I was highly impressed with Eller's thinking throughout the book. He was able to put into words a number of things I had been mulling over, but was unable to adequately express. All Atheists, Agnostics and Theists worth their salt own this book a careful reading.

The only complaint I could register was that there are just too damn many words, cover to cover.

This is a great book but I want to focus on one thing this books does at the end that other books on atheism I have read don't seem to do. It seems some people begin reading about atheism based on some negative interaction they had with religion. Of course the author brings out the usual point/counterpoints and presents them in a smart and reasonable way. But after a reader gets past his/her outrage, and sarcasm, and finger-pointing, and mind-opening... what's next? So you don't believe in X, what DO you believe in then? David Eller takes a step towards that.

Are all atheists dry, analyical, snooty, intellectuals who have no humanity or faith in anything? Or are all atheists hippie, human lovers who dance around the maypole and hug strangers on the bus? Neither. Atheists are people like you and I. And the author shows us it is okay to celebrate the great things humans do and decry the awful things humans do. And how there isn't really any need to bypass humanity and nature and attribute good OR bad things to some supernatural force or tradition. Then he wonders aloud about what atheists stand for besides just being anti-religion and pro free-thinking. And where it can all go from there. It is a fairly uplifting presentation that sneaks up on you as you complete the book. One of those "hey, that's right!" kind of moments you won't forget.

This book is absolutely beautiful in its reason and argumentation. I liked the fact that arguments from Biblical authority are dismissed in just about one sentence by recognizing that they are just arguments from authority (a fallacy).

My only complaint is that the book was a bit wordy at times. I think that the points could have been made with 1/2 the text. But that is a minor compliant from someone who is just a lazy reader sometimes. Overall, this book is one to keep and then buy as a gift for a freethinker friend. I doubt that a Theist friend would understand the reason and logic.

By the way, my minor compliant simply reduces my rating from 6 to 5. It deserves the highest possible rating on Amazon. It's really that good. Read it!

Eller: if you read this review, please create an audio book version!!

David Eller misses the point entirely as do most atheist, god is not the problem.

Of course atheism is a reaction to theism, to the god belief, but god is no worse than Santa Claus or the Great Pumpkin, all of them are figments of human imagination. The problem is the clergy, that self-selected band of god representatives on Earth. They have taken a perfectly innocent fiction and have used it for their own vile purposes. The purposes, of course, are the accumulation of wealth and power as we can see in the Vatican and in other seats of religious power.

As David Eller points out, god and religion are part of human culture. If every culture has one or more gods then there must be a good reason for it. I figure that it was some kind of survival mechanism, a way to fill a void of knowledge. Our brainpower developed faster than out initial ability to fill it with facts and instead we filled it with superstition and myth including the god myth. As we developed science and our knowledge grew, we replaced myth with facts and we continue doing so. Atheism is just one more step in this path.

Natural Atheism aims to help the reader convert to atheism by first setting out a twelve step program and complementing this program with instruction about logic, reason, the burden of proof, history of religion, the founding fathers and many other topics that will help you argue with theists. But I'm not sure you want to argue with them, to what purpose? I mostly just avoid the subject. First of all, there is absolutely no need to justify ones atheist position to anyone. I'm an atheist because I decided I wanted to be one and no one on this whole Earth can deny me that. Second, most arguments about atheism center on religion. But if god does not exist, why bother arguing about god and religion? Think of it this way, the clergy is selling you a product you don't want or need. Would you get into a prolonged philosophical discussion with a salesperson in a store or would you simply say: "Thank you, I'm not interested." The clergy has no right to question you about your morality or about anything else, it's non of their business. But this is precisely the technique they use to intimidate you. Just say "No."

The only real problem that remains is morality. Morality is part of culture. Morality is not restricted to religion, religion does not have an exclusive or a trademark on morality even if the clergy would like to take that position. This is why I don't have a problem with most of the ten commandments, the ones that don't include god but only your fellow man. I'm happy not to be killed and I would be happy if you didn't seduce my wife if I had one. These are the laws that we have given ourselves over the centuries and they work quite well in my opinion.

If you still feel that you have to explain and defend your atheistic position to anyone you don't need to study atheism but assertiveness instead. The book that helped me a great deal in this quest was When I Say No, I Feel Guilty by Manuel J. Smith

Absolutely wonderful book by a great author. This should be read by all who have an interest in living a meaningful life, whether one is a believer or not!

