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Bertrand Russell on God and Religion (Great Books in Philosophy) (Paperback)

by Bertrand Russell (Author), Al Seckel (Editor) "My parents, Lord and Lady Amberley, were considered shocking in their day on account of their advanced opinions in politics, theology, and morals..." (more)
Key Phrases: impartial worship, selective worship, cosmic purpose, Catholic Church, Professor Haldane, South Africa (more...)

3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

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Why I Am Not a Christian and Other Essays on Religion and Related Subjects by Bertrand Russell
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Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Al Seckel has rescued many of Bertrand Russell's best essays on religion, free thought, and nationalism from their resting places in obscure pamphlets, hard-to-find books, and out-of print periodicals to form a superb compilation.

Product Details

Paperback: 350 pages
Publisher: Prometheus Books (February 1986)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0879753234
ISBN-13: 978-0879753238
Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #230,459 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
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#1 in Books > Nonfiction > Philosophy > Analytic Philosophy

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Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
My parents, Lord and Lady Amberley, were considered shocking in their day on account of their advanced opinions in politics, theology, and morals. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
impartial worship, selective worship, cosmic purpose

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Catholic Church, Professor Haldane, South Africa, United States, Lloyd Morgan, Bertrand Russell, Divine Purpose, Julius Caesar, Rationalist Press Association, William James, Christian God, Commandant of Belsen, Father Copleston, Milky Way, Principle of Indeterminacy, Professor Alexander, Thomas Aquinas, Boer War, Holy Ghost, Lord Russell, The Rationalist Annual, Are the World's Troubles Due, Court of Chancery, Decay of Faith, Karl Marx

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 100 books:

My Philosophical Development by Bertrand Russell in Front Matter, page 47, and Back Matter
Principles of Social Reconstruction by Bertrand Russell in Front Matter (1), Front Matter (2), and Back Matter
Marriage and Morals by Bertrand Russell in Front Matter (1), Front Matter (2), and Back Matter
Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy by Bertrand Russell in Front Matter (1), Front Matter (2), and Back Matter
The Analysis of Mind (Philosophical Classics) by Bertrand Russell in Front Matter, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)

See all 100 books this book cites

89 books cite this book:

The Paradox of God and the Science of Omniscience by Clifford A. Pickover on page 43, and Back Matter
A Theodicy of Hell (Studies in Philosophy and Religion) by C. Seymour on page 13, and Back Matter
Making Sense of Your World : A Biblical Worldview by William E. Brown on page 212, and page 245
A Rebel to His Last Breath: Joseph McCabe and Rationalism by Bill Cooke on page 265, and Back Matter
Fighting for Us: Maulana Karenga, the US Organization, and Black Cultural Nationalism by Scot Brown in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)

See all 89 books citing this book

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	60% buy the item featured on this page: Bertrand Russell on God and Religion (Great Books in Philosophy) 3.3 out of 5 stars (7) $18.97
	17% buy Religion and Science 4.8 out of 5 stars (8) $12.21
	13% buy Why I Am Not a Christian and Other Essays on Religion and Related Subjects 3.9 out of 5 stars (160) $11.70
	5% buy A History of Western Philosophy 4.5 out of 5 stars (6)

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Customer Reviews

7 Reviews

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
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Average Customer Review

3.3 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Theologian's Nightmare, September 17, 2005

By	Stephen Pletko "Uncle Stevie" (London, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

+++++

This book consists of twenty-one essays written by Bertrand Russell (1872 to 1970) between 1912 and 1961. They were compiled and edited by Al Seckel, a member of the Bertrand Russell Society and one who has lectured extensively on Russell's life and work. According to Seckel, "the purpose of this collection is to bring together in one...volume some of Russell's most delightful thought-provoking essays on [organized] religion."

Some topics discussed are agnosticism, atheism, rationalism, churches, God, the soul, science, free thought, sin, and faith. He examines these and other topics with "rational skepticism" which is "withholding judgment where the evidence is not sufficient, or, even more so, when there is contrary evidence."

