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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
A Non-believer's Guide to the Uses of Religion
Religion for Atheists by Alain de Botton explores how non-believers could benefit from aspects of religion, such as community, ritual and morality. It argues for a secularisation of these traditional religious practices to create a more meaningful and purposeful society.
What do we think of when we talk about religion? A white-bearded God seated on a throne in heaven? An ornately decorated church? Maybe a painting by Botticelli? Such knee-jerk associations reflect how religion and divinity are often assumed to go hand in hand. But there’s far more to it than that.
If you’re someone who doesn’t believe in deities, you might assume you’ve got nothing to learn from religion. On the contrary, however, there is no reason why you can’t make the most of the cultural, social and philosophical aspects that have evolved out of it.
Just think of morality: ideas of how we might live better lives and treat others well need not be explicitly religious. However, “the bad odor of religion,” as Nietzsche referred to it, has made morality something for secular people to avoid, all because of its association with religious practices.
Secular society should reclaim some of the rituals and festivals that give depth to human experience. After all, early Christianity drew from belief systems outside its own to create powerful new traditions. Christmas was created by combining the midwinter solstice – a typical pagan celebration – with the birth of Jesus. And the ideas of Epicurus, the Greek philosopher, which dictated that men inclined to a philosophical way of life should build their own communities, led to the development of monasteries.
So apparently there’s more to religion than gods, divine beings and other supernatural presences. But as a nonbeliever, you might still be skeptical about exactly what religion could possibly add to your life, and how. So read on!
Religion for Atheists (2012) sheds light on the often-overlooked positive aspects of organized religion. By considering religion in absence of a belief in divine beings, we find many valuable social initiatives and philosophical lessons from which even the most cynical among us might benefit.
Religion for Atheists (2012) explores how non-believers can find value in religious traditions and practices. Here's why this book is worth reading:
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Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get startedBlink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
What is the main message of Religion for Atheists?
Religion for Atheists encourages non-believers to take inspiration from religious practices and rituals to improve secular society.
How long does it take to read Religion for Atheists?
Reading Religion for Atheists will take a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Religion for Atheists a good book? Is it worth reading?
Religion for Atheists is worth reading for its insightful perspectives on utilizing and valuing aspects of religion in a secular context.
Who is the author of Religion for Atheists?
The author of Religion for Atheists is Alain de Botton.