Natural Atheism is a brilliant book that effectively discusses everything a person needs to know about the conflict between relgion and reason. A tribute to rational thinking and a handbook for those who have always been suspicious of fairy tales, superstions, and all similar malarky. Eller makes it clear that the burden of proof must always be borne by those making the outrageous claims, as opposed to those intelligent enough to be skeptical. A perfect book, and perhaps the final word on the issue, because once you understand that we're not obligated to prove that there's no such thing as Santa or the Easter Bunny, then there's not really a lot more that needs to be said about either, and the same principle applies to religion.

A Natural view for the Natural person. A verbal breath of fresh air.

Mr. Eller does a fine job of filling the gap often present in atheist literature; that gap being, coupling a through discussion of "rational thought" with the various discussions for or against the justification of god belief. The text was written in a clear and concise manner; was easy to read and simplified many complex concepts. I would heartily recommend this book to anyone.

One of the best books I have every read on the subject of rational/logical, critical thinking. Should be taught as a required course in every middle school and high school in America. It's not just about reading religious texts (e.g. the Bible(s)), but about questioning everything you see, hear, read, watch and are asked to believe in, as well as demanding verifiable, duplicatable evidence prior to intellectual acceptance.

JHA

I have been an atheist for 6 years,and I have collected and read many, many [old and new] books on atheism - And I was still pleasantly impressed with this book by David Eller.
I am so impressed that I have donated copies of it to several universities, public libraries and individuals.
This is a book useful to new non-believers, long time atheists and particularly for persons who are sincerely asking questions.
It has 12 chapters,divided into 3 sections, a total of 352 pages, published in 2004. The author deals with facts and lists sources.
The authors enthusiasm is catching and he offers a fresh, positive,realistic practical approach to the traditional religious subjects,and to the concepts and issues currently important to atheists.
It is informative, understandable, with definitions, and clear answers to a multitude of questions.
While reading,don't overlook Eller's interesting slant on "belief" and the underlying awareness of the "christian language" which even atheists use.
In one of Eller's articles, The Language of God[s]-and other Imaginary Things,[Secular Nation,Vol.11,#3,-3rd quarter 2006], Eller defines, and discusses consequences of "god talk", "religious talk" and "speaking christian". Eller says, " We help sustain their worldview by speaking their language." And he describes a solution.
David Eller is currently working on a new book, I am anxiously awaiting its publication. [And I hope he includes more on "speaking christian"]
Be an activist, contribute to future enlightenment, donate copies this book to one or more public libraries in your town and to the nearest University library. Thanks

I strongly recommend "Natural Atheism" by David Eller. This is an important contribution to the literature of atheism. It offers a thorough introduction to the topic, and also a profound, innovative discussion for the experienced reader. It is wise, thorough, and useful. "Natural Atheism" deserves a place on the shelf among contemporary classics on atheism.

"Natural Atheism" is a compelling argument for rationality. In some respects, the book is a primer in reasoning. Overall, Eller's book is a preparation for the atheist - or for anyone unafraid to genuinely think about these matters. The arc of the book moves cleverly from a 12-Step program to recover your reason, across an impressive discussion of principles of reasoning and the claims of religion, concluding with thoughts about atheist activism.

The book is divided into three parts. Part I establishes the groundwork for rationality. Eller reviews classic arguments for God(s), showing logical flaws in each claim. Among the most useful sections of Part I are discussions of "burden of proof" and "cultural relativism," each a concept that is abused and contorted by apologists of religion.

In Part II, Eller distinguishes nuances of difference among atheists; characterizes belief, knowledge, agnosticism, and science; and discusses the historic intolerance of religions.

Part III is perhaps the most significant section, because it places atheism in a contemporary American context. Eller discusses principal lines of conflict, each of which is fabricated by the religious right. He gives a history of the separation of church and state, including a summary of key decisions by US courts. And - in the most novel contribution to the literature of atheism - Eller discusses positive action by atheists. He asks - and answers - the question, "Is there an atheist agenda?"

"Natural Atheism" is written in accessible, graceful academic prose. Eller's use of evidence and organization are excellent. His discussion is complex, substantial, and comprehensive. Readers who look for effortless, unthinking answers will not find them here - but such answers would be misleading anyway. Eller's work deserves to be read widely and quoted often.

