Why Atheism?

Is it possible for the non-believer to lead a happy and meaningful life? This is one question George H. Smith, defender of reason and personal liberty and author of an influential contemporary classic on non-belief, seeks to answer in Why Atheism? Smith reviews the historical roots of non-belief going back to the ancient Greeks, argues that philosophy can serve as an important alternative to religion, and defends reason as the most reliable method humans have for establishing truth and conducting one’s life.This book tackles a wide range of subjects, some of which have never been thoroughly analysed from an atheistic point of view. Beginning with the problem of atheism’s credibility, Smith points out the various ways in which religious opponents have sought to exclude atheism from serious consideration. He also analyses a number of classical philosophical issues, such as the nature of knowledge and belief, concluding that modern atheism is largely an unintended consequence of the religious diversity brought about by the Protestant Reformation.