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Digital Audiobook
An Atheist's History of Belief by Matthew Kneale

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An Atheist's History of Belief

Publisher
Random House
Publish Date
10 October 2013
Run Time
7 hours 40 minutes
Format
Audiobook

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What to expect

What first prompted prehistoric man, sheltering in the shadows of deep caves, to call upon the realm of the spirits?

And why has belief thrived ever since, leading us to invent heaven and hell, sin and redemption, and above all, gods?

Religion reflects our deepest hopes and fears; whether you are a believer or, like Matthew Kneale, a non-believer who admires mankind's capacity to create and to imagine, it has shaped our world. And as our dreams and nightmares have changed over the millennia, so have our beliefs - from shamans to Aztec priests, from Buddhists to Christians: the gods we created have evolved with us.

Belief is humanity's most epic invention. It has always been our closest companion and greatest consolation. To understand it is to better understand ourselves.

Critics Review

  • [Recent atheist polemics are littered] with facts and histories, but there seems to be a lack of empathy and…explanation. Kneale’s book addresses both these flaws and is all the more welcome because of it… Rich and fulfilling

    Nudge

User Reviews

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Details

Author
Matthew Kneale
Narrator
Daniel Weyman
Duration
7 hours 40 minutes
Release Date
10 October 2013
ISBN
9781473500525
Format
Audiobook
Publisher
Random House
Genre
Religion and beliefs, History of religion

Synopsis

What first prompted prehistoric man, sheltering in the shadows of deep caves, to call upon the realm of the spirits? And why has belief thrived ever since, leading us to invent heaven and hell, sin and redemption, and above all, gods?Religion reflects our deepest hopes and fears; whether you are a believer or, like Matthew Kneale, a non-believer who admires mankind's capacity to create and to imagine, it has shaped our world. And as our dreams and nightmares have changed over the millennia, so have our beliefs - from shamans to Aztec priests, from Buddhists to Christians: the gods we created have evolved with us. Belief is humanity's most epic invention. It has always been our closest companion and greatest consolation. To understand it is to better understand ourselves.

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