Little Book of Atheist Spirituality
"Can we do without religion? Can we have ethics without God? Is there such a thing as "atheist spirituality"? In this powerful book, the internationally best selling author André Comte-Sponville answers questions like these through a philosophical exploration of atheism--and he comes to some startling conclusions. According to Comte-Sponville, we have allowed the concept of spirituality to become intertwined with religion and thus have lost touch with the nature of a true spiritual existence. In order to change this, however, we need not reject the ancient traditions and values that are part of our heritage; rather, we must rethink our relationship to these values and ask ourselves whether their significance comes from the existence of a higher power or simply from the human need to connect to one another and the universe. Comte-Sponville offers rigorous, reasoned arguments that take both Eastern and Western philosophical traditions into account, and he uses his personal experience as a child raised in the Catholic church as an illuminating example of the loss of faith in God but not spirituality. Through his clear, concise, and often humorous prose, he offers a convincing treatise on a new form of spiritual life." -- Publisher's description