Religious and Irreligious Books

[Delta]

Just wondering how many of you read books about religion in general. Not necessarily the bible, but other books. I myself have read parts of the bible, a good chunk of "god is not Great" which I'm still working on and "the Portable Atheist" which I've flipped through and will likely read over the summer.

I also plan to read the bible and the qu'ran cover to cover over the summer.

Any books you guys have read, enjoyed and would recommend?

 

[Sparks]

You might spend a couple of hours with the Screwtape Letters by C S Lewis. In it a senior devil provides some guidance to a junior devil on how to undermine faith and promote sin. Interesting, perhaps, to this forum is the devil's viewpoint that self-interest and greed are the greatest good and that virtue (human, that is) is almost incomprehensible.

 

[deanhills]

Just wondering how many of you read books about religion in general. Not necessarily the bible, but other books. I myself have read parts of the bible, a good chunk of "god is not Great" which I'm still working on and "the Portable Atheist" which I've flipped through and will likely read over the summer.

I also plan to read the bible and the qu'ran cover to cover over the summer.

Any books you guys have read, enjoyed and would recommend?

I bought a few books by Richard Dawkins recently:
1. The Selfish Gene
2. The God Delusion
3. The Ancestor's Tale

I've read The Selfish Gene and was slightly disappointed by it. As about 90% of the book was about Darwin type survival of the species rather than Dawkin's theory about Memes as being the vehicle for explaining religion:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meme
Eventually I also learned that Richard Dawkins actually borrowed this from somewhere else, so it is not authentically his anyway. I found more on Memes from Googling the Internet than I did from Dawkins's book on The Selfish Gene.

I started briefly on "The Ancestor's Tale" and have not made much headway with it, better reading anyway than "The Selfish GEne". Still have to read "The God Delusion", but I must say his style is a bit onerous, going on and on ... so not sure when I will get to the two remaining books of his.

 

[GekiDan]

I haven't tried reading any irreligious books. Maybe I can say that I'm afraid to read that since it can tarnish my beliefs.

I have just one question, is The Da Vinci code really an irreligious book?

 

[Delta]

I haven't tried reading any irreligious books. Maybe I can say that I'm afraid to read that since it can tarnish my beliefs.

I have just one question, is The Da Vinci code really an irreligious book?

The Da Vinci code is a wonderful work of fiction with intertwined conspiracy theories but no proof whatsoever. The book is hardly damaging to religion in anyway - the majority of people realize that it is in fact fiction, not fact. I would recommend to anyone that likes getting sucked into a great story.

The funny thing is, I hear more about the church getting angry about the da vinci code and angels and demons more than I do about god is not great or the god delusion - books that actually do pose a threat.

 

[deanhills]

The Da Vinci code is a wonderful work of fiction with intertwined conspiracy theories but no proof whatsoever. The book is hardly damaging to religion in anyway - the majority of people realize that it is in fact fiction, not fact. I would recommend to anyone that likes getting sucked into a great story.

The funny thing is, I hear more about the church getting angry about the da vinci code and angels and demons more than I do about god is not great or the god delusion - books that actually do pose a threat.

I enjoyed the book just as much and was completely amazed about the religious comments afterwards. I saw the movie, but must say after my enjoyment of the book, the movie was a little of a letdown for me.

 

[DodgeFB]

I enjoyed the book just as much and was completely amazed about the religious comments afterwards. I saw the movie, but must say after my enjoyment of the book, the movie was a little of a letdown for me.

I was nagged into watching it. And was all ready to be offended. Then I was madder about the waste of time than what was in the movie. To me it was just a nothing thing. Not good not bad just a waste of my time.

 

[deanhills]

I was nagged into watching it. And was all ready to be offended. Then I was madder about the waste of time than what was in the movie. To me it was just a nothing thing. Not good not bad just a waste of my time.

Fortunately mine was a case of taking out the DVD and then only watching it half way. The book was really that much better.

 

[Glee]

For the first 13 years of my life the only literature I was allowed to read was religious related books. This ranged from fiction and nonfiction. Even my text books for school was Christian. Somehow they would work in how God had a hand at the 100 years war (which felt forced...) Since I wasn't really allowed to watch TV, books were it for me. I would draw and read. So I've read a LOT of Christian books. When I got out of the church, and discovered there were other books that wasn't shoving God in my face every three sentences, I was grateful. Nothing against Christian material but come on. We get it!

