The Atheist Book - A Better Life

SebBerkovich

So i came across this on twitter today

http://www.theatheistbook.com/

Looks like they've been taking design advice from the church of scientology or something - The names involved had me interested - but i'm it seems more like someone trying to create some kind of cult of Atheism.

Apparently this dude just faffs around the world taking photo of people and stuff while writing about how great Atheism is... i really can't see the point.

Does anyone actually think its a worthwhile project?

wretcheddomain

Of course not.

wp_rathead

Atheism should have both parachutes - cause it is so great

Michael Nugent

Chris met with me as part of this project, and I found him to be a friendly and talented photographer who had an ambitious idea (the type of idea that many people would think of and do nothing about) and who has dedicated two years to sourcing funding for the project and carrying it through to fruition.

He is not ‘writing about how great atheism is’. He is a photographer who has produced a work of art to challenge the mistaken prejudice that many religious people have about atheists, that we have no sense of joy or happiness or meaning in our lives without their god. I think it is a very worthwhile project.

gaynorvader

SebBerkovich wrote: »

So i came across this on twitter today

http://www.theatheistbook.com/

Looks like they've been taking design advice from the church of scientology or something - The names involved had me interested - but i'm it seems more like someone trying to create some kind of cult of Atheism.

Apparently this dude just faffs around the world taking photo of people and stuff while writing about how great Atheism is... i really can't see the point.

Does anyone actually think its a worthwhile project?

I just read the "About the Project" portion of the website you linked and feel you may have put a bit of a negative spin on it. So far as I can tell, it's simply a documentary in book format showing what atheists find fulfilling. I don't think the author is attempting to find any link beyond them being atheists and them finding things in life that they enjoy.

SebBerkovich

Just interested in the intention of this project...
if this is a project to

challenge the mistaken prejudice that many religious people have about atheists

Then is it a book intended for religions people who think atheists aren't decent people with the intention of changing their mind?

gaynorvader

SebBerkovich wrote: »

Just interested in the intention of this project...
if this is a project to

Then is it a book intended for religions people who think atheists aren't decent people with the intention of changing their mind?

I think it's to show religious (and probably some non-religious people too) that it is possible to enjoy life without religion. I'm inferring that through the goal that is stated on the site you liked:

The goal of the book was to visually capture the diversity of non-believers and the ways they maintain a better life, not in spite of their atheism, but because of it.

SebBerkovich

Yeah... i can see what the book's intention is alright - i personally just don't see why the project is necessary.

Are there people out there that need visual confirmation that it's not all that bad being Atheist?
And are these people just waiting for the right book to come along and change their minds.

It seems to me to be a bit of a smug, self aggrandizing project. (thats just me of course)

But as i said - i'm interested in why people might think it's worthwhile.

smacl

gaynorvader wrote: »

I think it's to show religious (and probably some non-religious people too) that it is possible to enjoy life without religion. I'm inferring that through the goal that is stated on the site you liked:

Perhaps, but the only people I could see buying a book like this are atheists looking for some kind of self affirmation, so it seems to fall at the first hurdle in terms of meeting that goal. Not a big fan of big glossy coffee table books myself, which this appears to be. Could do well as an xmas present I suppose.

gaynorvader

SebBerkovich wrote: »

Yeah... i can see what the book's intention is alright - i personally just don't see why the project is necessary.

Are there people out there that need visual confirmation that it's not all that bad being Atheist?
And are these people just waiting for the right book to come along and change their minds.

It seems to me to be a bit of a smug, self aggrandizing project. (thats just me of course)

But as i said - i'm interested in why people might think it's worthwhile.

There are many people out there that can't imagine how life could be worthwhile without a god in it. It's one of the reasons you get people trying to convert you, they're genuinely concerned that you're miserable. It's why there are cases of believers sending bibles to countries in need of aid and seeing nothing immoral about it. I don't know if this project is a necessary one, but I think that it might be an eye-opener for some, although they'll probably dismiss it as a trick.

