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My thoughts on best selling Atheist books
There's been a rash of books extolling the virtues of Atheism. Two titles are "God is not great" by pundit Christopher Hitchens and The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. These are only two titles of many books.
This is rather disturbing to me. These are some books extolling the virtues of Atheism, Agnosticism. Even more so is the fact that some of them are best sellers. What is rather surprising, is there is a market for such books.
Is there a one major reason for this topic to be so popular.
What does it mean, if anything? What does it tell us about the US public.
Well first unfortunately not that many people read non fiction books. So even so these writings are on the NY Times non-fiction best seller list, how many people are reading them? That I think is the question. Plus are these works read more in some sections of the US than others. I would suspect by the nature of the subject, highly educated individuals would be reading them. Most likely they would be Atheists or Agnostics. Conversely it wouldn't be right to presume that they are. Some may be checking out these books because they are curious. They might be buying them to be part of the Au Courant scene.
There are those who buy them for information on different views other then their own. Lastly they could be purchased by Christians, other creeds, who want a good laugh.
Its doubtful to me, one would want to see how strong their faith is. It isn't that I believe they are fearful of testing their faith. Its I figure most people don't feel a need to test their faith.
On the other hand I wonder how many people read these books because they are atheists, or agnostics. What percentage, if any, are reading these works because they are Believers who want to see first hand the foolishness of the atheistic world view. Lastly how many persons are buying these tomes merely because of good old fashion curiosity. Or simply they want to keep up with the latest trends.
I don't believe they shouldn't be published. I believe in freedom of expression. Plus I'm not for censorship. Its my firm belief you fight ideas that you feel threatened with by expressing opposing views. In other words to me its wrong to say to someone or a group you can't say, write or whatever. The solution I think is to express counter viewpoints. One example of this would be antiracists marching at an American NAZI, KKK Rally. Hopefully there's police to keep the peace.
There is market trends too. The public will decide what makes it or not. They will vote with their credit or debit card, check or cash. If a trend is meant to be it will be, if not it won't be. The consumer will decide. So there are three parts here. The author, the publisher and the public.
None of these components can exist without the other.
One trend can start another one. Its somewhat Hegalian. One trend is started. In this case anti religious books. Then an opposite trend or backlash begins, pro religious.
This is precisely what Christian publishers like InterVarsity Press and others are doing. They are publishing books that extoll the rightness of religion, especially Christianity. One example The Dawkins Delusion" by Alister and Joanna McGrath. Please see top of essay.
One proposed reason for this trend in publishing is many people think conservative Christians are pushing their views on to people who believe differently. The fact is there are Jews, Moslems, Buddhists, Wiccans, Hindu's etc in the US. Did you know the nation with the tenth highest number of Hindus is the US. Yes, its true. Source Facts on File.
Many non-Christians fear their beliefs are not respected.
Virtually every belief system would be viewed with respect.
The exceptions to me would be satanists and Christian Identity. Despite the name, the fact is it's an American NAZI group. Use a search engine you'll see I'm correct.
I confess this is tricky since one of the tenets of many Christian churches is trying to convert as many people as possible. The issue is how do you practice a major tenet and still be sensitive to others. I know that one of the reason its so difficult to preach to Jews is that generally speaking they think that if they worship Jesus, they can't be part of the Jewish community. Being part of the Jewish community is really important.
There's Messianic Jews but this is rather controversial.
There are those who see themselves as Completed Jews who pray to the Jewish Messiah. There are others who think of them as not Jews, but Christians.
To me, individuals preaching to Jews should at least try to understand how Jews can be threatened by not being able to be part of their community.
Christian who try to convert should be sensitive to people's feelings. Its about understanding how the other person feels. One preaching the Gospel should at least try to be understanding of the sensitivities of the person being preached to. Most people appreciate it when they're feelings, concerns are respected. Please note this is not imply Christians are insensitive. This is merely sound suggestions. If I offended I did not mean to.
Resentment of what are seen as over zealous right wing Christians who want everyone to be like them in thought and action. The perception that ultra conservative Believers want to push their views on everybody else. I think this concern by non Christians and for that matter Liberal Christians could be a definite reason why these titles are selling so well.
I see this controversy in the annual so called War on Christmas. Even if every store only said Happy Holidays or Season's Greetings, whose stopping anybody from celebrating Christmas? What one does on their private property is up to them as long as its legal. Some Christians complain about the expressions mentioned. Happy Hanukah or Happy Kwanzah isn't being expressed either. Did you ever hear of a war on Hanukah or Kwanzah? Instead of complaining see inclusion The US is a multicultural nation. I am thinking many people deeply recent any one religion no matter what it is, deciding what is right for everyone.
In conclusion there are many reasons for these books best selling status, curiousity, trendiness, fear, concern of one's views, be they of other creeds or no creed not being respected. Lastly a backlash over those who see certain types of Christians pushing their viewpoints on others.
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Contributor's Note
If I offended anyone I am sorry.
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This intel was contributed by mugwort
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May, 2012
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