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Listing books in religion

Full title	Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon ^[permalink]
Language	English
Author	Daniel Dennett (author)
Publisher	Penguin Books
Category	Religion
Publication year	2006
ISBN	978-0-141-01777-8 ^{[Amazon, B&N, Abe, Powell's]}
Pages	448
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Full title	The Dawkins Delusion?: Atheist fundamentalism and the denial of the divine ^[permalink]
Language	English
Authors	Alister McGrath (author) and Joanna Collicutt McGrath (co-author)
Publisher	SPCK
Category	Religion
Publication year	2007
ISBN	978-0-281-05927-0 ^{[Amazon, B&N, Abe, Powell's]}
Pages	78
Synopsis	A review, synopsis, and a criticism of Dawkins' The God Delusion, The Dawkins Delustion? examines the issues raised there.
Review	The book is pretty well presented, but unfortunately it was very boring and lacks substance. It really could be shortened down to an essay. The main message from the book is that Dawkins' book doesn't take enough into account, and that his criticism of religion is unfounded.
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Structure	[Toggle visibility] Introduction Deluded about God? Has science disproved God? What are the origins of religion? Is religion evil? Notes For further reading

Full title	The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason ^[permalink]
Language	English
Author	Sam Harris (author)
Publisher	W. W. Norton
Category	Religion
Publication year	2004
Pages	348
Synopsis	The central thesis in End of Faith is that faith is dangerous, because beliefs unsupported by evidence, when put into action, can't be reasoned with. Harris gives a lot of historical examples of this (indeed, the book has a pretty extensive bibliography in the back), and the book is peppered with endnotes (and a few pages-long ones, at that!). The last two chapters are called A Science of Good and Evil (where Harris tries to map out an emerging science of morality) and Experiments in Consciousness (where Harris basically advocates meditation as a rational way of garnering knowledge about subjectivity, and where he doesn't reject the notion of consciousness surviving physical death). While I reject the notion that personhood survives death (that is, I think consciousness is dependent upon the brain being able to function properly and that when it eventually succumbs to decay, that'll be the end of us), I can wholeheartedly join Harris in admitting ignorance on that question.
Review	While I can't say the book was an entirely enjoyable read, it's definitely well-written and engaging. What turned me off was the incessant referencing to past atrocities. However, that was in part (I think) the intent of the book, and in that sense it succeeded. I can definitely recommend it, nonetheless.
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Structure	[Toggle visibility] 1 Reason in Exile 2 The Nature of Belief 3 In the Shadow of God 4 The Problem with Islam 5 West of Eden 6 A Science of Good and Evil 7 Experiments in Consciousness Epilogue Afterword Notes Bibliography Acknowledgments Index

Full title	Evig eies kun det skapte ^[permalink]
Original title	Build to Last
Language	Norwegian
Authors	Dwight K. Nelson (author) and Egil Fredheim (translator)
Publisher	Norsk Bokforlag
Category	Religion
Publication year	1998
ISBN	82-7007-265-6 ^{[Amazon, B&N, Abe, Powell's]}
Pages	116
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Structure	[Toggle visibility] I begynnelsen Forord Dødelig tiltrekning Javamannens akilleshæl Darwins svarte eske Kan Gud gi fra seg et stort smell? En blind urmaker? Jurassic Park og Noahs ark Uakseptable beviser Hadde John Lennon rett?

Full title	The God Delusion ^[permalink]
Language	English
Author	Richard Dawkins (author)
Publisher	Bantam Books
Category	Religion
Publication year	2006
Pages	464
Synopsis	The God Delusion unapologetically criticizes religion (as the title implies, belief in gods is a delusion, on the same level as believing you're Napoleon). First off, he tries to avoid confusion with the way Einstein and Hawking have used religious terms to express their appreciation of contemplating the universe, by invoking what he calls Einsteinian religion (neither Einstein nor Hawking are theists, by the way). In that respect, Dawkins tells us that he's a deeply religious non-believer, but dislikes using the word, instead preferring to reserve it for traditional religion.

