A Friendly Letter to Skeptics and Atheists

A Friendly Letter to Skeptics and Atheists helps readers—both secular and religious—appreciate their common ground. For those whose thinking has moved from the religious thesis to the skeptical antithesis (or vice versa), Myers offers pointers to a science-respecting Christian synthesis. He shows how skeptics and people of faith can share a commitment to reason, evidence, and critical thinking, while also embracing a faith that supports human flourishing—by making sense of the universe, giving meaning to life, connecting us in supportive communities, mandating altruism, and offering hope in the face of adversity and death.

Preface v

False and Dangerous? 1

My Assumptions 4

Mea Culpa 8

The Dance of Fanatics and Infidels 11

Simplistic Stereotypes 14

The Heart of Science and Religion 17

The Skeptics’ Boys Club 22

Inseparable Body and Soul 26

Does Prayer “Work”? 33

The Benevolent, Fine-Tuned Universe 44

Big Ideas and Biblical Wisdom 54

Secularism and Civility 64

God and Gays 74

(Nominal) Religion Feeds Prejudice 82

Godliness and Goodliness 87

Happy Faith-Heads 107

Healthy Faith-Heads 116

Does Explaining Religion Explain It Away? 121

The Leap of Faith 128

Appendix: International Society for Science and Religion Statement on Intelligent Design 133

Notes 137

Acknowledgments 150

The Author 152

"As a scientist, open-minded skeptic (who cheers on challenges to irrationalism), and a man of faith, [Myers] seeks to transcend the skeptic/believer divide by suggesting how faith can be reasonable, science-affirming, and humane."
–Skeptical Inquirer (January/February 2009)

"Reading Myers will not set to rest all the incongruities or failures of Christianity; but it will demonstrate, in a thoughtful and readable format, that God is good and that to follow in the steps of Jesus your soul will become bigger, better and more gracious."
– Youth Worker Journal

"The humility with which Myers writes and the intelligence with which he composes his arguments could disarm the most jaded cynic."
– Worship Leader Magazine

"Believers and skeptics could learn much from each other, and the author’s willingness to build a bridge between two sometimes hostile territories is what makes his work so welcome. Myers’s psychological training enables him to grasp the human person in a unique way, and he is able to introduce an intellectual element into the God debate."
–(Sept.) (Publishers Weekly, July 7, 2008)

The Author

David G. Myers is a communicator of psychological science to college students and the general public. His writings, supported by National Science Foundation fellowships and grants and recognized by the Gordon Allport Prize, have appeared in three dozen scientific periodicals, from Science to Psychological Science, and in dozens of magazines and newspapers. His seventeen books include best-selling texts and general audience books on happiness, intuition, and hearing loss.

A Friendly Letter to Skeptics and Atheists

In response to recent atheist manifestos declaring that religion is "dangerous," social psychologist David G. Myers transcends the skeptic/believer divide by suggesting how faith can be reasonable, science-affirming, and humane. As a respected behavioral scientist and a person of faith, Myers shows how an educated and engaged faith is associated with happiness, health, tolerance, generosity, and volunteerism, and does not imply gay bashing, magical ideas about prayer, or a division of body and soul.

A Friendly Letter to Skeptics and Atheists helps readers—both secular and religious—appreciate their common ground. For those whose thinking has moved from the religious thesis to the skeptical antithesis (or vice versa), Myers offers pointers to a science-respecting Christian synthesis. He shows how skeptics and people of faith can share a commitment to reason, evidence, and critical thinking, while also embracing a faith that supports human flourishing by making sense of the universe, giving meaning to life, connecting us in supportive communities, mandating altruism, and offering hope in the face of adversity and death.

A Friendly Letter to Skeptics and Atheists

In response to recent atheist manifestos declaring that religion is "dangerous," social psychologist David G. Myers transcends the skeptic/believer divide by suggesting how faith can be reasonable, science-affirming, and humane. As a respected behavioral scientist and a person of faith, Myers shows how an educated and engaged faith is associated with happiness, health, tolerance, generosity, and volunteerism, and does not imply gay bashing, magical ideas about prayer, or a division of body and soul.

A Friendly Letter to Skeptics and Atheists helps readers—both secular and religious—appreciate their common ground. For those whose thinking has moved from the religious thesis to the skeptical antithesis (or vice versa), Myers offers pointers to a science-respecting Christian synthesis. He shows how skeptics and people of faith can share a commitment to reason, evidence, and critical thinking, while also embracing a faith that supports human flourishing by making sense of the universe, giving meaning to life, connecting us in supportive communities, mandating altruism, and offering hope in the face of adversity and death.