[Mick Power]Adieu to God : Why Psychology Leads to Atheism(pdf){Zzzzz}

Adieu to God examines atheism from a psychological perspective and reveals how religious phenomena and beliefs are psychological rather than supernatural in origin.

Answers the psychological question of why, in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary, do religions continue to prosper?
Looks at atheism and religion using a fair and balanced approach based on the latest work in psychology, sociology, anthropology, psychiatry and medicine
Acknowledges the many psychological benefits of religion while still questioning the validity of its supernatural belief systems and providing atheist alternatives to a fulfilling life

Product Description
Review

In this fascinating little book (201 pages, including references and a subject index), Mick Power communicates no such tinge of agnosticism when proclaiming in the preface of Adieu to God: Why Psychology Leads to Atheismthat my belief is that psychology (with help from philosophy, anthropology, sociology, physics, biology . . .) offers a far more powerful explanation than any religious system ever will (p.x). (PsycCRITIQUES, 1 June 2013)

His final chapter summarises the argument and proposes how one might be a healthy atheist with a sense of meaning and purpose, a sense of belonging and community and a set of personal goals and values. He does not forecast the disappearance of religions but proposes how they can be explained in terms of psychology and sociology. (The Scientific & Medical Network, 1 April 2012)
Review
Dawkins and Dennett taught us that there s no room for God in biology. Stenger and Hawking taught us that there s no room for God in cosmology either. Now Mick Power pushes God out of his last safe haven: the human mind. Power has written a great little book, showing that psychology is just as much of a threat to religious belief as evolutionary theory and cosmology. Fundamentalists are going to lose a lot of sleep over this one!
Dr. Steve Stewart–Williams , Lecturer in Psychology, Swansea University, UK

In Adieu to God, Mick Power gives a powerful and humane account of the case for atheism from an under–explored angle.
Andrew Copson, Chief Executive, British Humanist Association, UK

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell (3 February 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0470669934
ISBN-13: 978-0470669938

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

Don't believe everything you have been told! 5 July 2012
By ᅟ -
The Columbia Miracle Study was a 2001 research paper that conclusively proved that intercessionary prayer works. Out of 219 women undergoing IVF, 50% of those prayed for became pregnant, but only 26% of the rest became pregnant. It is still widely quoted as proof that prayer works.

In 2004, the lead author disowned the paper. Later that year the other author, who had assigned the prayer groups, was convicted of fraud.

The Templeton Foundation did a study of 1802 heart bypass patients in 2006, divided into three groups. The first were told they might be prayed for, and were; the second were told they might be prayed for and weren't; finally, the third were told they definitely would be prayed for, and, of course, were. No significant differences were found in major complications or mortality. However, one group fared much worse for minor complications: the third.

In 1972, a linguist studied people who could "Speak in Tongues." He found that, far from talking a foreign language, they were creating nonsense words out of syllables and sounds from their own language.

This book ranges widely over religious experiences, from personal ones to the community of a church, the foundation of major religious groups such as the Mormons, Fugue States, Miracles, False Memories, Prophesy, Celibacy and indeed anything that has been related to spiritual experiences. In every case, there is nothing that cannot be explained in more mundane and rational terms.

The author shows a light touch in his account, together with a firm criticism where it is needed. There are a wealth of references and facts in the book. (Did you know that Easter can occur as early as March 22nd? The next time will be in the year 2285!) There are many funny anecdotes, such as the probability of being abducted by aliens being much higher if you are a middle aged American living in a trailer park in the Mid West. You will have your body orifices thoroughly explored and then returned to Earth, but will only be able to recall any of the experiences under hypnosis.

The message from the book is on the whole comforting. Even if you don't believe in god(s), you can comfort yourself in the knowledge that religions don't have any answers anyway. Usually the meaning of the question poses as many problems as the answer given by religion does.

A book that needed to be written and needs to be read.