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Summary: "Prolonged virginity is harmful to women"
Review: This is just one of many pearls of wisdom from Russell. I must say that I approached this book with a bit of anxious trepidation, and I must say that I was severely disappointed by its lame arguments. The essays are well written and I think that Russell has a gift in style. However, the reasoning is what I found the most lacking. He believed that "[children] should be taught methods of birth control, so as to insure that children shall only come when they are wanted" and "Physical science is thus appraoching a stage when it will be complete." (Both from "What I Believe") At least he had the sense not to entitle the essay "What is True". (It is surprising that C.S. Lewis did NOT think that relativity was the "end of physics".) I do find his candor in "What I Believe" to be refreshing. He states that there is no objective moral law and describes how HE thinks life should be carried out. "Why I Am Not A Christian" is amusing, especially his complaint that Jesus sent the spirit of the demons into a herd of pigs. If God exists, do animals not die by His fiat anyway? If He is there, all is His. I give this book two stars: one for it's honesty and the second for its style. I must say that I am disappointed: I thought I would run into more compelling arguments than what was offered. I'd appreciate recommendations for any GOOD books on atheism/agnosticism. They have got to be better than this...Bye Bye Bertie!
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Summary: Easy to read collection of essays
Review: This book by Russell is a great book on the moral problems promulgated by Christianity and religion in general. Russell's writing is poetic and even fun to read. Although this book is not supposed to be an argument for Atheism, it is supposed to be an argument for philosophy and logic. Russell gives religion the moral one-two punch, and leaves so-called religious morality eviscerated. All in all, this book is better at discussing ethics and morality than almost anything I've read.
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Summary: The Power of Logic
Review: Why I am Not A Christian is not only a critique of superstition and ignorance, it is an outstanding lesson in logic. Unfortunately, this is one thing many christians care little about, all that matters is the security of an illusion, and the promise of ever-lasting life. Russell takes these issues and addresses them, not as an enemy of christianity, but simply as a thinker examining the availible evidence. His arguments are easy to follow and accessible to any reader, all one has to do is examine the examples used. In his examination of the bible he points out only a few of the many contradictions, fallacies and illogical events portrayed. In so doing he examines such things as the various ontological arguments, the institution of the churh, the character and originality of Christ, and the psychology of belief. It soon becomes clear that if one uses reason, no other conclussion can be arrived at: belief in christianity is illogical, thoughtless, and merely a rejection of reality. It is Under the pressure of such logic, that people retreat into the ignorance and denial of responsibility that religion provides. As Russell states Christianity is the religion of fear, and fear is one of the most powerful forces in the human mind. Throw in a heaping portion of guilt and you then have the recipe for willing submission. It is also worth mentioning that Bertrand Russell was persecuted for his beliefs, and even denied a teaching position because of pressure from religious fundamentalists. This more than anything illustrates the tactics of those who are lacking in reason. If one cannot disprove an argument, censorship is the usual method of suppression, and as history shows this is the usual response to critics of religion. Simple logic is the greatest asset to those fighting the forces of ignorance, in this book Bertrand Russell has provided a great example. Without logic and freethought humanity will always be enslaved, this book is for those who have the courage to think for themselves, and then come to their own conclussions.
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Summary: Different then what many may suspect
Review: I read this to challenge my faith. And it did, but it did not shatter my beliefs. Beyond that, I appreciated Russells examination of what Christian and Christianity means. A lot of those critical of Christianity presuppose a definition of Christianity not akin to what Christiandom would define themselves as. Also, the protestant and catholic skeptics chapter was a classic. A great book.
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Summary: This Life Is As Good As It Gets!
Review: I spent many years searching for "Truth" and sampled several religions. Bertrand Russell's book pretty much sums it up: This is it, friends! Enjoy your earthly stay, because there is no heavenly reward nor eternal hellfire to be condemned to after death. Russell's arguments are sound and delivered with some good British humor. One fact he could have dwelled on a bit more is that blind faith in Christianity lead to the murder (and suicide!) of tens of millions of good people to this very day. How could that possibly be the will of a loving God? -- There is much good in religion, I do not doubt that, however I feel that people should be respected for chosing NOT to believe.
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Summary: Doubt religion, yet feel alone? Read this book!
