishing the Bible is, or the Koran. When compared to Dawkins’ book Why Are You Atheists So Angry? really does come across as an aggressive rant. Good points are made but the book does little to denude the idea that atheists are foaming at the mouth in rabid fury.Recently, someone asked me if I recited the prayers and sang the hymns for a church service, such as a wedding or christening. I replied that I did and was asked if it made me feel like a hypocrite. My answer was succinct. I don’t believe but that doesn’t stop me respecting the feelings of those who do. In times of love or sorrow, compassion binds us all. That isn’t unique to religion or atheism. We can always choose tolerance.All in all, an interesting book that I’m glad to have read. Though I would probably recommend it to other atheists, I doubt I would spread my recommendations any wider. Thought-provoking books are always a good find. Books that incite us to try and change the beliefs of our friends and neighbours? A step towards intolerance…
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5An interesting essay explaining why the author rejected religion and providing a thorough critique of various types of religious (mainly Christian) forms of belief. This is, unsurprisingly US-centric. Strongly felt, but also very logical.