Atheist Mind, Humanist Heart asks an essential question for the 45 million Americans who self identify as nonreligious: "So you don’t believe in God; now what?" This question is increasingly important, as one third of young adults under the age of 30 now consider themselves nonreligious. With a scientific eye and an empathetic heart the authors turn conventional perceptions about atheism on their head. They show that atheism need not be reactionary (against religion and God), but rather, offers a clear set of constructive principles to live by that establish atheism as a positive worldview. Following a philosophical approach grounded in logic and evidence, Bayer and Figdor take us on an inspiring journey to discover how to live a reasonable, ethical, and happy life without God. The readers are engaged at every step, encouraged to self-reflect and ultimately uncover their own set of personal beliefs. Read a Sample Chapter
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Rebecca Goldstein
The promise of this wonderfully entitled book is fully realized in its pages, which speak with both intellectual integrity and heartfelt care for humanity
Sean Carroll
This is an interesting, thoughtful, and challenging book. Atheists who take their worldview seriously need to grapple with precisely the issues considered here, and this is a great place to start.
Greg Epstein
It's gratifying and exciting to see a new wave of humanist and atheist leaders step up and make their voices heard in a prominent and eloquent way. Atheist Mind, Humanist Heart is the right message at the right time for the most secular generation in American history.
Hemant Mehta
There’s no shortage of books about why we shouldn’t believe in God, but Lex Bayer and John Figdor have done us all a favor by shining a spotlight on what is arguably a more important question for non-believers: Now what? Atheist Mind, Humanist Heart walks us through both the logic that leads us to atheism and the moral principles that help us lead a worthwhile life. It's a remarkable contribution to the growing canon of non-religious literature
Dudley Rose
It is welcoming and refreshing to see a book on atheism that is not a polemic, but a respectful and reasonable discussion of how a non-believer might engage the large questions that every human faces. Readers might discover that believers and humanist atheists share more in common than they think.
Peter Boghossian
Atheist Mind, Humanist Heart delivers compelling answers to the simple question of what we should each believe. This easily understandable yet profound guide will leave you inspired to define your own beliefs.
Peter Atkins
The authors approach their very readable and engaging refurbishment of the Ten Commandments with wisdom, intelligence, accessibility, lucidity, and almost pious sensitivity. However, to increase the sum of human happiness I would add one non-commandment to their ten: Thou shalt read this book!
Tom Krattenmaker
Atheist Mind, Humanist Heart exemplifies a welcome new trend in secular America—the turning of attention from all that's wrong with religion to a positive vision of what nonreligious people can be for and about. With clear heads and good hearts, Lex Bayer and John Figdor articulate a way to be secular that is not just rational, but also compassionate and devoted to expanding the public good.
Dale McGowan
What a smart and joyful read—like a flight over the terrain of my own mind and heart with intelligent guides to point out what I’ve never noticed before.
Phil Zuckerman
Conversational, thoughtful, inviting. A very reasonable, very sound, and at times quite visionary offering.
Raymond F. Paloutzian
An excellent book; worth reading regardless of one's religious or a-religious inclinations. Delicate, fair, courteous, the authors are expressing their humility and courage, not confrontation or condemnation. They face every issue in a penetrating, transparent, and down to earth way. It is unreservedly honest, written with genuineness and holding nothing back.
David Niose
Atheist Mind, Humanist Heart is a wonderful exploration of life as a religious skeptic. Truth, meaning, and fulfillment—Bayer and Figdor show that there is much awaiting those who step away from superstition and embrace life in the real world.
August E. Brunsman IV
I've devoted my adult life to encouraging everyone to check society's work: How do you know there is a god or gods? What makes you think that democracy is the best form of government? Figdor and Bayer have done a beautiful thing in Atheist Mind, Humanist Heart as they have presented their moral theory. They have shown their work. In doing so, they have presented moral problems as something that all people must and can engage personally. I love it!
Richard Parker
With more and more young Americans abandoning organized religion today, toward what values and institutions can—and should—they turn to construct a morally-coherent world? This gently-voiced but finely-crafted book offers answers that may surprise you, and will certainly engage you. If you are among those who want to know more than what you don’t believe, Atheist Mind, Humanist Heart offers a rich opportunity to discover what’s worth believing—and why--in a world moving past traditional religious institutions and creeds.
David Silverman
Starting with a simple question, "What do I believe?" the authors take us on a delightful journey to uncover the truth behind what forms our core beliefs.
David Fitzgeral
This book is NOT the Ten Commandments 2.0. It's what you get when you use the tools of reason and humanism to rationally craft and promote better ways of life for everyone in the 21st century modern world and beyond.
John W. Loftus
Okay, so you've become an atheist. Now what? Read this book. That's my recommendation. It will help you build a new foundation for thinking and living a good life without God
Paul Chiariello
Atheists need to begin constructing positive principles to live by - and Atheist Mind, Humanist Heart provides a thorough demonstration of how to do just that.
James Croft
Interweaving personal stories, philosophical dialogues, and lucid arguments, Atheist Mind, Humanist Heart provides an accessible and practical guide to some of the biggest questions faced by human beings: "Is there a God?", "How would we know?", and "If not, how do we live with each other?" Anyone interested in these questions—and isn\'t that everyone?—will learn something from this book
Lex Bayer
Lex Bayer serves as a board member of the Humanist Connection, a humanist, atheist, and agnostic nonprofit organization serving Stanford University and Silicon Valley. His foray into the philosophy of belief began with an award winning paper on religion while an undergrad at Stanford University. Lex is a technology entrepreneur and inventor holding more than 20 patents. As CEO and co-founder of his first company he pioneered a payments platform that grew to service five million customers and was ultimately acquired by Visa Inc.
John Figdor
John Figdor is the humanist chaplain serving the atheists, humanists, and agnostics communities at Stanford University, where he organizes events and programs for both students and community members in the San Francisco Bay area. Figdor and his work have been discussed in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Huffington Post, and the San Francisco Chronicle. He speaks regularly around the United States on humanist topics. He holds a master’s degree (MDiv) from Harvard Divinity School and was previously the assistant humanist chaplain at Harvard.
WL Boal 10 years ago
“So you don’t believe in God; now what?” Another question is, “So you believe in God; now what?” (Or “so what?”)
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