What about Gods? (Skeptic's Bookshelf Series) [Paperback]

Chris Brockman (Author)

Book Description

Series: Skeptic's Bookshelf Series

People who help us understand the world and how it works are important people. They are scientists, teachers, parents, and many others. They should also help us understand what it means to be a human being. They should help us learn that human beings can best get along with one another by co-operating to make our world a beautiful and friendly place to live. They should help people to want to be good by showing everyone that being good makes the world much nicer for all of us. Then no one would have to scare anybody into being good by inventing gods. Unfortunately, many important people treat other people, especially children, as if they had no minds. They seem to think that other people will always want to do bad things.

Product Details

• Paperback: 31 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books (May 1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879751061
• ISBN-13: 978-0879751067
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,098,582 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

97 of 107 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear and direct explanation of god myths for kids., November 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: What about Gods? (Skeptic's Bookshelf Series) (Paperback)

If you are raising your kids to be able to think clearly for themselves instead of giving them canned answers for things which are basically unknowable, you will have to deal with this issue, since most of your kids' friends will be raised as believers in "God", and they do talk to each other about this. I've taught my children about the common beliefs of other religions so that they understand them when they encounter them, but I think that this book clearly labels these beliefs for what they are: simplistic holdovers from the days when faith was the only means for understanding the world, and religion was the only tool for controlling the people. If I have one complaint about the book, it is that it doesn't emphasize the practical necessity of never, ever belittling these religious beliefs; this is one lesson my children know very well, not just for politeness' sake, but also for survival as a minority.

41 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb for both children and confused adults., April 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: What about Gods? (Skeptic's Bookshelf Series) (Paperback)

This book gives a concise overview of an immensely over complicated human condition. The creation of god by man is explained simply and clearly for a child. I wish I had been exposed to this book when I was about eight years old. It could have saved me much self doubt and turmoil resulting from early indoctrination.

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Concise, exact, efficient, and to the point., August 5, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: What about Gods? (Skeptic's Bookshelf Series) (Paperback)

"What about gods", was the first childrens book I have come upon that really reveals religion for what it is. Children that I have had the pleasure to expose this work to, immediately knew the truth. The term, "lying to your mind" is a qoute that I use now, even as an adult. About time someone wrote a work that children could in no way misinterpret. It's about time.