Living Without God: New Directions for Atheists, Agnostics, Secularists, and the Undecided [Hardcover]

Ronald Aronson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2008

Ronald Aronson has a mission: to demonstrate that a life without religion can be coherent, moral, and committed. Optimistic and stirring, Living Without God is less interested in attacking religion than in developing a positive philosophy for atheists, agnostics, secular humanists, skeptics, and freethinkers. Aronson proposes contemporary answers to Immanuel Kant’s three great questions: What can I know? What ought I to do? What can I hope? Grounded in the sense that we are deeply dependent and interconnected beings who are rooted in the universe, nature, history, society, and the global economy, Living Without God explores the experience and issues of 21st-century secularists, especially in America. Reflecting on such perplexing questions as why we are grateful for life’s gifts, who or what is responsible for inequalities, and how to live in the face of aging and dying, Living Without God is also refreshingly topical, touching on such subjects as contemporary terrorism, the war in Iraq, affirmative action, and the remarkable rise of Barack Obama.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Ronald Aronson demonstrates that atheism represents much more than what one does not believe: that it is the precondition for a generous humanism. The two closing chapters are models of stoicism at its best." –Christopher Hitchens, author of God Is Not Great, The Missionary Position: Mother Theresa in Theory and in Practice, and The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever

"Here's an interesting new book . . . I recommend the book, not because I expect it to be convincing to everyone, but because it clearly makes the case for an interesting kind of conversation, and gives his side of it." –Taner Edis, author of The Ghost in the Universe: God in Light of Modern Science, Why Intelligent Design Fails: A Scientific Critique of the New Creationism, Science and Nonbelief, and An Illusion of Harmony: Science And Religion in Islam

"Despite my occasional disagreements, overall Aronson gives us much to reflect on in this book, and much that will ring true for secularists looking for an affirmative naturalistic philosophy. There are many, many insightful observations on humanity, society, ethics and existence, organized by the particular question of life at issue, whether it be death, hope, responsibility, knowledge or social obligation. All this makes the book eminently worthwhile." –Tom Clark, Founder and director Center For Naturalism

"The Italian political theorist Antonio Gramsci wrote from his prison cell in Mussolini's Italy that, 'The challenge of modernity is to live a life without illusions, without becoming disillusioned.' In Living Without God, it seems to me, Aronson has admirably met that challenge. –Doug Ireland, New Humanist

About the Author

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Counterpoint Press (September 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593761600
• ISBN-13: 978-1593761608
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #561,187 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The next phase after Dakins/Hitchens et al., December 18, 2008

By 

E. Gallion (Buffalo, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Living Without God: New Directions for Atheists, Agnostics, Secularists, and the Undecided (Hardcover)

I just finished reading this book, and it's terrific. It goes beyond the debunking of religion books to discuss how we go about understanding the world and society, and our place in both without the use of religious references, explanations and thought processes. It presents a very positive and liberating view of a truly secular worldview - a better world. I highly recommend it to those who liked the debunking books, and also to those with religious beliefs who recognize the need for and benefits of a humanistic/secular society.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars almost misjudged, March 22, 2009

By 

Richard C. Burrows (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Living Without God: New Directions for Atheists, Agnostics, Secularists, and the Undecided (Hardcover)

I almost seriously misjudged this book. From the title I expected a rather different book; and when I realized that the author was planning to tell us about his ideas of how to live without god but included seemingly no awareness of previous work (for example that of Paul Kurtz, who's not mentioned anywhere), I found myself significantly discouraged. Then, too, the author's style of presenting a set of observations and then seemingly to refute them with another set, along with his tendency to want to "see all aspects" of an issue, can create some confusion and at times become quite tedious.
Fortunately for me, I persisted, and gradually I began to appreciate Aronson's dedication to investigating issues and questions that deepen and widen one's understandings, especially of how a life of meaning can be created via greater awareness of appropriate gratitude for the struggles and achievements of forebears of all kinds (including major philosophers) and the responsibilities (if we chose to accept them) toward those forebears (and their current-day offspring) in being a part of the continuing work of making possible advancement for all human life--without expecting god to do it for us.
If that is a part of why you might buy this book, it's an excellent purchase.

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Catchy title, not much unique for the intended audience, January 24, 2009

By 

Stuart Sutton "trekman1420" (VA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Living Without God: New Directions for Atheists, Agnostics, Secularists, and the Undecided (Hardcover)

I only found a few sections that made me sit up and pay attention where the author seems to be truly focusing on issues specific to those that the title tries to attract.

The personal sections about his despair over Detroit and what he's trying to do to help the community seemed a bit too pretentious.

In that same vein, I found many sections that were so personal that they didn't generalize well for readers in other circumstances.

Overall, I nice presentation of humanist liberal attitudes about how one ought to live, but only tangentially relevant to those he targets with the title and sub-title.

Might be most helpful for a person who, until recently, was wholly entrenched in church life and is seeking a new direction.