If suddenly you find yourself traveling down a long tunnel towards a soothing, ethereal light and you see Grandma waving to you from a distant garden with harp music in the background, relax. You're not dead. When you die, you'll know it. Death isn't going to sleep. Death is waking up. It is actually like being startled awake. There is no afterlife. There is merely life. What comes after the biology is magic.

"Santo Daime: A New World Religion" deals with a young, exotic and controversial religious movement. Emerging in the Brazilian Amazon in the 1930s, Santo Daime has since spread to many of the world's major cities. Santo Daime is a mixture of indigenous, popular Catholic, Afro-Brazilian, esoteric, Spiritist, and new age beliefs and activities. Ritual practice is centred on the consumption of a psychotropic beverage called 'Daime' which members believe enhances their interaction with the supernatural world. Because Daime is treated as an illegal narcotic in many parts of the world, outside of its Brazilian homeland most Santo Daime rituals are practised clandestinely. This book unites extensive fieldwork experience with an established theoretical background and makes a significant contribution to understanding the contemporary interface of religion and late-modern society. Individualization and religious subjectivism, pluralization and religious hybridism, transformation and detraditionalization, globalization and religious identity, and commoditization and religious consumption are among the many issues engaged by this book. "Santo Daime: A New World Religion" is an accessible and multi-disciplinary book suitable for undergraduate students and researchers working in Religious Studies, Sociology of Religion, Anthropology, Cultural Studies and Latin American Studies.

Atheism's leading lights have long been intellectuals raised in the secular and academic worlds: Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and the late Christopher Hitchens. By contrast, Jerry DeWitt was born and bred into the church and was in fact a Pentecostal preacher before arriving at atheism through an extraordinary dialogue with faith that spanned more than a quarter of a century. "Hope After Faith" is his account of that journey.
DeWitt was a pastor in the town of DeRidder, Louisiana, and was a fixture of the community. In private, however, he'd begun to question his faith. Late one night in May 2011, a member of his flock called seeking prayer for her brother who had been in a serious accident. As DeWitt searched for the right words to console her, speech failed him, and he found that the faith which once had formed the cornerstone of his life had finally crumbled to dust. When it became public knowledge that DeWitt was now an atheist, he found himself shunned by much of DeRidder's highly religious community, losing nearly everything he'd known.
DeWitt's struggle for identity and meaning mirrors the one currently facing millions of people around the world. With both agnosticism and atheism entering the mainstream--one in five Americans now claim no religious affiliation, according to a recent study--the moment has arrived for a new atheist voice, one that is respectful of faith and religious traditions yet warmly embraces a life free of religion, finding not skepticism and cold doubt but rather profound meaning and hope. "Hope After Faith" is the story of one man's evolution toward a committed and considered atheism, one driven by humanism, a profound moral dimension, and a happiness and self-confidence obtained through living free of fear.

What is Atheism? Atheism is the rejection of religion outright. It posits that there are no deities, and that the existence of all things can be explained rationally and without the presence of a higher power. This independently written book aims to examine the history of atheism and its philosophical development throughout the years, its rise in popularity throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, its central tenets of belief, the reason behind a person becoming and atheist, as well as atheism's future. It also contains survey data, provides popular quotes about atheism, lists a large variety of famous atheists, and depicts today's commonly used atheist symbols. Contents: What is Atheism? The History and Development of Atheism Atheism Today & Tomorrow Atheism Vs. Agnosticism What is Behind the Selection of Atheism as a Religion? Types of Atheism Reasons for Atheism The Current State of Atheism Atheist Symbols, Quotes and Famous People

The Age of Reason, The Complete Edition is one of the most powerful thought provoking books ever written about God and religion. It smashes through the ancient walls of superstition and fear of the "revealed" religions with the unstoppable battering ram of our innate God-given reason Thomas Paine was often attacked for having written this enlightening book, but his arguments and profound observations found within have never been defeated. This edition contains the seldom seen third part to The Age of Reason and, unlike any other editions, also includes all of Paine's known essays and correspondence regarding God, Deism, the Bible and theology.

A Secular Humanist's tour de force, Don Libey's second novel offers Christian believers rare insight into the true fallacy of God's Church and a Life in the Lord. Set in Small Town, America, it is the story of how people of blind faith plant their seed, nurture their beliefs, and harvest their rewards with their unquestioning reliance on the mythical divine and revealed Word of God and the moral rectitude and disaster of Christian teaching. For those for whom "Jesus is enough" this is a story that reveals the "old-timey Gospel" as essentially hypocrisy and a simple life with God on your heart as the primary ingredient for the church to make money and keep its "believers" enslaved.

