Why is it, when I read some books on Atheism (most really), it doesn't

[flamespeak]

explore philosophy or spirituality, so much as it really kind of bashes religion?

"The God Delusion", "The Atheist's Bible", and many more books on the subject of Atheism really don't offer any spiritual points or explain why they feel the way they do about the afterlife, so much as they blatantly belittle and mock people who have a faith that is different than their's. One would think Atheists, who are quick to point out how wrong it is for any religious sect to condemn them for thinking differently than said religious sect, would show such hypocrisy, so why does it exist?

Not to be all negative, "Spirituality for Atheists" was actually a good book on the subject.
Laura J,

I am sorry, I don't think YOU have read them.
aznpride,

"On the subject of religion, I have nothing to say....positive anyways."

"Religion is the source for all the world's hate."

Quotes taken from the 'Atheist's Bible"

Dawkins constant refrence to followers of a religion as being "delusional" should be enough to confirm the negativity of his work. But I think him chastising a religious group for believing in God after praying for a child to be saved from an illness and the child died anyways is just being mean-spirited and childish.
Laura J,

For some religion, the belief of an afterlife is an unknown (Taoism for an example, of course Taoism also doesn't believe in a God).

[amanda c]

i have never read any of those books to be honest with you. i read alot but i don't feel that my disbelief needs to be reinforced by people like dawkins. i dont need toread a book about why people want to believe there is an afterlife either, simple psychology explains that all quite well.

[#9 life]

The books you mention are responses to the rise in religious fundamentalism. Think of them as a shot across the bows of the ships of religion.

[johnny.zondo]

usually its because theyre commenting on the situation of nonbelif and how nonbelievers are treated.

[Trina™]

Not all writers on the subject are physiologists. For example, Richard Dawkins is a biologist. He knows quite a bit but will fully admit that he is not an expert in the area of physiology. There are many people out there, however, who speak at Atheists' conventions on the topic of spirituality and its physiological bases. It's pretty fascinating stuff. They tend to publish research findings in journals rather than write books.

[Mr Obvious]

Read philosophy books if you want philosophy. Also, why are you generalizing!? Even Richard Dawkins in the God Delusion has a whole freaking chapter on science and spirituality. Did you actually read the book? Sam Harris, another popular atheist writer, devotes a lot of time to spirituality as well.

[So-crates Part Deus]

LOL. "...more books on the subject of Atheism really don't offer any spiritual points or explain why they feel the way they do about the afterlife..."

Uh, perhaps that is because we do not believe in an afterlife??

And, I wasnt aware that TWO books make up the "majority" of atheist literature.

[aznpride78327]

Isn't the whole basis of atheism is that there IS no spiritual points? So how can they explain how they feel using something that isn't there. Besides, they're arguing using RATIONAL thought. Apparently that translates into nothing but bashing for you people.

[Laura J]

All religion is based on the belief of life after death.

No belief in a deity usually means no belief in life after death.

So, I see nothing wrong with these books sighting a series of facts to dismiss the supernatural. That is not mocking.

Mocking is when you have nothing to prove your statements in an argument and you are just plain contradictory to demean someone for the sake of making yourself appear better then they are.

If there is spirituality, its the feeling of connectedness with all things, which is true on a quantum level.

Philosophy does not have to include religion, but is brought up because it has been a part of life for Pythagoras to question if god exists at all, and many other famous philosophers of our past who did the same.

Spirituality for Atheists sounds like its geared more toward Agnostics. These are people who are open to the possibility of a deity but are non conformist to any denomination.

[§?p¡e?†]

Did you stop to think that those authors aren't spiritual atheists? Many area not. Dawkins is a scientist, so the God Delusion read much like a Science book at times.... although you can't possibly say he didn't use philosophy in much of his writing. Also the books aren't about atheism, they are about the falsehood of faiths. There isn't much to say about atheism except that we don't believe in gods. Can only say that so many ways, certainly not enough to fill a book.