Atheist Universe: The Thinking Person's Answer to Christian Fundamentalism
Atheist Universe: The Thinking Person's Answer to Christian Fundamentalism book cover

Atheist Universe: The Thinking Person's Answer to Christian Fundamentalism

Paperback – August 4, 2006

by
Price
$16.35
Format
Paperback
Pages
272
Publisher
Ulysses Press
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1569755679
Dimensions
5.5 x 0.3 x 8.5 inches
Weight
11.3 ounces

Description

Atheist Universe: Why God Didn't Have A Thing To Do With It---1413434819-21.99-Xlibris -07/2004-3,500 life-- Atheist Universe: Why God Didn't Have A Thing To Do With It|||1413434819|21.99|Xlibris |07/2004|3,500 life|| From the Publisher Is there really a god? Ix92m pleased and excited that your search on Amazon.com has beamed you to this page, showcasing my new book, Atheist Universe. I want to thank you personally for your interest in this title. Many years of painstaking work, research, and thought were devoted to this project. I am delighted with the finished volume. Compared to most authors, I write slowly. I could never crank out five or six books a year as Isaac Asimov did so brilliantly throughout his incredible life and career. I like to believe, however, that my unhurried pace permits fine attention to detail and to precise use of language. One of my favorite quotations is that of Thomas Jefferson, who, in a letter to John Adams, wrote "I apologize to you for the lengthiness of this letter; but I had no time for shortening it." Jefferson meant that a skillful writer uses as few words as possible to communicate his message. If I can successfully convey my thoughts to you using a 12-word sentence, then I am watering down my own message x97 and wasting your limited time x97 by stretching my sentence to 13 words or to 30. Concise writing saves time and effort for the reader, but demands more time and effort of the writer, as Jefferson pointed out. In writing this book, I did devote the time necessary to shorten each sentence to its minimum length. Another priceless tip for good writing x97 a tip which I strive to follow x97 was articulated by the 20th-century philosopher, Mortimer Adler. Adler taught that "writing should be clear without being plain, and elevated without being obscure." By contrast, much writing in contemporary circles is plain without being clear, and obscure without being elevated. I will leave to your personal judgment whether I have successfully followed Adlerx92s prescription for good writing in Atheist Universe. David Mills David Mills , an atheist for thirty years, has self published three successful books on the battle between science and religion. He has also written best-selling psychology and self-help literature for the Albert Ellis Institute in New York and for psychotherapy clients worldwide. During the 1980's, David worked as a journalist covering NASA's Space Shuttle program at the Kennedy Space Center. He lives in Huntington, WV. Read more

Features & Highlights

  • IS THERE REALLY A GOD? OR DOES GOD EXIST ONLY IN OUR HEADS?IS THE BIBLE TRULY GOD’S WORD? OR IS IT A JUMBLE OF FANCIFUL MYTHS?
  • Atheist Universe
  • details why God is unnecessary to explain the universe’s diversity, organization and beauty. Using simple, straightforward logic, this book rebuts every argument that claims to “prove” God’s existence.A comprehensive primer for countering today’s religious dogma,
  • Atheist Universe
  • addresses all the historical and scientific questions, including:
  • •What is atheism, and why is it so misunderstood?•If God is a myth, then how did the universe appear?•Without God, is there an objective “right” and “wrong”?•What is the meaning of life without God?•Is there evidence of Jesus’ miracles and resurrection?•Can atheists explain “near death” experiences and medical miracles?•Can science and the Bible realistically be reconciled?•What is the behind-the-scenes relationship between politics and religion?

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(248)
★★★★
25%
(103)
★★★
15%
(62)
★★
7%
(29)
★
-7%
(-29)

Most Helpful Reviews

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mostly good and fairly easy to read

I have only one gripe with this book. Mills says the only difference between an atheist and an agnostic is guts. That cliched opinion never fails to piss me off. I am an atheist now, but I was agnostic for many years before I was ready to say no to all gods. I had to read and think a lot before making a final decision. There is nothing cowardly or wishy-washy about saying, "I don't know." According to ignorant fanatics, agnostics go to hell, too, so please people, show some respect for deep thinkers who are willing to admit that they just don't know.
30 people found this helpful
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excellent intro to atheism

As a former xtian and now atheist, this book has helped me confirm a lot of what I already thought and as well explain atheism in much better terms. Xtians claim to be confident about their beliefs but when books like these are published they head for the hills. I'm only sorry that I didn't discover this book during my xtian days, because I would have converted much sooner if I have! Its worth a look, and its one of the best after "Atheism: The Case Against God."
15 people found this helpful
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Good Reading for the Fight against Irrationality

The sheer amount of ignorance creationists have at their disposal may seem daunting to anyone who believes in science. A creationist thinks by "faith," which allows him/her to believe whatever s/he wants without evidence of any sort. A rational person's response is limited to fact and reality, the creationist's attack is not. This book can help. Moreover, although creationism purports to be an alternative to evolution, creationism attacks science in many areas--from biology to cosmology. A biologist may not know how to counter creationist misconceptions about astronomy. This book is very informative in not only answering creationist inventions about evolution, but also about other fields of science which creationism intends to destroy. This book is good reading for anyone who has joined the fight against the coming of a new Dark Ages.
14 people found this helpful
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Different than I expected.

