The Book of Atheist Spirituality - Hardcover

Can we do without religion? Can we have ethics without God? Is there such a thing as “atheist spirituality”? In this powerful book, the internationally bestselling author André Comte-Sponville answers questions like these through a philosophical exploration of atheism – and he comes to some startling conclusions. According to Comte-Spoonville, we have allowed the concept of spirituality to become intertwined with religion and thus have lost touch with the nature of a true spiritual existence. In order to change this, however, we need not reject the ancient traditions and values that are part of our heritage; rather, we must rethink our relationship to these values and ask ourselves whether their significance comes from the existence of a higher power or simply from the human need to connect to one another and the universe. Comte-Sponville offers rigorous, reasoned arguments that take both the Eastern and Western philosophical traditions into account. Through his clear, concise, and often humorous prose, he offers a convincing treatise on a new form of spiritual life.

André Comte-Sponville is one of France’s preeminent contemporary philosophers. Previously a professor at the Sorbonne, he is the author of A Small Treatise on the Great Virtues, an international bestseller that has been translated into twenty-five languages. He lives in Paris.