Full title	God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything ^[permalink]
Language	English
Author	Christopher Hitchens (author)
Publisher	Twelve
Category	Religion
Publication year	2007
ISBN	978-0-446-50945-9 ^{[Amazon, B&N, Abe, Powell's]}
Pages	354
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Structure	[Toggle visibility] One: Putting It Mildly Two: Religion Kills Three: A Short Digression on the Pig: or, Why Heaven Hates Ham Four: A Note on Health, to Which Religion Can Be Hazardous Five: The Metaphysical Claims of Religion Are False Six: Arguments from Design Seven: Revelation: The Nightmare of the "Old" Testament Eight: The "New" Testament Exceeds the Evil of the "Old" One Nine: The Koran Is Borrowed from Both Jewish and Christian Myths Ten: The Tawdriness of the Miraculous and the Decline of Hell Eleven: "The Lowly Stamp of Their Origin": Religion's Corrupt Beginnings Twelve: A Coda: How Religions End Thirteen: Does Religion Make people Behave Better? Fourteen: There Is No "Eastern" Solution Fifteen: Religion as an Original Sin Sixteen: Is Religion Child Abuse? Seventeen: An Objection Anticipated: The Last-Ditch "Case" Against Secularism Eighteen: A Finer Tradition: The Resistance of the Rational Nineteen: In Conclusion: The Need for a New Enlightenment Acknowledgments References Index

Full title	Infidel: My Life ^[permalink]
Original title	Mijn Vrijheid
Language	English
Author	Ayaan Hirsi Ali (author)
Publisher	Simon & Schuster
Categories	Autobiography and religion
Publication year	2007
Original publication year	2006
ISBN	978-1-4165-2624-7 ^{[Amazon, B&N, Abe, Powell's]}
Pages	353
Synopsis	The first part of the book is all about Ayaan's upbringing in Somalia (and her later emigrations elsewhere), while the latter part is about her career in the Netherlands and beyond.
Review	Ayaan describes her life in such vivid detail that it's impossible not to be drawn in by her writing. I found the first part of the book, if not boring, then at least not gripping, but by the latter part of the book, I was totally absorbed. She writes with intelligence and wit, and hers is a most amazing story. Highly recommended reading.
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Structure	[Toggle visibility] Foreword by Christopher Hitchens Introduction Part I: My Childhood Chapter 1: Bloodlines Chapter 2: Under the Talal Tree Chapter 3: Playing Tag in Allah's Palace Chapter 4: Weeping Orphans and Widowed Wives Chapter 5: Secret Rendezvous, Sex, and the Scent of Sukumawiki Chapter 6: Doubt and Defiance Chapter 7: Disillusion and Deceit Chapter 8: Refugees Chapter 9: Abeh Part II: My Freedom Chapter 10: Running Away Chapter 11: A Trial by the Elders Chapter 12: Haweya Chapter 13: Leiden Chapter 14: Leaving God Chapter 15: Threats Chapter 16: Politics Chapter 17: The Murder of Theo Epilogue: The Letter of the Law Acknowledgments

Full title	Letter to a Christian Nation ^[permalink]
Language	English
Author	Sam Harris (author)
Category	Religion
Publication year	2006
Pages	144
Synopsis	This book is a criticism of religion. Specifically, it criticizes the inherently stupid things being done by humans in the name of the particular branch of religion that they happen to have been brought up with (like opposing abortion, stem-cell research, and embracing the idea of martyrdom). It's written as an open letter to a Christian, so it didn't particularly speak to me, but I imagine a Christian might have a mind-opening experience if he read it.

Full title	The Lost Gospel of Judas Iscariot: A New Look at Betrayer and Betrayed ^[permalink]
Language	English
Author	Bart D. Ehrman (author)
Categories	History and religion
Publication year	2006
ISBN	978-0195343519 ^{[Amazon, B&N, Abe, Powell's]}

Full title	Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why ^[permalink]
Language	English
Author	Bart D. Ehrman (author)
Categories	History and religion
Publication year	2005
ISBN	978-0-06-073817-4 ^{[Amazon, B&N, Abe, Powell's]}

Full title	The Missionary Position: Mother Theresa in Theory and Practice ^[permalink]
Language	English
Author	Christopher Hitchens (author)
Publisher	Verso
Categories	Biography, politics and religion
Publication year	1995
ISBN	978-1-85984-054-2 ^{[Amazon, B&N, Abe, Powell's]}
Pages	98
Synopsis	This 98-page little book is a very short, critical introduction to the life of Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, known popularly as Mother Theresa.
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Structure	[Toggle visibility] Foreword and Acknowledgments Introduction A Miracle Good Works and Heroic Virtues Ubiquity Afterword

