Review “Should atheists and scientists—especially scientists who are atheists—just be disdainful of religious people, however thoughtful the believers may be? In Sharing Reality, Jeff T. Haley and Dale McGowan not only insist that disdain is not the way—they lay out in rich detail a better way. With wit and a compelling command of the facts, the authors are persuasive that their answer is correct—and vitally important.” —Ed Buckner, Former President, American Atheists “This is a clear, candid, and iconoclastic contribution to the contemporary God debates. Haley and McGowan challenge believers and atheists alike with their radical vision of religion’s future.” —Russell Blackford, Laureate, International Academy of Humanism, editor-in-chief, the Journal of Evolution and Technology, author, Freedom of Religion and the Secular State and The Mystery of Moral Authority“This is the best case yet made for a different approach toward secularizing the world by working with religious populations to liberalize their faith. Anyone who would balk at such an approach simply has to contend with the arguments in this book. There is a place for the diplomatic approach, and this book makes a case for it. It deserves to be heard and considered." —Richard Carrier, author, Sense and Goodness without God and On the Historicity of Jesus “Sharing Reality is an important and very readable work for the secular movement in world politics, which is becoming increasingly infected with the excesses that traditional religion invites. In Sharing Reality, the authors make a heroically diplomatic plea for secularism that would unite people of all stripes.” —Shadia Drury, author, Terror and Civilization: Christianity, Politics, and the Western Psyche“We have long been in need of this book. In our often-stonewalled conversation with religious believers, Haley and McGowan bring a vital contribution for the dialogue of both coffee tables and conference halls. Packed full of insights, Sharing Reality turns our focus toward the critical component of science acceptance and exposes how the language we often use hinders real progress.” —Drew Bekius, Communications Director, The Clergy Project and author, The Rise and Fall of Faith Read more About the Author Jeff T. Haley is a scientist, lawyer, and inventor. He has argued before the U.S Supreme Court, and founded and directed the nonprofit that led Washington state's successful medical marijuana initiative. He is currently the founder and CEO of OraHealth, which sells his patented healthcare products through 30,000 pharmacies worldwide. Dale McGowan is the author and editor of numerous books, including Parenting Beyond Belief, In Faith and In Doubt, and Atheism for Dummies. In 2008 he was named Harvard Humanist of the Year for his work in nonreligious parent education. Read more
A**R
A Little Wishful Thinking, But Has Some Good Suggestions
I heard about this book after listening to the authors interviewed on the Everyone's Agnostic podcast and bought the book right afterwards. I liked what they had to say about their approach to mainstreaming non belief and critical thinking. I think they do a good job of breaking down definitions and showing where confusion and miscommunication comes between religion and non belief. While I applaud the authors' intent, I think they are not taking seriously enough the evangelical and fundamentalists Christian doctrines and mindset that they accuse those in the New Atheism movement of being too critical of. I believe this partly has to do with both of the authors' admittance in not growing up in these types of religious households thus not understanding the exact toll it takes on people and the threats the doctrines pose to our society. Like when a President of the U.S. surrounds himself with the leaders of these religions and makes it a priority to please them. But I get the point that the methods they propose are going to have little impact on these types of leaders, but can work on their followers.Saying all of that, this book starts a good conversation on how to effectively reach those believers who would be quick to turn away from an angry nonbeliever and gives good suggestions on ways to make relationships with and influence those who haven't really been encouraged to think critically to what they believe and why they believe it.
B**Y
Bluepint for Important Social Change
Religion has been around since humans walked the earth and in many cultures across the globe, it continues to influence society, often in ways that are directly in conflict with factual evidence. Getting religions to change and adapt is often difficult, but it has been accomplished in the past. The need for change is even more critical today and Sharing Reality is a book that aims to improve scientific knowledge through social change at various levels.This book is different from most others I have read on this or similar subjects. Most books like this devote the bulk of the space to refuting beliefs, showing why certain ideas are incorrect, etc. This book stays out of any debate over why certain beliefs are untrue and instead devotes its space to educating people on how to sell the ideals of secularism and science. It is like a marketing guide that is intended to help you, the secular activist, in your quest to bring knowledge to the world, increase skepticism, promote and strengthen separation of church and state, and otherwise move the world and its people in a more knowledge- based direction.The advice presented in this book is sound and generally useful. I agree that, if you want to change people’s minds, you need to do so in a respectful way. I also agree that beliefs, even if they are completely off the wall and obviously irrational, should still be permitted as part of anyone’s individual freedom of conscious and overall liberty. I also agree that beliefs in general need to remain out of public life and government, which is why maintaining the separation of church and state is so important. And I like how the book presses for a way to define those who adhere to its proposals using a new term, evidist. This will help distinguish this specific type of thinking from that of humanists, agnostics, etc. and could, in due time, lead to significant social and political change.If I had one issue with this book, it would be its tendency to be a little too optimistic. Convincing the world’s religious adherents that the facts they hold dear are not really facts at all and achieving many of the other proposals in this book are going to be difficult. I still agree that this is a good idea overall and I most definitely agree that the increasingly diverse and complex world in which we live will be far better off if all governments adopt secularism, but I don’t know how long it will take to get there.Change isn’t easy, but change is occurring at a far more rapid pace today than in the past and we can see the signs of social change everywhere we turn. Sharing Reality is a useful blueprint to bring the world of science, reasoning, and secularism to the masses. What it proposes may not ever become reality, but it is definitely a step in the right direction and a useful book for social activists who look forward to a more peaceful, realistic world and people.
G**Y
A reasoned approach
The current tribal conflict between atheists and theists/supernaturalists is not productive. This book clearly explains how to approach this conflict and build bridges that matter. Not a bridge from theist to atheist, but a bridge from theist to theist-who-agrees-with-the-scientific-method. While I don’t understand how someone who understands and agrees with the scientific method can believe in a god, I do understand that it is possible to have an intelligent conversation with such a person. That conversation is necessary but nearly impossible to have in today’s climate - at least in the United States. I recommend this book. Let’s evolve!
J**H
Five Stars
The right approach to an overarching international problem for democracies and, indeed, humanity going forward.
J**K
like Deism, can be addressed
Apparently Mr. Haley took a nasty fall or suffered some kind of cerebral accident before writing this book. His reasoning seems confused and he could be in danger of losing his status as a Christian apologist. I don't see any meaningful accommodation developing between atheists and theists until the "faithful" admit that the Abrahamic religions are fatuous and feckless. At that time philosophies less absurd, like Deism, can be addressed.
R**L
Short and sweet
I read the book and find it very well organized for even my basic mind to understand. It is short and to the point. The examples used are meaningful and on target to get to the mindset of the reader. I was impressed with the illustration used to explain what would happen if the President of the USA decided that the majority religion ruled. The book is very well written and look forward to using it in discussion and debates on these issues. wish this had been published years ago.
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