The Atheist's Guide to Christmas

by Sherine, Ariane

• ISBN13: 9780061997976
• ISBN10: 0061997978
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-11-02
• Publisher: Harpercollins

Summary

What do you get an atheist for Christmas?If you're an atheist, you don't believe in the three wise men, so this Christmas, we bring you not three, but forty-two wise men and women, bearing gifts of comedy, science, philosophy, the arts, and knowledge. What does it feel like to be born on Christmas day? How can you most effectively use lights to make your house visible from space? And where can you listen to the echoes of the Big Bang on December 25? The Atheist's Guide to Christmas answers all these questions and more: Richard Dawkins tells an original Christmas story. Phil Plait fact-checks the Star of Bethlehem. Neal Pollack teaches his family a lesson on holiday spirit. Simon Singh offers a very special scientific experiment. Simon le Bon loses his faith (but keeps church music). AC Grayling explains how to have a truly happy Christmas.Plus thirty-six other brilliant, funny, free-thinking pieces perfect for anyone who doesn't think of holidays as holy days.All author advances and royalties for The Atheist's Guide to Christmas will go to Terrence Higgins Trust.

Author Biography

Robin Harvie is an atheist, publisher and author of Why We Run: The Story of an Obsession. He lives in London. Stephanie Meyers is a book editor and an avid believer in receiving presents, decorating trees, and making the most of post-holiday sales. She lives in New York City.

Table of Contents

Welcome	p. xi
Stories
It's Beginning to Feel a Lot Like Christmas	p. 3
Revenge of the Christmas Spirit	p. 9
The Real Christmas Story	p. 15
A Child Was Born on Christmas Day	p. 21
110 Love Street	p. 27
Losing My Faith	p. 31
Hark the Herald Villagers Sing	p. 37
The Christmas Miracle Event: A Story	p. 43
Science
The Sound of Christmas	p. 57
The Great Bus Mystery	p. 63
Starry, Starry Night	p. 71
The Ironed Trouser: Why 93 Percent of Scientists Are Atheists (Depending on Whom You Ask)	p. 79
The Large Hadron Collider: A Scientific Creation Story	p. 87
How to Understand Christmas: A Scientific Overview	p. 93
How To
How to Have the Perfect Jewish Christmas	p. 103
How to Have a Peaceful Pagan Christmas	p. 107
I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas	p. 115
How to Stop Worrying and Enjoy Christmas	p. 125
How to Decorate the Outside of Your House with Lights and Not Have Your Neighbors Hate You: A Guide to Turning Your Home into a Festive Something That Is So Bright It Can Be Seen from Space	p. 133
How to Escape from Christmas	p. 139
Gifts for the Godless	p. 147
Philosophy
If God Existed, Would He Have a Sense of Humor?	p. 155
Unsilent Night	p. 159
Imagine There's a Heaven	p. 165
A Happy Christmas	p. 171
Beloved Buzzkill	p. 177
Stay Away from My Goddamn Presents	p. 185
The First Honest Christmas Round-Robin Letter	p. 191
There Are No Atheists in the White House	p. 195
Arts
An Atheist at the Movies	p. 205
A Christmas Album	p. 213
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree	p. 219
God Isn't Real	p. 225
The Godless Concerts	p. 233
Events
God Trumps	p. 241
Designing the Atheist Bus Campaign	p. 249
The Little Atoms Radio Show	p. 257
James Randi: The Real Santa Claus	p. 265
A Day in the Life of a Godless Magazine	p. 273
Front Line in the War on Christmas	p. 279
Contributor Biographies	p. 287
About the Editors	p. 305
Secular Resources	p. 307
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.