Review: I was raised in a somewhat religious household and then married into a very religious one. (Except my husband) In my mid-twenties, while trying to raise two very young children and feeling very alone with my disbelief I was thrilled to find this book! It is only a slight exaggeration to say that this book "saved" me. This book is well written and easy to understand. Anyone who can read a news paper can read this book. Last week, I loaned my 14 year old son my copy of Why I Am Not a Christian. I doubt that the book will be as meaningful to him as it was to me, because he has been raised without Christian Mythology or any Mythology, but I am sure that he will get a lot out of it. This book states simply and clearly many logical arguments against the existance of God and more importantly why religion is immoral and harmful. I recomend this book to anyone who is even beginning to doubt. Bertrand Russell will forever be my hero.
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Summary: A great introduction
Review: A lot of the arguments in this book could be, or have been, opposed by experienced and clever apologists. Nevertheless, this is the best book I have seen for the new, young, or lonely atheist. Mr. Russell writes with a great deal of simplicity and gentle British good humor. He attacks beliefs (especially the belief in God's and Christ's inherent goodness and in the sexual mores of his day) rather than people, by and large, which is the mark of a truly humane person. Unlike many modern philosophers his arguments do not require an advanced degree or even an advanced vocabulary to follow. And because the book is made up of fairly short essays on a variety of subjects rather than one long argument, it can be read at leisure without losing the thread of discussion. Overall, I highly recommend this book for anyone with even a slight interest in the subject matter at hand.
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Summary: It is good that you all are not armed.
Review: I do not think Russell fully grasped the teachings of the Nazarene called Jesus. However, he did have an intimate knowledge of the beliefs of his Anglican and Catholic opponents. As Anglicans, Catholics, and Orthodox believers are merely idolaters, I am not surprised by Russell's rejection of what he believed was Christianity. The rejection of Catholic idolatry was a crucial factor in the inexorable growth of Islam. Is there life after death? This, I believe, is the perfect question. Russell stated very aticulately that did not believe in life after after death. Despite Russell's eloquent argument, I remain unconvinced. I do not believe men have an innate irrational fear of death. Many of the faithful have faced death willingly and without reservation. Russell mentioned this phenomenon but chose to dismiss it as the exception rather than the rule. What did Russell really believe as his own death approached? Many of the previous reviewers have made some noteworthy observations. Some more keen than others. They should realize Dogma is not the question. Agnosticism and atheism are dogmas too.
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Summary: Something to be considered
Review: I have only one problem with Bertrand Russell; in a lot of ways, he is just downright likeable. One cannot help but be amused by a man who in his eighties attended hippy sit-ins and got arrested. Now, whereas I am a devout Christian,I still gave this book a high rating because I think it contains the kind of arguments and questions that all people who profess to believe in anything, should be familiar with. But I also think that this book has been lended unwarranted credence by several of the other reviewers. For the most part, Russell's arguments are quite sound and logical, but there are, however, I think, a few inconsistencies. For example, I think his usage of the JS Mill causality argument relies upon either a misunderstanding or atleast equivocation of the classical definition of the Prima Mobile or First Cause. Unlike what some of the earlier reviewers said,the First Cause argument was not concocted by superstitious medieval Christians,but rather was adapted by certain Christian philosophers such as Aquinas and Dunn Scotis, from the already existing beliefs of the Aristotelians and Arabian Humanists. Niether was the First Cause argument used in relation to efficient causality only. Four hunred years before the life of Christ, Plato and Aristotle formulated the First Cause argument principly around the belief that the Prima Mobile was also the final cause for which all things moved and acted. This was just one of several subtle problems in the text for which there is not space to mention here. Overall though I do think it is a good book and should not be ignored, but what bothered me was the numerous comments people made about not having much interest or experience in philosphy but still using this book to reinforce beliefs they already had. Is that not the same kind of close mindedness that Christains are most commonly accused of? The history of Western philosophy is a complex and ever-expanding labyrinth retraceble in developement and tradition all the way back the Ancient Greeks. studying thinkers on all sides and at all places in history is the only way to clearly grasp the truth of its content.
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Summary: Wicca v. Christianity
Review: I am a practicing Wiccan. I work with someone who is 'very Christian' (7 days a week, not just the sundays) and he asked me questions that I had a hard time answering because I didn't have the WORDS for it. I knew that Christianity didn't work for me, and that Wicca did. It was the voicing of my beliefs I had problems with, not the belief itself (I hope that made sense.) However, when I read this book, it gave words to what I was feeling and believing and actually solidified for me the reason I'm NOT a christian. Yes, this book causes you to think. I read another review that said that this book solidified his belief in Christianity. I think this book is good for anyone looking for a deeper meaning to their life and not just philosophy.
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