The Happy Heretic [Hardcover]

Judith Hayes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2000

Judith Hayes, the Erma Bombeck of the secular humanist community, has the unique ability to raise serious points while making us laugh as she throws buckets of cold water on the irrational beliefs and maddening inconsistencies that often characterize popular religion. She's at her best when recounting modern-day "miracles" such as the apparition of the Virgin Mary's face in a waffle at a Fresno diner; or when she describes how she started rubbing a stuffed penguin whenever she had the urge to pray, and got the same results. But there are also poignant stories about believing friends and acquaintances whose struggles with irrational beliefs in the face of perplexing dilemmas and personal tragedies are in many cases heartrending. She also devotes a chapter to explaining in clear, concise, layperson's terms exactly what humanism is and stands for, in particular extolling its tolerance. By turns funny, provocative, and touching, Judith Hayes is the perfect popular spokesperson for clear thinking and reason.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Haynes, who runs a web site with the same name as this book, attempts to route out the inconsistencies she finds in religious belief and practice. As an atheist, she takes on the gods, heaven, hell, angels, miracles, and the power of prayer. She criticizes the Religious Right and ponders what she calls the irrational and cruel practices of many organized religions. She spent her youth as a fundamentalist Christian and is now a secular humanist, launching what she admits is a rather lonely crusade to rehabilitate the word atheist. She writes using satire and a sprinkling of merry nonsense. Some readers might enjoy her satire, for there are interesting twists; others might wonder where the merry side of the discussion is. Unfortunately, her interpretations are less than original, e.g., she finds 1 Chronicles 16:34 "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endures for ever" incomprehensive because there is death, starvation, and misery all around us. Is this not the traditional question, Why do bad things happen? A single copy in large public library collections of contemporary religious discussion might find a few readers.ALeroy Hommerding, Fort Myers Beach Lib. Dist., FL
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"...enjoyable reading...Hayes manages to find humour in just about every situation..." -- Humanist in Canada

"With evangelistic fervor, the former fundamentalist Christian seeks to secularize a world that insists on finding the Blessed Virgin's face in a pancake." -- Indianapolis Star, July 9, 2000

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 268 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books (June 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157392802X
• ISBN-13: 978-1573928021
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,968,346 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended, July 24, 2000

By 

Matthew Eccles - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Happy Heretic (Hardcover)

There are some books that, despite being relatively short and show an economy of words, are still a trawl to read.  This is not one of those books.  On the jacket a quote says the writing is "simple without being simplistic", and this, I think, is the major strength of The Happy Heretic.   When offering perspectives from a humanistic, atheistic point of view, it can be easy to stray into pretentiousness and brain-numbing, nay, boring philosophy.  There are books like that if you want them, but they are a trawl to read as well.  They might be educational, but they are also usually a very dull experience indeed, their matter-of-factness coldly clinical, as if the reader is a robot whose operation depends on stolid philosophical input.  This brings me to another strength of The Happy Heretic: its refreshing humanity.  Judith Hayes says she wants to "nudge" people.  This is setting herself a difficult task, and it would take writing of clarity, empathy, poignancy and humour to have half a chance of successful "nudging".  In this case, I consider myself well and truly shoulder-barged.    I may be giving the impression this book is merely an extended essay of rose-tinted philanthropy.  This is not the case.  Far from it.  This is a book of skilfully-balanced contrasts.  There is satire which doesn't so much cut religion into pieces as slowly, cleanly and easily slice through - and it's frequently bloody funny.  Nestled alongside are heart-wrenching true stories that bring a lump to the throat, and deadly serious indictments of religious abuse; and it works, because everything is put clearly into context.   Of course, it is not flawless.  There are minor quibbles.  The first two chapters set off sprinting as soon as they touch the ground.  This is initially jarring, but once you're in amongst Hayes' easy prose you soon warm to her theme, and the book slips into gear.  These chapters, which see Hayes being critical, are where she occasionally threatens to come across as one of those over-zealous soap-box stampers you find at Speakers Corner in London's Hyde Park on Sunday afternoons.  The difference, though, is that she's always worth your attention.   I like this book alot.  This ironically brings me to my main criticism: it's all over so quickly!  It's quite easily read in one sitting.  I suppose I felt like I had just seen a great, polemic show, with laughter, tears, the works, and I was standing and applauding, expecting a protracted encore.  But saying I wanted more, of course, is really a compliment.  Dammit, I really can't find much wrong with this book!   I highly recommend this book for those who are having doubts about their faith, and especially for those who may feel guilt because of those doubts.  Judith Hayes' great talent is to use those "nudging" qualities I mentioned earlier to sweep away the stigma of apostasy.  She's an apostate herself, and her understanding shines throughout this book.  

In correspondence to Judith Hayes, (from memory) a writer states, "I write with a felt-tip pen, while you write with a stick of dynamite".  That observation is hereby endorsed, and I for one am certainly ready for more. We're fortunate, then, that Judith Hayes' excellent monthly articles can be found at [her web site]. Do yourself a favour, friend, and go there now.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book Fundamentalists Would Love to Hate, July 17, 2006

By 

K. A. Handyside (Detroit, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Happy Heretic (Hardcover)

"The Happy Heretic" is a wonderful read. It is a much-needed kick-in-the-teeth for religion in general, and fundamentalist Christianity in particular.

It is a very timely book, considering how the Religious Right in this country is so intent on turning the U.S. into a theocratic dictatorship. It is also a warning to people to wake up to the dangers the Religious Right poses to our freedoms.

I highly recommend this book. It is funny, thought-provoking and well-written - all things that our current government and the Religous Right love to hate.

18 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Happy Heretic, August 15, 2000

By 

kiko tanaka (sacramento ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Happy Heretic (Hardcover)

On the dust jacket of this book an author named Elaine Morgan says, "Mark Twain would have enjoyed this book." I go farther and say that Mark Twain could have written this book! It's a gem.

Kiko Tanaka