Jan 14, 2013
If you pick up Alom Shaha's The Young Atheist's Handbook: Lessons
for Living a Good Life Without God thinking you're getting a how-to
book, you may be disappointed. On the other hand, you may not.
While that was Shaha's original intent in writing a book, his
editor persuaded him to write something much more personal. From
the publisher's description: Growing up in a strict Muslim
community in south-east London, Alom Shaha learnt that religion was
not to be questioned. Reciting the Qur’an without understanding
what it meant was simply a part of life; so, too, was obeying the
imam and enduring beatings when he failed to attend the local
mosque. But Alom was more drawn to science and its power to
illuminate. As a teen, he lived between two worlds: the home
controlled by his authoritarian father, and a school alive with
books and ideas. In a charming blend of memoir, philosophy and
science, Alom explores the questions about faith and the afterlife
that we all ponder. This is a book for anyone who wonders what they
should believe and how they should live. It’s for those who may
need the facts and the ideas, as well as the courage, to break free
from inherited beliefs. In this powerful narrative, Alom shows that
it is possible to live a compassionate, fulfilling and meaningful
life without God. Join us this Sunday as we discuss Shaha's book
and work promoting science.