Full title	The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Non-Believer ^[permalink]
Language	English
Author	Christopher Hitchens (foreword)
Publisher	Da Capo Press
Categories	Anthology, philosophy and religion
Publication year	2007
Pages	499
Synopsis	A huge collection of writings by atheists about religion, faith, non-religion, reason, science, and logic, with biographical information on each author. Some of them are pretty dated, but they're interesting nonetheless.
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Full title	The Reason-Driven Life: What Am I Here on Earth For? ^[permalink]
Language	English
Authors	Robert M. Price (author) and Julia Sweeney (foreword)
Publisher	Prometheus Books
Categories	Bible, philosophy, religion and skepticism
Publication year	2006
ISBN	978-1-59102-476-7 ^{[Amazon, B&N, Abe, Powell's]}
Pages	363
Synopsis	The Reason-Driven Life is written as a response and critique of Rick Warren's similarly-titled book, The Purpose-Driven Life. It's structured in much the same way as Warren's book, with 40 chapters meant to be read over 40 days. At the end of each chapter is a Point to Ponder, a Quote to Remember, and a Question to Consider. It's written mainly for Christians who have actually read Warren's book, which I'm not and which I haven't.
Review	It's a somewhat interesting read in that Price is a Bible scholar and really knows his stuff, however the book is meant for someone with a different mentality than my own. So I had to imagine I was a fundamentalist Christian for most of the book. The tone of the book is very respectful, though forceful and to-the-point (all this to say that it's a very personal and honest book). I imagine a wavering intelligent (fundamentalist) Christian would really enjoy it, and maybe even be deconverted by it. Go for it if you're curious, but if you're like me (skeptical and non-religious by nature) you can safely skip it! There are other, better, Price books.
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Structure	[Toggle visibility] Foreword Introduction It Is about You You Are a Work of Art One-Track Mind? Sons of Dust My View Is God's View No Changes Are Permanent, but Change Is The Mystery of Everything God: Planned for Our Pleasure What Makes Me Sick The Achilles' Heel of Worship Becoming Imaginary Friends with God Providence and Superstition Worship That Creates God I Can't Get No Sanctification Joining the Sect The Greatest of These A Place to Conform Heretics Anonymous Price's Ten Commandments Healing Religious Divisions Damage Control The Character of Christ When Is a Religion Not a Religion? This Paper Idol Jesus with a Jackhammer Satan's Sunday School Temp Job Jerusalem Wasn't Built in a Day Service Industry Cut Out the Holy Ghost Noise! Cogs for Christ Being Who You Are How Twisted Texts Scream Meetings with Unremarkable Men Was Is Peace/Freedom Is Slavery/Weakness Is Strength Made into Missionaries Fabricating Your Life Message The Hidden Agenda of Witnessing Juggling Your Life Not without Reason Bibliography

Full title	Rocks of Ages: Science and Religion in the Fullness of Life ^[permalink]
Language	English
Author	Stephen Jay Gould (author)
Publisher	Vintage Books
Categories	Religion and science
Publication year	2002
Original publication year	1999
ISBN	978-0-099-28452-9 ^{[Amazon, B&N, Abe, Powell's]}
Pages	241
Synopsis	This is the book in which Gould lays out in full detail his concept of NOMA, Non-Overlapping Magisteria, the idea that science and religion are masters over different (and mutually incommunicable) realms. It's an attempt to reconcile the recent intellectual hostilities between scientists and people of faith by appealing to NOMA, saying that there doesn't have to be a conflict.
Review	I'm not sure if this book is winning me over to Gould's way of thinking, but it's extremely well written, interesting, and full of siren arguments and pretty poetry. I can definitely recommend it if you're interested in the history of the conflict between science and religion.
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Structure	[Toggle visibility] The Problem Stated Preamble A Tale of Two Thomases The Fate of Two Fathers The Problem Resolved in Principle NOMA Defined and Defended NOMA Illustrated Coda and Segue Historical Reasons for Conflict The Contingent Basis for Intensity Columbus and the Flat Earth: An Example of the Fallacy of Warfare Between Science and Religion Defending NOMA from Both Sides Now: The Struggle Against Modern Creationism Psychological Reasons for Conflict Can Nature Nurture Our Hopes? Nature's Cold Bath and Darwin's Defense of NOMA The Two False Paths of Irenics

