Publication Date:February 1986 Shipping:Eligible for Super Saver Shipping Availability:Usually ships in 24 hours
Editorial Reviews:
Product Description Al Seckel has rescued many of Bertrand Russell's best essays on religion, free thought, and nationalism from their resting places in obscure pamphlets, hard-to-find books, and out-of print periodicals to form a superb compilation.
Interesting but Hardly RelevantMay 2, 2008 1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Bertrand Russell's thoughts upon religion are often very interesting and exciting to read. I particularly enjoyed reading a theologian's nightmare. However hardly any of this book is philosophy on par with Russell's work in other subjects. Most of what appears to be valid in the book amounts to a critique of Christians. Very little of what Russell says is relevant to contemporary Christian philosophy in that his arguments are outdated. Very interesting but hardly any truth and substance against Christian thought.
A Theologian's NightmareSeptember 18, 2005 17 out of 19 found this review helpful
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This book consists of twenty-one essays written by Bertrand Russell (1872 to 1970) between 1912 and 1961. They were compiled and edited by Al Seckel, a member of the Bertrand Russell Society and one who has lectured extensively on Russell's life and work. According to Seckel, "the purpose of this collection is to bring together in one...volume some of Russell's most delightful thought-provoking essays on [organized] religion."
Some topics discussed are agnosticism, atheism, rationalism, churches, God, the soul, science, free thought, sin, and faith. He examines these and other topics with "rational skepticism" which is "withholding judgment where the evidence is not sufficient, or, even more so, when there is contrary evidence."
This collection of essays definitely captures the scope and depth of Russell's thinking on religion. His logic and reasoning are impeccable. I now understand why he was called "the world's most famous atheist."
The book is divided into five parts. Here are the titles of my favorite essays taken from each part:
I. (6 essays)
(1) Why I am not a Christian. (2) The faith of a rationalist. (No supernatural reasons are needed to make humans kind.)
II. (5 essays)
(1) A debate on the existence of God. (Between Russell and a Father of the church.)
III. (2 essays)
(1) Science and religion.
IV. (6 essays)
(1) An outline of intellectual rubbish. (2) The value of free thought. (How to become a truth-seeker and break the chains of mental slavery.) (3) Ideas that have harmed mankind (and womankind). (4) Ideas that have helped mankind (and womankind).
V. (2 essays)
(1) The theologian's nightmare.
Before the first essay begins, there is a brief biography of Bertrand Russell (later Lord Russell) by Seckel. It is very thorough as evidenced by the more than 55 footnotes at its end.
Finally, the only problem I had with this book is with regard to referencing. All essays are not referenced or inadequately referenced. I know that Russell in his other works extensively referenced. Thus, I'm not sure if Seckel edited out references to save space and assumed that the reader would believe everything Russell said due to his reputation. On a subject like this, I think references should have been kept in. Also, there is a bibliography at the end of the book. But it is really just a list of books written by Russell.
In conclusion, this is a fascinating collection of essays by one of most prolific and brilliant thinkers and writers of the twentieth century. Now I understand why Russell won the 1950 Nobel Prize in literature!!
**** 1/2
(essay collection published 1986; acknowledgements; biography of Bertrand Russell; 5 parts or 21 chapters; main narrative 300 pages; "bibliography;" name index; subject index)
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It's GoodJune 15, 2005 11 out of 15 found this review helpful
Russell is not concerned with refuting the claims of any specific religion with philosophic rigor. He shouldn't be. Since religion is not based on evidence, carefully refuting it would be like refuting the ancient Greek belief that Zeus and other gods reside on Mount Olympus. The only difference between that religion and current religions is that the Greek pantheon is out of fashion.
If you are a staunch believer and want to test your faith by subjecting it to a withering logical assault, you are wasting your time with this book (In fact, you are wasting your time period, since faith has nothing to do with logical arguments). If you want to read the thoughts of a great 20th century thinker on religion, and understand why he rejects it, then enjoy. I think that Russell is one of those men who values truth over everything else - a rare quality, even (especially?) among the followers of organized religion.
Everything I expectedJune 18, 2003 16 out of 19 found this review helpful
After reading 'Why I am not a christian', I was excited to find that there existed an even larger collection of Mr. Russells essays. Some of the essays in this book are already in 'Why I am not a christian', including that particular essay. The others I had not read before were informative, well-structured, and balanced. He was truly a man ahead of his time.
Not impressedMarch 10, 2000 13 out of 91 found this review helpful
As a Christian who has studied math and philosophy, I am quite familiar with Bertrand Russell's contributions to logic and philosophy, I am quite impressed with his brilliance. When I first got this book, I was afraid of what kind of powerful arguments he might present against my beliefs, instead I was shocked to find his arguments poorly constructed, his premises, shoddy, his logic full of holes. I expect much better from a man of his genius. It is quite obvious that his atheism wasn't based on a reasoned analysis of philosophy, a rigorous deduction from the evidence, rather, it was the result of a strong emotional bias against Christian ethics, particularly sexual ethics, period. A disappointment through and through. Whether you are atheist or theist, if you are looking for a good, through, reasoned arguments against God, you should look elsewhere than the writing of Bertrand Russell.
