Hi, I'm an Atheist!
What That Means and How to Talk About It with Others
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
The essential guide to coming out as a non-believer
David G. McAfee was raised in a conservative American Christian household. So when he stopped believing in God—any god—his family was shocked. He quickly realized that atheists are misunderstood, frequently thought of as Satan worshippers and anarchists. Thus started McAfee's journey to his true self, and crusade to tell others—especially those who are devoutly religious—what atheism really is, what he believes in, and why atheists should not be feared.
In Hi, I'm an Atheist!, McAfee looks at what an atheist believes and how to “come out” as an atheist to your friends, family, and co-workers, offering sound advice on overcoming the difficult moments in any “coming out” conversation. Including a resource guide both for people just coming to atheism and people who have been atheists for years as well as an interview with Rebecca Vitsmun, the woman made famous for coming out as an atheist live on CNN, Hi I’m an Atheist! is a smart, sensitive, and realistic guide to living one’s life positively and honestly without the need for a belief in God.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
McAfee (Disproving Christianity) encourages atheists and nonbelievers to open up about their lack of faith in this basic primer. Having once been accused of being an "atheist activist with an axe to grind" while applying to a graduate religious studies program, McAfee makes a case for "telling people you don't believe" as a way to challenge misconceptions and "the (very false) perception of atheism as something that is anti-god or even pro-evil." He provides tips for "coming out" and answers common questions posed by theists, such as how a moral compass can be trained without a belief in Jesus. McAfee's assertions are cogent and useful, though he gives short shrift to the emotional intensity many readers might encounter in, for example, addressing faith and family conflict. It also feels more theoretical than lived when McAfee delves into struggles specific to losing one's faith, such as when he claims, "The way I see it, everybody is born an atheist, and without submersion into religion as a child, we would most likely maintain that position" (which accords with the author's own background; he shares that he was raised by a nondenominational Christian family but was never religious himself). McAfee keeps a calm and measured tone throughout, though he tends to describe religion with terms that may be inflammatory (such as indoctrination and superstition). While cursory, this is a reasoned guide for atheists ready to begin speaking up about their convictions.