The Transcendental Temptation: A Critique of Religion and the Paranormal [Paperback]

Paul Kurtz (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 516 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books (March 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879756454
• ISBN-13: 978-0879756451
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,096,939 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Paul Kurtz, professor emeritus of philosophy at the State University of New York at Buffalo and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, is the author or editor of more than fifty books, including The Transcendental Temptation, The Courage to Become, Embracing the Power of Humanism, plus nine hundred articles and reviews. He is the founder of the Center for Inquiry/Transnational, the Council for Secular Humanism, and the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. He has appeared on many major TV and radio talk shows, and has lectured at universities worldwide.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent appraisal of the temptations of 'faith', February 22, 2000

By 

Richard Garrard (utah) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Transcendental Temptation: A Critique of Religion and the Paranormal (Paperback)

I spent last weekend reading Dr. Kurtz's book, with a very different impression from that of "infaithreborn". Contrary to that reviewer's conclusions below, Kurtz does not focus merely on "fundamentalist" Christians, but on all those who ignore empirical evidence and logic in constructing a supernatural worldview. "Infaithreborn" and others who defend 'nonfundamentalist' Christianity and mysticism should make clearer assertions of what, in fact, they DO believe. Kurtz does not claim that the scientific method has left the world without mysteries, only that it is the best tool we have for dispelling ignorance. In this he joins Carl Sagan and Isaac Asimov, although he is more forthright in his consideration of the possible origins of the Moses and Jesus and Mormon (Joseph Smith) myths. An insightful, courageous contribution to the field of the objective study of religious behavior.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting discussion of Skepticism, Science, Religion, July 5, 1998

By 

Bruce R. LaPlante (Green Bay, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Transcendental Temptation: A Critique of Religion and the Paranormal (Paperback)

It is interesting that although the original edition of this book was written in 1986, much of the discussion on Jesus and the origins of Christianity were recently reinforced by the excellent PBS special titled "From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians" which first appeared April 1998, and in which many notable religious scholars provided material that concurs with that presented in this book. Kurtz draws on numerous historical sources to provide background on the historical Jesus: "In order to evaluate their [the four Gospels] historical accuracy, it is important that we find independent corroboration. Thus we need to examine nonbiblical literature of the first few centuries C.E. I am referring here (1) to any parallels between Christianity and pagan or Jewish presursors; (2) to any secular references by pagan and Jewish authors; (3) to what the early critics of Christianity had to say; and (4) to the extensive apocryphal literature, gospels, and epistles that were subsequently rejected by the church." Kurtz presents the material in a very accessible and well researched manner. An excellent book.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Chapter on Islam- Brilliant, January 4, 2004

By A Customer

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This review is from: The Transcendental Temptation: A Critique of Religion and the Paranormal (Paperback)

Although I find his assessment of Jesus and Christianity lacking, much preferring the two superb books by Randal Helms,
Gospel Fictions and Who Wrote the Gospels, the chapter on Islam is worth the price of the book. This chapter on the history of Mohammed and early Islam is fantastic and should be shared with anyone who has a curiosity about the roots of Islam