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Questions for Ralph Lewis on his book "Finding Purpose in a Godless World"

#160: Aug. - Nov. 2018 (Non-Fiction)
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Chris OConnor

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Questions for Ralph Lewis on his book "Finding Purpose in a Godless World"

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I'm pleased to say that Ralph Lewis, author of Finding Purpose in a Godless World, has agreed to answer our questions about his book!

Please ask your questions here in this thread and keep in mind your questions and Ralph's answers will be a permanent part of BookTalk.org on our Live Author Chat & Interview Transcripts page.

So try to be creative and interesting and use proper spelling, punctuation and grammar. In other words don't write like I do. ;-) :razz2:
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Harry Marks
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Re: Questions for Ralph Lewis on his book "Finding Purpose in a Godless World"

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Not having finished yet, I feel squeamish about launching questions. However, I think this is a wonderful opportunity to get dialogue going, and so I just can't resist putting together some questions already. Hopefully we can add more as we finish the book.

1. Do you have any concerns about applying left-brain logos thinking to the question of thinking with reference to God, which is fairly obviously a right-brain mythos concept?

2. Can religious leaders, in your opinion, make progress in getting people to resist toxic thinking about religion, such as triumphalism relative to other worldviews, perception of supernatural intervention on behalf of believers, and emphasis on in-group belonging at the expense of common idealistic purpose?

3. Religion sometimes seems to function as an addiction, substituting for connection and community rather than fostering it. Do you have any suggestions for taming this tendency to pull believers away from others rather than toward them?

4. Personal behavioral failings by Michael Shermer and Richard Dawkins have raised the question whether opposition to religion isn't an emotion-based position itself. Specifically, many believers seem to think that atheists reject God in order to avoid the feeling of intrusive observation of their sexuality. This is no doubt partly a result of the tension in their own lives when sexuality seemed to pull them in a direction contrary to the teachings of their religion. Do you think atheism may also be involved with less-than-rational reasons?
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Re: Questions for Ralph Lewis on his book "Finding Purpose in a Godless World"

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1. Many, perhaps most, people won't reach full understanding of some advanced or specialized science concepts, despite the competent efforts of writers like yourself. It seems to then come down to competing authorities, science vs. revealed truth or intuition. Is the track record of science something you would hold out as enough to instill "faith" in science, concerning the very difficult stuff?

2. A personal question if you don't mind. I wasn't sure whether, after your "conversion" to atheism, you remained a member of the conservative synagogue. Could you comment?

3. Religion has its churches, synagogues, and mosques, which represent its institutional strength. Do you think that non-theistic liberal humanism needs additional structures (not necessarily physical) along those lines?

4. How do you respond when people tell you that atheism and spirituality are incompatible?

5. How can we construct "inspiring narratives" that are consistent with natural law but act upon us in ways somewhat similar to those of mythos?
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Re: Questions for Ralph Lewis on his book "Finding Purpose in a Godless World"

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We'll send your questions to Ralph on Nov. 10th so if anyone wants to revise their current questions or add some additional questions now is the time. Thank you!
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Re: Questions for Ralph Lewis on his book "Finding Purpose in a Godless World"

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1. Do you see the more ethical path as working to reform religion to make it compatible with reason or opposing religion as a form of delusion?
2. How do you respond to Chesterton's famous statement that when people stop believing in religion they start believing in anything rather than nothing?
3. Do you see rituals for example in sport as a substitute for mass religion?
4. Do you find Jung's concept of a collective unconscious helpful for psychological understanding?
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Chris OConnor

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Re: Questions for Ralph Lewis on his book "Finding Purpose in a Godless World"

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The questions have been sent to Ralph. :-)
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