Free Thought

Anti-Supernaturalism, Atheism, Free Thought, Anti-Religious, Agnosticism, Humanism, Naturalism
Freedom of/from Religion, Secularism, Pragmatism, Liberty, Non-Religious, Tolerance, Pragmatism

Compiled by Mike Garofalo
Green Way Research, Red Bluff, California

The Good Life Philosophy The Senses and Mind My Own Non-Religious Views Science Intellectual History

Epicureans The Human Body Green Way Research Subject Index Pragmatism

Pulling Onions - Religion, by Mike Garofalo My Views on Religion Atheism

Cloud Hands Blog

Brief Bibliography, Recommend Reading, Links, Resources

Topics: Free Thinking, Agnosticism, Atheism, Anti-Religious Arguments, Humanistic Thought, Secularism, Liberty, Tolerance

I started reading books on this topic in 1960, when I was 14 years of age.

Here are the many books that I have read since 1960 that have influenced my thinking in these areas.

Books in my home library are coded 'VSCL' for the Valley Spirit Center Library.

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons

American Philosophy and Pragmatism

Anthony, Louise M. Philosopher Without Gods: Meditations on Atheism and the Secular Life. Edited by Louise M. Anthony. Oxford University Press, 2007. Index, references, notes, brief biographies of contributors, 315 pages. ISBN: 9780199743414. VSCL.

Atheist Manifesto: The Case Against Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. By Michel Onfray. Translated from the French by Jeremy Leggatt. New York Arcade Publishing, 2005, 2011. ISBN: 10161145008X. Annotated bibliography, 246 pages. A lucid, strong, well reasoned, insightful, and stylish presentation. Excellent explication of the French and European writing on atheism, anti-clericalism, irreligion, deconstruction of religions, and anti-fascism. VSCL.

Bentham, Jeremy. Behold the Antichrist: Bentham on Religion. Edited with commentary by Delos B. McKown. Amherst, New York, 2004. Index, bibliography, 417 pages. ISBN: 1591021162. Only those with much patience can benefit from this critique of Christianity, Judaism, and "natural religion" by the famous advocated of Utilitarianism. Lots of early critique using language analysis and common sense; and religion is easily carved up by these knives of the intellect. VSCL.

Botton, Alain De. Religion for Atheists: A Non-Believer's Guide to the Uses of Religion. Vintage, 2013, 320 pages.

Buddhism Notes, bibliography, guides, and research by Mike Garofalo.

Cloud Hands Blog By Mike Garofalo.

Comte-Sponville, André. The Little Book of Atheist Spirituality Penguin Books, 2008. 224 pages. ISBN: 978-0143114437. VSCL.

Dawkins, Richard. The God Delusion. Mariner Books, Houghton Mifflin, 2006, 2008. Index, notes, bibliography, appendices, 463 pages. ISBN: 978-0618918249. VSCL. A bold, incisive, convincing, and clear minded critique of religious beliefs and religions and their negative and pernicious impact on our communities, societies, nations, and the world. I've read this book more than twice, and find it uplifting, brave, and to the point. His analysis of the negative social and moral effects of religion are accurate. VSCL.

Dennett, Daniel. Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon. By Daniel Dennett. New York, Penguin Books, 2006. Index, bibliography, notes, appendices, 448 pages. ISBN: 978-0143038337. Read in 2014. Focused on how and why religion emerged, and on Christianity in America. VSCL.

D'Holbach, Baron. Good Sense. CreateSpace Independent Publishing, 1st Edition, 2015. Original publisher: London, W. Stewart and Co., no publication date. Pages not numbered, 114 pages, arranged by 206 topics. ISBN: 9781512367317. Originally published in 1772, and printed privately in Amsterdam. The real author was Paul Thyry - Baron D'Holbach. However, to escape violent persecution by Catholics and Protestants, this work was published under the pseudonym of the postthumous author named M. de Mirabaud. Originally published in French under the title "Le Bon Sens" (Common Sense). The translator of this work from French to English is not provided. VSCL.

Druids, Druidry, and Neo-Paganism Notes, bibliography, guides, and research by Mike Garofalo.

Ellis, Albert. A New Guide to Rational Living. By Albert Ellis and Robert A. Harper. Third Edition, Thoroughly Revised and Updated for the Twenty-First Century. Hollywood, CA, Melvin Powers Wilshire Book Company, 1961, 1997. Index, bibliography, 283 pages. ISBN: 0879800429. VSCL.

Epicureans Notes, bibliography, guides, and research by Mike Garofalo. Epicurus did not deny that supernatural beings existed, but he contended that such beings would have no interested in micro-managing human affairs and appeals and sacrifices and fears of such supernatural beings were useless and groundless.