Full title	The Satanic Bible ^[permalink]
Language	English
Authors	Anton Szandor LaVey (author) and Peter H. Gilmore (introduction)
Publisher	Avon Books
Category	Religion
Publication year	1969
ISBN	0-380-01539-0 ^{[Amazon, B&N, Abe, Powell's]}
Pages	272
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Structure	[Toggle visibility] INTRODUCTION PREFACE PROLOGUE THE NINE SATANIC STATEMENTS (FIRE) —BOOK OF LUCIFER— The Enlightenment I Wanted!: God—Dead or Alive II The God You SAVE May be Yourself III Some Evidence of a New Satanic Age IV Hell, the Devil, and How to Sell Your Soul V Love and Hate VI Satanic Sex VII Not all Vampires Suck Blood VIII Indulgence... NOT Compulsion IX On the Choice of a Human Sacrifice X Life After Death Through Fulfillment of the Ego XI Religious Holidays XII The Black Mass (EARTH) —BOOK OF BELIAL— The Master of the Earth I Theory and Practice of Satanic Magic: (Definition and Purpose of Lesser and Greater Magic) II The Three Types of Satanic Ritual III The Ritual, or "Intellectual Decompression," Chamber IV The Ingredients Used in the Performance of Satanic Magic: A. Desire B. Timing C. Imagery D. Direction E. The Balance Factor V The Satanic Ritual: A. Some Notes Which are to be Observed Before Beginning Ritual B. The Thirteen Steps C. Devices Used in Satanic Ritual (WATER) —BOOK OF LEVIATHAN— The Raging Sea I Invocation to Satan II The Infernal Names III Invocation Employed Towards the Conjuration of Lust IV Invocation Employed Towards the Conjuration of Destruction V Invocation Employed Towards the Conjuration of Compassion VI The Enochian Keys (The nineteen Keys will be listed here in chronological order)

Full title	The Satanic Rituals: Companion to The Satanic Bible ^[permalink]
Language	English
Author	Anton Szandor LaVey (author)
Publisher	Avon Books
Category	Religion
Publication year	1972
ISBN	0-380-01392-4 ^{[Amazon, B&N, Abe, Powell's]}
Pages	220
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Structure	[Toggle visibility] INTRODUCTION CONCERNING THE RITUALS THE ORIGINAL PSYCHODRAMA—Le Messe Noir L'AIR EPAIS—The Ceremony of the Stifling Air THE SEVENTH SATANIC STATEMENT—Das Tierdrama THE LAW OF THE TRAPEZOID—Die elektrischen Vorspiele NIGHT ON BALD MOUNTAIN—Homage to Tehort PILGRIMS OF THE AGE OF FIRE—The Statement of Shaitan THE METAPHYSICS OF LOVECRAFT—The Ceremony of the Nine Angles and The Call to Cthulhu THE SATANIC BAPTISMS—Adult Rite and Children's Ceremony THE UNKNOWN KNOWN

Full title	Tilslørt. Avslørt: Et oppgjør med norsk naivisme ^[permalink]
Translated title	Veiled. Revealed: A Settlement with Norwegian Naiveté
Language	Norwegian
Authors	Hege Storhaug (author) and Solveig Lid Ball (illustrator)
Publisher	Kagge Forlag
Categories	Politics and religion
Publication year	2007
ISBN	978-82-489-0740-4 ^{[Amazon, B&N, Abe, Powell's]}
Pages	178
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Full title	Words in Genesis ^[permalink]
Language	English
Authors	Isaac Asimov (author) and William Barss (illustrator)
Publisher	Houghton Mifflin
Categories	History, religion and science
Publication year	1962
Pages	233
Synopsis	Asimov explains, as the book is titled, the words in Genesis, the first book of the Bible.
Review	This is actually more than simply a list and explanation of the words used in Genesis. It goes into great detail into important verses in Genesis, explaining the history behind the verses as well as the etymologies of the words used (Asimov was Jewish by descent and spoke Yiddish, which helps). There are even appendices with maps of the relevant areas of the time, and genealogies of antediluvian (pre-Flood) and postdiluvian patriarchs.
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Structure	[Toggle visibility] Author's Note Introduction — The Bible 1 In the Beginning 2 The Garden of Eden 3 The Descendants of Adam 4 The Flood 5 Abraham 6 Isaac 7 Jacob 8 Joseph Appendices Index