
Dedicated to JOSEPH LEWIS IN AMERICA AND CHAPMAN COHEN IN ENGLAND OF WHOM IT MAY BE SAID:
PREFACE
THE NECESSITY OF ATHEISM
CHAPTER I - THE EVOLUTION OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
CHAPTER II - THE KORAN AND THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS
CHAPTER III - THE PROPHETS MOHAMMED, JESUS, AND MOSES CHARLATANS OR VICTIMS OF MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DISEASE
CHAPTER IV - SOUNDNESS OF A FOUNDATION FOR A BELIEF IN A DEITY
CHAPTER V - THE PERSISTENCE OF RELIGION
CHAPTER VI - RELIGION AND SCIENCE
CHAPTER VII - RELIGION AND MEDICINE
The book opens with a bold declaration that religion, once a comforting support, now stands as a barrier to human progress. Drawing on history, philosophy, and the natural sciences, the author walks the listener through the rise of belief systems, from ancient myths to the doctrines of the Qur'an and the Bible, scrutinizing the claims of prophets and the logical foundations of divine faith. With a tone that is both incisive and surprisingly conversational, the first part sets up a systematic critique of how religious ideas have shaped—and often limited—our understanding of the world.
From there the discussion expands to the ways religion intersects with chemistry, astronomy, medicine, and even modern politics, questioning whether any of these institutions can survive without the weight of supernatural justification. The author argues that the tools of freethought provide a clearer, more humane roadmap for personal and societal flourishing, inviting listeners to examine their own assumptions. By the end of the opening sections, the work challenges us to imagine a future in which humanity relies on reason and compassion rather than ancient dogma.
Language
en
Duration
~9 hours (541K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Janet Blenkinship and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2007-01-02
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1902–1994
A psychologist and freethought writer, he is best known for a sharp, plainspoken challenge to religious belief that still feels direct and provocative. His work speaks to readers interested in skepticism, rational inquiry, and the history of secular thought.
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