I just received a request for a list of books on atheism and also atheism and Islam. Can anyone help with putting together a list, which I can send on? Thanks for any help on this. Here’s the email:
Hello.
I am interested in getting a thorough education about atheistic and agnostic thought. My interest is an academic one, as I am studying religion at the post-secondary level, and would like to widen my horizons as much as possible.
As I have no real place to begin, I would be thankful if you could send me a thorough list of primary and standard books, which shed light on the short history of atheistic thought, atheistic arguments in support of and other reasons for disbelief, arguments against different faiths, and anything else you deem would be useful in my inquiry.
My background is in Islamic theology, so if you have anything specifically relating to atheism and Islam, I would be thankful if you included that as well. I am also open to arguments against other faith-based ideologies as well.
I hope we can remain in touch. Thank you for your time.
10 comments
1 ping
Skip to comment form ↓
Pedram F Dahl
February 19, 2012 at 10:53 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Dear Maryam,
I got directed to this page in response to your tweet.
Here is a quick suggestion of a few “standard” works on atheism (though I am not familiar with books covering atheism AND islam)
- Atheism, Morality, and Meaning, by Michael Martin
- Romantic Atheism: Poetry and Freethought, 1780-1830 Martin Priestman
- In Defence of Atheism: The Case Against Christianity, Judaism and Islam by Michel Onfray
Dialogues between faith and reason : the death and return of God in modern German thought by John H Smith (interesting study on the interaction between faith and reason).
Good luck putting together the list.
Regards
Pedram F Dahl
Kylie Sturgess
February 19, 2012 at 10:59 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
The Young Atheist’s Handbook – Alom Shaha.
http://www.alomshaha.com
Mike
February 19, 2012 at 12:43 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Books by Taner Edis, Turkish-born American physicist, might be of help here. From what I gather he is more nuanced about Islam and Arabic culture than other atheist writers while still remaining a staunch atheistic naturalist.
http://www.amazon.com/Taner-Edis/e/B001HPC3CK/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
phil zombi
February 19, 2012 at 2:46 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
The Portable Atheist – It has a pretty good range of unbelievers.
Doubt – Jennifer Hecht – Not specifically about atheism but a history of doubt from the greeks through modern times. (I am in the middle of it right now)
demetriosofpharos
February 19, 2012 at 4:44 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Why I’m Not A Christian, Age of Reason, Rights of Man by Bertrand Russel.
Upright Ape
February 19, 2012 at 5:33 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Fot specifically on atheism and Islam I would recommend anything by Ibn Warraq. They are all very good. Also I would suggest works of Ayan Hirsi Ali even though I don’t agree with her on everything.
Maryam Namazie
February 19, 2012 at 11:15 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Thanks for all your suggestions!
demetriosofpharos
February 20, 2012 at 12:16 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
I just realized I mis-attributed two books. Age of Reason and Rights of Man are Thomas Paine, not Bertrand Russell. Silly of me, really.
frankboyd
February 21, 2012 at 8:20 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Why I am not a Muslim by Ibn Warraq (and, really, everything by Ibn Warraq. The essay Islam, the Middle East, and Fascism should be required reading for any literate person)
The Caged Virgin, Infidel, and Nomad by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Islam and the Psychology of the Musulman by Andre Servier (out of print, but available on the web
For a short, sharp, sweet essay that makes me smile, Studying Islam made me an Atheist by Douglas Murray.
As regards atheism in general, good place to start is the Hitch’s Portable Atheist, as well as God is not great. Dawkins’s The God Delusion and Harris’s The End of Faith are further good ones.
Keep up the good work!
susan
February 19, 2012 at 10:40 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
victorian england 1891 oscar wilde lord arthur saville’s crime for the letter from “The Deanery,Chichester,27th May-”My Dearest Aunt,…..but everybody is so Radical and irreligious nowadays,that it is difficult to make them see they should not try and dress like the upper classes. I am sure I don’t what we are coming to. As papa has often said in his sermons,we live in an age of unbelief.”penguin 94
Books on atheism and Islam | Maryam Namazie | Books Palace
February 19, 2012 at 6:24 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
[...] rest is here: Books on atheism and Islam | Maryam Namazie « Rosalind Adam is writing in the rain: About Picture [...]