# Name some books a believer considering atheism or agnosticism might consult. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 21, 2010, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-books-a-believer-considering-atheism-or-agnosticism-might-consult/529911 "2010-02-21T21:26:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-books-a-believer-considering-atheism-or-agnosticism-might-consult/529911/41 "2010-02-28T19:27:02Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I’d recommend _Job: A Comedy of Manners_ by Robert Heinlein. It’s in the science fiction section. You know, that’s perfect for what I had in mind. I’ve read that book multiple times and own two copies of it; why I didn’t think of it my ownself I can’t imagine. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-books-a-believer-considering-atheism-or-agnosticism-might-consult/529911/42 "2010-02-28T19:28:07Z")
> [@Turble](#): > > For a thought provoking and hilarious look at religious belief try: [Letters From The Earth > by Mark Twain](http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/twainlfe.htm) > > Also, keep in mind that atheists do not “believe there is no god” … atheists do not believe there is a god. I think this is fundamental. That depends on the atheist, I should think. I know some who would state their metaphysical position as the former. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-books-a-believer-considering-atheism-or-agnosticism-might-consult/529911/43 "2010-02-28T19:48:29Z")
> [@Turble](#): > > For a thought provoking and hilarious look at religious belief try: [Letters From The Earth > by Mark Twain](http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/twainlfe.htm) > > Also, keep in mind that atheists do not “believe there is no god” … atheists do not believe there is a god. I think this is fundamental. Can you explain the difference please? I believe there is no God\*. I also do not believe there is a God. Are you saying those statements are conflicting? [sub]\*In a non pedantic sense. I know it is physically impossible to have 100 percent certainty of anything. But that argument has a very high level of pedantry. I can state with reasonable certainty that I am sure there isn’t a God.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-books-a-believer-considering-atheism-or-agnosticism-might-consult/529911/44 "2010-02-28T19:51:09Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > Like me. > > My ‘official’ line is, in short… > > “There is no God, and anyone who says you cannot ‘know’ this is just being pedantic” Wrong thread, dude. 😃 That one’s surely running over in GD, or the Pit. Also, you are implicitly denying the existence of Thor, and you know I cannot tolerate that. The usual threats. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-books-a-believer-considering-atheism-or-agnosticism-might-consult/529911/45 "2010-02-28T19:53:57Z")
[Doubt: A History by Jennifer Hecht](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060097728/ref=cm_rdp_product). Another vote for _Misquoting Jesus_ by Bart Ehrman ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-books-a-believer-considering-atheism-or-agnosticism-might-consult/529911/46 "2010-02-28T19:57:49Z")
> [@Ataraxy](#): > > [Doubt: A History by Jennifer Hecht](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060097728/ref=cm_rdp_product). Another vote for _Misquoting Jesus_ by Bart Ehrman Or _anything_ by Bert Ehrman. He’s written the same book four times that I know of, just with the footnotes in different order. Not to put him down at all, but he’s no Elaine Pagels. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-books-a-believer-considering-atheism-or-agnosticism-might-consult/529911/47 "2010-02-28T20:58:48Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > I believe there is no God\*. I also do not believe there is a God. Are you saying those statements are conflicting? Rather than conflicting, I would say the latter is more precise. To believe there is no god is a matter of taking that on faith (since there is no absolute proof) – to not believe there is a god requires no such logical leap; it is simply being without belief. I might suggest that those who _believe_ there is no god may be more appropriately called agnostic than atheistic. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-books-a-believer-considering-atheism-or-agnosticism-might-consult/529911/48 "2010-02-28T22:16:05Z")
Please confine the discussion to the names of books, as requested by the OP. For _all_ other issues, pls. take it to Great Debates (and provide a link here to that discussion). Thanks, twickster, Cafe Society moderator ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-books-a-believer-considering-atheism-or-agnosticism-might-consult/529911/49 "2010-03-01T02:14:08Z")
> [@B.Serum](#): > > [Letting Go of God](http://www.amazon.com/Letting-Go-God-Julia-Sweeney/dp/B000MM107I) by Julia Sweeney — yes, [_that_](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h-zT4iYU7eE/SQ8XA3zJy5I/AAAAAAAAAJU/4QJrvQ_nt6o/s320/JuliaSweeneyAsPat.jpg) Julia Sweeney. It’s only available as an audiobook (because it’s actually a monologue performance). The performance recounts her journey from believer to non-believer and the reasons that cause the change. An abridged excerpt from this show was featured on a **This American Life** episode called “[Godless America](http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=1083),” to which you can listen online for free. > > _Highly_ recommended. I just listened to the whole thing on YouTube. It is magnificent and very moving. ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-books-a-believer-considering-atheism-or-agnosticism-might-consult/529911/50 "2010-03-01T03:52:53Z")
> [@kevlaw](#): > > I just listened to the whole thing on YouTube. It is magnificent and very moving. Now I really listened to the whole thing on YouTube (there are two CDs). I have to say that it was more magnificent than I would have believed possible. Even if you think you have read everything there is to read about atheism, I recommend that you go listen to this. Listen to it with your whole family. Make sure you have tissues handy. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-books-a-believer-considering-atheism-or-agnosticism-might-consult/529911/51 "2010-03-01T13:41:26Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Nitpick: That’s [_Job: A Comedy of Justice,_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job:_A_Comedy_of_Justice) by Robert A. Heinlein. \ Yeah, you’re right. I conflated that with another book. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-books-a-believer-considering-atheism-or-agnosticism-might-consult/529911.md?page=2)