You are reading 3 of my all time favorites - Origin, Ancestor's Tale and Darwin's Dangerous Idea. I'd pass on the God Delusion, but I read it too so look who's talking!
I'm almost done with Jerry Coyne's Why Evolution Is True and it will definitely go down on my short list of books to recommend to the lay person who doesn't really "get" evolution - but is willing to learn.
I do read really fast and I have nothing else to do this summer. None of the places close to me is hiring and even if they were, I'd still have a lot of free time.
I've owned the Origin book for a few years but haven't read it yet. I've read parts of Ancestor's Tale for my Human Evolution class. Coyne's book is actually the book I want to read next. I've seen a lot of good reviews about that book. I have no problem with the theory of evolution but I'm not good at explaining it.
You will be able to explain it quite well with Jerry's help. I have no problem with it either, and I think I can give a good lay explanation of theory. I only read books like this for the purpose of "recommendations". And I definite will advise people to read it.
Why not the New Testament? If you want to know about Christianity, that is the story to read. It is also very short. All those other books are pretty secondary, even for Catholics.
I am going over the New Testament when I go over the entire Holy Bible. A lot of the Catholic ones I have were because they were 1 dollar at a Catholic store.
"am going over the NT when I go over the entire Holy Bible"
I don't know how experienced or inexperienced you are with the Bible. Many who are new to it start with Genesis & wind up getting bogged down in the long history parts of Israel's wars, battles & kings given in detail in Judges, Chronicles, & Kings. That detail is tedious & some readers give up. If you want to know Christianity, read the New Testament first. Start with Matthew. Afterwards go back & read the OT as background for that.
I'm not inexperienced with the Bible. I have read it before years ago. I've also went over it for religion classes. I've read the OT more than I've read the NT. I personally like the OT better. I'm more or less looking for logical reasons to continue believing Christianity over other religions or no religion.
"I'm not inexperienced with the Bible. I have read it before years ago"
That's kind of like saying "I drove a car once years ago"
"more or less looking for logical reasons to continue believing Christianity"
Then you should concentrate on the New Testament, particularly the actual story ("good news") of Jesus life & sacrifice. If you are just reading for "personal likes" then the OT has fish swallowing Jonah, etc that are interesting. If you want to understand Christianity, the NT is it
I also put right after that that I went over it for religion classes and I'm a religion minor. I take a religion class every semester. I haven't read the whole Bible from beginning to end in years. I wanted to do it again since some of my Christian friends seem to think it will help with my "faith crisis" but what I really want is a book that goes over logical reasons which I haven't found yet.
Have you read much C.S. Lewis? Several people I know have enjoyed his writing, depending on the causes of your crisis. I would think he would be better than books you get for a dollar. Lewis is very good with problems of understanding suffering and why evil exists. Other people like Max Lucado. Some of Max Lucado's book titles include It's Not About Me, Experiencing the Heart of Jesus, and Traveling Light.
I've read two of C.S. Lewis books. I read those for a church meeting. His books are better than my dollar books. I've never heard of Max Lucado though. I'll definately look his books up.
C.S. Lewis comment that "We have a body; we are a soul" is one of my favorite all time quotes. he is really good on specific subjects. Particular pain and suffering, loss, and why evil exists. Lucado is more talking about the life of Jesus and Jesus attitudes, loves, habits and his relationships with disciples.
If you read "The God Delusion" you should pair it with David Berlinski's "The Devil's Delusion". It is a direct response to Dawkins book and pretty well takes it apart, argument by argument. Read them back to back, Dawkins first. Berlinski is a secular Jew, he just points out the weakness in each and every one of Dawkins arguments.
You must be one HELL of a fast reader!
You are reading 3 of my all time favorites - Origin, Ancestor's Tale and Darwin's Dangerous Idea. I'd pass on the God Delusion, but I read it too so look who's talking!
I'm almost done with Jerry Coyne's Why Evolution Is True and it will definitely go down on my short list of books to recommend to the lay person who doesn't really "get" evolution - but is willing to learn.
AncientAtheist 2 years ago
I do read really fast and I have nothing else to do this summer. None of the places close to me is hiring and even if they were, I'd still have a lot of free time.
