Robin Harvie and Stephanie Meyers, Eds.

The Atheist’s Guide to Christmas

Published by Harper Perennial

Jan 04, 2011 By Frank Valish Bookmark and Share


You are not likely to find many books more sacrilegious to read during the holiday season than something called The Atheist's Guide to Christmas. However, when this collection of 42 essays by nonbelievers graced this particular God-fearing reviewer's desk this December, I found that I simply couldn't put it down. Separated into six sections—Stories, Science, How To, Philosophy, Arts, and Events—the essays in this book run the gamut on atheist perspective. There's Brian Cox's lesson on Geneva's Large Hadron Collider, the machine built to recreate the conditions in the universe immediately after the Big Bang. There's Robbie Fulks' tale behind his folk song "God Isn't Real." There's Jon Holmes' humorous guide to outdoor holiday lighting. And there's even a story by Duran Duran's Simon Le Bon about his own personal loss of faith and relationship with Christian belief. For someone who huddles around the Christmas tree during the holiday season, which I do, The Atheist's Guide provides an interesting and even informative read. While the writers herein may not share this particular reviewer's belief system, their text never insults or shocks with brazenness or anti-religious ire. What it does provide is a window into another worldview. And if appreciating others, irrespective of creed, ethos, or lack thereof, is not in the spirit of Christmas, then what is? (www.harperperennial.com)

Author rating: 6/10

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Mr. Hatey McLoathenstien
January 8th 2011
10:55pm

It’s true what they say:  the holiday season comes earlier and earlier each year.  Only 350 more shopping days!