Sulla Felix

SebBerkovich wrote: »

It seems to me to be a bit of a smug, self aggrandizing project. (thats just me of course)

So it's about par for a lot of art projects then. I find the best policy is to disregard the artists motives and just appreciate or derogate as appropriate, the art itself.

Michael Nugent

gaynorvader wrote: »

I think it's to show religious (and probably some non-religious people too) that it is possible to enjoy life without religion.

smacl wrote: »

Perhaps, but the only people I could see buying a book like this are atheists looking for some kind of self affirmation, so it seems to fall at the first hurdle in terms of meeting that goal.

I don't agree that the only people who would buy this are atheists looking for self-affirmation.

But even if that was true, how would that make the project fall at the first hurdle in meeting a goal of showing religious (and probably some non-religious people too) that it is possible to enjoy life without religion?

Michael Nugent

SebBerkovich wrote: »

Apparently this dude just faffs around the world taking photo of people and stuff while writing about how great Atheism is... i really can't see the point.

SebBerkovich wrote: »

It seems to me to be a bit of a smug, self aggrandizing project. (thats just me of course)

I'm not sure what you are basing these assessments of Chris on. Having met him, he seems neither smug nor self-aggrandizing.

He's a photographer, and a very good one. The project is a work of art. Different people will find their own meaning in it.

SebBerkovich wrote: »

Then is it a book intended for religions people who think atheists aren't decent people with the intention of changing their mind?

I don't think that is the primary aim, but it is one outcome that could indirectly happen.

Imagine an atheist family, or an atheist member of a religious family, buying the book and leaving it on the coffee table in their living room.

Religious family members, friends and neighbors are likely to notice it and perhaps start a conversation that would otherwise not have happened.

The conversation is about a book that shows that the idea that atheists cannot find joy or happiness or meaning is a myth.

It may not change anybody's mind, but it could be a useful start.

Benny_Cake

Michael Nugent wrote: »

But even if that was true, how would that make the project fall at the first hurdle in meeting a goal of showing religious (and probably some non-religious people too) that it is possible to enjoy life without religion?

In my experience most religious people are aware that it is perfectly possible to enjoy life without religion - it's certainly been my experience anyway. Those that believe it isn't are unlikely to be convinced by something called "The Atheist Book" (or anything else for that matter)!

That said, it looks like a very nicely put together book. I like a good coffee table book, even though I don't really have a coffee table.

Michael Nugent

Benny_Cake wrote: »

I like a good coffee table book, even though I don't really have a coffee table.

Good excuse to get a coffee table

jank

Michael Nugent wrote: »

I don't agree that the only people who would buy this are atheists looking for self-affirmation.

But even if that was true, how would that make the project fall at the first hurdle in meeting a goal of showing religious (and probably some non-religious people too) that it is possible to enjoy life without religion?

That assumes that religious people buy this book which in fairness not many will, so there goes the main 'goal' of the project.

Unless of course people are going house to house Jehovah Witness style
Now THAT would be ironic.

smacl

Michael Nugent wrote: »

I don't agree that the only people who would buy this are atheists looking for self-affirmation.

But even if that was true, how would that make the project fall at the first hurdle in meeting a goal of showing religious (and probably some non-religious people too) that it is possible to enjoy life without religion?

Simply that they're unlikely to be part of the audience that ever look at the book. Of the friends that I have who are very religious, they'll stay up all night arguing the relative merits of a religious versus non-religious life, and they understand full well that atheists enjoy life to the full same as anyone else. They don't tend to buy books discussing the merits of atheism. Dawkins' has possibly scuppered that end of the market for your friend.

In all honesty, who do you think is the target audience for this book?

SebBerkovich

Michael Nugent wrote: »

I'm not sure what you are basing these assessments of Chris on. Having met him, he seems neither smug nor self-aggrandizing.