Epstein, Greg. Good Without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe. By Greg Epstein. William Morrow, 2010. 272 pages. ISBN: 978-0061670121.

Ellis, Albert. The Albert Ellis Reader: A Guide to Well-Being Using Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. Edited by Albert Ellis and Shawn Blau. New York, Citadel Press, Kensington Pub., 1998. Index, bibliography, notes, 375 pages. ISBN: 0806520329. VSCL.

The Four Horsemen of the New Atheism (Free Thought): Richard Dawkins, 1941-; Daniel Dennett, 1942-; Sam Harris, 1967-; Christopher Hitchens, 1949-2011; and, now, possibly, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, 1949-.

Free Thought Blogs

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons

The Five Senses and Mind Notes, bibliography, guides, and research by Mike Garofalo.

Free Thought Luminaries, Heroes, Leaders, Brave One: At one level of my life-stance or worldview is a deep respect and support for logic, pragmatism, naturalism, facts, reasoning, objectivity, verifiability, repeatability, coherent theories, open-mindedness, prediction, mathematics, and statistical methods. All of these methods, of course, are the hallmarks of the physical and biological sciences, pure and applied sciences, pragmatism, and modern technology.

At this level I am a free-thinker who shares many of the philosophical and non-religious views so persuasively and emphatically expressed by Ethan Allen, Dan Barker, Jeremy Bentham, Luther Burbank, André Comte-Sponville, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, John Dewey, Albert Ellis, Epicurus, A.C. Grayling, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, Baron d'Holbach, David Hume, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Ingersoll, Paul Kurtz, Corliss Lamont, Bill Maher, John Stuart Mill, Friedrich Nietzsche, Thomas Paine, Madalyn Murray O'Hair, Ayn Rand, Richard Rorty, Bertrand Russell, Carl Sagan, George Smith, Baruch Spinoza, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Thomas Young, and many other intelligent, hard working, courageous, forthright, dynamic, honest, fulfilled, and wise persons. These free-thinkers give me hope!

Fundamentalists of Christian, Islamic, and Hindu Persuasion. Count on them to want to demonize and punish those who disagree with their religious beliefs. They support making their own moral, social and religious views the law of the land. These fellows are often enemies of Free Thought: Steven Andrew, David Barton, Jerry Falwell, Billy Graham, Ayatolla Ruhollah Khomeini, David Lane, Sayyid Qutb, most Popes, Pat Robertson, Oral Roberts, Rick Warren, Birgham Young.

Gardening and Spirituality. Compiled by Mike Garofalo.

Garofalo, Michael P. Green Way Research Master Subject Index.

Garofalo, Michael P. My Own View on Organized Religion and Theology

Garofalo, Michael P. Pulling Onions. Over 850 quips, observations, ideas, and one-liners.

The Good Book: A Secular Bible. By A. C. Grayling. Walker Books, 2011, 608 pages.

The Good Life, Virtue Ethics, Character Notes, bibliography, guides, and research by Mike Garofalo.

Grayling, A. C.. The God Argument: The Case against Religion and for Humanism. By A. C. Grayling. Bloomsbury, 2014. 288 pages. ISBN: 978-1620401927.

Hankinson, R. J. The Sceptics. London, Routledge, 1995. Arguments of the Philosopher's Series. General index, index of works cited, bibliography, notes, 376 pages. ISBN: 0415184460. Excellent introduction! Exposition and arguments of the ancient sceptics: Pyrrhonism and Melagarism. Detailed and authoritative survey of Greek and Hellenistic skeptics. VSCL.

Harris, Sam. The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason W. W. Norton, 2005. 348 pages. ISBN: 978-0393327656. I've read this book twice. VSCL.

Hitchens, Christopher, 1949-2011. God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. By Christopher Hitchens, 1949-2011. Twelve, 2009. 336 pages. ISBN: 978-0446697965. A strong critique of the negative impact of religions. Uses many historical facts from the last 100 years. Wide ranging and penetrating arguments. Includes an intense criticism of Islam, Catholicism, Evangelical Christianity, and Zionist Judaism. Mr. Hitchens was a dynamic debater, witty, and aggressive polemicist. VSCL.

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons Compiled by Mike Garofalo.

Hume, David, 1711-1776. Dialogues and Natural History of Religion Published posthumously in 1779. Oxford University Press, 2009. 256 pages. ISBN: 978-0199538324. I sided with Philo, a skeptic, in these debates. I first read in 1965 in college. VSCL.

Jacoby, Susan. Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism. Holt, 2004. 448 pages. ISBN: 978-0805077766. VSCL.

