Can we do without religion? Can we have ethics without God? Is there such thing as 'atheistic spirituality'? In this powerful book, the internationally bestselling author André Comte-Sponville presents a philosophical exploration of atheism - and reaches startling conclusions.
Atheists, Comte-Sponville argues, are no less interested in a spiritual life than religious believers. But by allowing the concept of spirituality to become intertwined with religion and dogma, humanity has lost touch with the nature of a true spiritual existence.
Using rigorous, reasoned arguments and clear, concise, and often humorous prose Comte-Sponville draws on both Eastern and Western philosophical traditions to propose the atheistic alternative to religion, based on the human need to connect to each other and to the universe. In doing so, he offers a convincing treatise on a new form of spiritual life.
The unique, the unusual, the rare - these are the features that form the criteria for selection in Brian Harris's wonderful guide to churches and cathedrals. Here is a man who, in the style of Pevsner, has travelled the length and breadth of England and Wales in his quest for the most fascinating churches and cathedrals, recording his visits in minute detail and creating a marvellous treasury of facts about our religious heritage. Each church comes with a list of key must-see features - whether it be the particularly beautiful fan-vaulted cloisters of Gloucester Cathedral, the tombstone carved by Eric Gill in the graveyard of St Mary and St Lawrence in Great Waltham, Essex, or the glowing great East window in the choir at York Minster, made of the largest single area of medieval stained glass in the world. Alongside the gazetteer to 500 churches come amazing stories about every aspect of church architecture from bells and mazes, to maidens' garlands and stained glass sundials, vamping horns and wooden effigies. Fully illustrated throughout, this book will become a standard work of reference for anyone who loves visiting churches and wants to know more.
The foundation stone of Jewish and Christian scriptures, the power of the Book of Genesis lies in its stories - Creation, the Fall, Cain and Abel, Noah, Abraham, Jacob and Joseph. These ancient tales illuminate some of our most enduring and profound problems: cowardice, the struggle with evil, the difficulty of facing past mistakes, achieving a true understanding of our innermost selves. Karen Armstrong traces the themes and meanings of these stories, examining what they can still tell us about the human quest for meaning.
The foundation stone of Jewish and Christian scriptures, the power of the Book of Genesis lies in its stories - Creation, the Fall, Cain and Abel, Noah, Abraham, Jacob and Joseph. These ancient tales illuminate some of our most enduring and profound problems: cowardice, the struggle with evil, the difficulty of facing past mistakes, achieving a true understanding of our innermost selves. Karen Armstrong traces the themes and meanings of these stories, examining what they can still tell us about the human quest for meaning.
Can we do without religion? Can we have ethics without God? Is there such thing as 'atheistic spirituality'? In this powerful book, the internationally bestselling author André Comte-Sponville presents a philosophical exploration of atheism - and reaches startling conclusions.
Atheists, Comte-Sponville argues, are no less interested in a spiritual life than religious believers. But by allowing the concept of spirituality to become intertwined with religion and dogma, humanity has lost touch with the nature of a true spiritual existence.
Using rigorous, reasoned arguments and clear, concise, and often humorous prose Comte-Sponville draws on both Eastern and Western philosophical traditions to propose the atheistic alternative to religion, based on the human need to connect to each other and to the universe. In doing so, he offers a convincing treatise on a new form of spiritual life.