J.T. McDaniel Official Site

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More on Theistic Atheism

& Other Essays

Continuing a theme begun in This and That, J.T. McDaniel now presents a collection of 19 essays, ranging from the titular “More on Theistic Atheism,” to Odd Animals and Space Aliens. In the first, the author further develops the idea of an atheism that includes a deity (if admittedly an imaginary one). While the idea that, “It’s okay to believe in god, as long as you realize it’s imaginary” essentially defines this version of theistic atheism, most of the other essays simply dispense with the idea of any reality beyond the physical. God is seen as, perhaps, a concession to an elderly, theist parent, but not a being that actually exists.

Along with appeals to logic and critical thinking, essays cover such subjects as same-sex marriage, abortion, climate change, the relationship between government and religion, and between religion and science. On the lighter side, McDaniel examines some reasons why the world is unlikely to end in 2012 (he was right, obviously), the music he wants played at his funeral (Queen, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Boito, but definitely not Amazing Grace), and the possibility of actual immortality in a virtual world.

There is the suggestion that a new political party may be needed. Climate change is viewed through a practical lens, which suggests that far more could be accomplished through the use of tax incentives than the usual government instinct of using any crisis as an excuse to wring more money out of the taxpayers. The use of existing infrastructure to produce cheap hydrogen is also studied.

The collection ends with a look at cryptozoology, which McDaniel feels might be a valid area of study when it comes to insects, fish, and other creatures that could actually have escaped notice, but remains as invalid as ever when it comes to creatures like Bigfoot and Mokèlé-mbèmbé. He also argues that space aliens are almost certainly real, but that it’s unlikely any have ever visited earth or, for that matter, that any extraterrestrial civilization would be likely to even know anyone was here.

The 19 essays in this slim volume are:

• More on Theistic Atheism
• More Thoughts on the Afterlife
• No Good Reason for Debate
• Tempting God
• External Morality
• Government and Religion
• Gay Marriage: Who Cares?
• Waste Not: Continuing to Contribute After Death
• Living Forever
• The Start of Life and Humanity
• Maybe a New Party
• No End in 2012
• Climate Change Examined
• The Nature of God
• Creativity
• Religion and Science
• The Childish God
• Dissecting the Decalogue
• Odd Animals and Space Aliens

Trade Paperback, 8-½ x 5-½, 160 pages, ISBN: 978-1-932606-35-5

Published by Riverdale Books

More on Theistic Atheism & Other Essays may be ordered from your local bookseller, or from these online retailers:

Amazon.com: Trade Paperback, Kindle Edition
Barnes & Noble: Trade Paperback