The book is nicely produced by The American Atheist Press. The quality is excellent.

David Eller pens a highly intelligent argument for rejecting god-beliefs through the use of logic, critical thinking skills and facts (as opposed to the arguments for religion that rely upon such abstracts as emotions, feelings, speculation and other opinion-based wishes).

This is a critical thinker's guide to accepting that "All humans are born Atheists. No baby born into the world arrives with specific religious beliefs or knowledge."

David Eller celebrates Atheism, and encourages like minded Skeptics to do the same. Though a bit dry in places (where he attempts to keep his arguments strickly in the logic format), I found his book optimistic, intelligent and reasonable.

Emphasizes the natural ways to accept and learn Atheism. Strong on acceptance and non-violent means to avoid arguments with organized religion.

David Eller has written a fantastic, and very thorough, book about whether any gods exist, and about atheism.

Early chapters of the book cover critical thinking, logic, epistemology, and a systematic dissection of the major reasons why people believe in God. Later chapters include wide-ranging topics, including an especially-splendid argument for the separation of church and state. It is a little slow at the start, but certainly worth reading to the end.

In the recently-popular "God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins arguments that came from the author's own field of expertise, biology, were the most novel, and some of the most compelling. Similarly, Eller provides novel and compelling insights from his own area of expertise. Eller is an anthropologist and brings much of his knowledge from this discipline to the analysis of religious practice and belief. Eller provides some fascinating insights when writing about culture and history.

My only gripe about the writing style of this book is that the author occasionally refers to himself by the first person plural "we", rather than the singular "I". This might simply be my personal preference, or my inexperience with the typical writing style of anthropology. But this is trivial.

All in all, I think this is the most comprehensive and scholarly book on atheism since George Smith's "Atheism: the Case Against God".

I loved it. It's really about rational, logical thinking and the trouble occurs then they don't happen.

This book is very, very good. Dr. Eller put in an incredible amount of thought and research into each topic that he covers. This book is full of very helpful information... everything from refuting the arguments for Gods existance to a short lesson in logic to a nice summary on the history of the whole church and state thing.

The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars was because I had a really hard time getthing through the second half of this book. The topics, while very informative, didn't really interest me that much. However, i still reccomend this book if you are interested in atheism, and would like to read a very thoughtful analysis of it, without any religion bashing.

For those who wonder why others do not believe in gods, the title of this book offers a big clue. The title addresses the fact that all humans are born athiests. It is only through indoctrination that they become theists. But a more important fact made in the book and addressed by the title is that many athiests acquire and develop their views as a natural consequence of how they acquire and process knowledge. They are not necessarily former theists, people who are disgruntled with religion, or rebels. They are critical thinkers, people who analyze situations, people who require evidence and logic. For rational thinkers, people who don't wallow in fiction, ahteism is a natural position. Many athiests are folks who simply don't hold as truth anything which is not reasonable, logical, or proven. It's not just religion which they disbelieve, but anything which must be accepted on faith alone. Based on this concept, it is probably safe to say that most atheists don't believe in anything "supernatural," astrology, UFO's, or that the moon is made of cheese. Atheism, naturally, comes as part of the mindset of a reasoned thinker.

It is this fact, above all the others made so well by author Eller, which will help readers understand what makes an atheist an atheist. While Eller encourages atheists to be heard by joining organizations, he points out that membership does not make one an athiest. Atheism a natural conclusion of a logical mind.

Although I've pretty much always been a "natural atheist," only in recent months have I been open about it. As such, my take on Dr. Eller's book was slightly different than what others might get out of it - as his sound reasoning in the early chapters of the book is somewhat mooted to the freethinker who has already drawn much the same conclusions.

For me, the perhaps overlooked strength of Dr. Eller's book comes in the later chapters having to deal with the theist, and the ongoing struggle - traced from past to present - against the constant threat of fundamentalist-based oppression in today's society. As such, the book not only maps out the good reasons one should be an atheist, but also why one's right to reason should not be threatened by those who do not.

"Natural Atheism" is one of the best of the several books I've read on this topic, and is highly endorsed.

Here's a very readable little book that has everything an Atheist might want at his fingertips in any discussion of religion or deity. I'm considering doing a course around the ideas in this book, as any freethinker can benefit from reviewing it.
Scotty

I am a "natural atheist" as Dr. Eller defines the term, as I have never been a theist of any kind. Oh, my parents tried the best they could, but no one could ever give me a satisfactory answer to where the water came from. I really didn't think about it too much though, `till I moved from the northeast to the south about fourteen years ago. Religion is part of the culture here, and impossible to avoid.

