[ExI] Atheists and agnostics know more about religion thatbelievers, study shows

[Dan]

Same here regarding Smith's book. I believe, too, he wrote that when he was in 
his early 20s. Also, IIRC, he doesn't have a high school diploma or degree. 
Quite an achievement for one lacking traditional credentials, no?

Regards,

Dan


----- Original Message ----
From: Max More <max at maxmore.com>
To: Extropy-Chat <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org>
Sent: Tue, September 28, 2010 8:35:51 PM
Subject: Re: [ExI] Atheists and agnostics know more about religion 
thatbelievers, study shows


> *What is the best refutation of religion you have ever seen, heard or read?
> 
> It can be a book or anything you want, a lecture by Dawkins, even the ExI-chat 
>archives.  Before I present my answer, I will offer the second best, and one 
>that Max More might suggest: Bertrand Russell's Why I am Not a Christian.

No, I wouldn't suggest that one. I really don't remember it well from 30 years 
ago, but think it *was* excellent -- but still not the *one* I would choose.

For a philosophical book that would be too difficult for the general public, I 
would pick J.L. Mackie's The Miracle of Theism.

I haven't read any of the recent popular books by Hitchens, Dawkins, etc. so I 
can't choose from among them.

I still have a soft spot for the philosophical and moral critique in George 
Smith's Atheism: The Case Against God.

Max