David G Myers

Friendly Letter Skeptics & Ath

• Gebundenes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

A Friendly Letter to Skeptics and Atheists In response to recent atheist manifestos declaring that religion is "dangerous," social psychologist David G. Myers transcends the skeptic/believer divide by suggesting how faith can be reasonable, science-affirming, and humane. As a respected behavioral scientist and a person of faith, Myers shows how an educated and engaged faith is associated with happiness, health, tolerance, generosity, and volunteerism, and does not imply gay bashing, magical ideas about prayer, or a division of body and soul. A Friendly Letter to Skeptics and Atheists helps readers--both secular and religious--appreciate their common ground. For those whose thinking has moved from the religious thesis to the skeptical antithesis (or vice versa), Myers offers pointers to a science-respecting Christian synthesis. He shows how skeptics and people of faith can share a commitment to reason, evidence, and critical thinking, while also embracing a faith that supports human flourishing by making sense of the universe, giving meaning to life, connecting us in supportive communities, mandating altruism, and offering hope in the face of adversity and death.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Wiley
• Seitenzahl: 160
• Erscheinungstermin: 1. August 2008
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 235mm x 157mm x 14mm
• Gewicht: 397g
• ISBN-13: 9780470290279
• ISBN-10: 0470290277
• Artikelnr.: 23580752

Autorenporträt

About the Author

Inhaltsangabe

Preface.

1. False and Dangerous?

2. My Assumptions.

3. Mea Culpa.

4. The Dance of Fanatics and Infidels.

5. Simplistic Stereotypes.

6. The Heart of Science and Religion.

7. The Skeptics' Boys Club.

8. Inseparable Body and Soul.

9. Does Prayer "Work"?

10. The Benevolent, Fine-Tuned Universe.

11. Big Ideas and Biblical Wisdom.

12. Secularism and Civility.

13. God and Gays.

14. (Nominal) Religion Feeds Prejudice.

15. Godliness and Goodliness.

16. Happy Faith-Heads.

17. Healthy Faith-Heads.

18. The Stubborn Persistence of Truth.

19. The Leap of Faith.

Appendix: International Society for Science and ReligionStatement on Intelligent Design.

Notes.

Acknowledgments.

The Author.

Rezensionen

"As a scientist, open-minded skeptic (who cheers on challenges toirrationalism), and a man of faith, [Myers] seeks to transcend theskeptic/believer divide by suggesting how faith can be reasonable,science-affirming, and humane."
-Skeptical Inquirer (January/February 2009)

"Reading Myers will not set to rest all the incongruities orfailures of Christianity; but it will demonstrate, in a thoughtfuland readable format, that God is good and that to follow in thesteps of Jesus your soul will become bigger, better and moregracious."
- Youth Worker Journal

"The humility with which Myers writes and the intelligence withwhich he composes his arguments could disarm the most jadedcynic."
- Worship Leader Magazine

"Believers and skeptics could learn much from each other, andthe author's willingness to build a bridge between twosometimes hostile territories is what makes his work so welcome.Myers's psychological training enables him to grasp the humanperson in a unique way, and he is able to introduce an intellectualelement into the God debate."
-(Sept.) (Publishers Weekly, July 7, 2008)