 

[deanhills]

For the first 13 years of my life the only literature I was allowed to read was religious related books. This ranged from fiction and nonfiction. Even my text books for school was Christian. Somehow they would work in how God had a hand at the 100 years war (which felt forced...) Since I wasn't really allowed to watch TV, books were it for me. I would draw and read. So I've read a LOT of Christian books. When I got out of the church, and discovered there were other books that wasn't shoving God in my face every three sentences, I was grateful. Nothing against Christian material but come on. We get it!

I spent my childhood and youth in a fairly small town with a number of narrow minded people in it, but thankfully had parents who were enlightened and not restrictive. They both were originally from outside the town so had a larger view of the big picture and I am grateful for that. I must say though that the continuous use of putting fear into people by some of the local ministers got me so anti small religion that I left the town at my earliest opportunity and have never been back except for occasional family visits. I remember this one minister in my senior secondary school year, preaching to a congregation of school children that pop music and dancing were sin. I am happy that our local Library was a really good one, and there was a wide variety of books to read.

 

[Delta]

You might spend a couple of hours with the Screwtape Letters by C S Lewis. In it a senior devil provides some guidance to a junior devil on how to undermine faith and promote sin. Interesting, perhaps, to this forum is the devil's viewpoint that self-interest and greed are the greatest good and that virtue (human, that is) is almost incomprehensible.

Picked up the Screwtape Letters today along with "Mere Christianity," "The Abolition of Man," "The Great Divorce," "The Problem of Pain," "Miracles," and "A Grief Observed." Should be some good reads.

 

[GekiDan]

I have seen the movie Da Vinci Code yesterday and it seems that I'm a bit interested to read the book in the future. I would like to know the good fiction behind the book. The movie seems to be confusing.

 

[deanhills]

I have seen the movie Da Vinci Code yesterday and it seems that I'm a bit interested to read the book in the future. I would like to know the good fiction behind the book. The movie seems to be confusing.

The Book is so much better than the movie. The movie was a complete and utter disappointment to me. As you say, so confusing. The book was very clear, exceptionally well written, it had me gripping from beginning to end.

 

[GekiDan]

The Book is so much better than the movie. The movie was a complete and utter disappointment to me. As you say, so confusing. The book was very clear, exceptionally well written, it had me gripping from beginning to end.

I think I will just try to find an affordable copy for myself. I can't afford to buy the hardbound one. And the Angels and Demons movie is also been showing on theaters starting last week.

 

[GekiDan]

Yesterday I got a copy of Manga Messiah. A manga version of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The artwork is very good and stunning. Take a look at how does Jesus looked like, manga style, and how badass Judas Iscariot(the one with red hair at the right side of Jesus) is. Here is the front cover:


Click the pic for full view.

It cost me more or less $4 at a local bookstore. You can see some trial chapters at NextManga.

 

[Glee]

Yesterday I got a copy of Manga Messiah. A manga version of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The artwork is very good and stunning. Take a look at how does Jesus looked like, manga style, and how badass Judas Iscariot(the one with red hair at the right side of Jesus) is. Here is the front cover:


Click the pic for full view.

It cost me more or less $4 at a local bookstore. You can see some trial chapters at NextManga.

Oh my God! lol. I HAVE to read that? I wonder of Jesus goes "Super Saiya-jin"

 

[GekiDan]

Oh my God! lol. I HAVE to read that? I wonder of Jesus goes "Super Saiya-jin"

Honestly, I got interested about this book because it was a manga.
I like reading manga.

If I had a scanner, I would love to scan the front cover and make a forum signature out of it.

 

[deanhills]

Honestly, I got interested about this book because it was a manga.
I like reading manga.

If I had a scanner, I would love to scan the front cover and make a forum signature out of it.

Agreed. It is beautiful artwork, frontcover impressed me too.

 

[GekiDan]

Agreed. It is beautiful artwork, frontcover impressed me too.

I have finished reading it and overall, it does have a pretty good artwork. It also have comedic-like scenes. My favorite one is when Peter saw Yeshuah on the seaside a week after Resurrection. Another one is when Satan was drawn in chibi and he started to say bad words(temptation).