Religions evolve, not metaphorically, but in a very real way. By applying survival-of-the-fittest principles to religion, we can finally understand how religion became incredibly infectious to the average human. Religion is perfectly adapted to its environment: your brain. In The Religion Virus, you will learn how infectious ideas like the loving father-figure God, the promise that death is not the end, the attraction of heaven, the threat of hell, and many others evolved from prehistoric to modern times. You will finally understand why today's religions survived while thousands of other religions and sects died out. The world's religions have amazing parallels to biological life: they reproduce, mutate, and compete with each other in an ongoing battle for survival of the fittest. Like biological life, over ninety-nine percenty of the world's religions are extinct, but the ones that remain are quite remarkable. They are the strongest and best. More importantly, survival of the fittest does not necessarily mean survival of the truth, but rather the survival of the things people want to believe, whether true or not.

Beginning in 1689, Jean Meslier worked for around forty years as the priest of the small town of Etripigny, France. When he died, his parishioners were astonished to find his last testament to them: a refutation of every religious doctrine he had advocated in life. This is the testament, with preface by Voltaire, who exhorted his own daughter to read it again and again. The Godless Heritage Series is a project dedicated to bringing hard-to-find works of atheist and secularist history back into print in an accessible way. Our goal is to bring back works that allow us to rediscover the lives of atheists, agnostics, and secularists from across cultures and through the ages.

Some events defy statistics and common sense, like winning the lottery four times in a row. For believers it's just God doing His thing. Atheists and agnostics don't have it that easy. What are these astounding synchronicities and highly improbable lucky breaks? Are they just coincidences or is there something else at work here? Drawing on science, mathematics, psychology, and philosophy, this book places the miraculous into a rational framework, and suggest strategies for harnessing its power in your decision-making and worldview. That's just half the story. The other half is the author's own improbable life, starting as a Jewish infant hidden in the basement of a Gestapo headquarters, later becoming an Israeli soldier in the Six-Day War, a concert pianist, a stand-up comedian, and a yogi in an ashram, all before he turned 50. It is a rip-roaring hilarious tale that will make your head spin. It will also give you a blueprint for turning your own life into a journey of awe and amazement. About the author Peter Elyakim Taussig is a Czech-Israeli-Canadian-American composer, author, filmmaker, concert pianist, nature photographer, and inventor. He is neither award-winning nor internationally acclaimed. He resides in Lenox Massachusetts and Santa Barbara California. Further self-aggrandizing information is available on his web site at: www.petertaussig.com

Discussions about belief and non-belief usually end up, time and time again, in the concept of religion, but in this book the author has started from the premise that we need to separate the concept of God, from the notion of human institutions and organized religion. The real issue, he argues, is that the concept of God is poorly explored by believers, and greatly explored by non-believers, when in reality should be the opposite. As religious people grow up in religious environments, at some point God becomes just a word without a definition, and people lose perspective of what they really mean when they say: I do believe in God. So, in this book he takes on straight on the concept of God, the nature of faith, the connection between God and religion, how worshipping has evolved and the actual possibility of morality in the absence of believe. As in his first book he has made every attempt to express his ideas in a simple, straight-forward manner, without being condescending to the believers and inviting them to learn about atheism and humanism without a push to stop believing. His only true objective is to promote reason and tolerance, and both believers and non-believers alike will find his work enticing, and thought-provoking. This book is the second (and last) in the "Inside a Non-Believer's" Mind series. On the first part (my Journey from Christianity to Freethinking), the author shared his ideas about the reasons to become a humanist and freethinker.

Jabez from the book of Chronicles was a blessed man but was selfish. This book will encourage us to go beyond Jabez. Dr. T Charles Brantley is married to Jackie Brantley for over 27 years with three children. He has also earned a double Doctorate and Masters Degrees from Newburgh Seminary. In addition, he has authored 12 national published books. He is also senior pastor of Restoration Springs Interdenominational Church in Waterbury, Connecticut. (www.rest.org)