Kurtz, Paul. The Humanist Alternative: Some Definitions of Humanism. Edited by Paul Kurtz. Buffalo, New York, Prometheus Books, 1973. 190 pages. ISBN: 0879750189. A wonderful collection of short essays by a variety of wise persons about the subject of humanism, secular humanism, ethical humanism, religious humanism, and naturalistic humanism. The history and ethical adventure of humanism since the Enlightenment is thoroughly documented. This book avoids the strident polemics found in the Four Horsemen of the New Atheism. I first read this uplifting book in 1975, and again in 2012. VSCL.

Lamont, Corliss, 1902-1905. The Illusion of Immortality. New York, Continuum, Frederick Ungar Book, Half-Moon Foundation, 1935, Fifth Edition in 1990. Notes, index, 303 pages. ISBN: 0804463778. I first read this book in 1962. The case against an "immortal soul" or survival of a personal consciousness after death is clearly and persuasively presented. We humans are subject to a finite life, mortality is certain, and there is a finality to death that is unavoidable. Historical religious views to the contrary are presented and refuted. VSCL.

Lifestyle Advice from Wise Persons Compiled by Mike Garofalo.

Nature's God: The Heretical Origins of the American Republic. By Matthew Stewart. W.W. Norton, 2014. Index, notes, 566 pages. VSCL.

Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm (1844-1900) The Portable Nietzsche. By Friedrich Nietzsche. Translated by Walter Kaufmann. New York, Penguin Books, 1977. 704 pages. ISBN: 9780140150629. Includes the complete and unabridged translations of: Twilight of the Idols, The Antichrist, Nietzsche Contra Wagner, and Thus Spoke Zarathurstra. Extensive quotations from other works and his letters. VSCL.

The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Non-Believer. Edited by Christopher Hitchens. Da Capo Press, 2007, index, 500 pages. An excellent selection of 47 essays, lectures, or excerpts from influential books with atheistic, anti-religious, and humanistic viewpoints. Mostly writers from 1800 up to 2010. An essential reference volume for the Non-Believers bookshelf. I recommend that you purchase the Kindle version for $13.00. VSCL.

Pragmatism and American Philosophy

Pragmatism, Old And New: Selected Writings Edited by Susan Haack, with associate editor Robert Lane. Amherst, New York, Prometheus Books, 2006. Glossary, index, 741 pages. ISBN: 9781591023593. VSCL.

Radical Enlightenment: Philosophy and the Making Of Modernity, 1650-1750. By Jonathan I. Israel. Oxford University Press, 2002, 834 pages.

Raymo, Chet. When God Is Gone, Everything Is Holy: The Making of a Religious Naturalist By Chet Raymo. Nortre Dame, Indiana, Sorin Books, c 2008. 13 chapters, notes, 148 pages. ISBN: 9781933495132. Clean used copy from Oregon. VSCL. This open-minded Professor Emeritus of Science at Stone Hill College, Massachusetts, advocates a "religious naturalism." He is a lifelong agnostic, atheist, and secular minded person; who, does favor retaining some aspects of religious practices. He strongly supports consensus science as the best path to universal provisional truths, and a rejection of the pre-scientific fables, myths, and lore of the ancients. He was educated in Catholic institutions (e.g., Notre Dame) and taught at a "Catholic" founded College. Very interesting philosophical consideration given to Ocham's Razor, consensus knowledge, "I don't know," genetics, skepticism, and inter-connectivity. Short thoughtful essays.

Reasoning and Philosophy A Old Philosopher's Notebooks. Notes, bibliography, guides, and research by Mike Garofalo.

Russell, Bertrand, 1872-1970. Why I Am Not a Christian and Other Essays on Religion and Related Subjects. Touchstone, 1957, 1967. 266 pages. ISBN: 978-0671203238. I read this book in 1962, and it greatly influenced me in rejecting Catholicism. I shared many of the ethical/moral/social views of Mr. Russell as expressed in many of his other books. I read many books by Bertrand Russell from 1963-1969. His writing is clear, well reasoned, witty, and urbane. The greatest popularizer of Anglo-American philosophy in the 20th century. VSCL.

Sanford, James C. Great Freethinkers: Selected Quotations by Famous Skeptics and Nonconformists. Edited by James C. Sanford. Providence, Rhode Island, 2004. Biographical index, 250 pages. ISBN: 0974704229. VSCL.

Smith, George H. Atheism - The Case Against God. Prometheus Books, 1979. 355 pages. ISBN: 978-0879751241. I agreed with Mr. Smith. VSCL.