I was expecting more of a "beatdown" on Christianity...more scientific and historical facts. Instead I got the actual contents of this book, which ended up being refreshingly different than what I had expected to find. The book focuses primarily on science for arguments, and is very simplified to reach a wide range of audiences. In this sense, this is an outstanding book. Mills does an excellenct job in communicating his work. He appears to be very patient and kind with Christians/Christianity, but at the same is very honest and open about his feelings towards the subject.

Concering specific parts of the book, I found myself more interested in the latter chapters, namely CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALISTS AND THE "DANGER" OF INTERNET PORN and "INTELLIGENT DESIGN": CHRISTIANITY'S NEWEST CULT. The whole book is good, but these chapters offered me some perspectives I had never previously considered. The chapter on intelligent design pointed to what I knew was faulty about intelligent design but just couldn't put my finger on. This book is such a great source for those wishing to understand science or atheism, because you won't get it in any clearer terms than this. I really liked the book, but I feel David could have addressed so much more. I am hoping he decides to write a sequel to this book in the future.
14 people found this helpful
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The sham for the ages...

The author certainly sounds the death knell for "Creationism/Intelligent Design" with a wide scope of logically arrived-at conclusions. The Atheist Universe is a cohesive thought process of common sense and rational thought that presents religion as what it is--the mythology of the ages. It's quite a shame that most of the world still clings to these ridiculous notions...this book should be required reading the world over. Perhaps the battle for souls would not lose so many lives.
12 people found this helpful
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Matter over Mind

I've been a person of faith all my life, but this book is so well written and convincing that it's difficult to argue with it. A reasonable person can understand this theme, but understanding the Bible is impossible in comparison. Giving way to reason when one's past has been centered on faith is not easy. Old habits die hard, but there's no denying that in a few generations the Bible may be placed in the company of other myths and fabrications that have appeared over the centuries.
12 people found this helpful
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A welcome antidote to so-called "intelligent design" and other things

This is an excellent introduction for those who want to know the "arguments" made by christian fundamentalists against such topics as evolution. If you haven't paid much attention to exactly what it is that christian fundies are asserting, you'll be shocked at the ignorance of their assertions and, I hope, properly armed with the accurate responses to them. Any high school student would know this stuff, but I've been out of high school a long time so I appreciated the review.
12 people found this helpful
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Straightforward and Well Reasoned

David Mills has written an excellent and quick-reading guide to atheism for the practical. There is no lengthy exegesis a la George Smith here, and Thomist arguments make the brief appearance they deserve in a book about clear thinking. The rest of it is pure gold, written with a debater's needs--how "intelligent" design is illogical and a bit pitiful; how evolution is a fact, not something christians can "debate".

Atheist Universe starts off with an interview starring Mr. Mills while he is asked questions by a friendly radio host-sort of person. This is the essence of the book--the rest of it is fleshing out of the ideas presented here. A large chunk of the book's midsection is intro to evolutionary biology and cosmology. Some readers will welcome his non-science background as he explains in lay terms how science has shown no need for a god in the evolution of the universe and life on Earth.

I was really baffled about his tirade about pornography; he devotes a chapter to this seemingly unrelated topic. It really didn't seem to fit anything except a deep need of Mr. Mills to say there's nothing wrong with pornography. Many readers will agree that it may not lead to violent crime, but many will find his accepting attitude abrasive to appropriate feminist sensibilities.

I really enjoyed his quotes from famous atheists/nontheists peppered throughout the book. It helps the new skeptic understand that many are atheists, but only few can "come out of the closet" due to their fame and prestige. Give this book a read--some of it may be redundant if you're well read in atheist literature and/or science; but if this is one of your first books, it will change your life for the better!
12 people found this helpful
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A Great Case for Atheism!

This is a fantastic book the easily defines what it is to be an Atheist and the lifestyle that goes along with that. Many people believe Atheists to be unhappy and immoral people, but I'm glad to see a book that showcases the reason many people have announced themselves as Atheists. It lays out the scientific evidence in a very easy and understandable way, and still brings in a personal side from the author. At times funny, yet never boring, I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in knowing more about religion and science. A great read!
11 people found this helpful
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A welcome antidote to the rising tide of ignorance and superstition

David Mills' "Atheist Universe" is a lucid presentation of the rationalist viewpoint on the nature of our world and how it can be explained without resorting to mysticism and unprovable assertions about a Supreme Being. In it, Mills carefully lays out the reasons why we needn't assume the existence of a God (or gods) to understand natural phenomena, and demolishes numerous assertions and teachings of religious and spiritualist propagandists.

His primary target is Christian Fundamentalism, but he makes it clear that his critique of religious beliefs is equally applicable to other faiths as well. In places, his explanations get a bit technical, but he does a fine job of demolishing the pseudo-scientific mumbo-jumbo used by the "Intelligent Design" crowd and their fellow travelers. (The chapter on Internet porn, however, seems out of place. Yes, the biggest porn-bashers are often religious conservatives -- but so what? What does that have to do with the validity of the atheist viewpoint?)

One thing I particularly enjoyed are the numerous quotes from past and present thinkers that Mills includes throughout the book. Among those he cites are Albert Einstein, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Edison and Mark Twain - along with numerous others whose writings I have long admired.

"Atheist Universe" probably won't convert many diehard religious believers, but if you are at all open-minded, and have qualms about the endless barrage of religiosity that is engulfing America today, this book is well worth buying and reading.
11 people found this helpful

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