Religion for Atheists

I've had this book on my to-read list for sometime and finally stumbled across a copy. It has some interesting ideas even if I think the suggestions for what to do with them are somewhat naive. The basic thesis is that if we assume there isn't actually a god, why did humans invent religion anyway? Lots of reasons, and those reasons are still very valid ones from an atheistic perspective. De Botton goes beyond the traditional arguments of “community-building” to talk about religion's influence on art, architecture, perspective, kindness, and many other topics.

What I really enjoy about de Botton's writing is that he's able to speak about atheism without being snarky or derogatory. Too many books about atheism treat religious or spiritual people like idiots and end up just making fun of them. De Botton says that while he disagrees with their central idea, the fact that religions are the foundation of most human cultures means they are doing something right. There is a way to take religion into the modern world that will benefit everyone no matter what they believe in. De Botton confines his study to Christianity, Judaism, and Buddhism, but I definitely was able to see parallels with Shinto and Paganism as well.

Oddly enough, I found myself thinking that a lot of the basic spiritual needs De Botton speaks of are being met for a lot of people these days through fandom. This could be just one nerd's hypothesis, but the community, the connectivity, the symbolism and ceremony that surround the modern fan experience are an oddly secular religion. Something to think about for sure. De Botton's ideas on how to create this secular “church” are a bit pie in the sky for me (at least as applied to the Western world), but they provide a starting spot for personal reflection and for the needs people often deny after rejecting the idea of God.

Atheists and Religious people alike could easily read and enjoy this book. It reads extremely fast, has a good sense of humor, and gives you a great deal to think about.