写给无神论者（中英双语插图本）

科学的发展从来都是没有给神留下空间，尽管很多学者还是存在信仰的，当然理念也可以看成一种信仰，也可以看成神，可以有形的存在，也可以生活在想象之中，可能大部分还是愿意相信和膜拜那些有形的神。神大部分时间都是被人类创造出来，而且一旦出现总是在寻找着实物载体，似乎只有这样才能被看见，所以各种教堂和寺庙出现了，其中有产生了很多神，也被看成了我们过去的文化，神也是多面的本身就是我们社会状态的投射，非常类似于每个神都会构造一个相对封闭的体系，并且展现了各种包容性与排他性。似乎我们社会的发展总是走向无神论，当然如把科学也看作一种宗教和信仰的话，也算是新时代的神，神只是是不是以偶像的方式存在而已，如按照这个角度来说，萨满和隐士也可以看成以自然为神，来知道和探索内心的存在，可能宗教与迷信总是联系在一起的，非常类似于东北农村的跳大神，可能大神很神，相信了就是所谓心诚则灵，而不相信啥用也没有，记得在林清玄在写神惩罚的故事，一个过小溪不过，只好在庙里找了佛像垫了顺带过去了，但是有个信佛的感觉到了一种罪过，把佛家请回了庙里，但是佛还是要惩罚他，原因倒是很简单来晚了，而对于不相信的则是无可奈何的存在，其实这个也算是一种信仰的力量，社会之中信仰是复杂的，本身是作为一种做事的规则，比较典型的就是当年英国囚犯到了美洲，只有清教徒才能做生意，可能也算是宗教对于社会秩序的构建过程。

作者采取了一种狡猾的态度，即将世俗的道德观包装成了宗教，任何一个符合经典道德观的人都会不由自主的产生对作者的认同。但事实上，宗教的本质和核心并不在此，在抛弃宗教的情况下，作者所许愿美好照样能通通实现，而宗教所带来的危害则归为零。      另外，最后一章体制，可以说是胡言乱语的集大成者。      

想到了之前万维钢老师介绍的Why Buddhism is True，抽离了超自然力之后，宗教（仪式）仍然具有强大的抚慰心灵与社会教化作用。 当然，也常常成为工具[傲慢]

德波顿真是无可救药的理想主义者

文中所描述的现代社会在思想上的痛点是真实存在，并亟待我们反思并提出解决方案的。作者提出借助宗教体质和一些方法来树立起适应于现代社会的思想道德建立体质，确实不失为一种方法，但我认为实现有很大的阻力。

The book has nine chapters (subtopics) sans the introduction. A great number of pages were dedicated to topics like community, education and art, and not so many to topics like pessimism. Although the book is titled "Religion for Atheists", not all large regions were mentioned, and certainly not with the same level of details (mostly about Christianity, then Judaism and Buddhism). For instance, Islam is almost completely ignored. In a way, it is extremely western. De Button did not claim this book to be a comprehensive guide to the use of religion, and he is not to be blamed. But bearing that in mind, you will realize the limitation of the book. There were quite a few propositions I found more like personal observations. Well, the whole book reads like it's based merely on personal observations, which is not a bad strategy since the audience could relate to easily. I guess I expected more from the book, e.g., a solid review of efforts done by nonreligious to promote the human condition. He did mention the whole idea is not new, but did not go into depth on the topic. Even though as De Button put it: "This is a book for people who are unable to believe in miracles, spirits or tales of burning shrubbery,..., and who, at the end of her life, ascended to heaven from from southern Tuscany on the back of angel", this is not a definition of atheism. This is just not religious (and in a very specific way). There were people since 500 BC in China who did not believe any of this (and probably everywhere). But they were still considered agnostic or religious, just not Christian. The book did not persuade the audience to be atheists in any way. However, the fact that it failed to compare or discern differences between religious and nonreligious is a bit disappointing to me. The book is inspiring and well-written. De Button sure can write. The book seems to be an eye-opening at first. I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to others. However, after the author made it abundantly clear that there should be doctrines to follow, to borrow and to make secular lives more bearable and fuller, every chapters read very similar. It is riddled inspiring thoughts and facts that made me forget that it was a self-help book about philosophy of life--just a lot classier and not sold in drugstores. If you want something light to read about practical guides, this is a start.

如果不是我会是谁        如果不是现在是什么时候         自从宣布上帝之死以后，我们寄托于科学技术来找寻去路。然而不得不承认在这条路上我们尝到了甜头，也经受着一系列痛苦，于是有一部分人又开始信仰宗教。我们的出路究竟是宗教还是科学？        我认为我们的出路早在很久之前由法国社会学家孔德提出来了，那就是一条融合了宗教与科学的人本主义道路。人本主义道路的核心是“以人为本”。从人的需求出发，在回到人的需求。         科学技术不是出路。经济发展不是出路。它们只是手段。过于强调科学技术和经济发展可能是本末倒置。这并不是意味着不发展科学技术和经济，而是在发展的时候带着人本主义思想，具体表现在尊重自然。如果自然崩溃了，人的栖息地不存在了，科学技术与经济还有用吗？         很多国家也在施行绿色发展道路，或者说口号喊得特别响，然而实际情况又是什么呢？          人类的出路在自己。我们永远是救赎自我的第一选择。就像那句话说得一样，如果不是我会是谁，如果不是现在是什么时候？        

历史的发展进程，没有给宗教的发展留下土壤，但并不意味着其他手段可以完全代替宗教，帮我们在人生的疑惑上给予指引。这本书站在无神论者的角度，分享了宗教中仪式、活动、书卷，甚至包括角色设立和“组织架构”的意义，是对于宗教存在价值与民众心态的重新认识。

Fantastic thought provoking book. Most of all learned a LOT about religion esp Christianity and Judaism. And their positive values and contributions to human life and society.

无神论者2.0，旨在向对宗教无感的无神论者普及宗教的长处。现代“无神论者”，甚至“各种宗教信徒”，都多少正遭受现代资本主义快速发展之苦。作者试图通过宗教，找寻此种心灵痛苦的解决办法。作者对宗教这个“成功持久的企业”进行系统的分析，提出对现代人日常生活，教育，建筑的各种提案。 不足之处在于，“无神论者2.0”，它没有论及宗教的不足之处，以及新无神论者的系统观点。要提出新方法，只讲宗教哪部分好，我觉得是不充分的。