This work, "Christianity and Black Oppression: Duppy Know Who Fe Frighten" asks: How is it that blacks have been Christianized for more than four hundred years, and in some cases more than five hundred years, and yet blacks are stereotyped as morally and mentally inferior? At the very first encounter between Europeans and Africans, Africans were perceived as "pagan," "heathen," and "devil worshippers." The tool that would transform Africans, it was postulated, would be the Christian religion. In spite of over four centuries of Christianity, the perception of blacks as morally and mentally inferior has not changed. Blacks, it would appear, carry a stigma that is genetic and can be transmitted. "Christianity and Black Oppression: Duppy Know Who Fe Frighten" also addresses the issue as to why there has not been a radical change in the perception of blacks in spite of centuries of blacks' investment of an inordinate amount of time, energy and money in the Christian religion. Green argues that Blacks were forced to surrender their African world view and adopt a European Christian world view. Black history and culture are marginalized, and at times demonized, within Christianity, and this is transferred to other areas of the lives of blacks. Indeed in this work, a comparison is made between the Dalits of India who are ostracized within the Hindu religion and blacks who share the commonality of oppression that is based on a stigma that is supposedly genetic and therefore can be transmitted. In the light of the fact that Christianity is considered to be an egalitarian religion with a God who is benevolent and who intervenes in peoples' lives, and the reality of black oppression, the question then arises as to whether blacks are subjected to "divine racism."

A concise compilation of logical and reasonable responses to Christian apologetic claims. This book will be of use to anyone who debates with Christians. It offers "old hands" a reminder of some of the arguments they may have forgotten, and maybe provides some new ones. It offers newcomers to the debate the common sense and rationality that is atheism and very good advice on how to keep control of theists who attempt to veer off the point or steer their rudders toward safer waters.

Five track athletes from New York went to Jamaica to learn the secrets to Jamaican sprinting. In their quest for immediate success, they ventured into the sacred hills of Jamaica. The harrowing experience almost killed them. Defeat and disappointment at the local track meet led them to become spies. The clues that they found convinced them that they could crack the secret codes that Jamaican's use to communicate and hide the secrets to sprinting. After a near death experience, a trip to the hospital and trickery from the number one con man in Jamaica, they returned to New York to compete in the County Championships.

2013 Reprint of 1935 Edition. Exact facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. Learn to use practical Rosicrucian principles to help solve your everyday problem both at home and in business dealings. This book gives you specific examples of how to attain health, happiness, and success. Avoid the delays and disappointments that stand between you and your goals by recognizing the right and wrong ways to use metaphysical and mystical principles. Spencer was a founder of the Ancient and Mystic Order Rosae Crucis (AMORC), a modern revival Rosicrucian order headquartered at San Jose, California. Lewis was born in Frenchtown, New Jersey, November 25, 1883, of Welsh ancestry. In 1904 Lewis founded and served as president of the New York Institute for Psychical Research. The institute specialized in occult studies with emphasis on Rosicrucian teachings. The AMORC was organized in several stages over the next years, and by 1917 held its first national convention in Pittsburgh, at which Lewis established his plan to develop correspondence courses. AMORC taught philosophical and mystical practices in order to develop the latent faculties of man, and it sold literature by mail order. Lewis himself authored the basic set of correspondence lessons and a number of the books published by AMORC.

An uncommon look on how religion affects our lives, how we accept limits on our freedom and how we can do better for our children. The author is an immigrant from Holland and has expirienced living in a socialist environment before coming to the USA. Acknowledging that the USA is by far the envy of many in the world, it would be unrealistic to claim there is no room for improvement. The world will never be perfect for everyone, but it never hurts to exchange opinions on how we're doing and how we might improve.

This book aims to help poor downtrodden atheists and agnostics understand, if not appreciate, religion. Explains why it's got such a grip on us all, and what you can do about it From creation to civilisation: the longest story ever told. It's all here- including the funny bits, because what could be funnier than religion?

Two grandfathers. Each born in the same year. The story of their lives will shock you and delight you. The way their lives intersected will astound you. Michael Newman tells the story of his grandfathers and how the events of their lives led him to wrestle with the biggest questions of human existence. It started with a murder. It kept going because of a miracle. Be prepared to think, to ponder, and to observe. There are no easy answers when you look square in the face of reality. "There is No God, Or is There?" takes you on a journey you will never forget. It may even change your life forever. Discussion Guide included For more books by Michael W. Newman go to: www.mnewman.org

The Bible is the largest book of war ever compiled; it should be called God's Evil Word. "Bible Propaganda II" is based on how the act of blindly following the Word of God invites charlatans to take advantages of others who would follow them credulously down a path of deception. Unlike the first part, "Bible Propaganda," this book only examined scriptures in the first four chapters. The greater part of this book "The War on Earth, from Satan's Eyes" is a sci-fi loosely based around the Battle of Armageddon, as Michael leads Yahweh's vast armies against any and all who would not bow down to tyranny. A terrorist group takes over the Mosque demanding that the Holy Temple be rebuilt: they are in control of seven nuclear bombs. This escalates into WWIII, which then turns into the Battle of Armageddon. The bottom-line is that in presenting this fictional story from a different point of view, we can clearly see how ridiculous the religious belief in blind faith, called Bible-Babble-Bull, truly is. Bible prophecy is nothing more than exciting Bible fantasy.