"Natural Atheism" is probably the most complete book on atheism itself I have read, and the most coherent. He managed to hit most of my hot buttons, and clear up several of my conundrums along the way. As other reviewers have mentioned, reading the book is kind of like having a long-time atheist, who is also an old friend, take you through some of the rough spots, and show you where the shoals are.

If you think you may be an atheist, I suggest you consider this book. If you are troubled about your belief in a deity of some sort, I suggest you consider this book. If you know you are an atheist, and are looking for a friend to talk to, I suggest you consider this book.

The author discusses "spirituality," where it comes from, and what it is. For me, this was one of the most meaningful parts of the book, as I have always had a problem with understanding exactly what was going on. His explanation was clear, concise, logical, and understandable. This book will become a part of my permanent library!

Eller writes not only elegantly, but with a clarity of insight few possess. His work goes far beyond the standards of journeymen atheist authors in that he attempts and succeeds at the herculean task of laying out a vision for a rational humanistic future. Like a skilled brick mason, he runs course after course of subject matter to build an edifice of knowledge. Starting with concise summaries of twelve popular arguments against theistic fraud, he quickly dispenses with the fallacies of faith. In the second and third chapters Dr. Eller provides the reader with a short course in critical thinking and reasoning. This alone is worth the price of the book. Chapter four is an introduction to anthropology. A worthy foundation upon which to build an understanding needed for a humanist future. In part two, Eller demolishes the error of equating faith/belief with knowledge, clarifies the models of positive vs. negative atheism and science vs. religion. In part three, the author presents an uplifting and encouraging case for why and how reason and humanism can make a positive difference. I particularly enjoyed the discussion of the harmful nature of spiritualism and how a simple appreciation of our very humanity can lead to a richer and more satisfying life. All free thinkers should own David Eller's Natural Atheism". It is worth having and rereading.

When I first received an e mail from the author, Dr. David Eller, and his request that I review this book I had several on the shelf waiting for my attention. As an author of some note myself in this area, and being familiar with Dr. Eller's work in the field of Anthropology (as a Natural Historian, our interests over lap in many areas including anthropology and cultural studies), I was curious to get into this book and moved it to the top of the list. As you are reading this review, you are also curious about what kind of book this is. Let me qualify myself so that you may consider the source of this review, as anyone can say what they will on the internet and many people may not be forthright about their own agendas. To begin with, I am not an atheist myself, but a Pantheist. As such, I see the wonder and amazement of the cosmos itself as the reason it exists. I need not place humanity in any special role, nor do I accept we are the special project of any gods. That being said, I found this book very well structured, logical in its conclusions, and an easy and very captivating read.

Dr. Eller begins with qualifying himself as a natural atheist. This is obvious, as we are all atheists at birth. But Dr. Eller goes further to explain why it is so many of us are held emotional captive by mythologies and belief systems. As an Anthropologist with extensive field experience and spent two years living among aboriginal people in Australia's outback where he studied both their culture and religious beliefs. As one with an exceptional degree of professional and field experience with other cultures, and more specifically cultures that have been largely unchanged for thousands of years, Dr. Eller has had opportunity to realize the cultural and political ideologies behind myth and religion; its development and continuance.

Natural Atheism might be best summed as a user's manual for the rational person living in an irrational world. It will also be of immeasurable use to that person who is sitting on the fence of belief and reality. Although I found a few items in the chapter on Epistemology that I felt might have been more thoroughly explored, 98% of the book is flawless in its treatment of both theism and atheism and I cannot recommend this book highly enough, but 5 stars must do. Like David Mill's book, this is a must read.

Eller packaged the whole shebang in one, fast-paced volume covering all aspects of atheism. His clear-cut prose is littered with quotable bits and gives readers those "Aha!" and "Absolutely!" moments throughout. From the basics of atheism, through logical proofs, science and evolution, separation of religion from government and the history of our founding, fundamentalism, and finally to the future of atheism, Eller has presented atheism as the logical conclusion of reason. In a time of concern for our religious liberties, "Natural Atheism" offers us some hope of a future in which reason is valued and superstition denounced. I highly recommend this one.