A Short History of Atheism

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Other Practices, Atheism, Philosophy, Religious, Reference, History
Cover of the book A Short History of Atheism by Dr Gavin Hyman, Bloomsbury Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Dr Gavin Hyman ISBN: 9780857730350
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Publication: September 30, 2010
Imprint: I.B. Tauris Language: English
Author: Dr Gavin Hyman
ISBN: 9780857730350
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication: September 30, 2010
Imprint: I.B. Tauris
Language: English

The last few years have seen a remarkable surge of popular interest in the topic of atheism. Books about atheism by writers like richard dawkins and Christopher Hitchens have figured prominently in bestseller lists and have attracted widespread discussion in the media. The ubiquity of public debates about atheism, especially in conscious opposition to the perceived social threat posed by faith and religion, has been startling. However, as gavin Hyman points out, despite their prevalence and popularity, what often characterises these debates is a lack of nuance and sophistication. They can be shrill, ignorant of the historical complexity of discussions about belief, and tend to lapse into caricature. What is needed is a clear and well-informed presentation of how atheistic ideas originated and developed, in order to illuminate their contemporary relevance and application. That task is what the author undertakes here.

Charting the rise of atheism as an explicit philosophical position (notably in the work of denis diderot), Hyman traces its development in the ideas of descartes, Locke and Berkeley, and draws too on the work of important contemporary scholars like amos Funkenstein and michael J. Buckley. arguing that the plausibility and persuasiveness of atheism is sustained by the demise of a religion that is defined by the presuppositions and assumptions of modernity, the author boldly suggests that atheism - like the belief to which it is antipathetic - is itself vulnerable to a future that challenges the intellectual inheritance of the enlightenment.

For anyone interested in the origins of atheism (whether they consider themselves to be 'an atheist', or 'religious', or indeed somewhere in-between), and in the rich cultural, philosophical and historical matrix out of which it emerged, A Short History of Atheism offers a fascinating exploration of the often surprising co-dependency of faith and its negation.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The last few years have seen a remarkable surge of popular interest in the topic of atheism. Books about atheism by writers like richard dawkins and Christopher Hitchens have figured prominently in bestseller lists and have attracted widespread discussion in the media. The ubiquity of public debates about atheism, especially in conscious opposition to the perceived social threat posed by faith and religion, has been startling. However, as gavin Hyman points out, despite their prevalence and popularity, what often characterises these debates is a lack of nuance and sophistication. They can be shrill, ignorant of the historical complexity of discussions about belief, and tend to lapse into caricature. What is needed is a clear and well-informed presentation of how atheistic ideas originated and developed, in order to illuminate their contemporary relevance and application. That task is what the author undertakes here.

Charting the rise of atheism as an explicit philosophical position (notably in the work of denis diderot), Hyman traces its development in the ideas of descartes, Locke and Berkeley, and draws too on the work of important contemporary scholars like amos Funkenstein and michael J. Buckley. arguing that the plausibility and persuasiveness of atheism is sustained by the demise of a religion that is defined by the presuppositions and assumptions of modernity, the author boldly suggests that atheism - like the belief to which it is antipathetic - is itself vulnerable to a future that challenges the intellectual inheritance of the enlightenment.

For anyone interested in the origins of atheism (whether they consider themselves to be 'an atheist', or 'religious', or indeed somewhere in-between), and in the rich cultural, philosophical and historical matrix out of which it emerged, A Short History of Atheism offers a fascinating exploration of the often surprising co-dependency of faith and its negation.

More books from Bloomsbury Publishing

Cover of the book British Infantryman vs German Infantryman by Dr Gavin Hyman
Cover of the book Animation in the Middle East by Dr Gavin Hyman
Cover of the book Run The Gauntlet by Dr Gavin Hyman
Cover of the book Edwardian Fashion by Dr Gavin Hyman
Cover of the book Media and Translation by Dr Gavin Hyman
Cover of the book Mise En Scene French Theatre Now by Dr Gavin Hyman
Cover of the book The Right to be Forgotten by Dr Gavin Hyman
Cover of the book Shakespeare's Insults by Dr Gavin Hyman
Cover of the book Green Guide to Seashore Life Of Britain And Europe by Dr Gavin Hyman
Cover of the book Wake Island 1941 by Dr Gavin Hyman
Cover of the book Junkers Ju 87 Stuka by Dr Gavin Hyman
Cover of the book 'And He Will Take Your Daughters...' by Dr Gavin Hyman
Cover of the book The Rain Tree by Dr Gavin Hyman
Cover of the book Spacewear by Dr Gavin Hyman
Cover of the book Dragon Slippers by Dr Gavin Hyman
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy