Anonymous

Bravo!

Reviewed: 06-29-18

There are many great books about atheism, but I think this one stands out for several reasons. Gregory Blount is a treasure trove of information. He not only has a thorough understanding of the subject matter; his method of presentation is entertaining, animated and witty. He can be a little sarcastic at times, and occasionally makes provocative statements that some may find outrageous while others will find them inspiring. All the while, Gregory Blount pushed the envelope and made me think critically about what can be known, as compared to what can be believed. Blount brings life to often dry, complicated topics when considering science, philosophy, history and the Bible. The author has a knack for boiling down a lot of information into clear, concise illustrations that are easy to follow.

The author's personal testimonies are also a unique feature of the book, and provide a deeply human element that people from many different walks of life can probably relate to. Blount is sometimes funny, and sometimes emotionally touching. He occasionally brought a smile to my face, and even tears of sympathy to my eyes at one point. Gregory Blount appears to have a keen insight into the psychology of humankind, as well as the nature of the world we live in.

The first two chapters tell how the author grew up in a religious setting, and are a very entertaining way for the reader to ease into the shallow end of the "pool". By chapter 3 the book began luring me into the deep end with discussions of how Blount began to mature and think for himself through a study of Eastern philosophy. Chapters 4 and 5 are where the author critically examines the religion of Christianity in particular. One chapter is focused on the Bible itself and the other, a very revealing account of Christian history. The last Chapter delves into the political elements of religion, and is the most outspoken chapter in the book. Each chapter seems to ratchet up the tension and urgency that the author came to realize in shedding his religious beliefs until finally making a stand to his family and friends. Blount's struggle to assert himself while preserving his personal relationships with believers is an inspiring account of the balancing act that many atheists must accomplish when abandoning faith without alienating themselves from loved ones. Any person who suspects that they have been misled by their parents' religion should read this book!

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