The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever

Acknowledgments......Page 12
Introduction, Christopher Hitchens......Page 13
1.  LUCRETIUS, from De Rerum Natura �⠀ 伀渀 琀栀攀 一愀琀甀爀攀 漀昀 吀栀椀渀最猀 ), Book I, Translated by W. Hannaford Brown......Page 23
2.  OMAR KHAYYÁM, from Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám: A Paraphrase from Several Literal Translations by Richard Le Gallienne......Page 28
3.  THOMAS HOBBES, Of Religion, from Leviathan......Page 32
4.  BENEDICT DE SPINOZA, Theological-Political Treatise......Page 39
5.  DAVID HUME, The Natural History of Religion......Page 43
Of Miracles......Page 47
6.  JAMES BOSWELL, An Account of My Last Interview with David Hume, Esq.......Page 58
7.  PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY, A Refutation of Deism......Page 61
8.  JOHN STUART MILL, Moral Influences in My Early Youth, From Autobiography......Page 66
9.  KARL MARX, Contribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right......Page 71
10.  GEORGE ELIOT, Evangelical Teaching......Page 80
11.  CHARLES DARWIN, Autobiography......Page 93
12.  LESLIE STEPHEN, An Agnostic’s Apology......Page 96
13.  ANATOLE FRANCE, Miracle......Page 107
14.  MARK TWAIN, Thoughts of God, From Fables of Man......Page 110
Bible Teaching and Religious Practice, From Europe and Elsewhere and A Pen Warmed Up In Hell......Page 112
15.  JOSEPH CONRAD, Author’s Note to The Shadow Line......Page 116
16.  THOMAS HARDY, God’s Funeral......Page 118
17.  EMMA GOLDMAN, The Philosophy of Atheism......Page 121
18.  H. P. LOVECRAFT, A Letter on Religion......Page 125
19.  CARL VAN DOREN, Why I Am An Unbeliever......Page 128
20.  H. L. MENCKEN, Memorial Service......Page 132
21.  SIGMUND FREUD, From The Future of an Illusion , Translated and edited by James Strachey......Page 136
22.  ALBERT EINSTEIN, Selected Writings on Religion......Page 142
23.  GEORGE ORWELL, From A Clergyman’s Daughter......Page 150
24.  JOHN BETJEMAN, In Westminster Abbey......Page 151
25.  CHAPMAN COHEN, Monism and Religion......Page 153
An Old Story......Page 159
26.  BERTRAND RUSSELL, An Outline of Intellectual Rubbish......Page 163
27.  PHILIP LARKIN, Aubade......Page 182
Church Going......Page 184
28.  MARTIN GARDNER, The Wandering Jew and the Second Coming......Page 187
29.  CARL SAGAN, The Demon-Haunted World......Page 192
The God Hypothesis......Page 198
30.  JOHN UPDIKE, From Roger’s Version......Page 209
31.  J. L. MACKIE, Conclusions and Implications, From The Miracle of Theism: Arguments for and against the Existence of God......Page 214
32.  MICHAEL SHERMER, Genesis Revisited: A Scientific Creation Story......Page 228
33.  A. J. AYER, That Undiscovered Country......Page 230
34.  DANIEL C. DENNETT, Thank Goodness!......Page 235
35.  CHARLES TEMPLETON, From A Farewell to God , A Personal Word......Page 239
Questions to Ask Yourself......Page 241
36.  RICHARD DAWKINS, Why There Almost Certainly Is No God......Page 244
Gerin Oil......Page 256
Atheists for Jesus......Page 259
37.  VICTOR STENGER, From God: the Failed Hypothesis, Cosmic Evidence......Page 263
38.  DANIEL C. DENNETT, A Working Definition of Religion, From “Breaking Which Spell?”......Page 273
39.  ELIZABETH ANDERSON, If God Is Dead, Is Everything Permitted?......Page 276
40.  PENN JILLETTE, There Is No God......Page 287
41.  IAN M C EWAN, End of the World Blues......Page 288
42.  STEVEN WEINBERG, What About God? From Dreams of a Final Theory......Page 299
43.  SALMAN RUSHDIE, “Imagine There’s No Heaven”: A Letter to the Six Billionth World Citizen......Page 309
44.  IBN WARRAQ, The Koran......Page 312
The Totalitarian Nature of Islam......Page 355
45.  SAM HARRIS, In the Shadow of God, From The End of Faith......Page 362
46.  A. C. GRAYLING, Can an Athiest Be a Fundamentalist? From Against All Gods......Page 376
47.  AYAAN HIRSI ALI, How �⠀愀渀搀 圀栀礀) I Became an Infidel......Page 379
Credits and Permissions......Page 382
Index......Page 384