4.7 Epstein (2009)
Epstein, Greg M. (2009) Good Without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe. New York & London & Toronto & Sydney: HarperCollins Publishers.
Quick Look
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Author The Humanist Chaplain at Harvard University, Greg Epstein holds a B.A. in religion and Chinese and an M.A. in Judaic studies from the University of Michigan, and an M.A. in theological studies from the Harvard Divinity School. He is a regular contributor to "On Faith," an online forum on religion produced by Newsweek and the Washington Post. |
This Resource’s Key Interpretations and Insights Related to the Purposes of This Website
The humanist chaplain at Harvard argues that non-religious humanism should also be honored as a legitimate faith.
This resource hammers out a “nonreligious” centrist faith stance (although he prefers “lifestance” to “faith”). I’m including it here in one of my introductory sections as an excellent example of why I’m focusing on the broader “faith & politics” rather than just “religion and politics.” Epstein defines his understanding of secular humanism over against extremist Christians on the right and extremist New Atheists on the left.
The humanist chaplain at Harvard argues that non-religious humanism should also be honored as a legitimate faith.
This resource hammers out a “nonreligious” centrist faith stance (although he prefers “lifestance” to “faith”). I’m including it here in one of my introductory sections as an excellent example of why I’m focusing on the broader “faith & politics” rather than just “religion and politics.” Epstein defines his understanding of secular humanism over against extremist Christians on the right and extremist New Atheists on the left.
Endorsements
This quote from the back cover of the book summarizes it well:
“Questions about the role of God and religion in today’s world have never been more relevant or felt more powerfully. Many of us are searching for a place where we can find not only facts and scientific reason but also hope and moral courage. For some, answers are found in the divine. For others, including the New Atheists, religion is an ‘enemy.’
“But in Good Without God, Greg Epstein presents another, more balanced and inclusive response: humanism. He highlights humanity’s potential for goodness and the ways in which humanists lead lives of purpose and compassion. Humanism can offer the sense of community we want and often need in good times and bad--and it teaches us that we can lead good and moral lives without the supernatural, without higher powers...without God.”
This quote from the back cover of the book summarizes it well:
“Questions about the role of God and religion in today’s world have never been more relevant or felt more powerfully. Many of us are searching for a place where we can find not only facts and scientific reason but also hope and moral courage. For some, answers are found in the divine. For others, including the New Atheists, religion is an ‘enemy.’
“But in Good Without God, Greg Epstein presents another, more balanced and inclusive response: humanism. He highlights humanity’s potential for goodness and the ways in which humanists lead lives of purpose and compassion. Humanism can offer the sense of community we want and often need in good times and bad--and it teaches us that we can lead good and moral lives without the supernatural, without higher powers...without God.”
(There are no plans at this time for either a Highlights or Detailed Review for this resource.)