I haven't made any assessment of Chris- i'm just discussing the project - The photos looks good and i wouldn't like anyone to think i'm attacking someone personally for work they've done

Michael Nugent wrote: »

Religious family members, friends and neighbors are likely to notice it and perhaps start a conversation that would otherwise not have happened.

Michael Nugent wrote: »

The conversation is about a book that shows that the idea that atheists cannot find joy or happiness or meaning is a myth.

I can see how that might work - i'm just not sure many believers are going to have a positive reaction to a book a delighted looking Atheists. Believers already think Atheists are fairly smug and from my perspective this may try be trying to dismiss the happiness myth, but will probably reinforce the "smug atheist" stereotype.

But thats just what i think - we'd need some believers to actually verify any of that.

Dades

jank wrote: »

That assumes that religious people buy this book which in fairness not many will, so there goes the main 'goal' of the project.

*May not actually be the goal*

From his website:

Chris Johnson wrote:

The goal of the book was to visually capture the diversity of non-believers and the ways they maintain a better life, not in spite of their atheism, but because of it.

Without seeing the book it's a bit early to say he hasn't achieved that goal, no?

I applaud the efforts he's gone to to actually create something.

actuallylike

I helped fund this book on Kickstarter. Because of this I received occasional email updates from him over the last 2 years. I can say that at no point did he ever bad mouth any religion or did he ever have a 'we're so much better than religion' vibe. He came across as a really genuine, decent guy who has a passion for what he is doing and delighted that he is able to do it.

From what I gather, the book will just be a series of photographs and paragraphs from famous people about the things that make them happy in life, without god. I like the idea myself. I think it gives people in areas dominated by religion a small out (not talking about extreme areas like Saudi Arabia, assuming it'd be banned somewhere like that, more like Southern America). Also, it's a Coffee Table book. Meant to be on display. guests can read it, maybe hear that a lack of belief is not all bad and can actually be quite enlightening? Maybe not. It is after all just a simple book, not intending to blow the world apart.

sbsquarepants

SebBerkovich wrote: »

Are there people out there that need visual confirmation that it's not all that bad being Atheist? .

I would say there certainly are, particularly in places like America where atheist is very much a dirty word.

SebBerkovich wrote: »

And are these people just waiting for the right book to come along and change their minds.
.

Not as many as the first category, I wouldn't think!
Therein lies the problem with this book, the people that need it won't look at it and the people that look at it probably don't need it. The whole thing seems slightly pointless to me, even if well intentioned.

sbsquarepants

actuallylike wrote: »

I helped fund this book on Kickstarter. .

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but how does that work? Is it as simple as pick a cause and donate?

gaynorvader

sbsquarepants wrote: »

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but how does that work? Is it as simple as pick a cause and donate?

Kickstarter is a site for funding indie projects of many different natures. Suggest you have a read here to find out more. There is some pretty interesting stuff up there and some pretty cool stuff has come out of it.

Dades

SebBerkovich wrote: »

I can see how that might work - i'm just not sure many believers are going to have a positive reaction to a book a delighted looking Atheists.

I also don't see many believers having a change of heart reading this. But then again I'm of the school of thought that thinks most believers like what they believe - otherwise they'd have difficulty believing it in the first place.

sbsquarepants wrote: »

Therein lies the problem with this book, the people that need it won't look at it and the people that look at it probably don't need it. The whole thing seems slightly pointless to me, even if well intentioned.

Since when was a book written that many people will enjoy, pointless?

pauldla

Dades wrote: »

Since when was a book written that many people will enjoy, pointless?

One does spring to mind... :pac:

Brian Shanahan

SebBerkovich wrote: »

Does anyone actually think its a worthwhile project?

Well the first picture I got was an obviously stoned guy sitting near a precipice, and the second was a woman's cleavage shot from on high.

If that's the level he's aiming for, then no.

pauldla

Brian Shanahan wrote: »

Well the first picture I got was an obviously stoned guy sitting near a precipice, and the second was a woman's cleavage shot from on high.

If that's the level he's aiming for, then no.

Perhaps I should give this tome a second look....