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons

Somatics, Somaesthetics, The Human Body. Notes, bibliography, guides, and research by Mike Garofalo.

Spinoza, Baruch (1632-1677)

Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu I first read in 1961. The philosophical views of Laozi and Zhuangzi appealed to me from an early age. The religious practices of later Taoists from 300 CE onward were interesting and colorful, because of my practice of Taijiquan and Qigong, as are the nature worship rituals and poetry of the modern Neopagan religions; however, I don't really "believe" in their supernatural and superstitious views and dogmas. My childhood experiences of the magic, ritual and pomp of Roman Catholicism probably influenced me in my appreciation for for the esoteric and magical aspects of Taoism and Druidry. I liked Lao Tzu's naturalism, individualism, mysticism, and skepticism about the value of conventional morality and religion. Our lives are also greatly influenced by non-rational and unconscious factors.

The Ten Golden Rules: Ancient Wisdom from the Greek Philosophers on Living the Good Life. By M.S. Soupios and Panos Mourdoukoutas. Charlottsville, Virginia, Hampton Roads Pub., 2009. 128 pages. Both authors are professors at Long Island University, C. W. Post Campus. ISBN: 9781571746054. VSCL.

Virtues and the Good Life Notes, bibliography, guides, and research by Mike Garofalo.

VSCL = Valley Spirit Center Library, Red Bluff, California

Watson, Peter. The Age of Atheists: How We Have Sought to Live Since the Death of God. By Peter Watson. Simon and Schuster, 2014. 640 pages. ISBN: 978-1476754314. VSCL.

The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins

Why I Am Not A Christian And Other Essays On Religion by Bertrand Russell

The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever by Christopher Hitchens

The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark by Carl Sagan

Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon by Daniel Dennett

The Philosophy of Humanism by Corliss Lamont

Positive Atheism's Big List of Quotations compiled by Cliff Walker

The Philosophy of John Dewey

The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason by Sam Harris

Atheism: The Case Against God by George H. Smith

Atheist Universe: The Thinking Person's Answer to Christian Fundamentalism by David Mills

A Gardener Touched with Genius: The Life of Luther Burbank

God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything by Christopher Hitchens

The Best of Robert Ingersoll: Selections from His Writings and Speeches

The New Atheism: Taking a Stand for Science and Reason by Victor Stenger

"Ye Will Say I Am No Christian": The Thomas Jefferson/John Adams Correspondence on Religion, Morals, And Values

Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism by Susan Jacoby

Letter to a Christian Nation (Vintage) by Sam Harris

Anti-Intellectualism in American Life by Richard Hofstadter

Toward the Light of Liberty: The Struggles for Freedom and Rights That Made the Modern Western World by A. C. Grayling

Exuberant Skepticism by Paul Kurtz

Thomas Paine : Collected Writings : Common Sense / The Crisis / Rights of Man / The Age of Reason

The Woman's Bible: A Classic Feminist Perspective by Elizabeth Cady Stanton

What On Earth Is An Atheist! by Madalyn Murray O'Hair

Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion by David Hume

The "Four Horsemen" of Contemporary Free Thought

Christopher Hitchens, Daniel Dennett, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris

The "Four Horsemen" of Free Thought in 2009

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons

Religion, Gods, and Theology
Quotes from Pulling Onions by Michael P. Garofalo

Absolutes squirm beneath realities. 9
It is better to cultivate spiritual fruits than religious nuts.  523
I believe in "God"; I just spell It "Fiction." 756
When the Divine knocks, don't send a prophet to the door. 48
Dogmatists are less useful than dogs. 711
Gardens are more useful than churches. 787
The City of God does not meet any of our current building codes. 890
God and I get along quite well, he ignores me all the time and I ignore him. 845
Perfection can be the opponent of betterment. 788
We did not come from dust, nor shall we return to dust, nor are we dust in the wind. 23
There is not much to say about the "Unknown." 3
R. Buckminster-Fuller once suggested that "God is a verb, not a noun." Which verb? Pretending? Storytelling? Fantasizing? Believing? 833
In general, be more specific. 79
If the first man was created in the image of God, then it is obvious that God is mediocre and prone to evil.  786
Nothing grows in Hell. 134
The fear of the Lord is a corner stone of indoctrination and the beginning of the end of wisdom. 850
After understanding thousands of the details, a common variety god is really quite superfluous. 725
The root illusion is a belief in that which does not change. 451
Roundness is the Holy Shape. 629
God may be very smart, but he is a poor communicator. 779
There is absolutely a place for Absolutes and Ideals in our rational/logical way of choosing to think about our experiences. 982
We already live in the Garden of Eden, but we now have to work to keep it growing. 136
God may have created the first garden, but, typical of Him, He got bored with trying to keep it up and make it better. 149
Say a prayer for a good harvest; but don't forget to weed and water. 288
The Bible is morally inconsistent and often morally reprehensible. 842
I never found God in my garden, but goddesses and gods and faeries dance everywhere. 492
Yes, God and Allah are both still dead, yet plenty is still not permitted and virtues and ideals still persist. 330
Before you swear at the overgrown ivy, beware of Dionysus. 602
The Garden of Eden is a badly painted backdrop to a lousy stage play. 860
Even a god cannot listen to a billion prayers a day. 412
Beware of the man who speaks of God only as a father or a son.  573
The real "miracle" is cause and effect. 584
Christians and Moslems love to lie about their own righteousness, and rant about the immorality of the non-believers in their fantasies. 986
The "eternal truths" are sometimes clearly false. 430
Have you noticed that people praying close their eyes? People, please open your eyes and think instead. 444
If God existed it would be necessary to have a Goddess because God is just to lazy and incompetent. 471
If God gave us technology, why did he wait so long to give us a box of matches or solar power panels. 454
What?   Another damn Garden of Eden analogy! 476
The seed idea for "God" is springtime. 596
A God who is understood is really misunderstood ... actually no God at all. 598
Variety, Creativity and Fertility are the Songs of the Great Goddess. 509
Hell is a silent dark world where nothing grows.  512
Even Allah cannot alter the past; but our knowledge of the past changes each year.  549
Is the the God of scriptures the Absolute? Absolutely not! 996
Stop looking for the Green Man and He will appear. 601
The gardener is a priestess, the garden her temple and followers, gardening her liturgy. 603
Religion is intimate with awe, anxiety, fear, danger, and death. 608
Avoid dogmatists, they often end up treating you like a dog.   623
What good is All Powerful and All Wise "God" or "Allah" who can supposedly count every hair on your head, but can't find
a house for a homeless family, stop terrorists, get rid of the alcoholic thief next door, or save your citrus trees from frostbite?   681
Mother Nature is always pregnant. 702
It is best to shut one's mouth in face of the sacred.  719
Create your own garden, the god's certainly won't. 736
That something is eternal is unverifiable; it is one premise. 746
If there is a "Divine Lawgiver," then He/She/It seems a rather poor judge and inconsistent. 978
Ordinary reality is good enough for most sensible people; a "higher" calling is answered by few. 759
Don't kid yourself: seeing is not necessarily believing. 761
To many the sun is a god and the earth is a goddess; and, our imaginations are boundless. 762
To save some time, don't let them get a foot in the door. 795
I may not be able to precisely define religious nonsense, but I know it when I hear it. 791
I think, therefore I am a living person; dead bodies don't display thinking, just stinking. 826
Disrespect and contempt for the body is a common trump card for spiritualists; but, our game of life does not use trump cards. 829
Is the the God of scriptures the Absolute? Absolutely not! 996
A sure path to the perversion of truth is to make it a belief. 841
The Bible is morally inconsistent and often morally reprehensible. 842
God is not dead─ he never existed in the first place. 887
"Just believe" is the weakest argument for adopting an opinion. 888
Seeing the "Big Picture" is just viewing a pleasant painting created by your imagination. 846
I have faith that science will help explain our world; but, I don't "believe in" or worship science. 908
Some questions just dissolve─when our spell is broken. 921
Spinoza's God was Nature─by definition. 937
Rather than seeking an answer we sometimes need to stop asking the question. 938
I am not a marionette in the Hands of Deus (or Zeus, Yahweh, Allah, God, Shiva, Coyote, Great Father, etc.) 940
Beliefs tend to channel the mind, wonder opens it up. 953
If you are seeking certainty, the search will likely be tiresome and futile. 955

"Mas o menos" is often quite sufficient. 989
Be content with the probable and hope for the best. 956

- Michael P. Garofalo, Pulling Onions Over 1,000 Sayings, Quips, Reflections

Michael P. Garofalo's Religious Views

"I cannot imagine a God who rewards and punishes the objects of his creation, whose purposes are modeled after our own─a God, in short, who is but a reflection of human frailty. Neither can I believe that the individual survives the death of his body, although feeble souls harbor such thoughts through fear or ridiculous egotisms. the idea is a personal God is quite alien to me and seems even naive. I believe in Spinoza's God, revealed in the orderly harmony of what exists.
- Albert Einstein, 1955, found in "The Portable Atheist."

Free Thought, Atheism, Secularism, Humanism: A Brief Bibliography, Links, Resources