..".and then Noah loaded the dinosaurs onto the ark." Assertions like these seem comical until you realize that many Christian parents aren't kidding when they teach them to their children as facts. Every day, impressionable young minds are conditioned to blindly accept wild biblical tales of floating zoos, talking shrubbery, 900-year-old humans, the undead, curses, levitation, demon/human hybrids and men who obtain super-human strength from the length of their hair. Allegiance to these teachings is expected, often demanded. Curiosity is muted. Doubt is frowned upon as a sin. And for those who dare to raise a dissenting hand, the threat of Hell looms ominously. A former religious radio host raised in the cradle of Christianity, Seth Andrews battled his own doubts for many years. His attempts to reconcile faith and the facts led him to a conclusion previously unthinkable, and this once-true believer ultimately became the founder of one of the most popular atheist communities on the internet.

Maybe you were born to Christian parents and raised as a Christian. Or maybe you are just a part of a Christian nation. You might have attended church regularly, or maybe just on special occasions. If asked, you say that you believe in God, but you really never thought about what that means exactly. You are a well-educated person who accepts the idea of Biblical miracles, but only the more "reasonable" ones. You have read some of the Bible, mostly just parts of the New Testament, but never committed to reading the Bible cover to cover. You are a good person who admires the many "Christian values" as demonstrated by Jesus Christ. But something does not feel right. * Science tells us that the universe is 13.7 billion years old, but the Bible tells us it's 6,000 years old. * Science tells us life is the result of emergent properties in combined molecules, and we have evolved from a very primitive life form, but the Bible says that God made us, as is, from dust, and blew life in our noses. * You see a world where little bunnies burn to death in forest fires, and wonder why an all-good and loving God would allow such a thing to happen. * You pray to God and you realize that sometimes your prayers are answered, and sometimes they aren't just as if you didn't pray at all. * You hear about other religions and wonder why your religion is right and every other religion on the planet is wrong. * You have a real problem with the idea of all your non-Jesus-believing friends and family spending eternity in Hell.? In fact, the more you look around, the more you see a world absent of this perfect image of a perfect God. As much as you want to avoid critical thinking and "just let go and have faith," you find that you cannot believe in something contrary to your logic and reason no matter how much you want to. This might lead to feelings of guilt, insincerity, and/or hypocrisy. Yet you just can't imagine living life without God, and you don't have to. When you start asking serious questions about God and religion, you begin to see through the stories of people living inside the stomachs of big fish, 900-year-old men, and bodies coming back to life after three days, and understand how man created God, and not the other way around. By daring to question "sacred" religion, challenging your childhood beliefs, and risking eternal damnation (okay, so there might be a minor side effect to reading this book), you will discover an appreciation for religion on a new level, as well as a renewed appreciation for the human race. Through a unique blend of science, philosophy, theology, and a touch of humor, you will see how you can trust your logic and reason, be true to yourself, and embrace God -- not as a being, but as a concept -- The Concept.

Freethinkers Directory is a listing of groups, organizations, stores, newspapers, magazines, publishers, blogs, podcasts, family services and more for atheists, agnostics, rationalists, naturalists, humanists and all freethinkers from around the world. Table of Contents Darwin Day ...12 Stores that sell products ...15 Businesses that sponsor groups and organizations ...17 Marriage and Family Services ...20 Radio broadcasts/podcasts/TV shows ...21 Newspapers and Magazines ...25 Blogs and Forums...28 Publishers ...30 Online Resources dating, celebrities, info] ...32 Groups and Organizations ...34 - USA - National ...34 - USA - Local ...45 - USA - College, University & High School(SSA) ...130 - Afganistan ...243 - Argentina ...244 - Australia ...245 - Austria ...248 - Belgium ...249 - Brazil ...251 - Cameroon ...252 - Canada ...253 - Columbia ...258 - Cuba ...259 - Denmark ...260 - Finland ...261 - France ...262 - Gambia ...264 - Germany ...265 - Iceland ...267 - India ...268 - Indonesia ...269 - Ireland ...270 - Israel ...271 - Italy ...272 - Kenya ...273 - Luxembourg ...274 - Malawi ...275 - Mexico ...276 - Nepal ...277 - Netherlands ...278 - New Zealand ...280 - Nigeria ...281 - Norway ...282 - Pakistan ...283 - Peru ...284 - Philippines ...285 - Poland ...286 - Portugal ...287 - Russia ...288 - Scotland ...289 - Slovakia ...290 - South Africa ...291 - Spain ...292 - Sweden ...293 - Tanzania ...294 - Turkey ...295 - Uganda ...296 - United Kingdom ...297