Maybe Right, Maybe Wrong: A Guide for Young Thinkers [Paperback]

Dan Barker (Author), Brian Strassburg (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1992

Discusses learning right from wrong, stressing such aspects as the difference between rules and principles and the importance of an individual's rights.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...sit down with your children and talk[about] sound ideas couched in real life situations children are likely to face." -- AtheistParents.org

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 76 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books (July 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879757310
• ISBN-13: 978-0879757311
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #738,678 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dan Barker (1949-) is co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation and co-host of Freethought Radio. After 19 years as an evangelical minister, Dan "saw the light" and announced his atheism in 1984. His first public appearance as an atheist was on Oprah Winfrey's "AM Chicago." Since that time he has traveled extensively, lecturing and performing on college campuses, and participating in more than 90 public debates defending atheism. A former composer of Christian songs and musicals (for which he still receives royalties), Dan is now a jazz pianist and writer of freethought music, including the albums Beware of Dogma and Friendly, Neighborhood Atheist (FFRF, Inc.) Dan has 5 children, 7 grandchildren, and lives with his wife (and co-president) Annie Laurie Gaylor in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo at window by Tim Buchanan. Photo at piano by Brent Nicastro. Photos at microphone by Bruce Press.)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

185 of 193 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for freethought households, October 16, 2000

By 

Gilker Kimmel "Gilker" (Round Rock, Tx USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Maybe Right, Maybe Wrong: A Guide for Young Thinkers (Paperback)

Amongst all the WWJD, religion equals morality, preaching stands Dan Barker, willing to say, "Yes, there is such a thing as morality and, no, there's no need to buy into superstition to understand it." Barker never talks down to kids nor does he try to pass off the old shell game of pretending that morality is simply a matter of following someone else's rules.

I highly recommend this book for children of freethinkers and anyone else who prefers rationality to dogma.

163 of 170 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Teaches Moral Principles rather than laws, December 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Maybe Right, Maybe Wrong: A Guide for Young Thinkers (Paperback)

Teaches young people how to be Good, not through obeying laws and rules without thought, but by remembering certain principles ("do not hurt others", "value life) and fitting them, through thought, to situations. A wonderful answer to the idea that people can't be moral without god and government.

61 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good for undoing religious brainwashing, December 8, 2006

By 

Jennifer D. O'guin (Hardwick, VT. United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Maybe Right, Maybe Wrong: A Guide for Young Thinkers (Paperback)

I bought this book for my son, who was raised by my dad down south, in the bible belt. To say my son was brainwashed would be putting it mildly. I'm not sure how much the book did, but he's becoming more normal every day, and is now starting to be able to make his own decisions based on his own feelings of guilt and his own moral code, rather than having to ask himself "what would jesus do". I read the book myself, and though very basic and maybe a 2nd-3rd grade reading level, I thought it made some excellent points, and it made me think... no small matter for a book of such a low reading level! I highly recommend it to any agnostic or pagan parents trying to teach their children the true meaning of right and wrong, without the guilt of a higher being being used as an intimidation and scare tactic to twist the child into submission. This book should help to develop the free thinking skills that are required for any child to be happy and have good self-esteem in regards to their choices and actions.