Atheist's A to Z of Religion

When the meaning of the word "religion" is "binding or holding together", why are so many people "unbinding" themselves? The number of Americans who claim no religious affiliation is the highest it has ever been with a third of adults under the age of thirty not identifying with any religion. In the UK, during the past decade, the number of people who have escaped from religious belief has risen from 6 million to 14 million. Against this, however, Islam marches on, as does the profitable business of Fundamentalist Protestantism. Why is there so much inter-religion antagonism? Could it be that on a daily basis and throughout the world, religion is seen to be causing pain, suffering, division, conflict, violence, war and death? Not to mention child abuse. An Atheist's A to Z of Religion tries to answer these questions by drawing attention to the childishness, dangers, and failings of religion. Specifically, it reviews almost 100 religious or related topics, beginning with Abraham and ending with Zen Buddhism. Each topic attracts a number of quotations which range in tone from humorous to critical and on to definitively damning. They come from scientists, songwriters and psychologists, from poets, priests, politicians and playwrights, and from comedians, philosophers and intellectuals who together represent a variety of times, nationalities and cultures. An amusing but challenging read, this book offers a wealth of entertaining and devastating quotations and stories.