I've owned the Origin book for a few years but haven't read it yet. I've read parts of Ancestor's Tale for my Human Evolution class. Coyne's book is actually the book I want to read next. I've seen a lot of good reviews about that book. I have no problem with the theory of evolution but I'm not good at explaining it.
SexyScientist6 2 years ago
You will be able to explain it quite well with Jerry's help. I have no problem with it either, and I think I can give a good lay explanation of theory. I only read books like this for the purpose of "recommendations". And I definite will advise people to read it.
AncientAtheist 2 years ago
You should read "The Power of Myth" by Joseph Campbell. Also anything by Alan Watts.
odinata 2 years ago
I looked up "The Power of Myth". It sounds interesting. I'll also look up books by Alan Watts. Any books in particular by him?
SexyScientist6 2 years ago
Yes, "Nature, Man, and Woman" by Alan Watts is particularly good.
odinata 2 years ago
Why not the New Testament? If you want to know about Christianity, that is the story to read. It is also very short. All those other books are pretty secondary, even for Catholics.
74BobLilly 2 years ago
I am going over the New Testament when I go over the entire Holy Bible. A lot of the Catholic ones I have were because they were 1 dollar at a Catholic store.
SexyScientist6 2 years ago
"am going over the NT when I go over the entire Holy Bible"
I don't know how experienced or inexperienced you are with the Bible. Many who are new to it start with Genesis & wind up getting bogged down in the long history parts of Israel's wars, battles & kings given in detail in Judges, Chronicles, & Kings. That detail is tedious & some readers give up. If you want to know Christianity, read the New Testament first. Start with Matthew. Afterwards go back & read the OT as background for that.
ShaundalynChic 2 years ago
I'm not inexperienced with the Bible. I have read it before years ago. I've also went over it for religion classes. I've read the OT more than I've read the NT. I personally like the OT better. I'm more or less looking for logical reasons to continue believing Christianity over other religions or no religion.
SexyScientist6 2 years ago
"I'm not inexperienced with the Bible. I have read it before years ago"
That's kind of like saying "I drove a car once years ago"
"more or less looking for logical reasons to continue believing Christianity"
Then you should concentrate on the New Testament, particularly the actual story ("good news") of Jesus life & sacrifice. If you are just reading for "personal likes" then the OT has fish swallowing Jonah, etc that are interesting. If you want to understand Christianity, the NT is it
ShaundalynChic 2 years ago
I also put right after that that I went over it for religion classes and I'm a religion minor. I take a religion class every semester. I haven't read the whole Bible from beginning to end in years. I wanted to do it again since some of my Christian friends seem to think it will help with my "faith crisis" but what I really want is a book that goes over logical reasons which I haven't found yet.
SexyScientist6 2 years ago
Have you read much C.S. Lewis? Several people I know have enjoyed his writing, depending on the causes of your crisis. I would think he would be better than books you get for a dollar. Lewis is very good with problems of understanding suffering and why evil exists. Other people like Max Lucado. Some of Max Lucado's book titles include It's Not About Me, Experiencing the Heart of Jesus, and Traveling Light.
ShaundalynChic 2 years ago
I've read two of C.S. Lewis books. I read those for a church meeting. His books are better than my dollar books. I've never heard of Max Lucado though. I'll definately look his books up.
SexyScientist6 2 years ago
C.S. Lewis comment that "We have a body; we are a soul" is one of my favorite all time quotes. he is really good on specific subjects. Particular pain and suffering, loss, and why evil exists. Lucado is more talking about the life of Jesus and Jesus attitudes, loves, habits and his relationships with disciples.
ShaundalynChic 2 years ago
If you read "The God Delusion" you should pair it with David Berlinski's "The Devil's Delusion". It is a direct response to Dawkins book and pretty well takes it apart, argument by argument. Read them back to back, Dawkins first. Berlinski is a secular Jew, he just points out the weakness in each and every one of Dawkins arguments.
Matur1n 2 years ago 3
I've never heard of that book but I will look it up. I also want to read "The Dawkins Delusion." I heard it was pretty good.
SexyScientist6 2 years ago