Godless in America: conversations with an atheist [Paperback]

George Ricker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 22, 2006

"I spent the most of the first half of my life believing in Christianity and regarding belief in God as an essential component of human existence," George Ricker says. "I've spent the last 30 years trying to understand why I ever thought that way. This book is about how and why that process occurred. It's also about the danger posed to our democratic society by fundamentalist religion."

Godless in America is a testimonial about the advantages of life without gods and religions. It's also a no-holds-barred look at some of the problems with both concepts. Written in a style that is conversational, yet provocative, it is a candid assessment of the real culture war being fought in America today: the attack being waged by the Religious Right on the values of personal freedom, democratic government, and the necessity for all Americans to be treated as equals before the law and by their government.

At times humorous, at times outrageous, Godless in America treats religion and religious concepts as ideas that should be evaluated with the same standards used to evaluate all other ideas and concepts, not from the privileged position claimed by so many of a religious persuasion.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

George Ricker has been an award-winning weekly newspaper reporter and editor. He has worked at many occupations, including a stint as associate pastor of a church, while attending a theological seminary. A longtime Florida resident, he now lives in Brevard County with his wife of nearly 30 years, Judy.

Product Details

• Paperback: 177 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (March 22, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 059539101X
• ISBN-13: 978-0595391011
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,463,337 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

More than 50 years ago, a high school English teacher asked me a question. I was in the 11th grade at the time, and the question was contained in a comment on an essay that I had written for his class. The teacher, whose name was Jerry Salek, said, "You are becoming a good writer. So what will you do with it?" I suppose, in a way, I have spent the bulk of my life trying to answer that question.

Over the years I have written thousands of pages containing hundreds of thousands of words. I have written essays, poetry, short stories, novels, non-fiction, even a one-act play. I have written newspaper articles, columns and editorials. Whatever I have had to do to earn a living, I have always thought of myself as a writer. Unfortunately, for one reason or another, I have never had much success getting my work published. This is mostly my own fault but not for the reason you might suspect. I simply never have had the patience to deal with all the nonsense most book and magazine publishers insist on putting authors through. So after writing "Godless in America: conversations with an atheist," I decided to go the print-on-demand route. For the most part, I have enjoyed the experience. That's why I used the same approach after deciding to publish a selection of material from my "Godless in America" website. That book is titled "mere atheism: no gods...no problem!"

I am a retired journalist, but I have worked at a variety of occupations in my life. I am happily married with a son, three daughters and three grandsons. I have lived in Florida for almost all my life. Currently, my wife and I live in Palm Bay, which is in Brevard County south of the Kennedy Space Center. I can look out my front window and watch rockets launch into space from Cape Canaveral.

If you want to learn more about me or my writing, drop by my website and have a look around. That's "Godless in America" at http://www.godlessinamerica.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Spending time in an atheist's head, May 25, 2006

By 

Dianna Narciso "Author, Like Rolling Uphill: ... - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Godless in America: conversations with an atheist (Paperback)

Here is another valuable addition to the atheist's library. Ricker's dialogue is honest, and often hard-hitting in a refreshing way. His insights into life as an atheist will resonate with other nonbelievers, and should add to their arsenal of responses for those situations in which they are confronted with ignorance.

But Ricker's dialogue will also engage religionists who are curious about what "the big deal" is with atheists and atheism. Ricker lays it out for them by responding to their own comments and attitudes, touching on current events, patiently explaining why many atheists think and feel the way they do.

This one is highly recommended.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GOD. . . or NO GOD?, May 3, 2006

By 

B. L. Corcoran (Citrus Springs, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Godless in America: conversations with an atheist (Paperback)

You won't see 26 models wearing matching outfits. You won't get to touch knuckles with Howie Mandel. George does let you see what's in the "other briefcases." He also lets you decide whether to keep the one you have or trade it for something else. This is a test in how much you believe what you're holding onto is right for you.

We're not talking about cash amounts here. The subject is religion, and you don't have to agree with the author's views to gain from this book. It's not a speech or declaration or a ploy to sway anyone from one religion to another, or to none at all. Instead, it is a candid discussion about atheism and why it has become the choice of many.

It's funny, it's informative, it poses a challenge to everyone who reads it.

George is quick to dispel myths about atheists. He clears the air for those who feel atheists must be - among other things - evil, immoral, self-centered, corrupted or devil-worshippers. As he puts it, "What makes atheists atheists is that they have no belief in a cosmic critter of any description."

George was an active church member before he chose to question the beliefs he'd been raised with, beliefs that perhaps never seemed to fit quite right. Whereas so many spend a lifetime searching for "life's answers," George has not only dared to seek these answers, but to accept them, even when they're controversial. There's a certain inner peace when one begins living one's own "truth." He phrases it, "I felt like someone who finally has been restored to health after a long, lingering illness."

He discovered that it was "better to be 'whole' than 'holy.'"

This book touches everyone. Everyone seeking their own true belief should read it, and that includes the politically interested/involved; religious; non-religious; mystics; women's rights activists; stem cells and pink elephants. (Read the book to know what I mean)

George allows us a glimpse into his personal life (see Chapters 6 and 10) and he addresses the debate over Sunday mail (bet you never thought about how that started, did you?). The book reads like a conversation - I read it in one sitting, and those who know me know that's rare.

He challenges the reader throughout the book with "mind experiments" by asking the same compelling questions of every reader, whether you believe in the widely-accepted Christian God; some other god/goddess; multiple gods/goddesses; or no gods/goddesses at all.


So read it cover to cover before you ask yourself what you truly believe. Be ready, because your answer could surprise you.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Review of "Godless In America", April 26, 2006

By 

W. O. Long (Crofton, MD USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Godless in America: conversations with an atheist (Paperback)

This book offers an intimate and enlightening insight into the mind of an ex-Christian who has converted to atheism. Unlike someone who was programmed at an early age and has accepted his religion without question, a "convert" can provide true insight into his beliefs. The book doesn't explain how athiests are able to conceive that "creation" occurred without a "guiding hand," but does explain how one might conclude that it just doesn't matter, and provides a thought provoking analysis of the the dogma that underlies Judeo-Christian religions. Will this book become a best seller? I doubt it...After reading my copy, I offered it to my sister-in-law who took one look at the cover and said "No thanks - I'll stick to the Bible." (Is it "faith" or "fear" that shuts one's mind like that? Perhaps it's both, for if you have one you have the other, and if you lack one, you lack the other.)
If you are a thinker-questioner, and you just cannot accept anything on blind faith, you will like this book.