The Path of Reason A Philosophy of Nonbelief by Bruce A. Smith (PDF)

Description

In today’s culture wars and the everyday struggle of individuals to make sense of the world around them, the question of how we can best understand the world becomes a vital one. In order to make the best decisions in life, we need the best information. But how can we go about obtaining that? “The Path of Reason” begins with an examination of the two means that we use to understand the world faith and reason. The author compares them and shows why they are often mutually exclusive. Ultimately, faith is found wanting, while reason proves to be surprisingly valuable.With the validity and importance of reason established, the author then uses it to examine various ideologies. Reason is applied to the questions of God, the soul, and the meaning of life, resulting in skeptical and atheistic conclusions.Following this is a presentation of critical thinking principles, an introduction to what is involved in critical thinking. The point is made that without the avoidance of logical fallacies, one can never truly come to a clear understanding of the world.With these tools in hand, the author leads the reader through an examination of various supernatural and New Age ideas. This is followed by a critical look at the doctrines, and certain specifics, of Christianity. All of these discussions reveal the power of reason to dissect confusing and misleading ideas and to uncover important, although sometimes difficult, truths.The book concludes with a look at what life means for nonbelievers. Understanding the world is an entirely different problem from dealing with the world, and this section recommends attitudes that can be beneficial in a world where the veil has been lifted by the power of reason. In the end, it is found that false hopes are replaced by a newfound sense of realistic possibilities and a greater understanding of the human condition. The audience for this book includes all of those who are interested in philosophical questions and how they apply to their own lives, those who are involved in a personal search for answers but who have not come to any definitive conclusions. Readers who agree with the conclusions in this book, specifically atheists and those who call themselves freethinkers, will find a clear and precise presentation of ideas that support their own conclusions as well as new ways of thinking about these issues. They will also obtain a greater appreciation of the stance taken by many of their opponents. The book is ideal for college students engaged in the study of philosophy and is easily accessible to any reader at high school level or above. “The Path of Reason” differs from other books in that:* It places special emphasis on critical thinking and provides an introduction to what is involved in critical thinking.* It shows the close correlation between religious skepticism and skepticism in all matters. * While most books that include Biblical criticism emphasize Old Testament passages, “The Path of Reason” examines many sections of the New Testament, even the teachings of Jesus, revealing the circular reasoning and other forms of improper logic. * It goes one step beyond most books on these issues by providing suggestions for dealing with the world when religious answers fail. * The book is presented in a style that engages the reader and that is readily accessible.

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: Review Smith, a business analyst at a computer software firm who was once a conservative Christian, seeks to eliminate misconceptions about atheism and skepticism by examining faith and reason, the two means by which we evaluate our world. Writing for those who are confused by media representations and culture wars about philosophy and religion, Smith explains his personal path to atheism and skepticism as he describes the collision of faith and reason, the application of reason to such ideas as the soul, God, and meaning, critical thinking, including its fallacies, and specific precepts of skepticism. He then explains Christianity as he perceives it, analyzing such ideas as heaven and hell, the ten commandments, sex and violence, Jesus in the books of Matthew and John, the end times, prophecy and religious history, and the facts of life of a committed atheist. –Reference & Research Book News About the Author Bruce A. Smith grew up as a conservative Christian with the intent of becoming a minister; he is now a public speaker espousing a skeptical and atheistic worldview.Smith has a degree in communications has been a lifetime student of philosophy, having explored a wide range of ideologies from conservative Christianity to the Eastern religions. It is this diverse background that he draws upon to provide the thought-provoking material found in The Path of Reason.. When he is not writing philosophical essays or creating his syndicated humor column, he works as a business analyst at a computer software firm. He lives with his wife in Southern California.

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐Bruce A. Smith’s slim but vital volume belongs in the library of every thinking person. Smith raises the magnifying glass of reason to fallacies most of us have believed at one point in our lives, including:Office clichés (“Change is good” – but is it always?),Astrology (in which the twelve signs are so generalized we can see pieces of ourselves in every one, no matter what month we were born in),The nature of truth (which remains truth no matter who says it or whether or not we like it),And that tangled mass of doublespeak, hypocrisy, and bloodletting known as the Holy Bible (after you read this chapter, you will never again see it as a moral guide).He also shows us what’s left when we learn to see the world clearly – a peaceful acceptance of life as it is that, believe it or not, can bring us greater joy than any superstitious fantasy we can come up with. Reason, it turns out, is not a cold, heartless tool — it’s our friend, and it can steer us away from beliefs and actions that are just bad for us.

⭐What’s nice about this book is it’s different from other books on atheism and skepticism I have read. As reflected in the “path” being in the title, it focuses more not only how the author ended up being an unbeliever, but how anyone could arrive at the same conclusions. In other words there’s a lot here about how a person moves from being a staunch believer to being the complete opposite.Another nice feature is the inclusion of much more that criticism of religion. Also included are revealing discussions of things like Magic and the New Age.As far as I can tell the author is really interested in showing the reader how to best use their minds in order to arrive at an accurate model of how reality works. In this I think the author is to be applauded and highly recommend this book to anyone.

⭐Courageous! Bruce A. Smith applies critical thought to man’s oldest questions. He doesn’t pussy-foot around. Rather, he dives right in, immersing the reader, forcing the reader to follow his personal journey from the Bible belt to atheism.Shuck the idea that philosophy has to be packaged in gigantic tomes crafted centuries ago by writers long since converted to dust. Smith is a modern day wit and thinker who presents his arguments in an easy, down to earth style.”The Path of Reason” may not be for everyone. For some, it may frighten, possibly offend. Others will find comfort. I guarantee you “The Path…” will, absolutely, challenge you to think. For anyone who has ever pondered thoughts about why are we here and where are we going, this one is must reading. I rated this work a solid A plus!William DeNisi – author of Trinity, and Choking Sam.

⭐Excellent discussion for those of us who have questions about religion. Mr Smith has the ability to ask and explain about ideas which have confused many of us but have never been truly answered. I highly recommend this for those who have wondered about the unquestioned philosophy of religion.

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