This collection of essays definitely captures the scope and depth of Russell's thinking on religion. His logic and reasoning are impeccable. I now understand why he was called "the world's most famous atheist."

The book is divided into five parts. Here are the titles of my favorite essays taken from each part:

I. (6 essays)

(1) Why I am not a Christian.
(2) The faith of a rationalist. (No supernatural reasons are needed to make humans kind.)

II. (5 essays)

(1) A debate on the existence of God. (Between Russell and a Father of the church.)

III. (2 essays)

(1) Science and religion.

IV. (6 essays)

(1) An outline of intellectual rubbish.
(2) The value of free thought. (How to become a truth-seeker and break the chains of mental slavery.)
(3) Ideas that have harmed mankind (and womankind).
(4) Ideas that have helped mankind (and womankind).

V. (2 essays)

(1) The theologian's nightmare.

Before the first essay begins, there is a brief biography of Bertrand Russell (later Lord Russell) by Seckel. It is very thorough as evidenced by the more than 55 footnotes at its end.

Finally, the only problem I had with this book is with regard to referencing. All essays are not referenced or inadequately referenced. I know that Russell in his other works extensively referenced. Thus, I'm not sure if Seckel edited out references to save space and assumed that the reader would believe everything Russell said due to his reputation. On a subject like this, I think references should have been kept in. Also, there is a bibliography at the end of the book. But it is really just a list of books written by Russell.

In conclusion, this is a fascinating collection of essays by one of most prolific and brilliant thinkers and writers of the twentieth century. Now I understand why Russell won the 1950 Nobel Prize in literature!!

**** 1/2

(essay collection published 1986; acknowledgements; biography of Bertrand Russell; 5 parts or 21 chapters; main narrative 300 pages; "bibliography;" name index; subject index)

+++++

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16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything I expected, June 18, 2003

By	Rebecca R. Wake (Knoxville, Tennessee) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After reading 'Why I am not a christian', I was excited to find that there existed an even larger collection of Mr. Russells essays. Some of the essays in this book are already in 'Why I am not a christian', including that particular essay. The others I had not read before were informative, well-structured, and balanced. He was truly a man ahead of his time.

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11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's Good, June 15, 2005

By	ignatius (usa) - See all my reviews

Russell is not concerned with refuting the claims of any specific religion with philosophic rigor. He shouldn't be. Since religion is not based on evidence, carefully refuting it would be like refuting the ancient Greek belief that Zeus and other gods reside on Mount Olympus. The only difference between that religion and current religions is that the Greek pantheon is out of fashion.

If you are a staunch believer and want to test your faith by subjecting it to a withering logical assault, you are wasting your time with this book (In fact, you are wasting your time period, since faith has nothing to do with logical arguments). If you want to read the thoughts of a great 20th century thinker on religion, and understand why he rejects it, then enjoy. I think that Russell is one of those men who values truth over everything else - a rare quality, even (especially?) among the followers of organized religion.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but Hardly Relevant
Bertrand Russell's thoughts upon religion are often very interesting and exciting to read. I particularly enjoyed reading a theologian's nightmare. Read more

Published 14 months ago by Clifford R. Fischer

1.0 out of 5 stars Not impressed
As a Christian who has studied math and philosophy, I am quite familiar with Bertrand Russell's contributions to logic and philosophy, I am quite impressed with his brilliance... Read more

Published on March 10, 2000 by mtilden3

4.0 out of 5 stars Religion understood as a terrible bar of truth
It appears in these selections that Russell was a very complex person who thought a great deal about religion. Read more

Published on January 7, 2000

3.0 out of 5 stars disappointed
When I picked up Bertand Russell's "THE PROBLEMS OF PHILOSOPHY" I was very impressed. It gave me a comprehensive overview of basic questions of philosphy that was very... Read more

Published on July 15, 1998

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